WHEREAS: Since its creation in 1994, the AmeriCorps National Service Program has been highly effective in promoting the ethic of service and volunteering by engaging citizens of all ages and backgrounds to meet a wide range of community needs; and

WHEREAS: Over the years, more than 540,000 men and women across the nation, including 4,100 from Arkansas, have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to “get things done for America” by becoming members; and

WHEREAS: Each year the program provides opportunities for 75,000 citizens across the Nation, including approximately 660 in Arkansas, to meet critical needs of our most vulnerable citizens by serving local needs through national and local, nonprofit and community organizations, VISTA, or the National Civilian Community Corps; and

WHEREAS: AmeriCorps was designed to give a key role to the Governors and state service commissions, including the Arkansas Service Commission, in deciding where to allocate resources to best meet statewide needs; and

WHEREAS: AmeriCorps has strengthened America’s independent sector by investing more than five-billion dollars in grants to support the efforts of countless nonprofit, community groups nationwide, and those grants have leveraged hundreds of millions in additional funds; and

WHEREAS: In return for their services, AmeriCorps members across the country have earned more than $1.4 billion to use in educational advancement at colleges and universities – including more than $14,500,000 earned by Arkansas residents; and

WHEREAS: AmeriCorps Week is an opportune time to salute AmeriCorps members and alumni for their powerful impact, to thank all of AmeriCorps’ community partners, and to bring more Americans into service;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, MIKE BEEBE, Governor of the State of Arkansas, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the laws of the State of Arkansas, do hereby proclaim May 11 through 18, 2008, as

ARKANSAS AMERICORPS WEEK

across the State of Arkansas, and I urge all citizens to commend AmeriCorps members and alumni for invaluable service to their communities.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Arkansas to be affixed this 6th day of May, in the year of our Lord 2008.

MIKE BEEBE, GOVERNOR

Charlie Daniels, Secretary of State

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