------ NAACP committee hasn't changed plans to come to Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Though NAACP members were critical of Frances Semler's appointment to the city's park board, the group still plans to hold its convention in Kansas City three years from now.

Mayor Mark Funkhouser's June appointment of Semler, a member of the Minuteman Civil Defense Corps, to the park board drew criticism from both the National Council of La Raza and the NAACP. On Saturday, La Raza announced it is pulling its 2009 convention from Kansas City.

But the NAACP so far has kept its convention plans for Kansas City intact.

"It is our intent to come to Kansas City in 2010, pending a site visit," said Anita Russell, president of the group's Kansas City branch, who attended a meeting Friday with the NAACP's Convention Planning Committee.

Richard McIntire, a national NAACP spokesman, said the decision about the 2010 convention is not final.

La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy organization, had urged Funkhouser to remove Semler from the board or have her step down because of her affiliation with the Minuteman group, which opposes illegal immigration. Last week, La Raza said it would still hold its conference in Kansas City if Semler would at least cut ties to the Minuteman group.

http://www.hdnews.net/Story/k1004_BC_MO ... 10_23_0925