Senate Resolution No. 3264

BY: Senator BRESLIN

COMMENDING Brigitte Obermeyer upon the occasion of
her 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 Brigitte
Obermeyer upon the occasion of her 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, While attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI),
Brigitte Obermeyer of Troy, New York, worked with Active Minds, a
premier nonprofit organization supporting mental health awareness and
education for young adults addressing mental health issues; and

WHEREAS, As vice president of the RPI's Panhellenic Council,
Brigitte Obermeyer worked on a clothing drive, wrote letters to veterans
and brought in thousands of dollars for numerous non-profit
organizations; and

WHEREAS, At the Society of Women Engineers, Brigitte Obermeyer works
closely with young, under-represented women; and

WHEREAS, In addition, Brigitte Obermeyer and a friend organized the
"Stronger Than the Stigma" event on campus with more than 10 groups
participating; and over 100 attendees the first year, and over 300
attendees the second year; and

WHEREAS, With a steadfast commitment to her community, Brigitte
Obermeyer volunteers at the Troy Boys and Girls Club, where she launched
an enrichment program for kids with special needs, working on
handwriting skills, self-regulation and motor skills; 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 Brigitte Obermeyer upon the occasion of her selection to
represent the Capital Region in the national Jefferson Awards
competition, noting her exemplary service to her community and extending
to her 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 Brigitte Obermeyer.