LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of
America, Inc. upon the occasion of its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon on
April 7, 2012 and saluting Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett, recipient of
its 2012 Community Service Award

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize that the
quality and character of life in the communities of New York State are
reflective of the concerned and dedicated efforts of those who distin-
guish themselves in their profession and in service to their community;
and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern and fully in accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commend
the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. upon the occasion of
its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon, to be held at the Fleur de Lis in
Ridgewood, Queens on Saturday, April 7, 2012 and to salute Lorna Evelyn
Welshman-Neblett, recipient of its 2012 Community Service Award; and
WHEREAS, Key Women of America, Inc. is a community service organiza-
tion founded in 1954 by the Reverend Bertha Nelms Harris, an ordained
minister who had a deep desire to address the needs of children in the
home, schools, institutions, and in conflict with the law; and
WHEREAS, She called on women leaders to join with her to address these
concerns; she called the women who joined with her "Key Women" and, what
began as a small group of women in Harlem, New York, grew into a larger
group and, on December 23, 1966, they incorporated as Key Women of Amer-
ica, Inc. and chose Investment in Children, Family Service, Community
Needs, and World Concerns as their mission; and
WHEREAS, With Manhattan as its founding and parent body, branches
began to be formed in other boroughs, including Brooklyn; and
WHEREAS, The Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. was organ-
ized in 1972 under the leadership of Mrs. Lillian James; the officers
and members were and continue to be civic minded women who are dedicated
to Key Women's mission and, since its inception, it has undertaken a
variety of worthy causes; and
WHEREAS, Each year at its Annual Awards Luncheon, the Brooklyn Branch
of Key Women of America, Inc. proudly honors individuals who exemplify
those principles and values; Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett, Senior
Manager, Sales and Marketing Administration of Clarins Fragrance Group,
a Division of Group Clarins, USA, truly merits such recognition; and
WHEREAS, Born in Georgetown, Guyana, Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett
emigrated to the United States in 1969 to fulfill her dream of academic
and financial advancement; she began her career in the cosmetic industry
in March 1970 with Elizabeth Arden and later worked with Charles of the
Ritz, Revlon, and Parfums Boucheron; and
WHEREAS, In 1992, Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett launched Thierry
Mugler Parfums U.S.A. where she currently serves as Senior Manager,
Sales and Marketing Administration, now a division of Groupe Clarins,
USA; and
WHEREAS, In 1994, Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett was appointed Execu-
tive Secretary to the Miss Guyana New York Pageant Committee where she
has dedicated many hours to help enhance comradery among Guyanese young
women and promote the beauty, talent, and positive attributes of Guya-
nese woman; and
WHEREAS, Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett was elected to the Board of
Directors of Queens Van Plan (QVP) as a Community Representative in 1992
and has worked tirelessly to raise and lobby on issues relating to
transportation in South East Queens in the community and with elected
officials; and

WHEREAS, QVP was, subsequently, able to boast of its fleet of more
than 50 vans which are appropriately licensed and insured and have
professional, customer service oriented drivers serving the Queens
community; Lorna continues to serve in this capacity and was also
elected to the Management Organization of the Interborough Alliance for
Community Transportation of New York (IACI); and
WHEREAS, In 1999, Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett was appointed to the
Planning Committee for the Selective Corporate Internship Program (SCIP)
where she was impressed by the talent of our youth, the future leaders
of tomorrow, and remains committed to the organization and to supporting
youth in reaching their goals; and
WHEREAS, In 2001, she was appointed as a Team Leader, heading up
Corporate Sponsorship for the SCIP program and continues to be one of
the key organizing members of the SCIP organization; and
WHEREAS, Over the years Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett has also been
dedicated to the enrollment of new voters and has been instrumental in
registering more than 500 teenagers and adults in her neighborhood and
has also actively participated in several local election campaigns; and
WHEREAS, During Women's History Month in March 1998, Lorna Evelyn
Welshman-Neblett was honored by the New York City Council in appreci-
ation of all her efforts in and on behalf of her community and of her
involvement with numerous social action organizations; and
WHEREAS, On October 6, 2000, Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett was the
recipient of the Selective Corporate Internship Program's Corporate
Partnership Award in acknowledgment of her service and many contrib-
utions working with young people in the SCIP Program and has fittingly
been honored with many other honors and awards over the years; and
WHEREAS, In her effort to keep SCIP alive, in the Spring of 2001 Lorna
Evelyn Welshman-Neblett developed the Fund Raiser Silent Auction and,
following the success of the event, a Second Annual Silent Auction was
held in June 2002 and has continued as an annual event since that time;
and
WHEREAS, In addition to her love for our youth, Lorna Evelyn Welsh-
man-Neblett remains committed to the efforts of the Carribean-American
Multi-Organization to encourage Caribbean nationals to become United
States citizens and to be more involved in civic and community affairs;
and
WHEREAS, In 2008, Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett was elected Vice Pres-
ident and Director of Public Relations of the Organization for Social
and Health Advancement in Guyana and the Caribbean (OSHAG/C), an organ-
ization dedicated to the empowerment of the Guyanese and Caribbean
community through health education and referral services and, in July
2011, she was elected President of the organization and remains commit-
ted to community service both in America and in her homeland of Guyana;
and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that when individ-
uals of such noble aims and accomplishments are brought to our atten-
tion, they should be celebrated and recognized by all the citizens of
the great State of New York; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. upon the occa-
sion of its 35th Annual Awards Luncheon on April 7, 2012 and to salute
Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett, recipient of its 2012 Community Service
Award; and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the Brooklyn Branch of Key Women of America, Inc. and to
Lorna Evelyn Welshman-Neblett.