PRINTER'S NO. 1736
No. 276 Session of 2003
INTRODUCED BY WASHINGTON, MANDERINO, BEBKO-JONES, YOUNGBLOOD, BISHOP, BROWNE, BUXTON, CLYMER, CORRIGAN, COSTA, COY, CREIGHTON, CRUZ, CURRY, DALEY, DeWEESE, DONATUCCI, D. EVANS, FABRIZIO, FAIRCHILD, FORCIER, FRANKEL, GEIST, GERGELY, GODSHALL, GOODMAN, GRUCELA, HARHAI, HERMAN, HORSEY, JAMES, JOSEPHS, KELLER, KIRKLAND, LAUGHLIN, LEWIS, McILHATTAN, PALLONE, PISTELLA, READSHAW, ROBERTS, ROEBUCK, ROSS, RUBLEY, SANTONI, SAYLOR, SHANER, THOMAS, TIGUE, TRAVAGLIO, WALKO, WILLIAMS AND WOJNAROSKI, MAY 7, 2003
INTRODUCED AS NONCONTROVERSIAL RESOLUTION UNDER RULE 35, MAY 7, 2003
A RESOLUTION 1 Honoring Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority by designating May 6, 2003, 2 as "Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Day" in Pennsylvania. 3 WHEREAS, In 1908, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority became America's 4 first Greek-letter organization established by black college 5 women; and 6 WHEREAS, The sorority's roots date back to Howard University, 7 Washington, D.C., where the idea for formation was conceived by 8 Ethel Hedgeman Lyle of St. Louis, Missouri, who viewed the 9 sorority as an instrument for enriching the social and 10 intellectual aspects of college life by providing mental 11 stimulation through interaction with friends and associates; and 12 WHEREAS, Through the years, the sorority's function has 13 become more complex, branching out and becoming the channel 14 through which selected college-trained women improved the
1 socioeconomic conditions in their city, state, nation and the 2 world; and 3 WHEREAS, In a world in which materialism is pervasive and 4 technology and competition have decreased the need for 5 collaboration and cooperation, it is critical to have an 6 association that cuts across racial, international, physical and 7 social barriers to help individuals and communities develop and 8 maintain constructive relationships with others; and 9 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is that vital 10 organization, a sisterhood composed of women who have 11 consciously chosen this affiliation as a means of self- 12 fulfillment through volunteer service, cultivating and 13 encouraging high scholastic and ethical standards, promoting 14 unity and friendship among college women, alleviating problems 15 concerning girls and women, maintaining a progressive interest 16 in college life and serving all mankind through a nucleus of 17 more than 150,000 women in the United States, the Caribbean, 18 Europe and Africa; therefore be it 19 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives honor the Alpha 20 Kappa Alpha Sorority by designating May 6, 2003, as "Alpha Kappa 21 Alpha Sorority Day" in Pennsylvania. C4L82MEP/20030H0276R1736 - 2 -