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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Amarillo Wesley Community Center is celebrating |
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| 6 | 7 | | its 70th anniversary in 2021, and this is a fine opportunity to pay |
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| 7 | 8 | | tribute to the nonprofit's outstanding contributions to the |
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| 8 | 9 | | community; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The center was first established in 1951 and |
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| 10 | 11 | | incorporated in 1972; in its early years, Maria Fields and a group |
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| 11 | 12 | | of women volunteers from Polk Street United Methodist Church |
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| 12 | 13 | | offered classes in English as a second language, sewing, and arts |
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| 13 | 14 | | and crafts, as well as athletic programs for young people and day |
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| 14 | 15 | | care services for children; the center continued to grow under the |
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| 15 | 16 | | leadership of executive directors Jacinto Alderete, who served for |
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| 16 | 17 | | 32 years, and Belinda Gonzalez Taylor, who served for 15 years; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Today, the center offers a wide variety of services |
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| 18 | 19 | | for area residents of all ages, including therapy services for |
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| 19 | 20 | | individuals, married couples, and families; its children's |
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| 20 | 21 | | programs include day care, an after school program, and a summer |
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| 21 | 22 | | camp, while teens may take advantage of the "Behind the Scenes" |
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| 22 | 23 | | Modeling and Mentoring Program and Wesley Club Wrestling; |
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| 23 | 24 | | opportunities for senior citizens include field trips, potluck |
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| 24 | 25 | | meals, a sewing club, games, and exercise activities; and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, The day-to-day functions of the center are overseen |
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| 26 | 27 | | by executive director Liz Rason Alaniz and her staff, which |
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| 27 | 28 | | includes CCS/ECDC billing manager Larisa Olvera, finance director |
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| 28 | 29 | | Christina Hamilton, financial operations manager Sonia Sanchez, |
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| 29 | 30 | | billing and grants manager Flavia Erives, fund development manager |
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| 30 | 31 | | Jennifer Steele, youth development director Brenda Fernandez, |
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| 31 | 32 | | senior citizens director Karla DeSantiago, mental health director |
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| 32 | 33 | | Leticia Ruiz, and children's program director Lucinda Frausto; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, The center also benefits from the oversight of its |
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| 34 | 35 | | board of directors, led by president Dixie Surratt, treasurer |
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| 35 | 36 | | Walter Webb, and secretary Pam Zwickey, with the contributions of |
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| 36 | 37 | | board members the Reverend Paul Bauernfeind, Jerry Branch, Cole |
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| 37 | 38 | | Fjetland, Javier Herrera, Jordan Herrera, Tomas Jaramillo, Robert |
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| 38 | 39 | | Ruiz, Manny de Los Santos, Adam Stone, Joe Dan Wilson, and Patricia |
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| 39 | 40 | | Thomson; the center's Foundation Board is led by president Daniel |
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| 40 | 41 | | Martinez and includes members Ernesto Sanchez, Isabel Ramon, Abe |
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| 41 | 42 | | Lopez, George Veloz, Richard Gower, Todd Wetsel, and liaison Walter |
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| 42 | 43 | | Webb; and |
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| 43 | 44 | | WHEREAS, Over the past seven decades, the Amarillo Wesley |
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| 44 | 45 | | Community Center has made a positive difference in the lives of |
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| 45 | 46 | | countless individuals and families, and its longevity is a tribute |
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| 46 | 47 | | to the dedication of its leadership and staff, past and present; |
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| 47 | 48 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 49 | 50 | | Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby commemorate the 70th |
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| 50 | 51 | | anniversary of the Amarillo Wesley Community Center and extend to |
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| 51 | 52 | | all those associated with the center sincere best wishes for |
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| 52 | 53 | | continued success in their important work; and, be it further |
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| 53 | 54 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 54 | 55 | | prepared for the Amarillo Wesley Community Center as an expression |
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| 55 | 56 | | of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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