2017 -- H 6219

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

CELEBRATING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF CUMBERLAND SCHOOL VOLUNTEERS

AND THANKING MARY ANNE ROLL FOR SEVENTEEN YEARS OF DEDICATED

SERVICE AS THE ORGANIZATION'S DIRECTOR

     Introduced By: Representatives Ackerman, Marszalkowski, McLaughlin, Phillips, and
Kennedy

     Date Introduced: May 16, 2017

     Referred To: House read and passed

     WHEREAS, In 1967, a small group of dedicated women, led by Margaret-Ann Gardner,

banded together with the earnest intent to assist teachers with volunteer literacy programs in

Cumberland's public school classrooms. Although a noble and worthwhile cause, it proved to be a

lot more difficult than one would imagine. At the time, classroom teachers had no assistants, no

certification process for assistants existed, and volunteers were not allowed to teach inside school

buildings; and

     WHEREAS, In addition to Ms. Gardner, Barbara Chase, who went on to become Chair of

the Cumberland School Board, Wendy Leicht, who became the organization's first Director, and

Rose Rockwell were founding members of the group; and

     WHEREAS, Since its original inception the volunteer group evolved, ultimately gaining

the approval of the Rhode Island General Assembly and the Rhode Island Department of

Education, and is now known as Cumberland School Volunteers (CSV), a nonprofit organization

which has been directed by Mary Anne Roll for the past seventeen years; and

     WHEREAS, Over the past five decades, the CSV has provided thousands of parents who

assist teachers in school classrooms and hosts a number of programs within Cumberland's school

including "Reading Is Fundamental," which the group raises about $7,500 a year to fund, "Just

Friends, More Alike Than Different," and an award for a high school senior based on community

service, to name but a few; and

     WHEREAS, This year marks the golden anniversary of the founding of CSV and will

also see new leadership within the group with the retirement of Mary Anne Roll, and both of

these momentous events are deserving of our recognition and gratitude for a job well done; now,

therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and

Providence Plantations hereby celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Cumberland School Volunteers

and heartily thanks Director Mary Anne Roll for her vision and efforts on behalf of this fine

organization and the students of the Town of Cumberland. We moreover wish for many years of

continued success for both CSV and Ms. Roll; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Chair of the Cumberland School Board, and

Ms. Mary Anne Roll.

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