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SR 8639

Recognizing April as National Donate Life Month.

2023-2024 Regular Session Introduced by Andy Billig and 15 co-sponsors

Senate Resolution honors Arlene Wagner for arts and nutcracker history contributions, celebrating her 100th birthday and boosting visibility for Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum.

Adopted.
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Bill Summary · SR 8639

Summary: Senate Resolution 8639 Honoring Arlene Wagner

Overview

  • Bill Type: Senate Resolution (SR)
  • Bill Number: SR 8639
  • Introduced: March 27, 2025
  • Status: Adopted (March 27, 2025)
  • Author/Sponsor: Senator Goehner
  • Official Certification: Secretary of the Senate, Sarah Bannister

SR 8639 is a ceremonial, non-binding resolution that honors Arlene Wagner for her lifelong contributions to the arts, culture, education, and her community. It recognizes her 100th birthday and highlights her achievements and public-spirited work.

Purpose and Intent

  • To acknowledge Arlene Wagner’s appreciation for the arts and her dedication to education and cultural preservation.
  • To celebrate her longevity (turning 100 years old) and the impact of her work on communities and visitors worldwide.
  • To publicly commend her generosity, willingness to teach, and broader contributions to society.

Key Provisions and Content

  • The resolution details Arlene Wagner’s background, including:
    • Birth in 1925 in St. John, Whitman County, Washington, to Lester and Ida Harwood.
    • Early life on a wheat farm and education in cooking.
    • Artistic interests as a baton twirler, majorette, and ballet dancer, with exposure to choreographic work related to The Nutcracker.
    • Family life, marriage to George Wagner in 1970, and raising three children.
    • Grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  • Notable achievements and contributions:
    • Co-founding the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum with her husband in 1995.
    • Donating portions of their personal nutcracker collection to the museum.
    • Growing the museum into one of the world’s largest nutcracker collections, with more than 9,000 nutcrackers from around the world, attracting international visitors.
    • Recognition as an authority on nutcracker history and education of visitors about the history of the nutcracker.
    • Authoring and publishing several books on nutcracker history, nuts, and cooking with nuts.
  • Formal enactment language:
    • The Senate “honor Arlene Wagner for her appreciation for the arts, a desire to learn, dedication to collection and generosity, a willingness to teach, and contribution to society,” and congratulates her on achieving 100 years of age.
    • The resolution is signed off by the Secretary of the Senate as a true and correct copy.

Who Is Affected

  • Primary: Arlene Wagner (honoree) and her family.
  • Secondary: The Washington state public, cultural and arts communities, visitors to the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum, and readers of her published works.
  • No changes to law, funding, or policy; this is a ceremonial recognition.

Procedural and Timeline Details

  • Introduced: March 27, 2025.
  • Adopted: March 27, 2025.
  • Classification: Resolution (non-binding, ceremonial).
  • Certification: The Secretary of the Senate (Sarah Bannister) issued a formal certification of the resolution.

Impact and Significance

  • The resolution publicly commemorates Arlene Wagner’s contributions to arts and culture and her role in preserving nutcracker history.
  • It may enhance visibility for the Leavenworth Nutcracker Museum and related cultural tourism.
  • It represents a symbolic gesture from the Washington State Senate honoring an individual’s life achievements and community impact.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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