Thank You

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Thank you for joining us for the 31st mid-winter conference. The survey results indicate that the conference was a tremendous success. It is all because of you! For the 347 individuals that registered, I say "Thank You". For those that purchased luncheon, Motown Revue, or banquet tickets, you helped to make all of the events a success. I hope you took away memories that will last until next year's conference in Houston.

Again, thank you and I'll see you in Houston!

D-Day Begins Tomorrow

The fireworks starts tomorrow. We're ready! Are you? There will be more purple and gold in Michigan over the next few days than we have ever seen. Usually we see maize and blue (Michigan) and green and white (Michigan State) with a few other colors in between. But purple and gold will bring a display of pride, dignity, and royalty. Let's show everyone how we love "Alcorn" by showing our colors and our sense of family. See you in the "D"!

2 Days toGo

We're almost there. Sorry I missed a few days. I had some technical difficulties that took me off line. So you will be ready when you get here, I'll complete the schedule of events.

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Registration 1st Floor Main Hallway 9:00AM –12 Noon

Vendors Open 9:00AM – 5:00PM

AM General Bus.Session Peninsula Grand Ballroom 9:00AM -12 Noon

Lunch On your Own 12 Noon – 1:30 PM
See Conference Registration Desk
for Suggestion List

PM General Bus. Session Peninsula Grand Ballroom 1:30PM – 4:00PM

Banquet Peninsula Grand Ballroom 8:00PM – Midnight
By Ticket Only - Attire: Formal/After Five 7:00 – 7:30 Outside Ballroom

See you in the "D"

6 Days to Go

Part II of Conference Schedule
Friday, February 22, 2008

Registration 1st Floor Main Hallway 9:00AM – 5:00PM

Vendors Open 9:00AM – 9:00PM

Workshops Dennison Rms I-IV & Niles I-II 9:00AM -12 Noon
See Concurrent Session Page

Foundation Meeting Athens Room 9:00AM - 11:00AM

Heritage Luncheon Salon A - D 12:30PM – 2:00PM
Admission By Ticket Only The State of University
Dr. George E. Ross, President

Committee Meetings Salon A - D 2:15PM – 3:15PM

Dialogue w/President Salon A - D 3:30PM – 5:00PM

Executive Board Meeting Salon A - D 5:30PM – 7:00PM

Motown Revue Salon E - H 8:00PM - Midnight
Suggested Attire: Business Casual/Dressy
Admission By Wristband Only

Hospitality Suite Open Rm 1512 10:00PM – Midnight
Unregistered guest must be accompanied
by Registered guest

7 Days to Go

CONFERENCE AT-A-GLANCE
Day 1
Thursday, February 21, 2008

Registration 1st Floor Main Hallway 9:00AM – 5:00PM

Vendors Open 1:00PM – 5:00PM

Shop or Sightsee On Your Own

See Hotel Concierge for
Transportation within 5 miles
Or directions by car

Purple & Gold Reception Mediterranean Room 7:00PM – 9:00PM
Suggested Attire: Purple & Gold
Registered Guest Only

Hospitality Suite Open Rm 1512 9:00PM – Midnight
Unregistered guest must be accompanied
By Registered guest

8 Days to Go

Step 6. No sleeping in on Friday morning. We have some exciting workshops and enthusiatic presenters that will be waiting for you. Don't let them down. Check the list below and make your selection. Sign up sheets will be available on Thursday at registration desk and if you get in too late for sign-up, don't let that stop you. Come on down!

Workshops - Friday, February 22, 2008

Concurrent Session I
(9:00 AM – 9:50 AM)

1. Socio-economic between Males & Females
2. Managing Diabetes & Hypertension
3. Business Trends & Women Businesses
4. Facial Makeovers

Concurrent Session II
(10:00 AM – 10:50 AM)

1. Reducing the Incidents of Domestic Violence
2. Retirement Planning
3. Money Matters
4. Facial Makeovers

Concurrent Session III

(11:00 AM - 11:50 AM)

1. Self Protection Techniques for Females
2. Reducing Your Risk of Identity Theft

& Protecting Your Privacy
3. Getting Your Child Excited about Saving
4. Avoiding Foreclosure

9 Days to Go

I heard it through the grapevine...not much longer before conference time. So you better Get Ready. Don't forget...

Step 4 Pick out your wardrobe. Thursday night attire should be purple & gold, Friday night attire should be business casual/dressy, and of course Saturday night is your time to shine with formal/after five attire.

Step 5. Take one last look at the old yearbook so you will recognize your classmates. After all, they haven't changed a bit.

Stay tuned tomorrow for other steps. I am sure there are some more coming.

Ten Days to Go

Throw Down In Motown

As Sam Cooke's song says "We're having a party...dancing to the music played by the DJ on the radio. The cokes are in the ice box, popcorn on the table". Detroit is waiting for you. We're ready to keep those records playing and dance to the music. All we need to get started is you!

Step 1. You completed step 1 when you registered and book your room and transportation.

Step 2. If you are flying in, you need to call Aristocat Limo (1-800-682- 1453) and make reservations for pickup. Call Now! If you're coming by train, see Charles Davis on the train.

Step 3. Get your dancing shoes and your Motown lyrics ready!

I can't give you all the steps at once, so stay tuned.

Attendees from the Class of 1970

Well 1970 graduates, I held out as long as I could. I just knew you would not let me down. I'm sorry to say that not enough of us came through. We came in second place with the number of graduates registered. The class of 1965 beat us. To date, they have 26 individuals registered. We have 23 and they are: Emma Allen, Lemore Allen, Randy Barnes, Robert E. Cole, Connie Coleman, Deloris P. Doster, Bettye Eichelberger, Spencena J. Hinton, Belinda P. Johnson, H. C. Johnson, Mary B. Johnson, Vera L. Mannery, Johnnie L. Moore, Bessie Norwood, Josephine M. Posey, Betty J. Rojas, John Smith, Willie J. Taylor, Jr., Robert Tucker, Donald Vardaman, Patricia Vardaman, Jo Ella Walls, and Irma. R. Walton. Even though we are second in numbers, let show everyone how much we care about each other and Alcorn.

Starting tomorrow, we will start the conference countdown!

Attendees from Class of 1964

I am getting close to the end of the class list. Today’s list from the class of 1964 is next to the last class to be published. But believe me it is just as important as the first because the following individuals were a member of that class: Willie O. Brown, Henry Harris, Wiley F. Jones, Charlie S. Parker, Lillian B. Townsend, Gladys Z. Vaughn, and Harper B. Wilson. Two from Michigan and five from Mississippi. What was happening in Michigan and Mississippi in 1964? In Michigan, Ford rolled out the first Mustang and Malcolm X delivered his "The Ballot or the Bullet" speech. In Mississippi, the civil rights movement suffered some of its worst blows: Schwerner, Goodman, and Chaney were murdered and Henry Hezekiah Dee and Charles Eddie Moore were beaten to death in Meadville. But there were positive strives also: the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party registered more than 60,000 voters and sends its own delegation to the Democratic National Convention. Fannie Lou Hamer made a passionate pitch for inclusion at the convention. The delegation was not seated but their presence and argument had a lasting impact of politics. Where is the rest of the class of 1964?

Attendees from Class of 1963

What happened in 1963...etched in all our minds is the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Most of us can remember where we were on Friday, November 22, 1963. The following individuals had graduated from Alcorn about 6 months earlier: Mordine Bailey, Alice G. Brown, Oliver Brown, Jr., Willie M. T. Carter, Charles F. Christian, Delphine W. Coleman,Juanita D. Harper, Savannah B. Hill, James W. Hill, Artis H. Lewis, Joseph Lloyd,Mary A. Martin, Daisye R. McGee, Freddie L. Owens (deceased), Monroe Stewart Jr., Helen M. Warner, Doris F. Williams, Jessie A.W. Wilson, and Edith O. Wright. The march on Washington took place where Dr. King recited his "I have a dream" speech. Four little girls were killed when the 16th Baptist Church was bombed in Birmingham, AL. George Wallace, then governor of Alabama, stood in the door of the University of Alabama and promised segregation "today, tomorrow, and forever". That was 45 years ago...yet not that long. That brings me to our conference theme: Alcornites Stepping Up---Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow! We can't go back! Only you can continue to take us forward.

The 30's

What happened in the 30's? Well, FDR was president. The great depression continued and unemployment was around 20%. Why am I talking about the 30's? Because we are blessed to have two individuals that will be attending the conference that graduated from Alcorn during that era. Mr. Calvin Rhodes of Detroit, MI graduated in 1934 and Mrs. Ernestine Watson of Vine Grove, KY graduated in 1938. How many of you knew that during that time Alcorn operated a high school that led directly into the college? Truly a college prep high school!

In 1935, Congress passed the Social Security Act creating a federal retiree pension system. However 73 years later, it questionable how long it will it will last. In 1938, Joe Louis knocked out German's Max Schmeling in the first round for the heavyweight championship. In the 30's, black swing was golden. It was led by Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and many others. Ella Fitzgerald had her first hit record with the Chuck Webb Band "A-Tisket, A-Tasket. During the period from 1935 to 1938, gasoline was 10 cents a gallon, a loaf of bread was 8 and 9 cents, and you could buy a car for $625 to $763. I don't know how much a mule and wagon cost, but I'm sure there were more sales of them than cars.

Attendees from the 1980's

As of today, we have 318 individuals that have registered for the conference. Among them are the following individuals from the 1980's (1980-1989): Sandra Crowley, Karen G. Matlock, Lillie Stewart, Judith Ward, Calola Williams, William Sanders, Jacqueline Shorter, Zelda Jones Hines, Dywane T. Powell, Esther Ramsom, Marvin Rankin, and Sam Washington. By the 1980's, Motown had left Detroit for the warm weather of California. But the change in location didn't stop the old groups from putting out the hits. Releases included Diana Ross and Lionel Ritchie's "Endless Love", Marvin Gaye's "Sexual healing", and Stevie Wonder's "I just called to say I love you". Kool & The Gang sang "There's a party goin' on right here...Let's Celebrate". The Cosby Show premiered in 1984 and kept people glued to their TV until 1992. Stone washed jeans were introduced and now they are mainstay. In 1986, about 73 seconds into its launch, the space shuttle Challenger exploding killing the entire crew of seven including Ronald McNair, the second black astronaut to be on a space flight.