Leadership within the Maricopa Co NAACP

In my opinion, the leadership in the Maricopa Co branch of the NAACP has lacked substance. I think that they are all good people and perhaps leaders but I haven’t seen any changes or accomplishments from the executive board that has been repeatedly elected. I did receive a letter in the mail announcing the new board members. For the most part the same people were elected but some in different positions. There was one difference and I hope she can make a difference. Perhaps, the same people get elected because you do have to have a lifetime membership before being on the board. It cost nearly $500. So money could be an issue or people just don’t care about this organization. The organization isn’t what it use to be. Leaders are just there for the fame and not performing their duties. I think that the culture has to change in order to make change in the community.

ASU NAACP Meetings

I was a very active member in the college chapter of the NAACP at ASU since I have been enrolled. Over the 2 years period that I have been involved, the organization is diminishing. I know that all organizations have problems and etc but it seems as though everyone is there for altruistic motives. What happened to people being apart of something for the cause? Or being motivated because of the organization’s mission? I feel that the leader has no intention of making the organization better. She is content with the way things are…I asked her what were her plans and how do she expect to get other people involved. Her reply was to give out stuff. Such as T-shirts, food, and memberships. That is costly!!! From my understanding the organization has about $150 in its account and she is using other resources to ask for money and there isn’t any programming going on. I know that this organization is in need of a lot of help. It needs the right people to do it. How does an organization get over changing the culture? Getting the right people on the bus if the right people aren’t there in beginning or at the head of the organization? I guess my frustration is showing…but something needs to be done.

Arizona State Collge Chapters NAACP Meetings

As I have stated. That I was helping with creating an umbrella organization for all the college NAACP chapters in the Phoenix area. It started off well. Since our inception, we had 2 meetings. This idea was brought up by the NAACP College Chapter Advisor. I would have liked to see this project launch. Unfortunately people just bite off more than they can chew. I think for future references we have the meetings setup so that if the national college advisor isn’t present then the meetings can still go on. I thought the meetings that took place were successful. It had substance, it was organized, it brought people together, and we learned things about the national organization and current events. I was really pumped about interning for the NAACP Maricopa Co/ MCC Branch but I feel as though there needs to be some type of structure. I mentioned in an earlier blog about passing the torch. In this case it makes me wonder if people just want to stay in control.
Next semester, I hope that we can continue this project because it has good intentions. Unfortunately, after this semester I have no idea if I will continue to be an active member.

Fund raising in Student Organizations is a hassle!!!

I am in need of fund raising ideas. I am in charge of raising funds to go to nationals. My first thought was to do concessions at ASU. The thing is that we need insurance in order to participate. Obtaining insurance from our national headquarters means we have to pay $150 and think that is for one time. The other idea I had was to propose to major corporations. The thing with corporations is that we must have a 501 C3 status and we have a C4 status so that makes us ineligible. We can’t put on any social activities because we must have money to sustain us and then hopefully gain that money back plus some. If anyone has any suggestions please post on this blog. I will greatly appreciate it.

Recruiting--SMCC Starting a Chapter

As part of my internship I am responsible for starting new college chapters. I attended a Black Student Union (BSU) meeting at South Mountain Community College (SMCC) back in September. I stated to them what the organization was including history, focus, purpose, executive board, and local facts. It puzzled me at first because they had a ton of questions for me. After I attended the meeting I felt as though they were not going to become an affiliate of the NAACP. I was thinking that I had failed my mission. Then I realized that it was out of my control. Local community chapters do not follow up. They only show up once you are charted or you are not in compliance. As I have mentioned in earlier posts. There is a gap and just because a national organization approaches you to be apart of them doesn’t necessarily yield benefits. To my understanding, they didn’t want to be just another number to make Arizona look good but they wanted to reap benefits.

Lack of Motivation

In my experience with this internship, I feel a sense of lack of motivation in furthering my participation with this community adult chapter of the NAACP. I feel as though everyone has their hands out for financial support but there aren’t tangible benefits for people my age. I sense that there is a lack of organization and substance. The meetings are entertaining but what business and results are we seeking? Are the right people in the right places and positions of the organization? I feel that community sections should offer scholarships, leadership training, money management, and etc to already college students. I feel that there is a gap and that everyone is concerned with their own well being and trying to compete with other branches. I can understand why the community isn’t necessarily supporting the local NAACP. The only program is the Backpak Drive that takes place every July for children of the South Phoenix Community. The youth council is very productive because they have a state representative’s wife pretty much running the show and having her daughter step in as the President of the youth council. So that doesn’t really count. I wish the college chapters have more hands on coaching.

Rivalry Between 2 Community Branches of the NAACP?

This is just my own opinion but I feel that there is some type of rivalry between the Maricopa County Branch and the East Valley Branch of the NAACP. I attended the Maricopa County Branch meeting and as part of the meeting they read the mail. One of the pieces was a invitation from the East Valley NAACP to attend their freedom fund dinner that took place in October. The letter head of the invitation had certain Eastern cities such as Awahatukee, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, and etc. The President made a remark as “they need to stop putting these cities on their letterhead”. I’m thinking…why does it matter? They are both trying to reach the same goals they just probably have a different approach. Just because its called Maricopa County doesn’t mean that everybody has to go to this branch meeting. Maybe they live in one of the cities that is listed in the letterhead and want to attend that branch meeting. Who cares? We are about the advancement of Colored people not competing amongst colored people. LOL I think it is petty and it’s a shame that high school things are still going on when you past 50 years old.