Dr. John Modest Miles is the General Chairman, Local Entertainment Committee of The National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. The National Baptist Convention returns to
Kansas City in 2010 for its Annual Session Convention. The convention has an economic impact of $12.9 million. Dr. Miles is a great supporter of Kansas City and was a leading voice in securing the 2010  convention.

Dr. Miles partnered with the KCCVA Sales Team to develop a winning bid for the organization's 2010 Annual Session. Below is a recent interview with Dr. Miles on how he worked with the KCCVA to bring this great group to Kansas City.

EIGHT IS NOT ENOUGH: Kansas City has hosted The National Baptist Convention more than any other city in the nation. KC has hosted the Annual Session 1929, 1947, 1961, 1969, 1986, 1999, 2003 and 2010.
 

DR. MILES: "It’s awesome for the convention to once again come to Kansas City. This is the eighth time since 1929 that the convention has come to Kansas City. Since 1998, this will be the third time in Kansas City."

BIG, BIG IMPACT TO THE CITY: The economic footprint from hosting a meeting this size can be felt throughout the city across many industries.

DR. MILES:  "It means a lot because number one it will have a spiritual impact on Kansas City. It will also have a very special economic impact on our city [$12.9 million economic impact]. Many people will come and stay in hotel rooms. They will buy souvenirs. They will buy clothes. It’s a big economic impact for our city."

TRANSPORTATION & MEALS: The National Baptist Convention will use hotels throughout the city. A simplified transportation system allows attendees to easily travel through the city. Several nights during the convention the evening service will last until midnight. Restaurants throughout the downtown area will stay open late to accommodate patrons following the service.

DR. MILES: "We are the pace setters. In 1998, we did something that had not been done before with our convention. Number one, transportation was just awesome. People arriving by plane, we had transportation at the airport for them. And then throughout the convention week transportation was set up to pick people up at their hotels and make sure they had a comfortable ride to the convention center. Number two, we asked the restaurants to stay open late... because a lot of evenings the convention would end at midnight."

JUST LIKE HOME: The local government as well as Kansas City businesses help ensure the convention runs as smoothly as possible.

DR. MILES: "The city and the county... Each mayor that has been in place has worked hard to make sure we can comfortably host the convention. And, several businesses, Hallmark Cards, the banks – go out of their way to make sure that we are comfortable in hosting the convention. They understand the economic impact that it has on our city."

FITS LIKE A GLOVE: The National Baptist Convention will use nearly all of the convention center facilities including the auditorium and the new grand ballroom.

DR. MILES: "We normally use most of the convention center. It works out really well for our different groups. We have an assembly in the auditorium, and we have several worship dates throughout the day."

EVERYONE ON THE SAME PAGE: Sometimes it's as simple as making the really hard look really easy.

DR. MILES: "They are the greatest people in the world to work with. They are just awesome. That’s what has made it so easy for us to hold the convention in Kansas City. The Convention and Visitors Association and the local committee, we handle the planning like no other city – we work as a team, together. We love it. We have our fun, but we are serious about what we do and make sure it is number one again. That’s the one thing I can truthfully say that we are number one in hosting the National Baptist Convention."

DON'T CHANGE A GOOD THING: From our world-famous barbecue to our top-notch facilities, the NBC is a big fan of Kansas City.

DR. MILES: "We could bring it back more. I can truthfully say that I have not asked our President for the convention to come to Kansas City since 1998 that they have turned me down. In fact, there were times when they even asked us to bring back the convention. It takes good planning."

THE NEW KANSAS CITY: Downtown Kansas City has gone through a $5 billion revitalization since KC last hosted the NBCA.

DR. MILES: "We showed a Kansas City video at our host committee booth (this year). We are so excited to show the Sprint Center, the Power & Light District. All these things that were not here in 2003. So, it just has the people again on tip-toed expectation. We’re ready and the people are walking up and down the aisle coming out of the auditorium saying we’ll see you in Kansas City. We’re excited about Kansas City. We want to come to Kansas City again. They would talk about the different things that they would have a chance to do. Foods they would have a chance to eat. So, it is exciting."

About National Baptist Convention

The National Baptist Convention of America, Inc. (or NBCA) is an African-American Baptist body organized in 1915 as the result of a struggle to keep the National Baptist Publishing Board of Nashville independent. Those supporting the independence of the publishing board, headed by Rev. R. H. Boyd, and rejecting a proposed new charter, incorporation, and ownership of the publishing board withdrew from the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc. to form the National Baptist Convention of America. In 1995, the NBCA had about 1,700,000 members in 6,716 churches. - Wikipedia