President's Message
Barbara McKinzie
Dear Sisters:
As we reflect on the last four years and marvel at the power of the ESP message, we can say with conviction that we Exceeded and SurPassed even our projected benchmarks.
Supported by programmatic triumphs, documented results and personal testimonials from members whose lives have been transformed, I can resoundingly state that, in every category, we succeeded.
Our message of self-determination, entrepreneurship and wealth building caught hold at a time when our country was being crushed under the weight of a recession. So, the message was timely and the vision prophetic.
Under the dynamic leadership of Loann Honesty King, our international program chairman, ESP became a call to action. Members were empowered to leave unfulfilling jobs and take the entrepreneurial plunge. They were also motivated to abandon apartment dwelling to become homeowners, with all of the tax advantages and uplift that such a shift represents.
Inspired by our undergraduates' involvement, we fanned out to the communities adjacent to 10 colleges and taught residents computer skills.
When Katrina hit, we brought our "sister power" to the Gulf Coast where we built homes, fed the hungry and offered hope to those whose lives had been upended by the storm.
Our fiscal strength is more robust than ever. During my tenure, we turned around deficits exceeding $3 million. We also launched a series of systematic administrative and financial reforms that enabled AKA to eliminate a $1.2 million IRS liability and return to sound financial footing.
We reclaimed our NGO designation with the U.N.'s Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)and attained the global status associated with that. Our service forays into Africa—and most notably into Liberia, where our member Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is president—will sow the seeds of hope for that war-torn nation for decades to come.
During this term, we celebrated our Centennial and renewed the bonds of sisterhood and service that were inspired by the vision of our Founders.
We stand on the precipice of dramatic change, and we welcomed and helped usher in that change. For that, we encountered a pushback. Throughout history, those who have been at the forefront of change encountered resistance as they've sought to take agencies to the next level of progress. Encouragingly, like other leaders who stepped out where others feared to tread, we put measures in place that, in time, will prove to be the salvation of our organization.
Leaders cannot be timid or indecisive, nor can they give in to the rantings of a small minority. Our conviction that we were in the right was underscored by a court decision that roundly dismissed all charges and lambasted the initiators for being motivated by personal agendas.
The vindication from that decision was augmented by the blessings from members that I met as I ventured into regions worldwide. I was embraced by thousands who "got" the message and applauded the program. The testimonials were heartwarming affirmations that ESP was life-changing and powerful.
We stand at the dawn of this second century of service. Daylight has barely been illuminated. However, as the sun rises and shines on our Sorority, this second century of service will be even more brilliant because of the measures instituted by those who laid the foundational underpinnings for the first century.
I am humbled and filled with pride as I prepare to leave office. I thank you for the privilege of serving the most dynamic organization on the planet and applaud all of you for giving Alpha Kappa Alpha the wings to soar.
I pledge my Enduring and Sustained Passion for Alpha Kappa Alpha and look forward to joining all of you in continuing the legacy of sisterhood and service.
Sincerely,
Barbara A. McKinzie
Centennial International President