There is an article in the current issue of the spokesman-recorder about the August 1 protest against the opening of NAACP Parent Information Centers, with some background information. The protest was called on short notice by a group of NAACP members who support the position taken by the Branch (No to NAACP participation in the Parent Centers Project).
In recent years most people who join the NAACP and affiliate with the Minneapolis branch do so by purchasing a one-year membership during a pre-election period every other year, are not personally involved with the organization after the election, and let their memberships lapse. Some repeat the cycle. These are not "active" members of any NAACP Branch, except once every other year when they vote for Branch officers. The Branch is the basic organizational unit of the NAACP. Members of the Branch who attend monthly meetings of the Branch are "the Branch," which has a defined role in making decisions for the Branch. The authority of the executive committee, including the president, is derived from the Branch. By disregarding the decision of the Branch regarding the Parent Information Centers, the president and executive committee of the Minneapolis Branch are operating outside of the constitution and by-laws for Branch of the NAACP (July 2000 edition), including at least the following provisions: Article IV, Section 2 (a) states: "The executive committee of a Branch [which includes the president] shall have general control of the affairs and program of the Branch, subject to the authority of the Branch and the provisions of the constitution." Article IV, section 2 (f) states [under the heading "duties of the executive committee]: "To decide matters of Branch policy subject to endorsement by the branch and in accordance with National policy." -Doug Mann, King Field TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
