[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 44 (Wednesday, March 30, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E571]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      IN RECOGNITION OF THE GREATER NEW YORK CHAPTER, THE LINKS, 
     INCORPORATED--2011 WOMEN OF DISTINCTION SPIRIT AWARD LUNCHEON

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                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 30, 2011

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in recognition of the Greater 
New York Chapter, The Links, Incorporated--2011 Women of Distinction 
Spirit Award Luncheon which takes place on Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 
the elegant and scenic Pier Sixty at Chelsea Piers in New York City.
  Established in 1946, The Links, Incorporated, is one of the Nation's 
oldest and largest volunteer service organizations of women who, linked 
in friendship, are committed to enriching, sustaining and ensuring the 
culture and economic survival of African-Americans and persons of 
African descent. The Links, Incorporated is a not-for-profit 
organization, which consists of nearly 12,000 professional women of 
color in 272 chapters located in 42 states, the District of Columbia 
and the Bahamas.
  On May 21, 1949, the Greater New York Chapter was chartered in 
response to an invitation extended by Margaret Roselle Hawkins and 
Sarah Strickland Scott, co-founders of The Links, Incorporated. Co-
founder Sarah Strickland Scott attended the installation of the new 
charter members at Harlem's famous Hotel Theresa, which included 
Dorothy Reed, Bernia Austin, Myrtle Howard, Estelle Jarrott, Ethel 
Lowry, Emilie Pickins, Mable Trent, and Marie Vidal. The Links National 
Emblem was designed by Ethel Lowry, who served as the National 
Corresponding Secretary.
  The Greater New York Chapter was the first chapter in New York and 
comprises members from all five boroughs in New York City and Long 
Island. Today, under the leadership of President Gerri Warren Merrick, 
the Greater New York Chapter is committed to fostering community 
outreach throughout the New York metropolitan area by developing 
quality programs with a long-term impact on the well-being and 
enrichment of African-Americans.
  The Greater New York Chapter honors two women of distinction and 
spirit--Ms. Debra L. Lee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of BET 
Networks and Ms. Rhonda Mims, President of the ING Foundation and 
Senior Vice President of the Office of Corporate Responsibility and 
Multicultural Affairs.
  Award recipient Debra L. Lee is responsible for helping guide BET's 
reinvigorated approach in producing programming that supports, embraces 
and encourages African American families in a very positive light, 
focusing on the issues that are important to the Black family, while 
presenting the freshest talent and entertainment to American Television 
and beyond.
  Award recipient Rhonda Mims is responsible for creating an 
enterprise-wide community relations platform, focusing on financial 
literacy, children's education and diversity, including advancing the 
company's workforce diversity and inclusion strategy.
  Please join me in recognizing the Greater New York Chapter, The 
Links, Incorporated and the Women of Distinction Spirit Award honorees.

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