Senate Resolution No. 3268

BY: Senator BRESLIN

COMMENDING William Stoneman upon the occasion of
his selection to represent the Capital Region in the
national Jefferson Awards competition in a virtual
event to be conducted in September of 2020

WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon the people of the State of New York to
recognize and acknowledge outstanding individuals within our midst who
have made significant contributions to the quality of life therein; and

WHEREAS, A great community is only as great as those persons and
organizations that provide exemplary service, whether through
participation in voluntary programs or simply through a lifetime of good
citizenship; and

WHEREAS, This Legislative Body is justly proud to commend William
Stoneman upon the occasion of his selection to represent the Capital
Region in the national Jefferson Awards competition in a virtual event
to be conducted in September of 2020; and

WHEREAS, The Jefferson Awards are a prestigious national recognition
program which honors community and public service throughout the United
States; and

WHEREAS, In 1972, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, United States Senator
Robert Taft, Jr. and Sam Beard, Chairman of the National Development
Council, founded the American Institute for Public Service to establish
a "Nobel Prize" for public and community service on both the national
and local level, the Jefferson Awards; and

WHEREAS, The Jefferson Awards, whose stated mission is "to
recognize, inspire and activate volunteerism and public service in
communities, workplaces and schools across America," serve as a "Call to
Action for Volunteers"; and

WHEREAS, On the local level, Jefferson Awards recipients are
ordinary people who do extraordinary things without expectation of
recognition or reward, while national award recipients represent a
"Who's Who" of outstanding Americans; and

WHEREAS, William Stoneman of Albany, New York, began a garden
program at Myers Middle School in 2009, when his daughter was in
eighth-grade; that program grew into the Vegetable Project, a nonprofit
group organized by parents, teachers and others in the community to
create learning opportunities for Albany children; and

WHEREAS, A man of sincere dedication, William Stoneman is a
substitute teacher at Albany High School; he also teaches students to
build gardens, grow plants and harness the power of nature; during his
weekly garden clubs he encourages students to plant, nurture, harvest
and cook; and

WHEREAS, Furthermore, William Stoneman partners with Albany's summer
youth employment courses to offer jobs to teenagers in addition to
mentoring high-risk high school students through internships; and

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when a person
of such noble aims and accomplishments is brought to our attention it is
appropriate to publicly proclaim and commend them for the edification
and emulation of others; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend William Stoneman upon the occasion of his selection to represent
the Capital Region in the national Jefferson Awards competition, noting
his exemplary service to his community and extending to him heartfelt
best wishes for a future of continued purposeful success and well-being;
and be it further

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to William Stoneman.