LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 75th Anniversary of Planned
Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley, Inc. to be celebrated May 16, 2009

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge those organizations and individuals within our
midst who have made significant contributions to the quality of life
therein; 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 75th Anniversary of Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson
Valley, Inc. to be celebrated at its Anniversary Gala on Saturday, May
16, 2009; and
WHEREAS, In 1934, The Dutchess County Maternal Welfare League was
formed for the express purpose of starting a birth control clinic on
Mill Street in the City of Poughkeepsie; and
WHEREAS, Just two years later, a group of Newburgh physicians organ-
ized the Mother's Health Center, located on Broadway between Liberty and
Chambers Streets; and
WHEREAS, Both clinics were staffed by volunteers, and due to the
Comstock Laws that made it illegal to distribute birth control, most
clients were reached through word-of-mouth and door-to-door outreach;
and
WHEREAS, The Maternal Welfare League changed its name to Dutchess
County League for Planned Parenthood in 1942; Planned Parenthood opened
a clinic in Kingston, with one of the first women physicians in the area
volunteering her time; and
WHEREAS, Later in the decade, the agency's Poughkeepsie clinic, relo-
cated to Noxon Street, was chosen as a model for other cities; and
WHEREAS, The Newburgh Planned Parenthood expanded to other parts of
Orange County in 1950; a few years later, a private donation of $2
million was given to Planned Parenthood Federation of America toward the
development of the oral contraceptive; approved in 1960 by the FDA, the
first birth control pills were prescribed in Dutchess County in 1962;
and
WHEREAS, In 1976, Planned Parenthood of Orange County merged with its
neighbor in Sullivan County and opened three clinics in county build-
ings; in three years, the agency was evicted from its county offices but
later won a major victory in a well-publicized court fight; and
WHEREAS, In the mid-1980s, Planned Parenthood in Poughkeepsie moved to
its current location on Church and Noxon Streets; in 1989, Planned
Parenthood of Dutchess-Ulster began offering abortion services; and
WHEREAS, In 1996, services in the four counties of Dutchess, Orange,
Sullivan and Ulster were merged to form Planned Parenthood of the Mid-
Hudson Valley, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, In 2006, Clare Coleman became the new President and CEO of
Planned Parenthood Mid-Hudson Valley; in that same year, Emergency
Contraception (EC) became available over the counter, which the agency
now provides free of charge; and
WHEREAS, Currently, the health centers, located throughout Dutchess,
Orange, Sullivan and Ulster counties, provide a wide range of comprehen-
sive reproductive health and education services to 40,000 people annual-
ly; the Centers focus on prevention - the prevention of unintended preg-
nancy, sexually transmitted infections, cancer and other illnesses - and
the medical staff works closely with clients to find affordable, safe
and effective options; and

WHEREAS, Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley's distinguished
record merits the recognition and respectful tribute of this Legislative
Body; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 75th Anniversary of Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson
Valley, Inc. to be celebrated May 16, 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Planned Parenthood of the Mid-Hudson Valley, Inc.