[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 1174]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




A TRIBUTE TO THE BROOKLYN ALUMNAE CHAPTER OF DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY

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                          HON. EDOLPHUS TOWNS

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, January 12, 2007

  Mr. TOWNS. Madam, Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority as they host 
the New York Metropolitan Area Founders Day Celebration on January 13, 
2007. The Brooklyn Alumnae Chapter has been outstanding in its service 
of the Brooklyn community for over 50 years and I am privileged to have 
such a dedicated group of individuals in my district.
  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was founded on January 13, 1913 by 22 
collegiate women at Howard University. These students wanted to use 
their collective strength to promote academic excellence and to provide 
assistance to persons in need. The first public act performed by the 
Delta Founders was in 1913 at the Women's Suffrage March in Washington 
DC.
  Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a private, non-profit 
organization whose goal is to provide assistance and support through 
established programs in local communities throughout the world. A 
sisterhood of more than 200,000 predominately Black college educated 
women, the Sorority currently has over 900 chapters located in the 
United States, England, Japan (Tokyo and Okinawa), Germany, the Virgin 
Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Republic of Korea. 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 and Political 
Awareness and Involvement.
  The theme of this special event is ``Keeping our History: Past, 
Present and Future.'' This is particularly appropriate as we celebrate 
the life and achievements of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this 
coming week.
  Madam Speaker, I would also like to recognize the impressive 
achievements of Bernadette Walker, President of the Brooklyn Alumnae 
Chapter as well as the co-chairs of Founders Day, Valerie White and 
Natalia S. Young, for their commitment to the Brooklyn community.
  Madam Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to 
this wonderful group of Americans and the great things they stand for.

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