Jefferson City, MO - NAACP General Membership Meeting will be at Perkins Resturant at 6PM -
room in the back.
ON THE AGENDA -
- Election of delegates to the January 7, 2012 Missouri State NAACP Conference President Election Re-do - www.vote4Nimrod.blogspot.com for details on the election and President Chapel's background,
- Selection of National Board Members by ballot, and
- Review of priorities for the coming year and holiday cheer.
As for the National Board Members Up for Election/Reelection/Retention here is some info on each of them that one of our college members thought might be of assistance:
NAACP National Board Election Candidates
Ophelia Averitt
Ophelia Averitt has been a lifelong member of the NAACP active from her childhood in Alabama and continuing today in her adopted home in Akron, Ohio. She is a graduate of the Patterson School of Nursing as well as the Vogue Academy of Hair Design and an Herbal Nutritionist. Her sincere and caring nature as well as the entrepreneurial skills of her professional training is also reflected in her NAACP and other volunteer service activities. She operates Simon’s Salon and Health Boutique. For years, she has given free monthly seminars on health; “You are what you eat and think” taking her community on a journey into better health. Her pleasant disposition, dogged determination, and passion for the NAACP, together with her exceptional mastery of sales techniques, have made her the premiere solicitor of NAACP memberships, especially Life Memberships. She has consistently brought hundreds of NAACP Life Memberships and tens of thousands of dollars to the Association every year for the past 20 years. Her record is unmatched. She has been the President of the Akron, Ohio Chapter of NAACP for the last 14 years after serving as the 1st Vice Chair of the Ohio State Conference of the NAACP for 10 years. She is a member of the NAACP National Board of Directors where she serves as the National Life Membership Chairperson. Mrs. Averitt, almost single handedly established five new NAACP college chapters: the University of Akron; Kent State University; Rice University; The College of Wooster and Youngstown State University. Over the last five years, she was also instrumental in procuring 70 college scholarships from the Carrie Simon NAACP Scholarship Fund. She is active and devoted member of the Wesley Temple AME Zion Church in Akron and has been honored and recognized as one of the most influential women in Northeast Ohio by the prestigious Cleveland Foundation.
Fred Banks
Mississippi lawyer, judge, and civil rights advocate. Served as the local counsel for the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund in Jackson, Mississippi and later served as the general counsel to the Mississippi State Conference of NAACP Branches. Banks participated in school desegregation, housing and employment discrimination, voting rights and other civil rights cases as well as general law practice. In 1975, Banks was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from Hinds County. In February 1985, he was appointed Circuit Judge for the 7th Circuit District, which at that time included Hinds and Yazoo counties. Banks served on the Mississippi Supreme Court from 1991 to 2001. He was president of the Jackson Branch of the NAACP from 1971 through 1982 and served as a member of the National Board of Directors of the NAACP.
Amos Brown
Known among World leaders, Presidents, celebrities, and academicians alike for his trademark activism, intellectual discipline, and masterful oratory, Dr. Amos C. Brown is a legend in his own time. Tutored by Medgar Evers, Benjamin Mays, Samuel Williams, J. Pious Barbour, and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (as one of the eight students in the only class Dr. King taught in his lifetime at Morehouse College), Dr. Brown has never seen the issues of society as separate from the mission of the church, especially when the members of the church are directly affected by systems of evil. A native of Jackson, Mississippi, Dr. Brown has been Pastor of San Francisco's Third Baptist Church since 1976. As a scholar, theologian, preacher and social activist, he has maintained a marriage of piety and political action in his ministry. He was equipped for great and distinct ministerial leadership through his training at Morehouse College, B.A. (1964) and earned degrees of Master of Divinity degree from Crozer Theological Seminary and the Doctor of Ministry from United Theological Seminary. Before accepting the call to Third Baptist, he served as pastor of Saint Paul's Baptist Church in West Chester, Pennsylvania and Pilgrim Baptist Church in St. Paul, Minnesota. Under his leadership, Third Baptist Church has established a summer school program, created an After-School Academic enrichment program (Back on Track) in partnership with Temple Emanuel Congregation, the Charles A. Tindley Academy of Music; sponsored more African refugees than any local congregation in the nation and sponsored 80 children from Tanzania to receive heart surgery in the United States. He led the Bay Area in raising $68,000 for the Somalian Relief Effort in 1984, led in founding the Black American Response to the African Crisis, which raised $300,000 for the Ethiopian Famine crises, and led an airlift to Ethiopia under the auspices of the National Baptist Convention. In addition to his pastoral responsibilities, he has served as a member of the governing board of San Francisco Community College, National Chairman of the National Baptist Commission on Civil Rights and Human services, member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, Chairman of the Bay Area Ecumenical Pastors Conference, first Vice President of the California State Baptist Convention, President of NAACP Branch in San Francisco, California, and a member of the governing board of the National Council of Churches of Christ. Dr. Brown was a delegate to the 2001 United Nations Conference on Race and Intolerance in Durban, South Africa. He represented the National Board of the NAACP in this World Conference. Also in the wake of the tragedy of September 11, 2001, Dr. Brown was one of the principal national faith leaders to give a response address to the tragedy at the San Francisco's Day of Remembrance. In September of 2001, Dr. Brown and Jesse Jackson met with the venerable, Nelson Mandela in South Africa around issues of African development and U.S. foreign policy matters. And as a great champion of educational enterprises, he brought to Third Baptist the Honorable Kweisi Mfume for an evening of "Celebrating our Commitment and Passion for Education and Academic Excellence". From this effort over $67,000 was raised for scholarships for worthy students who are pursuing higher education and training. Dr. Brown was awarded the Martin Luther King, Jr. Ministerial Award for outstanding leadership and contributions to the Black Church in America. He was also inducted into the International Hall of Fame at the King International Chapel at Morehouse College. For a second time, Dr. And Mrs. Brown was invited by President and First Lady Barak and Michelle Obama to a Christmas Reception at the White House. Most recently, the City and County of San Francisco honored Dr. Brown during the Martin Luther Ling Jr. Holiday, and gave a brilliant address to the community. In April of 2011 he will be honored by his hometown of Jackson Mississippi. Sharing Dr. Brown's commitment to service and racial uplift are his wife, Mrs. Jane Smith Brown of Richmond, Virginia, two sons, Amos C. Brown, Jr., David Josephus Brown, and daughter, Kizzie Marie Brown.
Edward Dubose
Edward O. DuBose, president of the Georgia State NAACP Conference. As the state NAACP leader, his philosophy is: "Greatness can only be achieved through hard work and a willing mind." Over the years, DuBose has received numerous awards for his work as a civil rights leader. These include: the Georgia State Conference President's Award (2003, 2004, and 2005); the Kelly M. Alexander, Sr. Memorial Leadership Award (2004); the Seventh Annual Malcom X Leadership Award (2003); the Columbus NAACP Branch Leadership Award (2003); the Georgia ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) Award; and the ABWA Business Associate Award for outstanding service to the community (2004). The oldest of 10 children, DuBose was educated in the Atlanta Public School System. After graduating from Harper High School, he joined the United States Army, where he completed 21 years of honorable service before retiring in 1998. Part of that time was spent in Germany, Korea, and Italy. In July of 1997, while still serving in the military, the civil rights leader was nominated as the 16th president of the Columbus Branch of the NAACP. Under his guidance, the organization increased its membership by more than 50 percent in eight months and retired a five-year debt, totaling over $6,000 in just six months. He remained president of the local branch until 2005. As president, DuBose established the first NAACP Image Award as well as the first Religious Affairs Award in Columbus; hosted the largest, most successful Freedom Fund Banquet in the branch's 28-year history, with 1,000 attendees and $80,000 in revenues; succeeded in bringing the seven-county NAACP Training Institute to Columbus in 1998; coordinated the largest protest march in the city's history, following the shooting death of Kenneth Walker; assisted in planning the first Black History Month weekend celebration in Columbus; and helped establish the only NAACP radio program in Georgia. As a result of his proven leadership abilities, he was elected second vice president of the Georgia State Conference of the NAACP in 2001. During his four years as second vice president, he served as the state chairman of veterans' affairs (1999-2001) and as the NAACP coordinator for District 21 (1999-2002), which encompasses nine counties. He likewise served as the personal assistant to the state conference president in 2003. Along with his job as conference president, DuBose also owns Oxygen Metal Health Counseling Services, which provides in-home counseling to at-risk youth and families throughout Georgia and Alabama. The keynote speaker holds an associate's degree in general education, a bachelor's degree in business administration, and a master's degree in clinical mental health counseling. Moreover, he is a certified anger management specialist and is a member of the National Board of Certified Counselors and the Licensed Professional Counselors Association of Georgia. DuBose and his wife of 22 years, Cynthia DuBose, have three daughters, Cynthia Harris, Casonya Hardaway Glover, and Kimberly DuBose.
William Graves
Bishop Graves is the 42nd Bishop of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, elected at the 1982 General Conference. His role as a representative of the C.M.E. Church began early in his ministry. He was elected the President of the National Youth Conference and represented the denomination in the World Council of Churches in India; and in the World Methodist Conference on several occasions (London, England; Dublin, Ireland, Rio de Janeiro, Singapore and Honolulu, Hawaii), Sweden, and The Holy Land. Chairman, Board of Directors, Revelation Corporation of America, Inc.
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Lane College, Jackson, TN
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Collins Chapel Health Center, Memphis, TN
Chairman, Board of Finance, C.M.E. Church
Chairman, Several Housing Projects (Tennessee and Arkansas)
Member of The National Board of Directors, NAACP
Member of Trustee Board, Interdenominational Theological Center and Phillip School of Theology, Atlanta GA
Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors, Memphis Light, Gas and Water, Memphis, TN
Chairman, National Headquarters, C.M.E. Church
National Advisory Committee, Boy Scouts, USA
Member, World Methodist Council
1996 Recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award, National Conference of Christian and Jews
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Lane College, Jackson, TN
Chairman, Board of Trustees, Collins Chapel Health Center, Memphis, TN
Chairman, Board of Finance, C.M.E. Church
Chairman, Several Housing Projects (Tennessee and Arkansas)
Member of The National Board of Directors, NAACP
Member of Trustee Board, Interdenominational Theological Center and Phillip School of Theology, Atlanta GA
Vice-Chairman, Board of Directors, Memphis Light, Gas and Water, Memphis, TN
Chairman, National Headquarters, C.M.E. Church
National Advisory Committee, Boy Scouts, USA
Member, World Methodist Council
1996 Recipient of the Humanitarian of the Year Award, National Conference of Christian and Jews
Madie Robinson
Robinson is the president of the Florence chapter of the NAACP. She’s been a member of the chapter since 1975. Madie’s dedication and active voice on the positions she has held have won the respect of the other national board members; Her votes and positions taken have always reflected the best interest of the NAACP and its members. Robinson is executive director and chief executive officer of Pee Dee Healthy Start Inc. She has held the position since 1998. Pee Dee Healthy Start was one of the 15 original federally-funded demonstration sites created in 1991 to reduce infant mortality. It was changed in Phase II of the federal initiative to Pee Dee Healthy Start Inc. “Our primary goal is to decrease the incidence of infant mortality and other negative pregnancy outcomes,” Robinson said. “The mission of health education is to increase knowledge and awareness on health issues related to infant mortality and poor birth outcomes through health promotion and health education.”Services provided include outreach and client recruitment, case management, health education, parenting services, public safety and consortium. The consortium provides local, county and regional forums where consumers, providers and concerned volunteers can gather to collaborate regarding action to achieve the common goal of healthier birth outcomes in the Pee Dee. Pee Dee Healthy Start is a nonprofit organization, and its services are free. Those eligible for services include pregnant and parenting women ages 10 through 44.
Yvonne White
Michigan State NAACP President
Keith Ratliff
Rev. Keith A. Ratliff, Sr., NAACP National Board Member, NAACP State Conference
President for Iowa/Nebraska, the NAACP (National Association for the Advancement
of Colored People) the nation’s oldest and most respected civil rights organization.
Rev. Ratliff is a former President of the Des Moines NAACP a position he occupied
for seven years in the 1990’s while also President of the Des Moines Black Ministerial
Alliance during this same time. He is also the State Historian for the Iowa Missionary
and Educational Baptist State Convention and Affiliated Churches. In addition to
his religious duties he serves on numerous community boards and leads a quarterly
NAACP leadership meeting with Governor Vilsack addressing issues such as education,
healthcare, justice and economic empowerment as they impact Iowa’s African American
and minority communities. He earned his Bachelors degree from Simpson College in
History/Education and earned his Masters degree from Drake University in Religious
Leadership. He was a Senior Engineering Analyst at John Deere Des Moines Works for
Thirty three years.
