[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 10]
[Senate]
[Page 13695]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



TRIBUTE TO THE LADIES OF ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INCORPORATED, BETA 
                          ALPHA OMEGA CHAPTER

 Mr. LAUTENBERG. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to 
the ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated Beta Alpha Omega 
Chapter, commemorating 65 years of service to the people of Newark.
  Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated was founded in 1908 at Howard 
University by 16 dynamic women. It is the oldest and largest Greek-
letter sorority established by and for African-American women. Today, 
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is an international network of professional 
women, with over 150,000 members and 900 chapters located in the United 
States, West Africa, Bahamas, the Virgin Islands, and Europe.
  The ladies of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority have dedicated themselves to 
the spirit behind their motto ``service to all mankind.'' After 91 
years of service to the community, they continue to send college-
trained women into the world to improve the social and economic 
conditions throughout the Unites States and abroad.
  Beta Alpha Omega became an affiliate chapter in January of 1934 and 
now holds the honor of being New Jersey's oldest affiliate chapter of 
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority. The women of the Beta Alpha Omega Chapter 
have contributed immeasurably to the city of Newark and its surrounding 
areas. In 1998 alone, the chapter awarded $15,000 in scholarships to 
graduating seniors from high schools in Newark and Irvington; co-
sponsored the Kwanza Celebration at the New Jersey Performing Arts 
Center; sponsored continuous voter registration events and provided 
``Share Baskets'' for the needy at Thanksgiving.
  The theme for the chapter over the next four years will be ``Blazing 
New Trails'' in the 21st century. This initiative will focus the 
chapter's community efforts on improving programs in the arts, 
education, health and economic empowerment, as well as in strengthening 
the African-American family.
  The women of Beta Alpha Omega have faithfully served the people of 
Newark and its surrounding areas for over six decades. Their ability to 
respond to the challenges of our society is demonstrated through their 
active service in outreach programs. Moreover, these women represent an 
integral part of American history. As stated by the sorority's 
historian, Marjorie Parker: ``History is of small worth unless its 
gifts nourish the seeds from which tomorrow's great achievements 
blossom.'' The women of Beta Alpha Omega are the seed of hope for the 
next generation of African-American women.

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