By: Whitmire S.C.R. No. 26 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The State of Texas has a rich history of ethnic 1-2 diversity, including architecture, language, customs, attire, food, 1-3 and music that the early settlers and immigrants brought with them, 1-4 and one of these traditions is polka music, which continues to be 1-5 preserved by descendants of central European immigrants, namely 1-6 Germans, Poles, Ukrainians, Croatians, Slovenes, and Czechs; and 1-7 WHEREAS, A group of polka music fans on January 16, 1989, 1-8 established a Texas Chapter of Polka Lovers Klub of America 1-9 (Po.L.K. of A.), a nonprofit educational, charitable, and social 1-10 corporation formed for the preservation and advancement of polka 1-11 music and dancing, and this club now has well over 1,000 members, 1-12 who are dispersed throughout the State of Texas; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The Polka Lovers Klub of America has honored 1-14 deserving personalities and organizations who have made significant 1-15 contributions to the advancement and promotion of polka music and 1-16 dancing, and its members have formed many small groups who have 1-17 learned various polka and waltz dance routines and have performed 1-18 at nursing homes, schools, churches, and other community functions, 1-19 including participation in numerous parades held in different areas 1-20 of the State of Texas; and 1-21 WHEREAS, The Polka Lovers Klub of America membership is open 1-22 to all ethnic groups and strives to advance mutual interests and 1-23 encourage greater cooperation and social betterment and improvement 1-24 among its members who are engaged in and enjoy polka music 2-1 entertainment; and 2-2 WHEREAS, The Polka Lovers Klub of America is dedicated to 2-3 strengthening the polka music tradition in the State of Texas, and 2-4 as a result of such devotion, polka music has been discovered by a 2-5 vast number of Texas citizens who have seen the beautiful parade 2-6 float and the colorful red and white attire worn by its members, 2-7 and the Polka Lovers Klub of America has received many awards for 2-8 its outstanding entries in numerous parades held in various cities 2-9 throughout the State of Texas; now, therefore, be it 2-10 RESOLVED, That the 74th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-11 hereby declare that polka music is the most preserved music 2-12 tradition in the State of Texas, and that special recognition for 2-13 preserving music, customs, and language be given to the Polka 2-14 Lovers Klub of America for the enjoyment for all who appreciate 2-15 good music and for the generations of young Texans still to come; 2-16 and, be it further 2-17 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 2-18 prepared for the membership of the Polka Lovers Klub of America as 2-19 an expression of the admiration and appreciation of the Legislature 2-20 of the State of Texas.