Reps. Spade, Accavitti, Ball, Bieda, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrnes, Caul, Clack, Clemente, Constan, Farrah, Garfield, Gillard, Gonzales, Green, Hammel, Hammon, Hansen, Hopgood, Huizenga, Lahti, Kathleen Law, LeBlanc, Lemmons, Mayes, Meadows, Miller, Nofs, Palmer, Palsrok, Pearce, Polidori, Proos, Sak, Shaffer, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Valentine, Warren, Wojno, Robert Jones and Leland offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 337.

A resolution declaring the week of April 27, 2008, as White Cane Week throughout the state of Michigan.

            Whereas, The Lions of Michigan is an organization committed to enhancing the quality of life for all people, especially Michigan residents who are visually impaired; and

            Whereas, Each year, the Lions of Michigan promote a ten-day period in late April and Early May known as “White Cane Week,” in which they collect funds to assist the needy in obtaining eye examinations, eyeglasses and white canes. It also supports many sight conservation projects such as Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, the Michigan Eye Bank and Transplantation Center in Ann Arbor, and the Welcome Home for the Blind, a home for the elderly blind in Grand Rapids; and

            Whereas, White Cane Week serves to raise awareness among motorists about Michigan's White Cane Law, which provides blind pedestrians using white canes, walkers, or guide dogs with additional protection when using crosswalks and other pedestrian crossings; and

            Whereas, Begun by the East Side Detroit Lions, White Cane Week has been recognized by the Lions of Michigan since 1932 and has been recognized in Michigan in the form of the White Cane Law since 1936; and

            Whereas, The white cane has become an international symbol which identifies a sightless person in the community and reminds those who can see of the many obstacles the blind experience on a daily basis; and

            Whereas, The white cane, by allowing all blind people to move freely and safely from place to place, makes it possible for them to fully participate in and contribute to our society; and

            Whereas, Extending accessibility is essential to enabling those who lack sight, but not

vision, achieve a reasonable quality of life; and

            Whereas, White Cane Week aims to create among Michiganians a greater respect for the

white cane as a symbol of independence, not dependence; and

            Whereas, The white cane, which all blind citizens of our state has the right to carry, demonstrates and symbolizes their ability to achieve a full and independent life, and their capacity to work productively in competitive employment; and

            Whereas, During the last three decades, White Cane Week has alerted a multitude of community members to the needs of the blind and has helped many blind people live happy and fruitful lives as citizens of the Great Lakes State; and

            Whereas, This organization of devoted volunteers is committed to helping the visually impaired lead normal lives in today’s society, which depends so greatly on the ability to see for routine daily activities; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Resolutions, That the members of this legislative body declare the week of April 27, 2008, as White Cane Week throughout the state of Michigan.