LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Liana Hoodes upon the occasion of her
designation for special recognition by SomeOneSpecial of Middletown, New
York, on March 21, 2009, in celebration of Women's History Month 2009

WHEREAS, Women's History Month, celebrated each year in March, is a time
to reflect upon and pay tribute to the women of our State and Nation for
their contributions to their communities and their professions; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that women of every
economic, ethnic, and religious background have made significant
contributions to their community and to the State of New York, and it is
appropriate to recognize them and to publicly acknowledge their endeav-
ors which have enhanced the basic humanity among us all; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
Liana Hoodes upon the occasion of her designation for special recogni-
tion by SomeOneSpecial of Middletown, New York, on Saturday, March 21,
2009, in celebration of Women's History Month 2009, and to applaud
SomeOneSpecial for doing so; and
WHEREAS, The theme of Women's History Month 2009, Celebrating Women's
Achievements, provides a special opportunity to discover and celebrate
everyday women who have shown leadership in their community; and
WHEREAS, To ensure that women of accomplishment, such as Liana Hoodes,
are never forgotten, SomeOneSpecial is proudly honoring Liana Hoodes and
other Orange County women who have demonstrated remarkable talent and
hard work throughout the years; and
WHEREAS, Liana Hoodes moved to the Hudson Valley after graduating from
Kirkland College in 1976, with a degree in Archeology; she and her
husband began to work on cultural resources surveys and historic preser-
vation projects; they even started their own consulting firm, working
throughout New York, New Jersey and New England; and
WHEREAS, During the 1980s, Liana Hoodes became concerned about the
environmental issues facing Orange County; she, along with Michael Edel-
stein and Elmire Conklin, founded Orange Environment, Inc., a county-
wide not-for-profit environment advocacy, education, and research organ-
ization; and
WHEREAS, Following Orange Environment, Inc., Liana Hoodes was a legal
assistant for a law firm which specialized in civil rights, labor and
environmental law; and
WHEREAS, Late in 1994, Liana Hoodes began working for the National
Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture, a national network of diverse
individuals and organizations cultivating grassroots efforts to engage
in federal policies that result in food and agricultural systems and
rural communities that are healthy, environmentally sound, profitable,
humane and just; and
WHEREAS, During her 13-year tenure at the National Campaign, Liana
Hoodes was an Associate Director and Policy Organizer, initiating grass-
roots action nationwide on a myriad of sustainable agriculture policy
issues, eventually specializing in organic issues; and
WHEREAS, While at the National Campaign, Liana Hoodes began to work on
the National Organic Action Plan (NOAP), traveling across the United
States asking farmers, eaters, activists, and industry members to artic-
ulate a vision for the future of organic food and agriculture in the
country; and
WHEREAS, Liana Hoodes, along with Violet Stone and the late Ann
Botshon, started the Pine Bush Farmers Market in 2001; the goal of this
market was to support agriculture and farming in the Pine Bush region,
as well as to promote downtown economic development in the hamlet; and

WHEREAS, In 2008, Liana Hoodes began working for the Rural Advancement
Foundation International (RAFI-USA) in North Carolina and as the Policy
Coordinator for the National Organic Coalition, a Washington, D.C. based
policy advocacy organization; and
WHEREAS, Today, Liana Hoodes continues to advocate for a National
Organic Action Plan to support organic agriculture and to provide organ-
ic healthy food for all incomes in the United States; and
WHEREAS, Despite her busy professional life, Liana Hoodes has been
called upon to contribute her time and talents to countless civic and
charitable endeavors and has always given of herself unstintingly; and
WHEREAS, She has served on various committees in the Town of Shawan-
gunk, including the Open Space Committee, as well as the Town and Ulster
County Environmental Management Councils; and
WHEREAS, New York State is home to countless women, strong and color-
ful threads vital to the fabric of our rich heritage, who have and
continue to contribute to the advancement of our culture through their
exemplary leadership; and
WHEREAS, With her throughout have been her husband and their children,
all of whom feel privileged to be a part of her life and rejoice in her
achievements; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the wellbeing and vitality of their community and have shown a
long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have earned our
recognition and applause; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Liana Hoodes upon the occasion of her designation for special
recognition by SomeOneSpecial of Middletown, New York, on March 21,
2009, in celebration of Women's History Month 2009; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Liana Hoodes.