1. When Blacks Became Free:  We want to sincerely thank Senate Majority Leader Frist, Senate Minority Leader Reid, Senators Corzine, McConnell, Kennedy, Allen and Alexander for submitting a Senate Resolution commemorating the 40th anniversary of Bloody Sunday.  On March 6, 1965 Representative John Lewis and the late Hosea Williams led a group of courageous civil rights workers demanding the right to vote in the United States.  They were bludgeoned by Alabama State Troopers and this horror was caught in the cameras of national television.  This national embarrassment led to the Voting Rights Act of 1965 which provided a long awaited democratic right – the vote.  This writer remembers his relatives in Louisiana rejoicing that for the first time in their lives they would be able to participate in local and national elections (one hundred years after the Civil War).  Senator Frist and Representative Lewis visited the scene of the atrocity, Selma, Alabama, last Sunday to pay respect to the courageous few who withstood the pain for the rights of all Americans.

2. Exciting Career Opportunity:  The African Development Foundation (AFD) is seeking a highly qualified and proven professional for the role of Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  The venue for this position is Washington, DC.  The United States Congress established the African Development Foundation in 1980 as an independent public corporation with a mandate to promote the participation of Africans in the economic and social development of their countries.  For more than 20 years, ADF has helped grass roots groups and individuals in Africa help themselves by providing the resources they need to advance their own efforts to promote economic and social development.  If you love Africa and believe in its better future investigate this opportunity via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , subject line:  ADF/COO #5-01.

3. SIFE USA Competition:  Students In Free Enterprise (SIFE) will have its collegiate competitions beginning on April 4 and concluding at the National Exposition in Kansas City, MO during May 22 – 24.  Throughout April the regional venues will be Boston, Charlotte, Denver, Minneapolis, Cleveland, San Francisco, New Orleans, New York City, Chicago, Dallas, Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Seattle, Washington, DC, Atlanta, Los Angeles, Memphis and Honolulu.  You are all encouraged to consider being a judge at one of these competitions.  The Washington, DC event will be held April 13 and is sponsored by the NBCC.  Our Board of Directors will participate as judges at this event.  SIFE teams are located on more than 1700 college campuses worldwide, including 80+ HBCU’s and a dozen African locations.  Go to www.sife.org/judge and sign up for the venue nearest to you or contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for assistance.

4. Philip Morris USA Works to Combat Illegal Cigarette Sales:  Today, there are more than 1,500 web sites selling cigarettes and other tobacco products online that compete with legitimate retail outlets.  It has been estimated that by the end of 2005, illegal Internet tobacco sales alone will cost the states between $1.4 billion and $4 billion in tax revenues.  US Customs and Border Protection ranked cigarettes as the second most commonly seized commodity in the first half of 2004 for violation of intellectual property rights.  Some of these Internet cigarette vendors are also evading the law with respect to age verification necessary to keep cigarettes out of the hands of children.  So far, no Internet site has complied fully with Philip Morris USA’s requirements. Help the NBCC and Philip Morris USA fight this abuse.  It hurts our economy and our precious children.  For more information, visit the Philip Morris USA website at www.philipmorrisusa.com.

5. General Motors Scholarships:  In 1979, General Motors established the General Motors Automotive Service Educational Program (GM ASEP) to address the need of GM dealerships for qualified service technicians.  General Motors has established a scholarship program that will help address the need for service technicians and increase visibility of automotive careers in the African American community.  This educational initiative gives select students of African American heritage an opportunity to earn an associate degree from a GM ASEP or BSEP College.  Scholarship applications must be submitted by March 31, 2005.  Those interested should contact www.gmasepbsep.com or 1-800-828-6860.

6. New Statewide Chapters:  The NBCC congratulates three new state chambers – Kansas Black Chamber of Commerce, Mississippi Black Chamber of Commerce and the Florida Black Chamber of Commerce.  These state chapters will help develop local chapters within the communities of their respective states.  We continue to grow!

To the 100,000 business owners who read this eBLAST, we are;

THE NATIONAL BLACK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE.