House Resolution 80

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING AND CONGRATULATING THE MADISON COUNTY, MISSISSIPPI, ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, UPON ITS 10-YEAR ANNIVERSARY.

WHEREAS, the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is being honored upon its 10-year anniversary as members of the prolific chapter celebrate "A Decade of Service, Designed for a Purpose"; and

WHEREAS, in 2004 a group of beautiful and service-minded Delta women made a commitment to offer services to in-need women, men and children via community programs as outlined in the Five Point Programmatic Thrust of the national organization, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and the programs are as follows: Economic Development, Educational Development, International Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health and Political Awareness and Involvement; and

WHEREAS, as a result of this valuable commitment, the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter was charted on April 26, 2008, under the leadership of then Regional Director of the sorority, Christine Nixon, and under the principles of public service and sisterhood; and

WHEREAS, upon the chartering of this fine alumnae chapter, it became the 20th chapter in the Southern Region as 50 dynamic Delta women were inducted as charter members, and since that time, the chapter has continued to flourish through member reclamations in and around Madison County, Mississippi, collegiate member transitions to the alumnae chapter and through the induction of 27 new members in April of 2017; and

WHEREAS, the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter, which services the areas of Camden, Canton, Farmhaven, Flora, Gluckstadt, Madison, Ridgeland and Sharon, has contributed to or participated in a plethora of activities since its chartering, some of which include: American Red Cross Relief Fund; Back to School Supply Drives and Adopt-A-Family programs in Madison and Canton; ACT Workshops; Wiggin' Out for a Cure wig drives for the American Cancer Society Diva Den; physical and mental health wellness fairs and community walks; business expos and entrepreneurship workshops; World AIDS Day programs; expungement clinics; Little Dresses for Africa international awareness projects; consumer protection and fraud workshops, voter registration drives and policy symposiums as well as many youth educational development programs such as Delta Academy, Delta GEMS and EMBODI and over $50,000 in scholarships to high school seniors;

and

WHEREAS, due to the diligent and productive work of the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter, which is a role model for other public service organizations, it has earned numerous distinguished service awards within the sorority and from other service organizations such as the American Cancer Society, which is a true testament of the powerful impact the chapter has made in its endeavors; and

WHEREAS, throughout the decade of service that the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter has provided superb leadership through its chapter presidents, Daphne M. Higgins (2008-2012), Katrina B. Myricks (2012-2016) and Jennifer M. Riley (2016-present); and

WHEREAS, in addition to the astute leadership of the chapter, which currently has 160 members, many of its members have served in state, regional and national leadership roles for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., which speaks to the caliber of Delta women that make up the chapter; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to pay tribute to an exceptional public service organization such as the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., whose contributions not only greatly benefit its service areas - but greatly benefit the Magnolia State as a whole:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend and congratulate the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., upon its 10-year anniversary and wish the members of the chapter many more decades of service, designed for a purpose.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the president of the Madison County, Mississippi, Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.