|
|
|
SENATE RESOLUTION
|
|
WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
|
recognize the Bethune Woman's Club, which is celebrating 80 years |
|
of dedicated service to the people of the Brazos Valley; and |
|
WHEREAS, Founded in 1945 as the Negro Woman's Club, the |
|
Bethune Woman's Club has persisted throughout the previous eight |
|
decades and has upheld the club's founding mission to support |
|
recreational, civic, and charitable work in the region; the club |
|
was renamed for Mary Jane McLeod Bethune, an African American |
|
educator who founded Bethune-Cookman College and helped to form |
|
the National Council of Negro Women; she served as vice president |
|
of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People |
|
and served as an advisor to multiple American presidents; and |
|
WHEREAS, Charter members first gathered in November of |
|
1945 at the Masonic Building in Bryan; the location of the club |
|
house and youth center changed many times over the years before |
|
the club settled into its main location at the North Bryan |
|
Community Center, an effort that was achieved through a community |
|
initiative led in 1990 by longstanding club president Mrs. Mell |
|
Pruitt; and |
|
WHEREAS, In addition to serving as a recreational club for |
|
youth, the Bethune Woman's Club has sponsored many scholarships |
|
and events over the years, including an annual fall festival, a |
|
fashion fair, and a Debutante Ball and Sweetheart Ball; and |
|
WHEREAS, Mattie Robinson Carter, the club's eighth and |
|
current president, was elected in 2000; through her leadership |
|
and the devoted efforts of this exemplrary group of women, the |
|
club has facilitated fund-raising and has focused on technology |
|
and creating opportunities for local residents to become |
|
digitally educated citizens and problem solvers; club members |
|
have done much for the betterment of their community, and it is |
|
indeed fitting that they receive special recognition for their |
|
service; now, therefore, be it |
|
RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 89th |
|
Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby commend the members of |
|
the Bethune Woman's Club for their dedication to the community |
|
and extend sincere best wishes to all for continued success in |
|
the decades to come; and, be it further |
|
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
|
the club as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |