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.