Gary Thompson resigns presidency of Rochester Chapter NAACP by Dave McCleary
Thu, Jan 17, 2008  In a letter to the Board of Directors dated January 4, 2008, Gary Thompson resigned his position as President of the Rochester Chapter NAACP.
Thompson, who became President in April of last year, cited philosophical differences with the board as well as "personal" reasons for vacating his position. His letter stated that he "lost the zeal and strength that is needed to continue to lead the chapter".
Coming less than two months after their "Freedom Fund Dinner" in which the organization tried to brand itself as "the New Greater Rochester NAACP," the timing of Thompson's resignation comes as no surprise to some.
The "Freedom Fund Dinner" (normally an annual event), took place last November and was the first the Rochester Chapter has produced in more than five years. Board members say they hoped the dinner would have created a fresh start for the organization.
"We wanted to wash away the stigma of the past and bring new committed people on board," explains Kay Thompson (no relations to Gary), Rochester Chapter Treasurer.
But the past, rocked by scandals, misappropriation of funds and other indiscretions, appears to be one major hindrance to the current progress of the organization.
According to board members, the problems for the organization date as far back as 1993 when Rev. Willie Harvey was president. They say Harvey's personal problems with Rochester Telephone where he worked full-time, and circumstances regarding 'financial discrepancies' with NAACP funds, led to his removal from office.
Harvey was succeeded by Rev. Norvell Goff, who at the time was senior pastor of Baber AME Church. Goff served from 1993 until 2004 when he resigned. Board members blame Goff's 11-year run for much of the public's negativity toward the organization. They said when he left office, the organization was down to only 10 members and an empty bank account.
Joseph S. Brown, who served as vice-president under Goff, was appointed interim president after Goff's resignation and was later voted into office in 2005 through a special election.
Brown, working with board members Beulah Patterson and Kay Thompson, is credited with rebuilding the organization to about 150 members but served for only two years. Board members say there was a conflict between his consulting business and his position as president of the chapter.
"The presidency was dropped on my shoulder at a very inconvenient time," Brown said. "I had a lot going on in my personal life that prevented me from making the kind of contribution I would have liked."
In the November 2007 election Brown declined to run for office. Rev. Sammy King was elected president and Gary Thompson was elected vice-president. King was installed in January, 2007 but resigned in April, after only four months in office.
Board members say they had hopes King would turn out to be the leader that would ultimately turn things around for the organization but were caught by surprise when he resigned.
King was succeeded by Gary Thompson whose vision was to work on initiatives within the educational system and the jails.
Board members say Thompson was inexperienced as a leader and allowed too many 'outside influences' to cloud his judgment. But Thompson says the board continually 'tied his hands' making it impossible for him to move forward with a progressive agenda.
Upon Thompson's resignation, the board met on January 7 and appointed Karen Spotford as president. Spotford brings to the organization more than 20 years in organizational leadership. She is a delegate of the Rochester Labor's Council and has served in various Union positions including the Rochester Laborer's Union and the Public Employees Federation.
"Who is president is only consequential to the mission of the organization," explains Spotford, adding, "the NAACP is here as an advocate for the community. The president needs to be someone who can move the organization forward. I understand how to advance the mission of the organization."
Spotford and the board of directors say they wish Gary the best but "will continue to push forward with the NAACP agenda."
Gary Thompson says he remains committed to the organization. "My family and I continue to believe in the mission and goals of the national NAACP and will always be members as we continue the fight for freedom and justice," he said.
"We don't want the organization locked down to any one person or any one church. We belong to the community," noted Kay Thompson.
Kay has been with the organization since 1993--the year Goff became president. During Goff’s term, the chapter was run from his church, on Meigs Street. When he resigned from the presidency the organization needed a new location to run their operation. Kay donated space at her North Avenue insurance agency office. The chapter continues to operate from that location today.
"The people in the community have no idea of the magnitude of things we are doing," says James Harvey, Chapter Vice-president.
Currently the organization's agenda includes voter registration and membership drives; conducting weekly visits at the Monroe County jail, interviewing inmates regarding issues of 'unfair matters in the criminal justice system; participating in round-table discussions with members of the Attorney General's team; co-sponsoring the Attorney General's community forum; working with the Rochester City School District on community issues to 'enhance our kid's education'; building relationships with local unions 1199 and CBTU; conduct discussions with the Commissioner of Jurors on the selection process and strategies on getting more African-American participation.
Some of their future initiatives involve building a team of legal volunteers to assist with inmate issues within the criminal justice system and other legal matters, as well as conducting public forums to recruit African Americans for jury duty.
Board members say they hope the community will take this opportunity to join the organization and help shape the vision for the future in correcting social injustice for all people.
"It's better to have us and not need us, than to need us and not have us," admonished Kay Thompson.
|
