Sumter NAACP wins several state awards

By JOE PERRY
Item Senior Staff Writer
jperry@theitem.com

The Sumter Branch of the NAACP cleaned up at a recent state conference convention in Charlotte, taking home five out of 17 awards given out across South Carolina.

"I don't think it's ever been done," said Ferdinand Burns, president of the Sumter Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Right at the top of the list is the L.A. Blackmon Award, which is given to the branch that has conducted the best overall program performance during the preceding year in the areas of membership, youth work, political action, education, economic development and direct action initiatives.

"Well, at the beginning of the year when I took office, I promised to be proactive and not reactive," Burns said. "We're going to be something other than a ceremonial organization that just has meetings, talks about things and then goes home."

The Sumter branch also won the Community Outreach Award, the Publications Award, the Education Advocacy Award and the Advocacy Award.

Burns is quick to credit the hard work and commitment of the branch's officers, executive board members and members of the association. He said he's worked to get committee chairmen engaged. Burns also said he's working to have the NAACP act as a conduit for members to get legal advice on a variety of issues.

The Sumter branch is also scheduled to hold its monthly general membership meeting today at 5 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church. There will be an update on the efforts of Congress on behalf of health-care reform.

"Certainly we want to support the president," Burns said. "Most of us are heavily in favor of the public option, and I encourage all who can to write letters to their congressmen in support of the public option."

Goals for the near future include a job fair, a health fair, and a retreat in February, he said.



Contact Senior Staff Writer Joe Perry at jperry@theitem.com or (803) 774-1272.



The general public is invited to the meeting today at 5 p.m. at Mount Pisgah Missionary Baptist Church, 7355 Camden Highway, Rembert.