SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 359
WHEREAS, Proud members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority are
gathering in Austin on February 28, 2011, to celebrate Alpha
Kappa Alpha Day at the State Capitol; and
WHEREAS, The nation's first Greek sorority for African
American women, Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded as a social and
service organization on January 15, 1908, by Howard University
undergraduate Ethel Hedgeman Lyle and 19 other students;
together, these courageous women are today known as "the Twenty
Pearls"; and
WHEREAS, The sorority seeks to cultivate and encourage
high scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and
friendship among college women, and to improve the social stature
of women of all ages; a member of the National Pan-Hellenic
Council, Alpha Kappa Alpha serves people around the world through
the efforts of more than 260,000 members in over 950 chapters
located in the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany,
Korea, Japan, and Africa; for 103 years, the group has made a
positive difference with its important work on civil rights,
education, economic empowerment, and improved health care; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha partnered with the United
States Census Bureau in 2009 to help support the accuracy of the
2010 census; the sorority's Texas chapters received a Census
Partnership Support Grant, and they organized into 33 Complete
Count Committees across the Lone Star State to help reach
communities deemed "hard to count"; and
WHEREAS, In addition, the sorority implemented a
nonpartisan National Voter Registration Blitz and "Take Five"
Program in 2008, resulting in the registration of 120,000 voters
nationwide; in Texas, 1,350 members distributed 11,250
registration cards, registered more than 6,000 voters, and
transported approximately 5,000 people to polling places on
election day; and
WHEREAS, Many members of Alpha Kappa Alpha have gone on to
careers in public service, including Texas State Representatives
Dawnna Dukes, Dr. Alma Allen, and Senfronia Thompson and retired
state representative Wilhelmina Delco, as well as Denise Davis,
chief of staff for Speaker Joe Straus, and United States
Congresswomen Sheila Jackson Lee and Eddie Bernice Johnson; and
WHEREAS, Under the leadership of the sorority's 28th
international president, Carolyn House Stewart, Alpha Kappa
Alpha continues to address the issues of social justice, human
rights, health, poverty, economic security, and environmental
sustainability; the sorority's South Central Region is ably
led by its 23rd regional director, Gwendolyn J. Brinkley of
Houston; and
WHEREAS, Wearing their official colors of salmon pink and
apple green, the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha are widely
recognized for their elegance, charm, intelligence, and quiet
strength, and the sorority continues to win renown for its
service to Texas and the nation; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 82nd
Legislature, hereby recognize February 28, 2011, as Alpha Kappa
Alpha Day at the State Capitol and extend to the sorority's
visiting delegation sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and
meaningful event; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be
prepared for the sorority as an expression of high regard from
the Texas Senate.
West
________________________________
President of the Senate
I hereby certify that the
above Resolution was adopted by
the Senate on February 28, 2011.
________________________________
Secretary of the Senate
________________________________
Member, Texas Senate