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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, America's first Greek-letter organization |
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established by and for African American college women, Alpha Kappa |
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Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, was founded on January 15, 1908, at |
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Howard University; and |
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WHEREAS, Ethel Hedgeman Lyle, along with 19 other courageous |
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women, organized the social and service group, and today, the |
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founders are affectionately known as the 20 Pearls; the sorority's |
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official colors are salmon pink and apple green, and the official |
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mascot is the ivy leaf; AKAs are known for their intelligence, |
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beauty, elegance, charm, and quiet strength; and |
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WHEREAS, The purpose of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is to |
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cultivate and encourage high scholastic and ethical standards, to |
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promote unity and friendship among college women, to study and help |
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alleviate problems concerning girls and women in order to improve |
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their social stature, to maintain a progressive interest in college |
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life, and to be of service to all mankind; AKA is a member of the |
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National Pan-Hellenic Council; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than 100 years, sorority members have |
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fulfilled their mission to serve others through a network of over |
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200,000 women in more than 975 chapters in the United States, the |
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Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Korea, and Japan and on the continent |
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of Africa; together they have made a positive difference in the |
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areas of civil rights, education, economic empowerment, and health; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In 2008, AKA implemented a National Voter |
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Registration Blitz and "Take Five" Program, which resulted in the |
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registration of more than 120,000 voters nationwide; during those |
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campaigns, 1,350 Texas Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority members contacted |
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some 60,000 potential voters and distributed 11,250 voter |
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registration cards; in the end, more than 6,000 Texans were |
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registered to vote, thanks to the efforts of AKA members, who also |
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provided transportation to the polls for approximately 5,000 |
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voters; and |
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WHEREAS, Barbara A. McKinzie, who serves as the 27th |
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international president, works to promote the sorority's current |
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theme of ESP: Economics, Service, and Partnerships; she is |
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supported by several regional directors, including Gwendolyn J. |
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Brinkley of Houston, who serves as the 23rd director of the South |
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Central Region; and |
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WHEREAS, AKA counts among its membership Texas state |
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representative Dawnna Dukes, District 46; Texas state |
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representative Dr. Alma Allen, District 131; Texas state |
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representative Senfronia Thompson, District 141; retired Texas |
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state representative Wilhelmina Delco, District 50; Denise Davis, |
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Texas House parliamentarian; United States congresswoman Sheila |
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Jackson Lee, 18th Congressional District of Texas; and former Texas |
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state senator and Texas state representative and current United |
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States congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, 30th Congressional |
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District of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority continues to prove |
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its relevance and its ability to stand the test of time with grace |
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and strength, and it is indeed a pleasure to commend its members for |
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their many outstanding endeavors; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize April 27, 2009, as Alpha Kappa Alpha |
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Day at the State Capitol and extend to all Texas AKA members sincere |
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best wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |