LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 35th Anniversary of Mohonk
Consultations, Inc.

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and
commend those prominent institutions of the State of New York whose
actions have made a substantial impact on the quality of life in our
communities; 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 35th Anniversary of Mohonk Consultations, Inc. on May 7, 2015;
and
WHEREAS, The Smiley family established the Mohonk Mountain House in
1869, and contributed immensely to the development of the Hudson Valley
region into the international eco-tourism destination that it is today
through strong environmental preservation efforts; and
WHEREAS, Since 1883, Mohonk Mountain House has served as a central
meeting place for several important policy discussions, namely the
Mohonk International Arbitration Conferences which were held between
1895 and 1916; these meetings are believed to have spurred the formation
of several longstanding international peace organizations such as the
American Society of International Law, the New York Peace Society, the
World Peace Foundation and the Carnegie Endowment for International
Peace; and
WHEREAS, The Smiley family and their partners at Mohonk effectively
promoted an idea of a permanent international tribunal of arbitration
which prompted the International Peace Conferences at The Hague, Nether-
lands, in 1899 and 1907, and the establishment of a permanent Court of
Arbitration, more popularly known as the "Hague Tribunal"; and
WHEREAS, In 1963, with the assistance of his brother, Daniel Smiley,
A. Keith Smiley co-founded the Mohonk Trust, now known as the Mohonk
Preserve, to encourage living in harmony with the earth, to promote
public recreation and scientific research, and to address global envi-
ronmental concerns; and
WHEREAS, A. Keith Smiley went on to form Mohonk Consultations Inc. in
1980 with help from Helen Vukasin and members of The Mohonk Trust, out
of the longstanding tradition of bringing together a diversity of
perspectives for the purpose of raising international awareness of a
host of issues impacting our natural environment through the Quaker
tradition of peaceful inclusiveness; and
WHEREAS, Mohonk Consultations has deep roots in the International
Affairs Committee of The Mohonk Trust; Mr. Smiley, along with his wife,
Ruth H. Smiley, developed foreign student programs, international devel-
opment initiatives and environmental stewardship plans that were at the
forefront of any such movements in the country; and
WHEREAS, In 1991, the organization created a model farm, referred to
as the Phillies Bridge Farm Project, in Ulster County to train local
growers and residents in sustainable agriculture practices; and
WHEREAS, With help from local volunteers, Phillies Bridge continues to
be a vibrant spot in the community and encompasses five-acres of diver-
sified vegetable gardens, a children's Discovery Garden and a blazed
nature trail; each year, Phillies Bridge feeds hundreds of in-need
community members and engages over 2,500 people through a variety educa-
tion and outreach programs; and
WHEREAS, For 35 years, Mohonk Consultations has provided businesses,
government and education leaders throughout the Hudson Valley with sound
advice and guidance, collaborated with local colleges on social and
environmental projects and engaged in dialogues with local farmers to

preserve our areas natural resources and develop strategies for the
responsible use of our environment; and
WHEREAS, Mohonk Consultations' Board of Trustees have continually
honored A. Keith Smiley's vision of offering both a global and local
approach to problem-solving based on the belief that "there is no
substitute for dialogue," and that the people who carry out any project
must be a part of their decision-making process; and
WHEREAS, This strategy has been preserved through annual community
forums with themes ranging from Global Eco-Villages and Permaculture, to
Water Wars and Lessons Learned from Hurricane Katrina to Breaking the
Cycle of Lyme Disease; and
WHEREAS, In-depth discussions are held at conferences where issues of
social concern such as Crime Prevention, What Water Crisis?, Global and
Local Perspectives, The Transition Movement, The Future of Food Securi-
ty, Hunger in the Hudson Valley, Meeting the Climate Challenge: Taking
Action in the Hudson Valley and The Future of Family Farms in the Hudson
Valley, among many other topics that have been discussed by profes-
sionals and concerned residents including students, seniors and munici-
pal officials; and
WHEREAS, In an effort to pay due tribute to A. Keith Smiley, who
passed away in 2001 at the age of 91, and to recognize those individuals
and organizations who embody his work in the area of environmental
stewardship, Mohonk Consultations presents an annual Distinguished Envi-
ronmental Achievement Award to celebrate what is possible when a dedi-
cated, committed force is willing to devote the time, energy and passion
to protect our environment and communities; and
WHEREAS, Today, Mohonk Consultations continues the tradition of
promoting peaceful dialogue and environmental awareness through the
appreciation of all relationships of life on earth, and strives to
connect people and the planet through public forums, conferences, recog-
nition ceremonies and other forms of open meetings; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 35th Anniversary of Mohonk Consultations, Inc., and to
recongize their distinguished service and environmental stewardship to
the Hudson River Valley; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Brad Berg, Chair of the Board of Trustees of Mohonk Consulta-
tions, Inc., and the family of A. Keith Smiley.