[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 12 (Tuesday, February 4, 1997)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E138-E139]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       CONDIT HONORS LOCAL GROUP

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GARY A. CONDIT

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 4, 1997

  Mr. CONDIT. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 100 year 
anniversary sorority from my district known as Omega Nu. In early 1897, 
five young women attending San Jose High School formed the Greek 
Organization Alpha Chapter of Omega Nu. They spent a great deal of time 
hosting luncheons, dances, and tea parties. Members of the Alpha 
Chapter aided in the establishment of chapters in Stockton, Santa Cruz, 
Oakland, San Francisco, Sacramento, Alameda, and as far north as 
Portland, OR, and Seattle, WA, before laws outlawed secret sororities 
on high school campuses. Not to be deterred the Alpha Chapter sought 
out young matrons as members and the society evolved from a strictly 
social group to a more charity minded organization.
  At the conclave in 1914, Grand President Georgy Landsborough from 
Sacramento called upon all chapters to ``maintain a special aim for the 
sorority namely charity * * * and that it is up to us to show our 
critical friends, through the excellent work that we can do along this 
line that we can be a blessing to the community in which we exist.''
  Distance, war and antifraternity laws impacted several out-of-State 
chapters. Thus, since the early 1920's, northern California has been 
home to 13 extremely active Omega Nu chapters; each distinct within 
their community but with charity remaining the first and foremost focus 
of the various chapters. One hundred years of charity includes food 
baskets at

[[Page E139]]

Thanksgiving and Christmas time, donating money and services to the 
Community Chest, now United Way, Red Cross, American Field Service, 
American Cancer Society, Alzheimer's, Salvation Army, Boy Scouts, Girl 
Scouts, Special Olympics, AIDS, Abused Women's Centers, Children's 
Crisis Centers, Meals on Wheels and many other organizations which have 
needed our help over the years. Omega Nu also provides clothes for 
destitute families, dental and eye care for young people and 
contributes money, services, and materials to all levels of the 
educational system. Many chapters also give scholarships to high school 
graduates, college students and reentry students to help finance their 
college education.
  Each year, the 13 chapters of Omega Nu compile a journal of all the 
activities we have taken part in. The number of organizations which 
have benefited from their years of philanthropic commitment is 
unbelievable. In the last 50 years, we have given back to the community 
over $4,100,000. Besides dollars, the members have also contributed 
countless hours of their own time and a vast amount of energy, 
fulfilling the needs of those less fortunate.
  It is my pleasure to recognize such a fine organization that has 
worked so very hard to make a difference in the community in which they 
serve.

                          ____________________