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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Collegiate and alumnae members of the Delta Sigma |
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Theta Sorority are gathering in Austin on May 15, 2019, to mark Red |
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and White Day, a day of advocacy and action, at the State Capitol; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was initiated in 1913 |
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at Howard University in Washington, D.C.; the 22 original members |
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included four young women from Texas, Zephyr Chisom Carter, Jessie |
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McGuire Dent, Frederica Chase Dodd, and Myra Davis Hemmings, all |
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committed to academic excellence and social change; members marched |
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in a women's suffrage parade soon after, and they incorporated as a |
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national organization in 1930; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its founding, more than 200,000 women have |
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joined Delta Sigma Theta in the United States and several foreign |
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countries; the sorority encompasses approximately 1,000 chapters, |
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with many in the Lone Star State; participants work toward positive |
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change in their communities and advocate for economic development, |
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international awareness, physical and mental health, and improved |
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education; moreover, they mentor at-risk young women, conduct voter |
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awareness drives, host political forums, and help guide and inform |
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public policy; and |
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WHEREAS, Many members of the sorority have gone on to have |
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distinguished careers in public service, including Texas State |
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Representatives Rhetta Andrews Bowers and Toni Rose, as well as the |
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late state representative Ruth Jones McClendon and the late |
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congresswoman Barbara Jordan; and |
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WHEREAS, The women of Delta Sigma Theta have enriched the |
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State of Texas and the nation with their generosity and their wide |
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array of programs and services, and it is indeed a pleasure to |
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commend them for their noteworthy endeavors; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 15, 2019, as Red and White Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend to all those involved with the Delta |
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Sigma Theta Sorority sincere best wishes for the future; and, be it |
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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. |