Title
Commemorating the National Association of University Women on its Founders Day.
Body
WHEREAS, The mission of the National Association of University Women (NAUW) is to serve women, youth, and the disadvantaged in its communities and in developing countries by addressing educational issues, advancing the status of women's issues, and strategically partnering with allied organizations; and
WHEREAS, The NAUW can trace its roots back to when the College Alumnae Club was organized in March 1910 by Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, Dr. Sara Brown, Dr. Fairfax Brown, and Miss Mary Cromwell in Washington, D.C. Twenty university graduates joined elected officers and planned a program; and
WHEREAS, The College Alumnae Club desired to stimulate young women to attain professional excellence, to exert influence in various movements for the civic good, and to promote a close personal and intellectual fellowship among professional women; and
WHEREAS, In 1919, the Club invited the first group of university graduates, who lived outside the District, to organize. Baltimore accepted the invitation. Through the efforts of the College Alumnae Club, seven branches were organized in cities where college women desired the affiliation with the founding group; and
WHEREAS, On April 6-7, 1923, representatives of the newly organized branches met in Washington, D.C. to consider the foundation of a national organization. A temporary National Association of College Women was formed. It was at the next conference on April 25-26, 1924 that the permanent organization was established, and in November of that year it was incorporated under the laws of the District of Columbia; and
WHEREAS, On August 9, 1974, at the biennial convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Association accepted its updated Charter and became known as the National Association of University Women; and
WHEREAS, The Association has been from its inception a service and educational organization. In the beginning, the women of NAUW were proactive regarding the education of women, their living conditions on campuses, the need for a dean of women who would be an advocate for women students, and the training of teachers; and
WHEREAS, As the years progressed, the organization raised its voice regarding major civic and national issues such as business opportunities for African-Americans, mental health and child welfare, and the improvement of interracial and international relations; and
WHEREAS, The Association has cooperated with national and local social and economic programs and is affiliated with the National Council of Negro Women, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, United Negro College Fund, the National Coalition for Literacy, and the American Council on Education; and
WHEREAS, On Saturday, March 24, 2018, several area branches of the NAUW will gather together honor the great founders of the National Association of University Women. The founders’ vision, leadership, and dedication set the tone for excellence and dignity in which they govern themselves today as NAUW members; and
WHEREAS, At the March 24th event, the Philadelphia Branch of the NAUW will host the Suburban Philadelphia Branch, the Southern New Jersey Branch, the College Alumnae Club, the Trenton Branch, and the Wilmington Branch; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby commemorates the National Association of University Women on its Founders Day.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the NAUW as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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