Florida Senate - 2009                             (NP)    SR 180
       
       
       
       By Senator Wilson
       
       
       
       
       33-00062-09                                            2009180__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution commending The Links, Incorporated, for
    3         its work in Florida.
    4  
    5         WHEREAS, The Links, Incorporated, is a highly respected
    6  international organization consisting of more than 10,000
    7  professional, accomplished, and dedicated women of African
    8  ancestry in 274 chapters, located in 42 states and three
    9  countries, and having a mission and purpose of friendship and
   10  community service, and
   11         WHEREAS, members of The Links are role models, mentors,
   12  activists, and volunteers who work toward purposeful public
   13  service involving educational, cultural, and civic commitments
   14  through four functional facets — International Trends and
   15  Services, National Trends and Services, the Arts, and Services
   16  to Youth, and
   17         WHEREAS, the National Trends and Services facet of The
   18  Links, Incorporated, also encompasses service related to three
   19  Linkages, including Education, Health and Wellness, and
   20  legislative work, which highlights and addresses concerns of the
   21  organization in these areas and also affects African Americans
   22  and society, and
   23         WHEREAS, major issues and needs that concern the Southern
   24  Area of The Links, Incorporated, include eliminating health
   25  disparities in conformity with the federal Healthy People 2010
   26  program, which establishes national health objectives designed
   27  to identify the most significant preventable threats to the
   28  health of African Americans, and targeting six focus areas that
   29  disproportionately affect the health of African Americans —
   30  infant mortality, cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes,
   31  HIV/AIDS, and immunizations, and
   32         WHEREAS, Links from around the State of Florida have
   33  assembled today to demonstrate their support for the elimination
   34  of health disparities, to thank members of the Florida
   35  Legislature for their wisdom and prudent action in addressing
   36  health and wellness in terms of societal need, and to encourage
   37  Legislators to monitor, implement, and seek progress through
   38  this important legislation, and
   39         WHEREAS, Senator Frederica Wilson, Senator Arthenia Joyner,
   40  and former Senator Mandy Dawson are members of The Links,
   41  Incorporated, NOW, THEREFORE,
   42  
   43  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   44         
   45         That this body does pause in its deliberations to pay its
   46  respects to the dedicated efforts and example of the Southern
   47  Area of The Links, Incorporated, led by Margaret Thompson
   48  Johnson, in their successful campaign for the advancement and
   49  accomplishment of equitable health care policy and services for
   50  all Floridians, and to recognize the exemplary value of their
   51  work toward increasing quality and years of healthy life for the
   52  residents of this state.