We are just two days away from one of the Nation’s top Steppers Balls and dancers from cities everywhere are gearing up for the big weekend. Of course the GDI brass are busy with customers and last minute issues that are sure to arise with any major event, but GDI President and Vice President Cora O’Kelly and Cheryl Powe stopped by ChiStepper.com to chop it up on their big weekend. The Heritage Ball didn’t grow to be the behemoth that it is by chance, so if you want to know a few of the ingredients involved in launching a mega-weekend, listen up …
T. Pratt: After two extremely successful years of promoting the Heritage Ball, is there any added pressure going into the 2011 event?
Cora O’Kelly and Cheryl Powe (GDI): First, let us say we are thankful for all you do Terrance and allowing us this opportunity to speak about GDI and the “Heritage Ball.”
“Added pressure?” hmmm. No we wouldn’t say added pressure. It is more like our expectations to make HB2011 bigger and better than the ones before it. Is it a challenge? Absolutely, but we are dreamers and are not afraid to dream really big—this is where a lot of great things start! From there, it truly becomes a faith walk, and when things begin to happen the way we dreamed, we then know it’s divine order. GDI is thankful we are able to share our many blessings. People constantly ask us every year, “What are you going to do next year--how are you going to out do yourselves”? The easy response to that is “we’ll let next year take care of itself.”
T. Pratt: You all packed the Georgia Convention Center last year, and it's estimated that you could have an additional 500 people attending this year. Is space starting to become a concern to the GDI team?
GDI: The Heritage Ball has grown some 450% since our first event in 2008! There are so many guesses as to how many people we had last year and/or how many people are coming this year. GDI’s growth rate has historically been over 40% or better each year. For HB2011, we are prepared to accommodate an anticipated 40-50% increase. Thoughts of outgrowing the GICC is on our radar, but for right now, we are going to max out this ideal location until it is no longer feasible. We love the GICC and the convenience of the airport, the hotels and the convention center right there together. Honestly Terrance, we hope this will be a problem one day, and humbling speaking, that would be a great problem to have.
T. Pratt: Now that GDI's position in the Steppers world is firmly cemented, do you all feel a responsibility to create more unity and cohesion within the Atlanta dance community?
GDI: Awesome question and so befitting and appropriate. GDI loves Steppin’! It is the responsibility of all steppers to promote unity. As far as GDI, we will continue to do our share, not only in the Atlanta’s Steppers’ community, but nationwide. This year we will have our first ever formal Awards and Recognition Reception. To show how GDI is focusing on promoting unity, we will be recognizing all of our fellow Steppin’ Clubs in Atlanta by presenting each group the “GDI Unity Award.” The response to the awards reception has been very positive, which is an indication within itself of a growing unified force. Another way we show our efforts to unify is by being supportive of the Atlanta Steppin’ Groups’ events throughout the year. There are times when all of us cannot be in attendance, but we try to have “some” representation, regardless. Being unified is actually a great part of our Heritage. Our ancestors stuck together and helped each other because all they had was “each other.” We as a Steppin’ Group, as a people, a nation and the world need to continue to rekindle and recapture these types of values in life, especially amongst our own people. We are encouraged by the anticipated attendance of the Atlanta Steppers groups at the Heritage Ball and will continue to work diligently to unify and be supportive of others.
T. Pratt: GDI changes presidents every year or so. It has always been my opinion that every new president brings a new vision. Cora, what is it about your vision for GDI, that is distinct from presidents of the past?
Cora: Terrance, I am a Pisces and probably one of the biggest dreamers you’ve ever met. The entire GDI team envisions the “Heritage Ball” one day turning into a mini Essence Festival or the like! If we continue to stay focus and walk in the Spirit, we can go where ever God’s vision takes us.
You are right, with each president, there will be fresh and new ideas as well as creative ways to achieve them. However, the vision from the previous president, Donald Blount, is pretty much on track—to grow the business through dance and community awareness and involvement. Under my presidency, there will perhaps be different, yet equally creative ways to embrace that vision, but GDI’s vision of working to grow and enhance our success remains a constant.
Lastly, strong team dynamics is a pet peeve of mine—it’s like a foundation to a house—if it’s solid, you are allowed to build upon it very effectively and work more collectively to achieve any vision, no matter who is the President. One day when the Heritage Ball is as major as our vision, I would like for you to resonate on this interview and I’ll try not to say “T, I told you so!”
T. Pratt: What is your greatest fear when putting a major event together?
GDI: Fear is an emotion, be it real or imagined. Putting together a major event is a tall order!! In planning the Heritage Ball, we do what we know best and incorporate our lessons learned from the year(s) before. We are constantly putting ourselves in the place of our guests as we try to deliver a world-class event. The one faithful thread and is invariably discussed in all of our meetings is what can we do to make sure our guests are satisfied. Premier customer service is the epitome for us. If Heritage Ball goers are happy, then we’ve accomplished what we worked so hard to achieve. So Terrance, our greatest “fear” is that our guests are not pleased with our performance. Satisfied guests will provide continued support. Continued support will help us to achieve our vision of growing the Heritage Ball to epic numbers because we would like to use this platform to spread the word about Steppin,’ unity, community involvement and displaying just how proud we are of our rich heritage.
T. Pratt: If there was one thing you all could do over from past years, what would it be?
GDI: With any event, no matter how successful, there are always things that “we would do differently, if we could.” We think that is universal, in life. Whatever that one specific thing might have been, we would treat it as a “lessons learned” and hope to experience definite improvements the next year. Everything that was good or bad teaches us to stay on the path. We are accepting of what God has and continues to do for us. GDI is not perfect but will continue to try and raise the bar for ourselves and present the most incredible Heritage Ball ever, year after year.
T. Pratt: You all have a plethora of things to do this year. Of all that's planned, what are the two of you most excited about?
GDI: Those “Heritage Sisters” are one of our most proud productions this year. The Heritage Ball has a clear distinct purpose—we are celebrating those African Americans who came before us through much oppression, suppression and depression—and largely because of them, we are where we are today. It was a great collaborative project doing the research and refreshing our memories about these accomplished African American women. Sharing this breath-taking art gallery with our Heritage Ball supporters is most exciting to GDI.
The second thing we are most excited about is the HUGE volume of people catching the Heritage Ball “Fever!” We are experiencing “historic” things, like early sell out of the 300 rooms at the Host hotel alone, putting a seamless attachable tent at Atlanta’s Legendary Ellery’s, setting up 30,000 square feet of GICC ballroom space, a brand new “HOTT” shopping tour cosponsored by Macy’s, and the GICC corridor will be a very dynamic environment with an all female African drummer’s group, on a fresh new GDI Blue Carpet-Main Event night, wine tasting, live entertainment, Spoken Word, Health Fair with a cooking demonstration and so much more! Oops, you said 2!
T. Pratt: Is GDI a closed group at this point, or are you all entertaining new memberships or affiliations?
GDI: In accord with our Operating Agreement, GDI’s Open Season for new membership consideration is 60 days beyond the Monday after each year’s Heritage Ball. No, we are not a closed group.
T. Pratt: In our last interview, I conveyed somewhat of a criticism that I'd heard concerning GDI's commitment to service. Did you all make a more dedicated effort to be involved in service projects in 2010, and if so, what were they?
GDI: GDI continues to do community service throughout the year. There are projects that we are involved in that we sometime make no mention. However, just to expound on them a bit, we continue to donate clothing to My Sister’s House for battered women and children, we feed the hungry on the streets of Downtown Atlanta, participate in health fairs and road races for different health and wellness causes, including Diabetes in our Youth, provide scholarships to deserving youth pursuing their college degrees and also provide personal assistance to others in need.
If you get involved in a worthy cause, it could possibly help thousands or maybe just one person. The measure and outcome are the same—you’ve helped someone. Actually, we feel there is never enough one can do in the community because there are so many social issues in our society. Of course, we will continue to do more and have already set the GDI2012 Community Service Plan in action. This year our team members will be working in groups of two’s and each 2-man team will be responsible for at least one major quarterly community affairs event, but not limited to. Right after HB2011, we are inking the application for our 5013c status so we can get some real assistance in our quest to help others. This year at the Awards and Recognition Ceremony, we will be presenting Atlanta’s Andrew and Walter Young Southwest YMCA with $2,000 ($1,000 from GDI and $1,000 matched by Atlanta Stepper, Monte’ Fowler). So, although others may not see our efforts, we are clearly working in the community. We focus on visibility to those we help—that is what counts the most. We’ve been so blessed and it gives us total gratification to give back our blessings by serving others.
T. Pratt: Any closing thoughts?
GDI: Yes, GDI would like to thank everyone for all the love and support for those that are coming to Heritage Ball 2011, those who can’t make it but tried or wanted to and those who will make it one day. Again, Terrance and Chistepper.com, thank you for the opportunity to share with your readers.
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