SR423: SR423 Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival; commend

25 LC 112 3460 Senate Resolution 423 By: Senators Anderson of the 43rd, Wicks of the 34th and Mangham of the 55th A RESOLUTION Commending and congratulating the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival for its outstanding1 efforts to foster a long and steady friendship between the City of Conyers and country of2 Japan; and for other purposes.3 WHEREAS, the 44th Annual Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, prese nted by Robins4 Financial Credit Union, takes place on Saturday and Sunday, March 22 and 23, 2025, at the5 Georgia International Horse Park; the 2025 theme of "Spring it on!" encourages6 festival-goers to embrace the fun and excitement of the international festival that heralds the7 start of spring; and8 WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival unites thousands of participants from the9 region to encourage better understanding of Japanese culture and other diverse nations and10 to celebrate 44 years of cultural history through international music, dance, arts, crafts, food,11 games, and family entertainment; and12 WHEREAS, the history of the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival stems from the gifting of13 several Yoshino Cherry Blossom trees that were planted througho ut the City of Conyers,14 signifying an alliance; and15 S. R. 423 - 1 - 25 LC 112 3460 WHEREAS, these cherished gifts, also known as Sakura, came from Hideo Ogino, former16 President of Maxell Corporation of America, to represent the friendship between nations, the17 renewal of spring, and the ephemeral nature of life; and18 WHEREAS, in 1982, Maxell and the Chamber of Commerce held the first Conyers Cherry19 Blossom Festival, scheduled during the blossoming of the beautiful Yoshino Cherry Blossom20 trees, the subject of nationwide adoration since the Heian period in Japan, more than 1,00021 years ago; and22 WHEREAS, traditionally, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival featured cooking classes,23 silk flower arranging, Oriental doll exhibits, Origami demonstrations, Kabuki theater, bonsai24 tree exhibits, karate demonstrations and a Haiku contest; the festival still incorporates many25 of these cultural connections; and26 WHEREAS, its growth in attendance and exhibitors made it necessary to relocate the festival27 from the grounds of Maxell to the Georgia International Horse Park; the City of Conyers and28 the Georgia International Horse Park now oversee and present th e annual Conyers Cherry29 Blossom Festival; and30 WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival continues to carry on the tradition of this31 important community event; the festival has become one of the largest and most successful32 events in the Southeast; and33 WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival is faithful to family and to the community34 and prides itself on giving back through year-long student art projects, pageantry, and35 auxiliary events, including mosaic and canvas art classes at Th e Sketching Pad as well as36 S. R. 423 - 2 - 25 LC 112 3460 Frog Habitat and Stepping into Nature projects that contribute to the conservation and37 beautification of the Big Haynes Creek Nature Center; and38 WHEREAS, since 2016, the Conyers Rockdale Council for the Arts and Rockdale County39 Public Schools have teamed up to present the annual Conyers Che rry Blossom Festival40 Student Photography Contest; winning photographs were on display at the Conyers City Hall41 and were recognized at a public reception, at the City Council meeting, and later at the42 festival; and43 WHEREAS, recreational partners such as the Georgia Quarter Hors e Association have44 partnered with the Georgia International Horse Park to offer Co nyers Cherry Blossom45 Festival Speed Classes to their showbill during the weekend's festivities; and46 WHEREAS, the Conyers Cherry Blossom Festival, with the support of the City of Conyers,47 its participants, and all of their partnering sponsors from the community, has the distinctive48 honor of being named a Multi-Award-Winning event; it has achieved top honors in multiple49 categories of the Kaleidoscope Awards, recognized by the Southe ast Festival and Events50 Association (SFEA), including Best Event, Best Marketing Campaign, Best Event within an51 Event, Best Mascot, Best Video and Best Photograph. The festival has also been recognized52 as a Signature Event in the Southeast awarded by Southeast Tourism Society for consecutive53 years.54 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE that the members of this body55 commend the City of Conyers and Georgia International Horse Park for their dedication to56 the community and state through the festival; congratulate the Conyers Cherry Blossom57 Festival on the remarkable occasion of its 44th Anniversary; and extend their sincerest best58 S. R. 423 - 3 - 25 LC 112 3460 wishes for the festival's continued successes to strengthen the unity and embracement of all59 cultures.60 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Secretary of the Senate is authorized and directed61 to make an appropriate copy of this resolution available for di stribution to the Conyers62 Cherry Blossom Festival.63 S. R. 423 - 4 -