[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 44 (Thursday, March 12, 2009)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E653]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    TRIBUTE TO DELTA SIGMA THETA: BERKELEY BAY AREA ALUMNAE CHAPTER

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                        HON. FORTNEY PETE STARK

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 12, 2009

  Mr. STARK. Madam Speaker, Ms. Lee of California and I rise today to 
pay tribute to the Berkeley Bay Area Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma 
Theta Sorority on the occasion of their 75th Diamond Anniversary on 
March 28, 2009. The Berkeley Bay Area Alumnae Chapter is the local 
chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and encompasses 
the Berkeley, San Francisco, and California Bay Area.
  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated is a sisterhood of more than 
250,000 predominately African American college educated women. The 
sorority currently has over 950 chapters throughout the world including 
the United States, England, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Islands, 
Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea.
  The local Berkeley Bay Area Chapter was chartered in 1934 and has 
membership representation from all cities in the California Bay Area. 
The major programs of the sorority are based upon the organization's 
Five Point Thrust of economic development, educational development, 
international awareness and involvement, physical and mental health, 
political awareness and involvement. Through their outreach they 
provide a myriad of programs and services benefitting local cities and 
communities.
  This past week we were honored to welcome members of the Berkeley Bay 
Area Chapter along with approximately 1,100 members of Delta Sigma 
Theta from across the country to Capitol Hill during their 20th annual 
``Delta Days in the Nation's Capitol Conference.'' During their visit 
in Washington the Sorority members discussed a variety of issues 
including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, DC Voting 
Rights and the 2010 Census.
  ``In Full Stride at Seventy-Five'' is the Berkeley Bay Area Alumnae 
Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta's 75th anniversary theme. We are honored 
to recognize this exemplary organization as it celebrates three-
quarters of a century of service to the community.

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