III 

111TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION S. RES. 468 

Honoring the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council on the celebration of its 

25th anniversary. 

IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES 

MARCH 24, 2010 

Mr. WHITEHOUSE (for himself and Mr. REED) submitted the following 

resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

APRIL 14, 2010 

Committee discharged; considered and agreed to 

RESOLUTION 

Honoring the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council on the 

celebration of its 25th anniversary. 

Whereas, on April 8, 2010, the Blackstone Valley Tourism 

Council will celebrate the 25th anniversary of its founding; 

Whereas, since 1985, the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council 

has been at the forefront of sustainable destination development, community building, resiliency, education, and 

scholarly research; 

Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council is a nonprofit corporation registered as a 501(c)(3) educational 

organization and is authorized under Section 42–63.1–5 

of the Rhode Island General Laws as the State-desVerDate Nov 24 2008 00:55 Apr 15, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR468.ATS SR468

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SRES 468 ATS 

ignated regional tourism development agency for the 

Blackstone Valley of Rhode Island; 

Whereas the development region of the Blackstone Valley 

Tourism Council follows the length and width of the 

Blackstone River Watershed, from the many tributaries 

in southern Massachusetts, to the end of the river at the 

headwaters of the Narragansett Bay in Rhode Island; 

Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council represents 

the Rhode Island cities of Pawtucket, Central Falls, and 

Woonsocket, and towns of Cumberland, Lincoln, North 

Smithfield, Smithfield, Glocester, and Burrillville; 

Whereas the Blackstone Valley is the birthplace of the American Industrial Revolution that began in 1790 in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, when Samuel Slater began textile 

manufacturing in a wooden mill on the banks of the 

Blackstone River; 

Whereas, since its beginning, the Blackstone Valley Tourism 

Council has worked to develop, promote, and expand the 

economic and community development base for the cities 

and towns in the Blackstone Valley to create a viable visitor and cultural destination that preserves the historic 

heritage of the region; 

Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council works as an 

interpreter and educator of the history and ecology of the 

Blackstone River, initiates ongoing international relationships of major importance to the region, provides input 

on future riverfront and economic development, and develops various recreational activities; 

Whereas the work that the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council accomplishes benefits from its partnerships with local 

social and community development organizations, municiVerDate Nov 24 2008 00:55 Apr 15, 2010 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR468.ATS SR468

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SRES 468 ATS 

palities, regional and State economic development organizations, educational institutions, and National and international entities; 

Whereas the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council was the first 

recipient of the Ulysses Prize from the United Nations 

World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) that merits distinction for innovative contributions to tourism policy, 

sustainable tourism planning, environmental protection 

and new technologies, and in 2006, the Council received 

the UNWTO.Sbest Certification in tourism governance, 

the only organization in the United States to earn this 

certification; and 

Whereas, in 2008, the World Travel and Tourism Council 

(WTTC) recognized the Blackstone Valley Tourism 

Council with its Tourism for Tomorrow Destination 

Award, a prestigious sustainable tourism development 

award, in recognition of the integrated, community-centered, resilient approach of the Council to tourism development and community building: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the Senate— 

2 (1) honors the Blackstone Valley Tourism 

3 Council on the celebration of its 25th anniversary; 

4 and 

5 (2) wishes the Council continued success. 

Æ 


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