LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council
of Orange County upon the occasion of hosting its 30th Annual Service
Award Celebration on June 2, 2016

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize and
applaud the efforts of those organizations within the State of New York
which aim to curb the use of alcohol and drugs within the community; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County upon the occasion
of hosting its 30th Annual Service Award Celebration on Thursday, June
2, 2016, at F.E.A.S.T. at Round Hill, Washingtonville, New York; and
WHEREAS, In 1972, the Alcoholism & Drug Abuse Council (ADAC) was
formed by concerned community members, as a non-profit organization
whose purpose was to address the disease of alcoholism and other drug
addictions; and
WHEREAS, In 1986, ADAC secured funding from the New York State Divi-
sion of Alcoholism and Alcohol Abuse to establish the organization; and
WHEREAS, From 1986-1994, Stephanie Hunter Lesky served as the Execu-
tive Director, and in January of 1995, James Conklin was appointed to
this esteemed position; today, this vital organization is led by Execu-
tive Director, James E. Conklin; and
WHEREAS, The Orange County Department of Mental Health was instru-
mental in assisting in the development process, and ADAC continues to
contract with this department annually to provide services; in 1989,
funds were secured from the New York State Division of Substance Abuse
Services to expand countywide drug prevention activities; today, the
Council continues to grow both financially and programmatically as
appropriate within the organization's mission; and
WHEREAS, For three decades, ADAC has strived to address the disease of
alcoholism and other drug addictions by educating the general public
about alcoholism and other drug addictions as treatable family diseases,
advocating on behalf of alcoholic and other drug dependent people and
those suffering the effects of alcoholism and other drug addictions,
developing a countywide voluntary constituency of actively concerned
individuals educated to the problems of alcoholism, other drug
addictions and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs, and preventing the
diseases of alcoholism and other drug dependencies and the abuse of
alcohol and other drugs through education and information dissemination;
and
WHEREAS, ADAC carries out this mission by identifying the needs of
Orange County residents in regard to every aspect of alcoholism, other
drug addictions and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs; educating all
who will listen as to the nature, cause and solutions to these identi-
fied needs; refer Orange County residents to community resources; advo-
cate for the establishment of policies and programs to meet these needs;
facilitate public recognition and acceptance of alcoholism and other
drug addictions as a treatable family disease; provide leadership in
public policy formulation on issues of local and statewide concern and
work cooperatively with all groups and individuals that comprise the
alcoholism and other drug addiction constituency as well as the general
public; as well as develop a community-wide voluntary constituency of
actively concerned individuals educated to the problems of alcoholism,
other drug addiction and the abuse of alcohol and other drugs; and
WHEREAS, In addition, ADAC offers training classes which allow an
individual to become a Credentialed Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counse-

lor (CASAC), a Credential Prevention Professional (CPP) or a Creden-
tialed Prevention Specialist (CPS); and
WHEREAS, The success of ADAC is in direct correlation to the efforts
of its staff, whose involvement is, and always has been, characterized
by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and an uncompro-
mising standard of excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the institu-
tion and the community it serves; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those organiza-
tions which enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and
have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have
earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County upon the
occasion of hosting its 30th Annual Service Award Celebration on June 2,
2016; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Council of Orange County.