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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., are |
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visiting the State Capitol on March 16, 2009, and this occasion |
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provides a fitting opportunity to honor the organization for its |
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legacy of civic involvement; and |
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WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta was founded in January 1913 by 22 |
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students at Howard University who were interested in promoting |
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academic excellence and serving their community, and their first |
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collective action was to participate in the Women's Suffrage March, |
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which was held in Washington, D.C., in March of that year; this |
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private, nonprofit organization went on to become incorporated in |
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1930, and today it has more than 200,000 members in 900 chapters in |
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the United States, England, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Islands, |
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Bermuda, the Bahamas, and the Republic of Korea; its purpose is to |
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provide assistance and support to communities across the world |
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through its established programs that focus on economic and |
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educational development, international awareness and involvement, |
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physical and mental health, and political engagement; and |
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WHEREAS, Although it is present on many college campuses, |
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Delta Sigma Theta is comprised mainly of alumni; active in their |
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communities, the organization's alumni remain committed to its |
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ideals, and they account for 76 percent of the total membership; |
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many of these influential citizens are educators, but they also |
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hold political offices, own businesses, and practice in a variety |
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of fields ranging from medicine to law; among the group's |
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distinguished alumni are two trailblazers, Shirley Chisholm and |
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Barbara Jordan; Ms. Chisholm was the first African American woman |
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to serve in the United States Congress, and in 1973, Ms. Jordan |
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became the first African American woman from a southern state to be |
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elected to the U.S. Congress; a Houston native and member of the |
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Texas Senate, Ms. Jordan made lasting contributions to the Lone |
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Star State, and she also had the distinction of being the first |
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woman to deliver the keynote address at the Democratic National |
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Convention; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its rich history, Delta Sigma Theta has |
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demonstrated a commitment to developing concerned citizens who work |
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in behalf of the greater good, and its members may indeed reflect |
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with pride on their organization's noteworthy tradition of |
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community service; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., for |
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its dedicated service to the community and outstanding record of |
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achievements and extend to all those associated with the group |
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sincere 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 Delta Sigma Theta as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |