Newspapers / Winston-Salem Chronicle (Winston-Salem, N.C.) / Dec. 6, 1990, edition 1 / Page 3
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Urban League Board Chair will not attend planned community forum By RUDY ANDERSON Chronicle Managing Editor Urban League board chairman, Joseph Dick son, says he will not attend a planned public forum on league matters called for by the Forsyth County Voters Coalition. That group called for the meeting after "news surfaced of Delores Smith's dismissal as -the league's executive director. Coalition chair, Marie Roseboro, said last week the group wanted some "straight answers" - about Smith's firing and about the affairs of the league. The coalition wrote the board asking that they attend the forum to answer questions and - concerns the community has about what has hap pened and why. Dickson said Tuesday that he responded to the coalition by letter that he would not attend ^ the forum on the advice of legal counsel. He also said that he forwarded a copy of the coalition's request and a copy of his response to board members. 4i can't speak for other board mem File photo Joseph Dickson bers about whether they will attend or not. I have only given them my response to the coalition's request," Dickson said. Several of the board members the Chronicle contacted said that they too had no plans to attend the forum. Some were undecided, unavail able for comment or did not return phone calls. But two members, Dr. Constance Johnson and attorney Renita Thompkins-Segers said they would attend the meeting. "Not to address any of the community's concerns because 1 wouldn't be there in any official capacity," Johnson said, ."but at least to hear what those concerns are." Thompkins-Segers said her purpose in attending was also to determine what the com munity's concerns are and to report those con cerns and perceptions back to the full board. Roseboro said Tuesday that the meeting will be held whether the board shows up or not. "We believe that the board has acted improperly, that the board is in violation of the National Urban League's mandates, and was warned about it," she said, That meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 7 p.m. in the Hedgley Fellowship Hall at First Bap tist Church on Highland Avenue. African-American community not consulted by all-white board about what they want : By PATRICIA-SMITH-DEERING Chronicle Staff Writer A plan drafted by one of the : members of the all-white, city county school board to provide rep " resentation for African-Americans on school issues was defeated 5-4 at Monday^ meeting. J?oling_m_ favor werei^Mary^ P^'Candy^? Wood, Gerald N. Hewitt, Garlene G. Grogan, and Nancy L. Wooten, - who drafted the plan for a black issues committee. Board members '^Jatte D. Goins, Thomas CrVoss, Gloria D. Whisenhunt, Grace C. ? Efird, and NancyH3riffTtlrTejecreft~ ? it. The plan called for a black issues committee that would include three board members and representatives of the African American community. The commit tee would provide input to the * board as an interim solution to the absence of any current African American members. j. Mrs. Griffith, newly-elected - board member, has wound up tak ing the brunt of anger over the plan's defeat, but said afterwards she did not realize that no one from "the African^ American commuri ity had been consulted as to whether or not such a plan Would be accept ; able. The new board member said that the ensuing furor has been "a crash course in Politics 101" for ? her. Initially, Mrs. Griffith felt that i black-issues committee would be ? an effective means of providing some kind of representation, she said. 4,Noboby ever really talked to fne about this type of committee ... I thought it would be a way for dialogue, (but) I had no clear idea how the black community felt about it." Mrs. Griffith further explained that at Monday's meeting, when she saw how the issue had divided ? the board, she decided that perhaps there was a better solution and voted against the plan. Since her vote at the meetingv Mrs. Griffith has been contacted by a number of ? people in the African-American . -community who were angered by ? '.the board's rejection of the plan. She met on Tuesday with members of the Ministers Conference of Winston-Salem and Vicinity and ; explained her rationale. She said, ; "I'm putting out feelers to see if : blacks feel this (the black-issues ; committee) is a way for them to * have dialogue with the board." : Ms. Wooten expressed disap pointment, not only with the vote but the lack of interest from the African-Amcrican community in the plan she had proposed. "I still think that it's important from the standpoint of being a good interim measure to make input more feasi ble," she said. She does not view a black-issues committee as a substi tute for minority representation on the boaard, however. There had been some initial input, according to Ms. Wooten, at a meeting she had which included vote for it again, I will bring it up," she offered. "A lot of the people I've talked to think it's a good idea, but they want to get back to me," she said. However, she does ntn believe it is necessary to wait for a consen sus from the Africar^American community before putting a black issues committee in place. As a means for establishing communica tion between the board and the community not represented on the board, she said, "If the vehicle is in place, maybe people will use it. My feeling is it's worth trying." File photo Beaufort O. Bailey Beaufort O. Bailey, Earlinc Par mon, Larry Little, and Warren "Pete" Oldham. "I got the impres sion, I was advised thai they sup ported it," sne said. She also said that she hopes Mrs. Griffith recon siders and resubmits the plan for another vote. But, she added, "It would be helpful if we could get some feedback from the black com munity." She also wants those who voted against the plan to be lob bied. "I think (they) shoud be ... asked to be responsive. I would hope the community response would be such that the entire board is contacted." Former vice chairman, Beau fort O. Bailey, said that having a | black-issues committee is the only ; avenue that the black community j has, at this point, to have input to the board. Bailey, the only black ever elected to the school board and : defeated in the recent election, slat ed, "The committeewould have been a good thing to have since we don't have representation. It would give us a direct line to the board." j He has spoken with Mrs. Griffith j about reconsidering and asking for another vote on the plan which he I favors over a previous one to i appoint an advisory committee, j selected by board members. He added that, despite the makeup of the current board, "I think the board would like to have our input." Now that she has received input from many in the community, Mrs. Griffith feels that she will bring the matter before the board again. "If I can make sure that the four people who voted for it will Stride Rite. The famous fit at an extra special price. Special Group Boys and Girls All Leather Tennis Shoes Now 25% off value from $35 to $49 Strafford Oaks ? 722-6630 Hours: Mon., Thurs. & Frl. 10-9 Tues. & Wed 10-6 Saturday 10-5:30 SURGEON GENERAL'S WARNING: Quitting Smoking Now Greatly Reduces Serious Risks to Your Health. ? w 17 mg. "tar", 1.2 mg. nicotine &v."p$f cigsrMte by 1MO R.J. REYNOLDS TOBACCO CO. pit
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