Florida Senate - 2009 (NP) SR 72 By Senator Wilson 33-00072-09 200972__ 1 Senate Resolution 2 A resolution recognizing Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, 3 Inc. 4 5 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was founded at 6 Howard University in Washington, D.C., in 1908, and 7 WHEREAS, this Greek letter organization is the first 8 sorority established by African American college women, and 9 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., was a century 10 old January 2008, thereby earning the designation as 11 “Centennial,” and 12 WHEREAS, this sorority is an international organization 13 that has approximately 250,000 members in more than 900 chapters 14 extending across the United States, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Great 15 Britain, Germany, Korea, and the Virgin Islands, and 16 WHEREAS, many of these chapters are located in communities 17 and on college and university campuses in the State of Florida, 18 and 19 WHEREAS, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., is committed to 20 community service and has made numerous contributions to the 21 educational, civic, and social lives of Florida's residents, and 22 WHEREAS, Barbara McKinzie of Chicago, Illinois, is the 23 Centennial International President of this great sisterhood and 24 leads the 250,000 women of this organization in the current 25 international program, “The SPIRIT of AKA,” the acronym and 26 concept for Sisterhood, Service, Partnership, Innovation, 27 Respect, Involvement, and Technology, and 28 WHEREAS, Ella Springs Jones is the Centennial South 29 Atlantic Regional Director of this great sisterhood and leads 30 members of the sorority in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina, 31 and 32 WHEREAS, the largest chapter in Florida is Gamma Zeta 33 Omega, located in Miami, and 34 WHEREAS, Senator Frederica S. Wilson, a past South Atlantic 35 Regional Director, and former Senator Mandy Dawson are members 36 of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, and 37 WHEREAS, members of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority in the 38 State of Florida contribute thousands of volunteer hours 39 implementing service programs in their respective communities, 40 NOW, THEREFORE, 41 42 Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida: 43 44 That the members of the Florida Senate recognize the 45 commitment of members of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., to 46 community service and express special appreciation for their 47 service in the State of Florida.