WHEREAS, William Jasparro, a retired firefighter with 26 years of experience and a member of the Rhode Island Lions Club, District 42, was saddened and appalled at the number of fires, and their tragic consequences, that took place this past winter and he decided to do something about it; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Jasparro decided to organize the Rhode Island Lions Club and obtained the help of the Rhode Island Fire Marshals, led by State Fire Marshal Irving Jesse Owens, the Rhode Island Association of Realtors with the help of Mr. Rick Phipps, the Radio Shack/Tandy Corporation, and the Serro-Scotty Corporation to develop some programs to help insure that smoke detectors are installed properly and to teach children how to be "firesafe"; and
WHEREAS, Soon there will be 60 Rhode Island Lions certified to install smoke detectors and will assist local fire marshals and fire chiefs when needed to help in the installation of smoke detectors; and
WHEREAS, With the help of the Serro-Scotty Corporation a new "Learn Not To Program" will soon begin. The Rhode Island Lions will have a fire safehouse trailer which will be used to teach schoolchildren in grades K-5 how to be fire safe. This "smoke house" trailer will be available to each Rhode Island school district for two weeks each year; and
WHEREAS, With the help of the Radio Shack/Tandy Corporation 5000 smoke detectors will be given to Governor Lincoln Almond and an additional 2000 will be given to the city of Providence; and
WHEREAS, Rhode Island "Operation Firesafe" is honored to have Mr. Henry Cisneros, United States Secretary for Housing and Urban Development, as its national spokesperson, and Mr. Salty Brine as its master of ceremonies; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby expresses enthusiastic support for "Operation Firesafe" and expresses its gratitude to all those who gave of their time, energy and resources to help establish, develop and support this program; 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 Mr. William Jasparro.
