Update on Columbus NAACP
By Ronda Watson Barber
Publisher
I placed a call to the national office of the NAACP on Friday. The purpose of the call was to give a heads up that folks would be filing complaints with Ohio’s Attorney General. Membership fees have been paid. No election occurred in November. No correspondences have been made to members. It is not acceptable that NAACP has taken monies and does not have an branch operating.
I was asked if the state and regional folks knew of the issue? Of course they do. They know there wasn’t an election. They were contacted. They know there isn’t an active branch in Columbus.
I was told that we must follow the NAACP constitution. Really!? Whatever…I continued to reiterate that one cannot take monies and not provide the services. It’s fraud and theft.
It is not acceptable that for five months folks that paid for memberships have not been contacted by the national, regional, state or local office on the status of the branch or when an election will occur.
Ironically, the NAACP advocates for fair elections but for whatever reason cannot seem to conduct fair elections with its Ohio branches.
I was told that the national office will be sending out letters to the Columbus “members” shortly.
I will be awaiting my letter. In my humble opinion, a reasonable solution is to either refund dues or our membership needs to be extended. (I am still waiting for my membership card. I renewed my membership in September 2014).
B
