A JOINT RESOLUTION honoring the Memory of the founders of sigma gamma rho sorority, inc.

Whereas, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority was founded on November 12, 1922, in Indianapolis, Indiana, by seven schoolteachers; and
Whereas, the founders of the sorority were Mary Lou Allison Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Dulin Redford, Bessie M. Downey Martin, and Cubena McClure; and
Whereas, the organization became an incorporated national collegiate sorority on December 30, 1929, when a charter was granted to the Alpha chapter at Butler University; and
Whereas, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., is a national service organization, which addresses concerns that impact society educationally, civically, and economically; and
Whereas, the women of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., are actively involved in public service, leadership development, and youth education and believe in enhancing the quality of life within their communities; and
Whereas, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., has more than 85,000 members worldwide; and
Whereas, some of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.'s national programs include: the National Education Fund, which provides scholarships to needy students regardless of gender or race and conducts educational programs to enhance the quality of life; Program for Africa, which assists African women with equipment for producing grain and other food grown in Africa; Project Wee Savers, a program which provides participants ranging from ages six to 18 years with real life skills involving finances; Operation BigBookBag, which provides children with school supplies, textbooks, resource aides, and other items for school; and Sigma Youth Symposium, which is conducted each year to address youth issues; and
Whereas, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc.'s international corporate headquarters is located in Cary, North Carolina; and
Whereas, for more than 80 years, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., has upheld its motto of "Greater Service, Greater Progress"; Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

SECTION 1.  The General Assembly honors the memory of Mary Lou Allison Little, Dorothy Hanley Whiteside, Vivian White Marbury, Nannie Mae Gahn Johnson, Hattie Mae Dulin Redford, Bessie M. Downey Martin, and Cubena McClure, founders of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., and acknowledges the women of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., for their commitment to improving the lives of those in their communities.
SECTION 2.  The Secretary of State shall transmit a certified copy of this resolution to the Grand Basileus of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., at the sorority's international corporate headquarters.
SECTION 3.  This resolution is effective upon ratification.
In the General Assembly read three times and ratified this the 14th day of July, 2005.

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		 Beverly E. Perdue
	 President of the Senate

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		 James B. Black
	 Speaker of the House of Representatives