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1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, On March, 2, 2005, the Illinois Chapters of Sigma
3 Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., are sponsoring their annual
4 legislative visit to the State Capitol; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., was organized on
6 November 12, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana, by seven school
7 teachers: Mary Lou Allison Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside,
8 Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Dulin
9 Redford, Bessie M. Downey Martin, and Cubena McClure; the group
10 became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on
11 December 30, 1929, when a charter was granted to Alpha chapter
12 at Butler University; and
 
13     WHEREAS, From seven young teachers, Sigma Gamma Rho has
14 become an international service organization comprised of
15 women from every profession; Sigma Gamma Rho offers its members
16 opportunities to develop their unique talents through
17 leadership training and involvement in sorority activities;
18 sorority activities provide an atmosphere where friendships
19 and professional contacts are developed which often lead to
20 bonds that last a lifetime; Sigma women are dedicated to
21 helping each other; and
 
22     WHEREAS, In a time when education for African Americans was
23 difficult to attain, the founders of Sigma Gamma Rho became
24 educators; they believed that the self-respect, knowledge, and
25 discipline gained through study would help individuals to
26 recognize their duty and responsibility for their society;
27 thus, Sigma Gamma Rho was founded on the precept of education
28 and continues to promote and encourage high scholastic
29 attainment; and
 
30     WHEREAS, In addition to annual scholarships awarded by
31 local alumnae chapters, in 1984 the National Education Fund was

 

 

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1 created; the Fund was designed to insure perpetual support for
2 its commitment to education and for research in education,
3 health, and related fields; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Sigma Gamma Rho's commitment to service is
5 expressed in its slogan, "Greater Service, Greater Progress.";
6 the sorority has a proud history of offering service wherever
7 chapters exist, including OPERATION BigBookBag, a program
8 designed to address the needs, challenges, and issues that face
9 school-aged children who are educationally at-risk in local
10 homeless shelters and extended care hospitals by providing them
11 with educational materials, equipment, and supplies; other
12 national projects include Wee Savers, Project Reassurance, and
13 Habitat for Humanity; Sigma Gamma Rho has built seven homes
14 across the United States in Florida, District of Columbia,
15 Wisconsin, California, and Texas; and
 
16     WHEREAS, The service of Sigma Gamma Rho from a global
17 perspective includes Project Africa and Project Mwanamugimu;
18 through active participation in programs and through
19 networking with other organizations such as the National
20 Council of Negro Women, Urban League, and the NAACP, Sigma's
21 legacy of service to improve the quality of life for all
22 mankind continues; and
 
23     WHEREAS, With over 400 chapters in the United States,
24 Bermuda, the Virgin Islands, Bahamas, and Germany, Sigma Gamma
25 Rho Sorority, Inc., is committed to improve the quality of life
26 for its members and the society it serves; there have been
27 several famous members of the sorority, including Hattie
28 McDaniel, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Rev. Willie Taplin Barrow,
29 Cheryl Broussard, U.S. Representative Corinne Brown, Jocelyn
30 Brown, Merri Dee, Lorraine E. Hale, Cynthia Horner, Anna Maria
31 Horsford, Brenda Joysmith, Mother Love, Brenda Pressley, April
32 Sinclair, Victoria Rowell, Tonya Lee Williams, Emily D. Gunter,
33 Nancy E. McCormick, Ruth V. Sims, Ruth Russel Williams, and

 

 

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1 Maysa Leak; therefore, be it
 
2     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
3 NINETY-FOURTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
4 in recognition of the achievements of the members of Sigma
5 Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., we honor the Illinois Chapters of
6 Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., on the occasion of their annual
7 legislative visit to the State Capitol on March 2, 2005; and be
8 it further
 
9     RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be
10 presented to Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., as an expression
11 of our respect and esteem.