House Resolution 76

(As Adopted by House)

A RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, ON THE OCCASION OF THE CENTENNIAL ANNIVERSARY OF THE ORGANIZATION'S FOUNDING AND COMMENDING THE VARIOUS MISSISSIPPI STATE CHAPTERS' ATTENDANCE FOR "DELTA DAY AT THE MISSISSIPPI STATE CAPITOL" TO PROMOTE "ADVOCACY IN ACTION FOR EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE".

WHEREAS, the year 2013 marks the Centennial year of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, as a distinguished and dynamic nonprofit, nonpartisan organization that was founded on Christian principles; and

WHEREAS, founded on January 13, 1913, on the campus of Howard University by student visionaries, Osceola Macarthy Adams, Marguerite Young Alexander, Winona Cargile Alexander, Ethel Cuff Black, Bertha Pitts Campbell, Zephyr Chisom Carter, Edna Brown Coleman, Jessie McGuire Dent, Frederica Chase Dodd, Myra Davis Hemmings, Olive C. Jones, Jimmie Bugg Middleton, Pauline Oberdorfer Minor, Vashti Turley Murphy, Naomi Sewell Richardson, Mamie Reddy Rose, Eliza Pearl Shippen, Florence Letcher Toms, Ethel Carr Watson, Wertie Blackwell Weaver, Madree Penn White and Edith Motte Young, who in sweet rhythm, God's rays of grace and divine order appointed these 22 darlings to dance harmoniously and courageously to create an organization with purpose for sisterhood, scholarship and service; and

WHEREAS, what began as a sisterhood of 22 has now developed into a sisterhood of over 300,000 predominantly African-American college educated women, with more than 900 chapters located throughout the United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea, with more than 60 chapters active within the State of Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, is dedicated to transforming lives and positively impacting communities through established public service programs created under its Five-Point Programmatic Thrusts of Economic Development, Educational Development, Internal Awareness and Involvement, Physical and Mental Health, and Political Awareness and Involvement; and

WHEREAS, as evidence of this dedication, on February 26, 2013, more than 100 members of the sorority have answered the clarion call to convene in Jackson, Mississippi, to attend "Delta Day at the Mississippi State Capitol" to promote "Advocacy in Action for Education and Health Care," as part of their commitment to social action and political awareness and involvement; and

WHEREAS, the alumnae chapters of Alcorn County, Bolivar County, Clarksdale, Clinton, Columbus-Lowdnes, Greenwood-Itta Bena, Jackson, Madison County, Meridian, Moss Point, Pike County, Vicksburg, and Yazoo along with the undergraduate chapters from Alcorn State University, Mississippi State University and Tougaloo College have traveled to the Mississippi State Capitol with immense civic pride to demonstrate their commitment to statewide civic engagement and to obtain legislative updates; and

WHEREAS, because "Delta Day" is a national political awareness initiative for the sorority, as well as a local initiative, thousands of members of this extraordinary sorority travel annually from around the world to the nation's capital in Washington, D.C., to attend "Delta Days in the Nation's Capitol," and to the United Nations for "Delta Day at the United Nations"; and

WHEREAS, March 2003 marked one of many historic milestones for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, when it was designated as a Nongovernmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations in recognition of its diligence in providing public service in various parts of the world that transcends cultures and diplomatic borders; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend such an illustrious sisterhood of women who have devoted their time, talent and treasures over the years to improve the lives of our citizens, and continue to devote countless hours of public service to transform lives and positively impact the communities throughout this great state, this nation and the world:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, on the occasion of its "2013 Delta Day at the Mississippi State Capitol," extend most auspicious congratulations to the sorority on the occasion of attaining 100 years of existence as a public service organization, and extend best wishes for continued success in all of its future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to the Presidents of the Mississippi Chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.