LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION memorializing Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to
proclaim October of 2011 as Bullying Prevention Month in the State of
New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize official
months that are set aside to increase awareness of serious issues that
affect the lives of citizens of New York State; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, it is the sense of this Legislative Body to memori-
alize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October of 2011 as Bullying
Prevention Month in the State of New York, in conjunction with National
Bullying Prevention Month; and
WHEREAS, National Bullying Prevention Month is a campaign in the
United States founded in 2006 by PACER's National Center for Bullying
Prevention; held during the month of October, this campaign unites
communities nationwide to educate and raise awareness of bullying
prevention; and
WHEREAS, Traditionally held the first week in October, the event was
expanded in 2010 to include activities, education, and awareness build-
ing for the entire month; and
WHEREAS, National Bullying Prevention Month is recognized in communi-
ties across the United States, with hundreds of schools and organiza-
tions signing on as partners; Facebook, CNN and Yahoo! Kids have
supported the month through media outreach and dissemination; and
WHEREAS, PACER developed the initial campaign National Bullying
Prevention and Awareness Week in response to the need to raise awareness
of bullying, as it was historically viewed "a childhood rite of passage"
and believed that bullying "made kids tougher," when the reality is that
bullying has devastating effects such as school avoidance, loss of self
esteem, increased anxiety, and depression; and
WHEREAS, PACER reached out to the community through partnerships with
education based organizations such as National PTA, American Federation
of Teachers and National Education Association to provide schools,
parents and students with resources to respond to bullying behavior and
to begin the shift of societal acceptance of bullying to social change
of addressing the issue through education and support; and
WHEREAS, PACER disseminated nationwide press releases through the
partners and media channels, encouraging a call to action to educate the
community about their role in bullying prevention, which provided the
groundwork for the campaign to be consistently recognized as an annual
event; and
WHEREAS, It is imperative that there be greater public awareness of
this serious issue, and more must be done to increase knowledge and
attentiveness at both the State and local levels to support and protect
our youth, our most precious resource; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Andrew M. Cuomo to proclaim October of 2011 as
Bullying Prevention Month in the State of New York; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Honorable Andrew M. Cuomo, Governor of the State of New
York.