LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the Long
Reach Arts Artist Cooperative

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to call attention to
organizations that devote their time and energies to the cultural
enrichment of the Empire State; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body recognizes the importance of the
performing arts, which act to inspire, enlighten, and unify people from
all cultural backgrounds through the transcendent power of human
expression; and
WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commemorate the 30th
Anniversary of the Long Reach Arts Artist Cooperative; and
WHEREAS, The first exhibit celebrating the anniversary will be held at
the Mid-Hudson Heritage Center in Poughkeepsie; the works will be on
display after April 1, 2012, but the official opening and reception will
take place at the Center on April 14, 2012; and
WHEREAS, Thirty years ago, in April 1982, after six years of operating
the Seaman Studio Gallery, a decision was made to close the gallery; at
the same time, it was suggested to the gallery artists that a cooper-
ative should be formed; and
WHEREAS, The idea was greeted enthusiastically by a majority of the
gallery's artists and other well known and admired artists in the
region; in June of that year, the newly formed group was invited by the
Mid-Hudson Arts and Science Center (MASC) to mount its first exhibit in
the Center's large gallery, with the opening to be held in July; and
WHEREAS, Having accepted, the welcome invitation meeting was held at
MASC to discuss the upcoming exhibit and to choose a title for the
group; the suggestion that the group be named Summergroup was accepted;
and
WHEREAS, The Summergroup Artists Cooperative became well known in the
Mid-Hudson Valley, with invitations to exhibit in galleries, and educa-
tional institutions throughout the region and in New York City; in 2006,
the cooperative received a request from a company in Thailand to
purchase the Summergroup domain name; and
WHEREAS, After discussions and negotiations with the company, the
Summergroup name was sold; requiring another name and wanting to have
its identity connected with the Hudson River and the valley, Long Reach
Arts was chosen; and
WHEREAS, The Hudson River and the Hudson Valley names having been
adopted by many organizations for their website addresses, it was neces-
sary to choose something original that made the connection to the river;
in 2007, the year of the cooperative's 25th anniversary, the name Long
Reach Arts was adopted and the cooperative continues to thrive in its
30th year; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body, in keeping with its
time-honored traditions, to recognize and pay tribute to those organiza-
tions and events which foster ethnic pride and enhance the profile of
cultural diversity which strengthens the fabric of the communities of
New York State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of the Long Reach Arts Artist Cooper-
ative; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Long Reach Arts Artist Cooperative.