Historic Sorority Considers “Spending” A Part of It’s Legacy??
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority will pump over $100 million into the District of Columbia’s economy when it holds it’s week long Centennial Convention there from July 11-18.
In making the announcement, the organization’s international president, Barbara A. McKinzie, said that figure is based on the estimated average spending of 25,000 registered members, combined with an additional 10,000 members who are not registered but who will be in the District to witness the whirlwind of Centennial galas and other activities. She calculates that those 35,000 persons will spend an average of $3,000 on hotel, food and shopping during their stay.
This amounts to a $105 million infusion into the metro D.C. economy, so says the organization’s latest press release, which proves that in Black America, even the brightest can get it twisted. Black buying power remains the punch line, especially in DC, our nation’s capitol.
“Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Centennial will be heralded for the pageantry and for the strong show of members who will converge upon the District en masse to make a Centennial statement,” McKinzie said. “Equally important, Alpha Kappa Alpha will reinforce its reputation as a powerful force that provides an economic boost wherever it goes. This is the legacy we hope to leave behind.”
African Americans are already known for their spending habits. Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority is America’s first Greek letter organization founded by African American college women. At its centennial, it stands to reason AKA’s will have many more annual conventions. The organization says in putting on its annual event, it will seek to spread the wealth in contracting “minority businesses” for many of its needs thus supporting local entrepreneurs. [breathe] Does that mean the organization has to make an effort to do business with its own?
No disrespect, but if national organizations were to scale back their “events“, perhaps these organizations could make a truer impact on economic develop and at the same time build stronger infrastructures where the outcome of what’s put in matches the potential. At critical issues is moving from potential and the perception of building a legacy to true legacy.
According to one website, the sorority’s educational foundation in 2007 split less than $100,000 between 89 students with awards ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. Yet organizations can drop a hundred million dollars in a city in one week; then do they stress over annual budgets the rest of the year? Somebody rework the math. Has anyone ever said “stop the madness?” What if the organization took these annual treks back to historic colleges and universities? This leading organization needs to be the leading organization to “stop the madness.”
It’s understandable than an annual convention means coming together to address critical issues. No doubt black organizations are addressing the issues. But when the bottom line is so skewed, the need to address the issues will continue. Meanwhile the endeavors of historic legacies continue to disappear. Just saying, there are a number of donor lists out there that would love to taunt the gifts of 35,000 contributing $3,000 or more. Couldn’t the organization flip the script on the skewed bottom line and work so that 35,000 students received $3,000 instead of 89? Thus, infusing $100M into the institutions that create polished minds would be the legacy of the organization.
Stop the madness. May a good time be had by all.
_________________________
y.lattimore, dryerBuzz
(portions from press release)
Hair She Goes: State of Woman 2012
- Access to Industry Experts
- LIVE Interactive Workshops
- Hands-On Demonstrations
- Real-Time Web Presence Enhancement and SEO Training
Buzzed by DryerBuzz June 29, 2008 · Browse More Stories Like This In The Clippings .
Comments