WHEREAS, The purchasing and materials management profession has a significant role in the quality, efficiency and profitability of buisness and government throughout the United States; and

WHEREAS, The purchasing and materials management profession works for private, public, profit and nonprofit organizations; and

WHEREAS, In addition to the purchase of goods and services, the purchasing and materials management profession engages in, or has direct responsibility for, functions such as executing, implementing and administering contracts; developing forecasts and procurement strategies; supervising and/or monitoring the flow and storage of materials; and, developing working relationships with suppliers and other departments within the organization; and

WHEREAS, The purchasing and materials management profession has tremendous influence on the economic conditions in the United States, with an accumulative purchasing power running into the billions of dollars; and

WHEREAS, Purchasing or procurement operations range from one person departments to departments with several thousand employees; and

WHEREAS, The Purchasing Management Association of Rhode Island and other associations around the globe are holding activities and special events to further educate and inform the general public on the role of purchasing within business, industry and government; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby proclaims March, 1996 as "Purchasing Month in the State of Rhode Island"; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Purchasing Management Association of Rhode Island.