Bill Text: NY J00033 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Honoring Dr. Raymond H. Werking, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation as recipient of the Harvey Milk Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-01-15 - ADOPTED [J00033 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00033-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 33

BY: Senator BRESLIN

        HONORING  Dr.  Raymond  H.  Werking,  Jr. upon the
        occasion of his  designation  as  recipient  of  the
        Harvey Milk Award by the Pride Center of the Capital
        Region

  WHEREAS,  This  Legislative  Body  recognizes the profound impact of
those exemplary individuals within the  great  State  of  New  York  who
proactively  work  for  the enfranchisement of minority communities, and
the importance of such work for the benefit  of  all  citizens  of  this
State, and indeed, all citizens of the Nation; and

  WHEREAS,  This Legislative Body is justly proud to honor Dr. Raymond
H.  Werking, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation  as  recipient  of
the  Harvey  Milk  Award by the Pride Center of the Capital Region to be
celebrated at its Annual Awards Gala on Friday, October 19, 2018, at the
Albany Capital Center, Albany, New York; and

  WHEREAS, This auspicious event benefits  the  Pride  Center  of  the
Capital Region and celebrates the important contributions of individuals
who  work  hard  to  empower the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and
queer/questioning (LGBTQ) community; and

  WHEREAS, This  prestigious  award  is  given  to  a  person  in  the
community  whose work emulates the ideals of Harvey Milk; Dr. Raymond H.
Werking, Jr. truly "talks the talk and walks the walk"; and

  WHEREAS, A beloved English teacher and  professor,  Dr.  Raymond  H.
Werking, Jr.'s life parallels that of Harvey Milk in many ways; he was a
passionate  advocate  for  education and won three spirited elections to
the East Greenbush Central School District Board of Education; in  2003,
his  win  is  thought  to  be  the  largest  proportionate win ever in a
contested school board election; and

  WHEREAS,  Throughout  his  tenure,  Dr.  Raymond  H.  Werking,   Jr.
accomplished  numerous goals; he established the first intramural sports
league in the nation which included special needs students in 1975,  and
diligently  worked  on  behalf  of  blue collar workers, earning him two
major awards from the CSEA; and

  WHEREAS, In 2007, Dr. Raymond H. Werking, Jr. used an  obscure  case
law  to  establish  a  "legitimate  GSA with a paid advisor" in his alma
mater, Columbia High School; subsequently,  the  school's  GSA  was  the
recipient  of  the  Paul  Postiglione  Award  in  the first month of its
existence; and

  WHEREAS,  A  lifelong  educator,  Dr.  Raymond  H.   Werking,   Jr.,
affectionately  known  as Dr. Ray, is well-known for his 13-year role as
the  Host,  Executive  Producer,  and  a  cleared  engineer  of   WRPI's
"HomoRadio", the most listened to college radio program in the world; he
works  an  average  of  three  days  per  week  preparing  the  show and
interviewing both regional and international guests; during his  tenure,
the  show  has  increased  from two hours to four hours, and the ratings
have skyrocketed; and


  WHEREAS,  For  the last two decades, Dr. Raymond H. Werking, Jr. has
also worked tirelessly with LGBTQ+ youth at risk; he serves  as  co-host
on  a  weekly  podcast  for  A Thousand Moms, an organization for LGBTQ+
youth in foster/adoptive care; and

  WHEREAS, For his many and valuable  contributions  to  society,  Dr.
Raymond  H.  Werking,  Jr.  was  the  recipient  of  numerous awards and
accolades; as a retired member of the GLSEN Board of Directors, Dr.  Ray
accepted  the  organization's  Ally  of  the  Year  Award  on  behalf of
"HomoRadio" in 2016,  and  presented  the  Keynote  Address  at  GLSEN'S
Breaking the Silence event the following year; and

  WHEREAS,  Dr.  Raymond  H.  Werking,  Jr.  also  received  the  2009
Community Service Award  by  the  Capital  Pride  Center  and  the  2018
Volunteer of the Year Award by A Thousand Moms; and

  WHEREAS, In 1982, Dr. Raymond H. Werking, Jr. received commendations
of  valor  from  the  DEA,  FBI,  and  the New York State Police for his
courage while participating in the largest undercover drug investigation
in New York State history at that time; and

  WHEREAS, In everything that he thinks, says and does, Dr. Raymond H.
Werking, Jr. is guided by the same mantra as  Harvey  Milk:  "You  gotta
give 'em hope!"; and

  WHEREAS,  Our society is greatly benefited by the purposeful efforts
of individuals who unite for the cause of improving the quality of  life
for others, and who proactively work toward the goal of dignity for all;
and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense of this Legislative Body that those who
enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and have shown  a
long  and  sustained  commitment to excellence certainly have earned the
recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great Empire State;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
honor  Dr.  Raymond H. Werking, Jr. upon the occasion of his designation
as recipient of the Harvey Milk Award by the Pride Center of the Capital
Region; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to Dr. Raymond H. Werking, Jr.