By Giddings                                            H.R. No. 123
         76R4820 BE-D                           
                                 R E S O L U T I O N
 1-1           WHEREAS, Members of the Dallas-based Alpha Xi Omega chapter
 1-2     of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., will honor the rich history of
 1-3     their sorority and rekindle their spirit of purpose with a
 1-4     Founder's Day luncheon on February 20, 1999, at the Adam's Mark
 1-5     Hotel Dallas; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, Founded in 1908 on the Howard University campus in
 1-7     Washington, D.C., Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest Greek letter
 1-8     organization established by and for African American college women;
 1-9     the 16 original founders, purposeful and spirited Black women
1-10     determined to reap the benefits of education and empowerment, are
1-11     now revered as "The Splendid Sixteen," and recognized as examples
1-12     of strength and potential; and
1-13           WHEREAS, The group incorporated in 1913 and now serves more
1-14     than 200,000 college women and graduates through 882 chapters in
1-15     all 50 states, West Africa, the Bahamas, the Virgin Islands,
1-16     Germany, Korea, the Caribbean, and Great Britain; and
1-17           WHEREAS, The Founder's Day luncheon provides current members
1-18     with a chance to reflect on the tremendous advances and great
1-19     accomplishments brought about by earlier members; that reflection
1-20     in turn gives members today renewed vision and purpose, the
1-21     strengths so necessary to continue in their work; and
1-22           WHEREAS, The women of Alpha Xi Omega, as members of Alpha
1-23     Kappa Alpha, are part of an international effort entitled "Blazing
1-24     New Trails," which targets five areas for outreach and development
 2-1     worldwide as the millennium approaches: education, health, the
 2-2     Black family, economics, and the arts; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, In remembering and continuing the many works of "The
 2-4     Splendid Sixteen," today's members are part of a powerful and
 2-5     dynamic force, and in the words of the sorority's beloved
 2-6     historian, Dr. Marjorie Parker, "We recount and we honor what they
 2-7     did, so those who shall come after can remember . . ."; now,
 2-8     therefore, be it
 2-9           RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas
2-10     Legislature hereby honor the work and spirit of the Alpha Xi Omega
2-11     chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., as they host their
2-12     Founder's Day luncheon; and, be it further
2-13           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-14     prepared for the Alpha Xi Omega chapter as an expression of high
2-15     regard by the Texas House of Representatives.