House Concurrent Resolution 41

A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION COMMENDING ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY ON THE OCCASION OF CELEBRATING ITS 98TH NATIONAL FOUNDERS DAY IN THE STATE'S CAPITAL CITY.

WHEREAS, Mississippi's capital city will be a sea of pink and green as members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., celebrate the 98th National Founders Day on January 13, 14 and 15, 2006; and WHEREAS, since its inception, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., (AKA) founded at Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908, grew from one undergraduate group of nine members to a national organization with more than 170,000 members in the United States, the Caribbean, Europe and Africa; and

WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha cultivates and encourages high scholastic and ethical standards, promotes unity and friendship among women, alleviates problems concerning girls and women and maintains a progressive interest in college life; and

WHEREAS, Linda M. White, the 26th International President of Alpha Kappa Alpha, implemented her 2002-2006 program with the theme, "The Spirit of Alpha Kappa Alpha," which is the acronym for sisterhood, scholarship, service, partnership, innovation, respect, involvement and technology, and features a national emphasis on three traditional targets: Education, [The Ivy Reading AKAdemy Pilot Program - "Reading One on One"; Presidential Freedom Scholarships and the Young Authors Program]; The Black Family [The Martin L. King Day of Service: "A Day On Instead of a Day Off"; and "The National Family Volunteer Day"] and Health [The Family History Collection, SIDS Conference and the Senior Health and Safety Issues]; and

WHEREAS, for many years Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., has been involved in public policy issues that impact the lives of great numbers of African Americans, such as when the sorority embarked on its first major health initiative, the Mississippi Health Project, that occurred from 1935 to 1942 when sorority members who were physicians, nurses and other health care providers served two to eight week terms for seven years during the summer months by providing health services to the citizens of Mound Bayou, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, in keeping with the traditions of this great sorority, a major highlight of the sorority's three-day celebration will be a journey back to Mound Bayou to relive this historic undertaking by providing medical services to its residents;

WHEREAS, other planned activities include the Community Health Expo, the National Institutes of Health Professional Development Forum and African American Heritage Tours; and

WHEREAS, it is with great pride that we recognize the civic contributions by respected organizations such as Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., that work so hard to serve the community:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE SENATE CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby commend the public policy service of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and congratulate this organization on the occasion of celebrating its 98th National Founders Day in the state's capital city.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copies of this resolution be furnished to the steering committee representatives of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.