Florida Senate - 2018                                     SR 426
       
       
        
       By Senator Gibson
       
       
       
       
       
       6-00528-18                                             2018426__
    1                          Senate Resolution                        
    2         A resolution acknowledging the remarkable
    3         contributions made to the people of this state by
    4         Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., and recognizing
    5         January 21-23, 2018, as the 24th annual “Delta Days at
    6         the Capitol.”
    7  
    8         WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is a private,
    9  not-for-profit organization founded on January 13, 1913, by 22
   10  illustrious collegiate African-American women at Howard
   11  University in Washington, D.C., and
   12         WHEREAS, only 6 weeks after its founding, Delta Sigma Theta
   13  Sorority, Inc., joined in the women’s suffrage movement,
   14  demanding rights for women, including the right to vote, a
   15  historic endeavor that transformed the role of women in the
   16  democratic process, and
   17         WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., is a sisterhood
   18  of college-educated women committed to implementing the
   19  sorority’s mission through its Five-Point Program Thrust:
   20  economic development, educational development, physical and
   21  mental health, political awareness and involvement, and
   22  international awareness and involvement, and
   23         WHEREAS, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in 2013
   24  celebrated 100 years of commendable service and support to local
   25  communities, leading dialogue on public policy issues,
   26  supporting quality education, producing new projects to
   27  stimulate current and future economic growth, and improving the
   28  holistic well-being of minority populations internationally, and
   29         WHEREAS, with more than 250,000 college-educated women
   30  initiated and more than 900 chapters worldwide, 52 of which are
   31  located in Florida and the Bahamas, members of Delta Sigma Theta
   32  Sorority, Inc., are clearly focused and visible as corporate and
   33  civic leaders, productive public officials, acclaimed
   34  academicians, and activists in their own right, and
   35         WHEREAS, for the past 23 years, the Florida chapters of
   36  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., have conducted “Delta Days at
   37  the Capitol,” where members have a unique opportunity to
   38  advocate policies and legislation that will impact every area of
   39  the Five-Point Program Thrust; promote leadership, advocacy, and
   40  empowerment to effect social change and public policy; advocate
   41  for social justice, as well as broaden their knowledge of the
   42  state’s legislative process; and influence the enactment of
   43  legislation of particular interest to African Americans and
   44  women, and
   45         WHEREAS, under the leadership of the national president of
   46  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., Beverly E. Smith, a native of
   47  Massillon, Ohio; Southern Regional Director Sandra K. Horton;
   48  and Southern Regional Representative Jessica Shotwell, and the
   49  25th National President, Dr. Paulette C. Walker, a resident of
   50  Tampa, members of the 52 chapters of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
   51  Inc., now serving Florida and the Bahamas will converge January
   52  21-23, 2018, in Tallahassee to participate in the 24th annual
   53  “Delta Days at the Capitol,” and
   54         WHEREAS, Senator Audrey Gibson is an esteemed member of
   55  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., NOW, THEREFORE,
   56  
   57  Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of Florida:
   58  
   59         That the Florida Senate commends Delta Sigma Theta
   60  Sorority, Inc., for the remarkable contributions the
   61  organization has made to the people of this state and recognizes
   62  January 21-23, 2018, as the 24th annual “Delta Days at the
   63  Capitol.”