Barbara McKinzie, President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Sued by Eight Members for Mismanaging Funds, Including the Commissioning of a $900K Wax Statue of Herself

Barbara McKinzie, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority President

(Chicago Sun Times)

Barbara McKinzie, president of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, and some board members have been sued by eight members of the sorority, accused of mismanaging funds and commissioning a $900,000 wax statue of herself, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. They face charges that they purchased a $1 million life insurance policy McKinzie and arranged a four-year, $4,000 monthly stipend for the former accountant after she leaves her post. The suit has also accused McKinzie of charging nearly $400,000 in personal expenses, like lingerie and jewelry, to the Chicago-based sorority's American Express card. What? This is unconscionable. They ought to file criminal charges for theft. This is just plain avarice.

The suit also alleges that McKinzie persuaded the board in 2008 to approve $250,000 -- later increased to about $375,000 -- in compensation to her for services rendered on behalf of the sorority. McKinzie's pay was based on her securing $1.6 million in cost savings to AKA, but there was no proof that there were any savings, the members said.

The suit contends the expenditures should have been approved by AKA members last year. It seeks to have the board removed and money returned. Leadership also is accused of overcharging for the group's 2008 conference, one that observed Alpha Kappa Alpha's 100th anniversary.

The registration fee was doubled to about $500 per member for the 2008 meeting, which brought in about $13 million. The complainants say expenses for that gathering were about $9 million, and the surplus was spent at McKinzie's discretion. Source: Chicago Sun Times

Wait, McKinzie had the hubris to defend her actions and questioned her accusers' motives and said the wax statue, along with another of the sorority's first president, only cost $45,000. Um, one question? Why does this woman need a wax statue of herself in the first place? From what I have read, it is a trend and the statue will be placed in the National Great Blacks in Wax Museum in Baltimore, where it will be in a growing and wasteful exhibit of predominantly black fraternity and sorority representatives. Why not give that $45,000 to inner city schools in Chicago? I am sure they could put it to good use.