Bill Text: VA SJR408 | 2017 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Commending Alpha Phi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-02-20 - Bill text as passed Senate and House (SJ408ER) [SJR408 Detail]
Download: Virginia-2017-SJR408-Enrolled.html
WHEREAS, in 2017, the Alpha Phi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., is marking the 75th anniversary of its charter; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta was chartered with 14 members on February 27, 1942, by Esther Peyton, Middle Eastern Regional Director for Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, at the Richmond YWCA; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta is a diverse coalition of women ranging in age from 22 to over 80 years old united to promote scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta is a graduate chapter that sponsors two undergraduate chapters of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority: Nu at Virginia Union University and Eta Theta at Virginia Commonwealth University; the chapter previously sponsored Theta Nu at James Madison University from 2009 until 2014, and Tau Theta at the University of Virginia from 1978 until 2015; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta provided leadership in the coordination of the only joint Zeta-Sigma Eastern Regional Conference with Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Inc., held in May 1973, at the John Marshall Hotel in Richmond; and
WHEREAS, throughout its rich history, Alpha Phi Zeta members have distinguished themselves on the local, state, and national stages; and
WHEREAS, chapter member Audrey Bradford Robinson wrote the current tune of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority's national hymn, which was adopted at the 1952 National Convention; and
WHEREAS, Sarah Holmes served on the Ration Board of the Office of Price Administration, Antoinette Bowler participated in the Richmond teachers' fight for equal salaries and served on the Board of Trustees of Virginia Union University, and Lillian McDaniel was instrumental in the chapter introducing the Ebony Fashion Fair to the Richmond community in 1957; and
WHEREAS, there are many Zeta Phi Beta Sorority programs and projects that Alpha Phi Zeta members take part in annually, including the Blue and White Cotillion, Z-HOPE program, Adopt-A-School, and Elder Care Initiative; and
WHEREAS, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority has partnered with the March of Dimes Foundation with the goal of increasing the number of women receiving early and regular prenatal care through the Stork's Nest program; Alpha Phi Zeta's Stork Nest was opened in August 1975, and initially was located on North 21st and Venable Streets; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta began a scholarship program during its first year; since the 1950s, the chapter has used the majority of proceeds from the Richmond Ebony Fashion Fair to provide scholarships and financial aid to students attending colleges throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta donated $10,000 to create an endowed scholarship for eligible junior and senior education majors at Virginia Union University, the first scholarship from a Pan-Hellenic organization to be established at the college; and
WHEREAS, in 2002, Alpha Phi Zeta celebrated its 60th anniversary by hosting Education and Women's health forums, donating 60 books through the Adopt-A-School program, and giving 60 dimes from each soror to the local chapter of the March of Dimes; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta hosted the First Annual Prematurity Awareness Day and received a certificate of recognition from Governor Mark Warner, which declared November 18, 2003, as Prematurity Awareness Day in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta was recognized by national headquarters in 1955 as one of the "top 10" or largest chapters in the sorority, and the chapter has been honored with many awards over the past 75 years; and
WHEREAS, more recently, Alpha Phi Zeta received the Most Outstanding Graduate Chapter award at the 2013 and 2015 Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Virginia Leadership conferences and was awarded Most Outstanding Graduate Chapter in the Eastern Region for the past three years (2014, 2015, 2016); and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta sponsors three Zeta Youth Auxiliary Groups, the Pearlettes (ages 4–8), Amicettes (ages 9–13), and the Archonettes (ages 14–17), which assist the chapter in community service endeavors; and
WHEREAS, Alpha Phi Zeta has had 29 chapter presidents and most of them remain active members of the sorority today; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend the Alpha Phi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., on celebrating the 75th anniversary of its charter in 2017; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to the Alpha Phi Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., as an expression of the General Assembly's admiration for its commitment to promoting scholarship, service, sisterhood, and finer womanhood in the Richmond community.
