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HOUSE RESOLUTION


 
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    WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of 
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Representatives are pleased to recognize the contributions of 
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Black nurses across the State of Illinois; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The City of Chicago's four Black Nursing 
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Associations have combined together to celebrate National 
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Black Nurses' Day; the Honorable Charles Rangel of New York in 
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1988 was instrumental in getting the United States Congress to 
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establish the first Friday in the month of February as the day 
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to acknowledge the contributions to health care made by all 
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Black nurses; the first celebration was held on February 3, 
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1989; and

 
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    WHEREAS, The four Black nursing organizations that have 
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joined hands to celebrate National Black Nurses' Day include 
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the Chicago Chapter National Black Nurses' Association, Beta Mu 
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Chapter of Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority, Alpha Eta Chapter of Chi 
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Eta Phi Nursing Sorority, Inc., and Provident Hospital Nurses' 
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Alumni Association; the Chicago Chapter National Black Nurses' 
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Association was established in 1973 under the leadership of the 
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late Rev. Christine Leak R.N.; its membership consists of RNs, 
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LPNs, and student nurses; the current President is Marion 
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Summage; and

 
 


 






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    WHEREAS, Beta Mu Chapter of Lambda Pi Alpha Sorority was 
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established in 1934 at Provident Hospital; this organization 
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holds the hallmark of being the first professional Black 
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Nursing Organization in the City of Chicago; the current 
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Basileus is Marilyn Parker;

Provident Hospital Nurses' Alumni 
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Association consists of graduates of Provident Hospital's 
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School of Nursing; the Alumni Association has been in existence 
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since 1891 and the current President is Louise Hoskins 
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Broadnax;

Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. is a national nursing 
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sorority for nurses and nursing students that was organized 
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October 16, 1932 at Freedman's Hospital in Washington, D.C.; 
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Alpha Eta Chapter of Chi Eta Phi Sorority, Inc. was established 
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in Chicago in 1980 and the current President is Dicie Moore; 
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and

 
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    WHEREAS, Black nurses practice in all areas of nursing, 
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clinical, education, administrative, research, government, and 
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private enterprise; Black nurses past and present are known for 
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providing quality health care services and they play an 
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integral role in delivering health care within the United 
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States and its territories; and

 
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    WHEREAS, Since February is the month that we have set aside 
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to honor the contributions made by Black Americans to this 
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country, it is only fitting that Black nurses be recognized and 
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honored for their outstanding contributions to their community 
 


 






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and country; therefore, be it

 
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    RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 
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NINETY-SIXTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that we 
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proclaim February 6, 2009 and each first Friday in February 
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thereafter as Black Nurses Day in the State of Illinois; and be 
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it further

 
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    RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be 
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presented to Sandra Webb-Baker, Chair of the National Black 
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Nurses' Day Committee, as a symbol of our respect.