LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 40th Anniversary of the Gowanus
Girls Drill Team to be celebrated on Saturday, August 14, 2010

WHEREAS, The arts, in whatever form depicted, are central to human
expression; they are truly a universal language and their contribution
to the development of friendship and understanding among all peoples
cannot be underestimated; and
WHEREAS, The history, the heritage and the lives of the people of all
countries and all cultures are portrayed in their music and dance; the
art and act of sharing them enriches us altogether; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those organizations that have brought entertainment and cultural
enrichment to the citizens of the great State of New York; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 40th Anniversary of the Gowanus Girls Drill Team, now known as
the Gowanus Wildcats, to be celebrated on Saturday, August 14, 2010, at
the 40th Anniversary Reunion to be held at the Gowanus Houses Nicholas
Heyward Jr. Park; and
WHEREAS, The Gowanus Wildcats/Venturer Crew 588 Drill Team, which is a
nonprofit organization, is an all female drill team which originated in
September of 1970 in the Gowanus Houses Community Center in Brooklyn,
New York; their instructor, who volunteers her services, is Renee
"Juice" Flowers who is an original member who took over leadership of
the drill team in 1972; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the years since then, Renee Flowers has taught the
drill routines to over 500 young women and along the way she has also
developed new routines; the present 19 members range from eight to 22
years of age; and
WHEREAS, Today, some of the present members are the daughters of
former members; after 40 years, the Wildcats still hold their drill team
practices in the community center; and
WHEREAS, The drill routines contain movements similar to those in
cheerleading, combined with semi-military movements such as marching;
for their regular routines, the Wildcats do not use music; and
WHEREAS, Renee Flowers just gives a command and the Wildcats stomp
their feet and clap their hands to produce their own beat; some of the
titles of the routines are: Side Step, Karate, Round Step, Hit It,
Payne, Kick-in-the-Dip, Drill Machine and Meditation; and
WHEREAS, Since the members are into "rap" music, Renee Flowers has
written some raps for them to use in their performances; the routines
for the raps are worked on together by Ms. Flowers and the members of
the drill team; and
WHEREAS, The subject matter of these raps is a message to all concern-
ing the perils of using drugs and living life "in the fast lane"; the
titles of the raps are: "Be Drug Free," "Leave the Crack Alone," "Get
Real," "We Don't Do Crack," "Rock the Crowd Right," "Wildcats Herstory"
and "Crack Is Whack," just to name a few; and
WHEREAS, The Gowanus Wildcats/Venturer Crew 588 Drill Team has been
honored over the years with many plaques and awards; Renee Flowers'
dedication to the Wildcats has even won her the title of "New Yorker of
the Week"; and
WHEREAS, The drill team has performed throughout New York City and the
tri-state area in numerous shows and parades; some of their most excit-
ing and memorable performances were at the world famous Apollo Theater
for Amateur Night, where they won second and third place honors, the
Black Expo in Raritan, New Jersey, the ticker tape parade held in New

York City for the troops returning home from Desert Storm, the ECOFEST,
the Atlantic Antic festivities in Brooklyn, the Annual Greenwich Village
Halloween parade, the OASIS Alumni reception at New York University and
"Red Dive's" exploration and tour of the Gowanus Canal; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when organiza-
tions of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the Gowanus Girls Drill Team, now
known as the Gowanus Wildcats, to be celebrated on Saturday, August 14,
2010; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the members of the Gowanus Wildcats, and Instructor, Renee
"Juice" Flowers.