Honor Audrey Hawkins Award

23, 2020, at Pat's Barn in Rensselaer, New York; and WHEREAS, Audrey Hawkins is receiving this prestigious award for her steadfast and unremitting commitment to The Pine Hollow Arboretum; a close friend of Founder Dr. John Abbuhl, she was one of the original Trustees of the Arboretum; and WHEREAS, Through the outstanding efforts of individuals such as Audrey Hawkins, The Pine Hollow Arboretum strives to shape the next generation of environmental stewards, educators and leaders; and WHEREAS, Established in 2007, The Pine Hollow Arboretum strives to preserve, manage and enhance native and introduced species of trees, shrubs and other plants in a natural environment; its horticultural collection consists of over 3,600 unique trees, shrubs and other woody plants from around the world, some of which are rare and/or endangered; and WHEREAS, After 15 years as a volunteer with the Red Cross Blood Program, Audrey Hawkins began her long and distinguished career in the horticulture field; she is a Master Gardener with the Cornell Cooperative Extension, and became involved with the Washington Park Conservancy where she was instrumental in identifying the trees in the Park; and WHEREAS, As a member of the Fort Orange Garden Club, Audrey Hawkins also helped identify the trees in the Albany Rural Cemetery, and several years later, she and a group of fellow gardeners compiled a brochure for a "Tree Walk in the Cemetery"; and WHEREAS, It is incumbent upon all citizens to recognize and applaud the efforts of individuals such as Audrey Hawkins who work tirelessly on behalf of protecting our natural surroundings for the benefit of present and future generations of New Yorkers; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to honor Audrey Hawkins upon the occasion of her designation as recipient of the Spirit of the Arboretum Award by The Pine Hollow Arboretum on