Fort Wayne -Allen County NAACP #3049-If you don't have something good to say about a person, just say it behind their back

Folks are discovering, that it was true, Rev. Michael Latham was the NAACP. Forget the fact that Rev. Latham was the president, the fact of the matter is, it was Rev. Latham whoput on his NAACP work boots and went into the trenches for the people. Folks have often voiced their discontent with the leadership skills of Rev. Latham, including myself, when it came to the Fort Wayne-Allen County NAACP #3049, but little action from these naysayers was Rev. Latham retort.

And with Rev. Latham stepping down from his role of president came the opportunity to pass the baton, but the baton fell oh so quietly to the floor. Where was Rev. Latham, backup? Where was Rev. Latham's Supremes as the local branch went into shock and awe at his announcement. It could not have been from his stepping down, Rev. Latham had announced for over a year, he just might hang up his running shoes. But one thing was certain, it became abundantly clear Rev. Latham had a valid complaint, that he was not getting the support that he needed?

Wane TV report this:

"With the President's resignation, usually the 1st Vice President would step in as acting President. The 1st Vice President is Hana Stith. She told NewsChannel 15 she will not accept the position.

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'I am not going to be able to be acting President of the NAACP because of my age and declining health and other responsibilities that I have at the present time,' said Stith."



Indiana NAACP State President Barbara Bolling reassures the local membership, that the passing of the baton will be done in an orderly fashion. According to the Indiana NAACP State President Bolling, procedures will be followed and we will be working through the issues impacting the local branch and working with the new officers from the upcoming election.

In the meantime, according to Indiana State NAACP President Bolling, members of the executive committee or chairpersons of standing committees are eligible to become acting president of the local branch. All though some of these members may have been appointed after the last training in the early part of 2007, these members are still eligible for the position. Some believe that you can not hold a position unless you are trained, this is not true, according to Indiana State NAACP President Bolling. The training must be given and taken within a certain time frame after becoming an officer.


Indiana State NAACP President Barbara Bolling wants the community to know, the local branch is not in crisis. Although Ink reported that the building located at 1521 E. Pontiac Several phone calls were made to the assessor's office seeking information on a sale disclosure form for the building. No luck. I was directed to the recorder's office seeking information on a deed for new owners of the building. No luck. I called the auditor's office seeking taxpayer information on his listed as responsible for the tax bill, and it was not the City of Fort Wayne.

Was this an attempt at getting a certain donor(who will go unnamed) to commit to an pledge to purchase the building for the NAACP?

The owner of the building is listed as the Fort Wayne Urban League, Inc since August 28, 1991. When FWUL Executive President Jonathan Ray was questioned about whether or not the building was sold to the City of Fort Wayne, Mr. Ray would not give a definitive answer. Instead Mr. Ray stated that a discussion will take place at the October 13, 2008 meeting of the local NAACP.

Does this mean that the FWUL may sell the building, perhaps may to the Renaissance Pointe crew that work for the City of Fort Wayne?

Oh the drama....oh the conspirators..men of action or just simply naysayers???

My name is Jacqueline Dowdell, card carrying member of the NAACP, and Chairperson of the Public Relation Committee