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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud members of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority are |
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gathering in Austin on February 28, 2011, to celebrate Alpha Kappa |
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Alpha Day at the State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, The nation's first Greek sorority for African |
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American women, Alpha Kappa Alpha was founded as a social and |
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service organization on January 15, 1908, by Howard University |
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undergraduate Ethel Hedgeman Lyle and 19 other students; together, |
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these courageous women are today known as "the Twenty Pearls"; and |
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WHEREAS, The sorority seeks to cultivate and encourage high |
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scholastic and ethical standards, to promote unity and friendship |
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among college women, and to improve the social stature of women of |
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all ages; a member of the National Pan-Hellenic Council, Alpha |
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Kappa Alpha serves people around the world through the efforts of |
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more than 260,000 members in over 950 chapters located in the United |
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States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Korea, Japan, and Africa; |
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for 103 years, the group has made a positive difference with its |
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important work on civil rights, education, economic empowerment, |
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and improved health care; and |
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WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha partnered with the U.S. Census |
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Bureau in 2009 to help support the accuracy of the 2010 census; the |
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sorority's Texas chapters received a Census Partnership Support |
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Grant, and they organized into 33 Complete Count Committees across |
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the Lone Star State to help reach communities deemed "hard to |
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count"; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition, the sorority implemented a nonpartisan |
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National Voter Registration Blitz and "Take Five" Program in 2008, |
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resulting in the registration of 120,000 voters nationwide; in |
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Texas, 1,350 members distributed 11,250 registration cards, |
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registered more than 6,000 voters, and transported approximately |
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5,000 people to polling places on election day; and |
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WHEREAS, Many members of Alpha Kappa Alpha have gone on to |
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careers in public service, including Texas State Representatives |
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Dawnna Dukes, Dr. Alma Allen, and Senfronia Thompson and retired |
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state representative Wilhelmina Delco, as well as Denise Davis, |
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chief of staff for Speaker Joe Straus, and U.S. Congresswomen |
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Sheila Jackson Lee and Eddie Bernice Johnson; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the leadership of the sorority's 28th |
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international president, Carolyn House Stewart, Alpha Kappa Alpha |
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continues to address the issues of social justice, human rights, |
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health, poverty, economic security, and environmental |
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sustainability; the sorority's South Central Region is ably led by |
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its 23rd regional director, Gwendolyn J. Brinkley of Houston; and |
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WHEREAS, Wearing their official colors of salmon pink and |
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apple green, the members of Alpha Kappa Alpha are widely recognized |
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for their elegance, charm, intelligence, and quiet strength, and |
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the sorority continues to win renown for its service to Texas and |
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the nation; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 28, 2011, as Alpha Kappa |
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Alpha Day at the State Capitol and extend to the sorority's visiting |
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delegation sincere best wishes for an enjoyable and meaningful |
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event; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the sorority as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |