Letter from President Pratt

News   ·   January 19, 2009

Welcome to the website of the Springfield Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)! On behalf of the newly elected and appointed Executive Committee, I want to welcome and thank you for visiting our website. I am excited to serve as the local chapter President of the premier national civil rights organization in the United States of America, the NAACP. During a time of national centennial celebration and positive developments within our local branch this is an opportune time to become a member and get involved.

“Together We Can Do More” is the 2009 theme of the Springfield local NAACP chapter. Over the course of the next 12 months, together, the Springfield chapter will go through developmental steps and engage in external outreach in order to enhance service to our social justice mission and to “do more” within our community. In order for us to do more as a branch that meets the needs of our community, we must simultaneously strive to “be more.” The new Executive Committee has already begun to plan and implement an infrastructure that supports the Springfield community.

Based on the priority areas of interest derived from input from our members and a community survey, we have begun to develop a viable and effective Executive Committee with our membership comprised of functional standing committees. We have made effective communication a priority by communicating with our members and the general community. We will work together to carry out the mission of the NAACP by promoting inclusiveness that ensures political, educational, social and economic equality of rights of all persons while striving to eliminate racial hatred and racial discrimination.

As we do more, we need your active participation and support. One of our major goals for 2009 is to increase our active membership to at least 100 new members, in recognition of the Centennial celebration of the NAACP and its one hundred years of service and advocacy. The level of community involvement that our local NAACP chapter has hinges on the commitment of all for whom the chapter seeks to help. Therefore, your membership and active participation is a vital component of being more and doing more for our community.

As we begin 2009, let us join together in promoting peace, empowerment and prosperity for everyone in the New Year. I am sure that with your support and commitment we can make our community, city, and region an even better place to live for all who call Missouri home. I encourage you to download or print a copy of the membership application and become a member today!

“TOGETHER WE CAN DO MORE!”

Regards,

Francine M. Pratt

President