TITLE: Recognizing April 30, 2013, as Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce Day at the State Capitol.

SUMMARY: Recognizing April 30, 2013, as Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce Day at the State Capitol.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, Members of the Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce are gathering in Austin on April 30, 2013, to celebrate Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce Day at the State Capitol; and WHEREAS, A nonprofit organization with headquarters in Houston, the TCBCC works to promote the economic, civil, and social welfare of African American business owners and professionals; and WHEREAS, Led by chair Doretta Fisher, president and CEO Leondria Thompson, vice president A. Todd Jackson, secretary Diatra James, treasurer Verna McCarthy, and directors Henry Mosley, Sherri Gongara, Eugene Smith, and Marcial Orlando Felix, members of the TCBCC represent small businesses, corporations, community and professional associations, and other chambers of commerce; and WHEREAS, Focusing on business education, advocacy, and development, the organization offers training sessions and workshops featuring discussions of best practices and strategies for securing financing, stimulating job creation, and facilitating entry into the global marketplace; it also arranges town hall meetings with elected officials and provides technical assistance and venues for networking as additional benefits to membership; and WHEREAS, The TCBCC was inspired by Booker T. Washington's Negro Business League; established in 1900, the league advanced the philosophy that independent business development was a condition for economic cooperation, independence, and prosperity; Marcus Garvey founded similar organizations in the early 20th century, including the Universal Negro Improvement Association and the African Communities League, which advocated that African Americans should have the opportunity to legislate for their own common good; Mr. Garvey spent much of his time and energy promoting trade and commerce between Black people from the United States and Africa, Central and South America, and the West Indies; and WHEREAS, Following this distinguished legacy, the TCBCC's most recent trade mission, held in Belize in March of 2013, brought together entrepreneurs and government officials to explore partnerships and export opportunities with Belize's Ministry of Energy, Science & Technology and Public Utilities; the TCBCC has a similar business development mission planned for July and August 2013, when its members will visit Panama City, Panama, and Barranquilla, Colombia, to discuss how micro and small business owners can benefit from U.S. free trade agreements; and WHEREAS, By working to build a network of prosperous business owners actively promoting global competitiveness, the Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce is benefiting countless people and is making a noteworthy contribution to the prosperity of the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas Legislature hereby recognize April 30, 2013, as Tri-County Black Chamber of Commerce Day at the State Capitol and extend to the organization's members sincere best wishes for continued success. Reynolds Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1802 was adopted by the House on April 30, 2013, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House