Bill Text: GA SR458 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Republic of Austria; express cultural, economic, and educational cooperation
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2009-03-04 - Senate Read and Adopted [SR458 Detail]
Download: Georgia-2009-SR458-Enrolled.html
09 LC 94
0970
Senate
Resolution 458
By:
Senator Hill of the 32nd
A
RESOLUTION
Expressing
cultural, economic, and educational cooperation with the Republic of Austria;
and for other purposes.
WHEREAS,
there is a bond of friendship between the citizens of Georgia and Austria and
Georgia welcomes all opportunities to grow our already deep relationship at all
levels including cultural, academic, business, and all others; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is proud to serve as home to the Honorary Consulate General of the
Republic of Austria; and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is proud to serve as home to the Austrian Trade Commission;
and
WHEREAS,
Georgia is proud to be the home of over 18 Austrian companies, employing many of
our Georgia citizens; and
WHEREAS,
the cities of Atlanta, Georgia, and Salzburg, Austria, are official Sister
Cities; and
WHEREAS,
in the early 1730's, about 300 Evangelical Lutherans from the countryside
outside Salzburg were welcomed by the new colony of Georgia and were its first
religious refugees; and
WHEREAS,
the first group of about 60 refugees arrived in the one-year old settlement of
Savannah on March 12, 1734, after a stormy and difficult voyage from England
where they were greeted by General Oglethorpe, who offered them a site about 20
miles down the Savannah River, and the entire town turned out to watch their
arrival, and several cannon were fired to salute Georgia's newest colonists;
and
WHEREAS,
General Oglethorpe also approved their choice of a name for their new
settlement: Ebenezer, a biblical word meaning "stone of help" and Ebenezer
became the second town of colonial Georgia; and
WHEREAS,
the original site of Ebenezer presented serious hardships and many people died
and, in 1736, the settlers asked General Oglethorpe to let them move to a less
swampy area nearby which they called "New Ebenezer"; and
WHEREAS,
later other German speaking people, mostly Swiss Germans, Palatines, and
Swabians, joined the Salzburgers at Ebenezer and all of these Germanic people
became known as "Salzburgers"; and
WHEREAS,
the Salzburgers established the first Sunday School in Georgia in 1734 and also
organized what is recognized as the first public orphanage in America, now named
the Treutlen House; and
WHEREAS,
John Adam Treutlen, who was fleeing an abusive step-father, was one of the first
beneficiaries of the orphanage and later became the first elected Governor of
the State of Georgia, and the center is now named in his honor; and
WHEREAS,
a group of descendants of the original settlers have joined together as the
Georgia Salzburger Society and operate a small museum near the church and
support geneological research; and
WHEREAS,
each year on Labor Day the group holds a heritage festival which is attended by
many people in native Salzburger dress.
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body hereby
recognize the special friendship between Georgia and Austria and express our
appreciation to Honorary Consul General Ferdinand Seefried for his tireless
efforts to promote peace and grow business, cultural, and educational ties
between our two nations.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this body hereby encourages further cultural,
educational, and business exchanges between citizens of Georgia and Austria and
welcomes all opportunities to develop the special bond of friendship between
Georgia and Austria.
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed
to transmit an appropriate copy of this resolution to Consul Seefried.
