Alpha Kappa Alpha Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference

by La Verne Partlow

Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated will hold its 56th Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference April 23-26, 2009 in Asheville at the Crown Plaza Exposition Center. Over 1,700 members from North Carolina and Virginia are expected to attend. During the conference, members will address economic, social and political issues. Special activities are also planned for family members, guests, and the community.

As part of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference, AKA members will host an item drive to benefit Hands On Asheville-Buncombe. Members will also have the opportunity to donate items for the MANNA Food Bank as well as for families that have children in the hospital.

The Mid-Atlantic Region of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated is
under the leadership of Ruby Batts Archie, Regional Director, from
Danville, VA. She is a native of Rocky Mount, NC and the former Mayor
of Virginia. Doris R. Asbury of Charlotte, NC is currently serving as
the Acting Mid-Atlantic Regional Director.

The region is comprised of nearly 5,500 members from 43 undergraduate
chapters and 75 graduate chapters. The host chapters are for the
Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference consist of undergraduate chapters from
Appalachian State University, Davidson College, Johnson C. Smith
University, Livingstone College, Queens University, UNC Charlotte and
Western Carolina University along with graduate chapters from
Asheville, Charlotte, Concord, Gastonia, Hickory, and Salisbury.

Alpha Kappa Alpha is the oldest black women’s Greek-letter organization
in America, established January 15, 1908 at Howard University. With a
membership of over 200,000 women, the sorority has more than 975
chapters in the United States, the Caribbean, Canada, Germany, Japan,
Korea, and Africa. Led by International President Barbara A. McKenzie,
the organization connects thousands of college-trained women who give
of themselves to support community service projects and scholarship
programs.

The public is invited to attend the Public Meeting and Reception,
Thursday, 7:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. For more information, visit
www.midatlanticaka.org.