Date: 2008-06-04
Speaker: EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON (democrat)
Chamber: H
State: Texas

Madam Speaker. I yield myself such time as I might consume. House Concurrent Resolution 335. introduced by my friend and sorority sister. Ms. DIANE WATSON from California. is a bill to authorize the use of the Capitol Grounds for the 100th anniversary of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. and this anniversary event is scheduled for July 17. 2008. The event coordinators will work with the office of the Architect of the Capitol and the Capitol Police Board regarding staging the event with all events on the -Capitol Grounds. and will be free and open to the public. This sorority was founded on the campus of Howard University 100 years ago. Ms. DIANE WATSON is a 50year member. Im a 35year life member. And it was founded by nine visionary young women at the time. Ethel Hedgeman Lyle. Anna Easter Brown. Beulah Burke. Lillie Burke. Marjorie Hill. Margaret Flagg Holmes. Lavinia Norman. Lucy Slowe and Marie Woolfolk Taylor. The Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is the oldest Greekletter organization established for African American collegetrained women. The formation of the sorority during this moment in American history is significant because it helped jumpstart a movement of educated African American women who were resolute and determined to eliminate barriers for African Americans at a time when opportunities were limited for minorities. These courageous young women. one generation removed from slavery. were the forebears of an entity that has progressively evolved into an organization of 200.000 plus members and 975 chapters in both the U.S. and abroad. Today. membership in this organization represents a diverse constituency of women. from educators to heads of state. politicians. lawyers. medical professionals. media personalities. decisionmakers of major corporations. Built upon the principle of service. scholarship and sisterhood. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority extensively works to improve social and economic conditions through community partnerships and programs. These cornerstone values of the sorority will be on full display in the coming weeks as members. young and old. from across the globe come to our Nations capital to honor the organizations 100th anniversary. More than 20.000 members of the sorority will converge upon Washington. DC from July 11 until July 18. Members will participate in a variety of empowerment forums. lectures. workshops. community service activities centered on these principles throughout the length of the convention. During this weeklong celebration. members will reflect on 100 years of achievement. enjoy the unbreakable bonds of sisterhood. and look to the future as the organization prepares for the challenges of the next 100 years. As a proud member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. I extend my congratulations and very best wishes to all oK my sorors as they gather here in our Nations Capital. birthplace of our sorority. to pay tribute to 100 years of service. scholarship and sisterhood. Madam Speaker. I encourage all of my colleagues to support this resolution authorizing the use of Capitol Grounds for the celebration of the 100th anniversary of. the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. Incorporated. I reserve the balance of my time.