Senator Gleason offered the following resolution:

            Senate Resolution No. 192.

            A resolution declaring Flushing, Michigan, as the Outside Family Movie Capital of Michigan.

            Whereas, "Flushing Movies in the Park" was founded when co-founder and Flushing police officer Eddie Dolgan, a D.A.R.E. officer, was approached by a local citizen who remembered camping in Northern Michigan as a child, where some Saturday nights, folks would show home movies on the side of a building. Officer Dolgan thought this would be a great idea to give the kids and families of the community something to do on a Saturday night in town. He then contacted the Teen Activities Committee that had been established by the Flushing City Council and asked if they could help put a program such as this together. With the vital leadership of fellow co-founders, Walt Skidmore, John Spader, Laverne Schnieder, Craig Gagne, David Lewicki, Dean Hiteshew, and the Flushing Fire Fighters Inc., "Flushing Movies in the Park" was off and running; and

            Whereas, Lacking a large enough venue for a drive-in movie experience and wanting people to get a chance to visit with their neighbors, the idea of showing movies on the sidewall of the D.P.W. building in the Riverview Park was hatched. The first year the projector and projectionist were borrowed, and the films were rented as cheaply as possible, but the idea took off, and more people came to watch the movie than anyone had ever expected. A popcorn machine was borrowed and Pepsi Co. donated the use of one of their tin fair buildings and supplied all the pop for the concession stand; and

            Whereas, In the following years, with the help of the Community Foundation of Greater Flint and the D.A.R.E. program, the organizers of the program were able to purchase their first 16mm projector through the generous donation of a local dentist and had three projection screens donated to it. By this time, the movies program had moved from the D.P.W. building to the newly-constructed band shell in the park; and

            Whereas, With interest growing, many local merchants wanted to help the program prosper. Donations of money started to come in to help pay for the rental and license fees for the movie rentals, and soon an intermission slide show was put together to spotlight those in the community who were helping to support the program. Locally-raised funds provided money for concession items like a popcorn popper and snow cone machine, while the city of Flushing provided the necessities of a sound system, bleachers, and even a small 19th century building to be used as a concession stand. Shortly after, the concession stand was named the "Teen Canteen," as a way to benefit the community, allowing local not-for-profit teen groups to fundraise for their organizations at no cost to themselves; and

            Whereas, After 13 years in operation, through hard work, community involvement, and the support of local businesses and generous philanthropists, "Flushing Movies in the Park" remains to be free and self-funded, with the Flushing community there to support its needs and to fill its seats; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the Senate, That Flushing, Michigan, is declared the Outside Family Movie Capital of Michigan; and be it further

            Resolved, That a copy of this resolution be transmitted to the Movies in the Park Committee of Flushing.