Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP (Branch #7057)
2016 Year-End Report–2016

The 2016 agenda of the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP Branch was focused and purposeful. As president, I have represented the branch throughout the year at various community events and forums speaking to issues of civil rights –at churches, at university student organization meetings, at city council meetings and in other public venues.  I've also produced  written and spoken commentary on civil rights that was published in the local Daily Progress newspaper and carried by local television and radio media. I attended the NAACP National Convention and the Virginia State Conference.

I also served on the University of Virginia Slavery Commission.

The branch's primary activities throughout the year involved assisting individuals in the community in addressing racism, discrimination and  civil rights issues,  providing information regarding important community issues, engaging in voter registration and soliciting NAACP membership.

In addition to updates on ongoing civil rights work in the community, our monthly meeting agendas included presentations on relevant and important topics such as:

Jan–.Hypertension/ Blood Pressure Health

Feb- NAACP  Founders Day Commemoration

March – Use of  DNA in Law Enforcement & the African American Community

April – Restoration of  Ex-Felons' Voting Rights in Virginia

May –  Discussion of Bryan Stevenson's  Just Mercy: Justice and Redemption

June – Special Education and Parents' Rights

July –  History of the Albemarle-Charlottesville African American Community

Aug. – Health Goals for the African American Community

Sept-Oct-Nov. Branch Election Process

During the course of the election process (Sept-Oct-Nov.), we gained over 125 members –including new members and renewals. Hopefully this increase in membership will  enhance participation and provide the branch with new opportunities to build and grow and engage in increasingly effective civil rights work in the Albemarle-Charlottesville community.

M. Rick Turner, President

Click here for PDF of the President's 2016 Year-end Report

On November 14, 2016, the election of officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee for 2017 to 2019 will take place at the Mary Williams Center.(Jefferson School City Center at- 233 Fourth Street, NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903)  

Polls will be open from 6:00 to 9:00 pm. In order to vote, one must be current 30 days prior to the election.  A form of identification is required.

Should a run-off election be necessary, that election shall be conducted not less than ten days after the original election.

President candidates:
  M. Rick Turner
  Karen Waters-Wicks

First Vice President candidates:
  Janette B. Martin
  Ruby Stradford-Boston

Secretary candidate:
  Lynn M. Boyd

Treasurer candidate:
  Lester Frye

At-large candidates:
  Jim Hingeley and Alexander Schuyler

Dear Member,

Please note the following General Membership meetings of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Branch (#7057) for the purpose of election of officers and at-large members of the executive committee.

On September 12, 2016 at the Mary Williams Center (Jefferson School City Center at- 233 Fourth Street, NW, Charlottesville, VA 22903) at the conclusion of our presentation on "Special Education and Parent's Rights", there will be an election of the Nominating Committee.  All members who are current as of 30 days prior to the meeting date may be elected to the Nominating Committee.

On October 10, 2016 at the Mary Williams Center there will be a report of the Nominating Committee, receipt of Nominations by Petition, and the election of the Election Supervisory Committee.  Members who are current as of April 1, 2016 may be nominated for office or as an at-large member of the Executive Committee.  In order to sign a nominating petition, or be elected to the Election Supervisory Committee, a member must be current as of 30 days prior to the October meeting.

On November 14, 2016, the election of officers and at-large members of the Executive Committee will take place at the Mary Williams Center.  Polls will be open from 7pm to 8:30pm. Correction: 6:00 to 9:00 PM. In order to vote, one must be current 30 days prior to the election.  A form of identification is required.

Should a run-off election be necessary, that election shall be conducted not less than ten days after the original election.

We look forward to your participation in these activities.

Respectfully,  Lynn M. Boyd, Secretary

Click here for PDF version of this letter

At the August 8, 2016 monthly meeting of the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the NAACP, Ms Kelsey Chavers, was awarded the FEI/NAACP Scholarship award presented by  by Dr. Rick Turner, branch President and Ms. Janette Martin, branch Vice-President.

Ms. Kelsey Chavers, a recent Albemarle High School graduate, is the recipient of the 2016 FEI/NAACP Scholarship. Ms. Chavers is recognized for her leadership skills, community service, and outstanding academic achievement. She received an Advanced Studies Diploma and has successfully completed the rigorous requirements for the Early College Scholars Program. Ms. Chavers will attend the University Of Mary Washington where she plans to study Geography, receive a GIS certificate (Geographic Information System) and a Master’s Degree in Geospatial Analysis. Kelsey Chavers is the daughter of Lander Chavers, Jr. and Kathy Mallory-Chavers.

All those in attendance at the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the NAACP meeting on August 8, 2016. Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP is proud to share this special and important recognition of her accomplishment.

At the June 13,  2016 monthly meeting of the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the NAACP, Ms. Janett Martin, branch vice-president, received her NAACP Lifetime Membership Plaque, presented by Dr. Rick Turner, President.

All those in attendance at the Albemarle-Charlottesville branch of the NAACP meeting on June 13, 2016. Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP is proud to share this special and important recognition of her accomplishment.

I hadn't planned on speaking in Orlando this week, Dr. Turner and I wish I hadn't had such a heartbreaking reason to do so.

Forty-nine people were viciously slain last weekend because of their sexual orientation—during Pride Month, no less—in the deadliest mass shooting in American history.

And now I'm on my way to Charleston, South Carolina, where nearly one year ago, 9 of our brothers and sisters were murdered during Bible study simply because they were black.

It is morally incomprehensible that this keeps happening.

Join me in a moment of silence tomorrow at 9:05 p.m. ET to honor the victims and families of Orlando, Charleston, and anyone who has fallen victim to hate. Share it with your friends, too:

It's been a trying week for our country: the grief is palpable. But out of this pain, we must rise up and take action. Silence can't protect us, but speaking out against hate and limiting access to weapons that can so easily destroy so many lives—that can turn things around.

The ignorance that moves terrorists to take so many lives is fueled by the hateful rhetoric we hear every day on talk radio, cable news, and even from our own elected officials and someone seeking to be our nation's next president. This rhetoric seeks to paint minority groups as "other," or "the problem with this country today."

The real problem with this country today is too much hate.

The NAACP has always stood against hate. We have consistently called for responsible gun control, and today we'll raise our voices even louder.

We are angry, we are heartbroken, we are tired. But in times like these, we have to come together to heal.

Please join us in a moment of silence this Friday at 9:05 p.m. ET, and encourage your friends to join as well.

In solidarity,

Cornell William Brooks
President and CEO
NAACP

PAID LIBRARY INTERNSHIP & SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

This NAACP/JMRL partnership is to encourage local African- American students to consider professional library work as a career option. To further that goal, the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP and the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library (JMRL) have established a library internship and scholarship program for students in the city of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Greene, Louisa, and Nelson.

Program Details

This program offers 200 annual hours of library work experience and a stipend of $2,000. In addition, Interns are eligible to apply for an annual scholarship of $1,000 to be used toward completion of an Associate’s, Bachelor’s, or Master’s degree. Total possible annual value of this program: $3,000.      Click here to download the brochure about the scholarship program.

Application

Applications may be submitted on paper or in electronic form to Jefferson-Madison Regional Library. Successful applications must include the following:

•  An essay of at least 300 words describing the applicantʼs commitment to education and literacy, commenting on why the NAACP is needed today, and expressing the applicant’s interest in public library work.
• Transcripts showing all high school courses completed and GPA.
•  A list of all work experience.
•  High school students must submit a letter of college admittance. or a letter from a high school counselor verifying the applicant's intention to attend college.
• Letters of reference from two non-family members familiar with the applicant’s academic and/or work background.

Application Deadline

Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m., April 22, 2016.
Electronic copies must include the subject “NAACP/JMRL Program”
and be submittedvia email to:  halliday@jmrl.org
Paper copies may be submitted to:
Library Director
Jefferson-Madison Regional Library,
201 East Market Street,
Charlottesville, VA 22902

Application Review Procedure

Applications will be reviewed by a committee representing the Albemarle-Charlottesville NAACP and JMRL.  The Internship/Scholarship Award will be announced before May 21, 2016.

For further Information, please contact:

Library Director John Halliday,
201 E. Market St.
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Email: halliday@jmrl.org
or
Albemarle–Charlottesville NAACP President,
Dr. M. Rick Turner
P.O. Box 1522
Charlottesville, VA 22903
 

The NAACP/JMRL Internship and Scholarship Program is supported by a generous grant from the Friends of Jefferson-Madison Regional Library Endowment Fund.
 Click here to download the brochure about the scholarship program.

A court ruling in Danville and the recent action of Governor Terry McAuliffe have cleared the way for Charlottesville to be able to remove the giant statue of Confederate General Robert E. Lee from Charlottesville downtown.

As members of the Charlottesville community, we demand the removal of this offensive memorial to a man who led the Confederate cause to maintain the enslavement of our ancestors and those of our neighbors.

The time to act is now!

Contact City Council today by emailing Council@Charlottesville.org or leave a message for all city councilors by calling: 434-970-3113. 

Mayor Mike Signer
Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy
Bob Fenwick
Kathy Galvin
Kristin Szakos

Robert E. Lee never came to Charlottesville and was never a part of our local history.  This statue was erected for the sole purpose of celebrating the Confederacy and establishing the supremacy of its cause.  It has no place in our community. 

Tell Charlottesville City Council: It's time for Robert E. Lee to go!
 

The interim executive director of the Virginia NAACP called for an independent investigation into the fatal police shooting of an 18-year-old black teen armed with a BB gun in Roanoke County last month.

Jack Gravely joined Brenda Hale, the president of the Roanoke branch of the NAACP, for a press conference Wednesday evening on the Martin Luther King Jr. Bridge in Roanoke. They reiterated demands Hale made last week that the Roanoke County Police Department conduct an unbiased and transparent investigation into the death of Kionte Desean Spencer.

Read the full story and accompanying pictures on the Roanoke Times newspaper website by clicking here.