Bill Text: NY J01533 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

New York Senate Resolution 1533 (Prior Session Legislation)

Introduced

Bill Title: Commending Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter upon the occasion of hosting its Annual Community Charter Day Celebration

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Passed) 2019-05-21 - ADOPTED [J01533 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J01533-Introduced.html


Senate Resolution No. 1533

BY: Senator COMRIE

        COMMENDING    Alpha    Kappa    Alpha    Sorority,
        Incorporated  Epsilon  Pi  Omega  Chapter  upon  the
        occasion of hosting its Annual Community Charter Day
        Celebration,  and  paying  tribute  to  this  year's
        honorees on June 9, 2019

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to commend  those
illustrious  organizations  within the State of New York whose focus and
intent have made a substantial impact on the quality of  life  in  their
communities; and

  WHEREAS,  Attendant  to  such  concern,  and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this  Legislative  Body  is  justly  proud  to
commend  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority,  Incorporated  Epsilon  Pi Omega
Chapter upon the occasion of hosting its Annual  Community  Charter  Day
Celebration,  and to pay tribute to this year's honorees on Sunday, June
9, 2019; and

  WHEREAS, This year's honorees include: Gary B. Clifton,  Outstanding
Community  Leader,  Recreational Inner-City Sports and Education program
(R.I.S.E.); and St. Albans Congregational Church's Because We Care  Food
Pantry  and Clothing Boutique, Excelsior Award for Outstanding Community
Organization; and

  WHEREAS, In addition, college  scholarships  will  be  presented  to
several  deserving graduating high school students who reside in Queens,
New York; and

  WHEREAS, On January 15,  1908,  Ethel  Hedgeman  and  eight  of  her
like-minded   friends   founded   Alpha   Kappa  Alpha  (AKA)  Sorority,
Incorporated at  Howard  University,  a  historically  black  university
located  in  Washington,  D.C.; the women created the support network to
benefit not only  themselves,  but  others  through  their  talents  and
strengths; and

  WHEREAS,  From  the  original  group of nine women, AKA Sorority has
grown into a force of more than 290,000 collegiate members and  alumnae,
constituting  1,007 chapters in 42 states, the District of Columbia, the
US Virgin Islands, the Bahamas, Germany, Liberia,  South  Korea,  Japan,
Canada, South Africa and the Middle East; and

  WHEREAS,  For more than a century, AKA Sorority has remained true to
its mission comprised of five basic tenets: to cultivate  and  encourage
high  scholastic  and  ethical  standards,  promote unity and friendship
among college women, study and help alleviate problems concerning  girls
and  women  in  order  to  improve  their  social  stature,  maintain  a
progressive interest in college life, and above all, be  of  Service  to
All Mankind; and

  WHEREAS,  In  1950,  32  dynamic college-trained, professional women
sought to perpetuate the traditions and ideals of AKA; their  vision  to
improve  the  quality  of life for the residents of the Queens community

led them to form the Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter, which  was  chartered  on
May 13, 1950, at the Springfield Gardens United Methodist Church; and

  WHEREAS,  Over the years the Chapter's membership has increased from
the original 32 charter members to over 100 active  Sorors;  in  keeping
with  the  sorority's  tradition  of  promoting  academic excellence and
enriching  the  lives  of  college  women,  the  Chapter  chartered  two
undergraduate  chapters,  Nu  Mu  and  Nu  Psi  for selected students in
Queens; and

  WHEREAS, Since its inception, Epsilon Pi Omega has collaborated with
a variety of governmental and community  organizations  to  address  the
needs  of  residents of the Queens community through innovative programs
and activities which focus on education, economic  empowerment,  health,
the arts and the black family; and

  WHEREAS,  Under  the  luminous  leadership  of  President  DeRosette
Harrison, the  success  of  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority,  Incorporated
Epsilon  Pi Omega Chapter is in direct correlation to the efforts of its
dedicated  members,  whose  involvement  is,  and   always   has   been,
characterized  by an impressive commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm, and
an uncompromising standard of excellence in all endeavors on  behalf  of
the sorority and the population it serves; and

  WHEREAS,  It  is  the  sense  of  this  Legislative  Body that those
organizations  which  enhance  the  well-being  and  vitality  of  their
community  and  have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence
certainly have earned the recognition and applause of all  the  citizens
of this great Empire State; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Alpha  Kappa  Alpha  Sorority,  Incorporated  Epsilon  Pi  Omega
Chapter  upon  the  occasion of hosting its Annual Community Charter Day
Celebration, and to pay tribute to this year's honorees on June 9, 2019;
and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted   to   DeRosette  Harrison,  President,  Alpha  Kappa  Alpha
Sorority, Incorporated Epsilon Pi Omega Chapter.