Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 3, 1994 TAG: 9411030120
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-11 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: The Washington Post
DATELINE: WASHINGTON LENGTH: Medium
The announcement, by Interim Senior Administrator Earl H. Shinhoster, came two days after the financially troubled civil-rights organization furloughed 88 of its paid staff for at least two weeks because it said it could not meet its payroll.
The ``austerity plan'' announced by Shinhoster is the latest move by the 85-year-old National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to shore up a reputation tarnished by its financial crisis and the firing of Executive Director Benjamin Chavis on Aug. 20.
Shinhoster said the plan devised by the NAACP leadership was designed to raise $93,000 per day to ``generate sufficient dollars to retire our debt by the end of Dec. 31, 1994.''
The leadership will ask every member of the National Board of Directors and Special Contribution Fund Trustees to contribute at least $5,000, Shinhoster said. The organization's 2,208 local branches and other organizations will be asked to contribute $1,000 apiece, he added.
He said 22 corporate sponsors who cut funding to the NAACP this year will be asked to resume contributions, and ``appeals will be made to African-American entrepreneurs, athletes and entertainers.''
Despite Shinhoster's optimism, some prominent members of the organization worried about the crisis of confidence that began with the Chavis firing and continues with allegations of overspending by board Chairman William F. Gibson during trips on the organization's behalf. Gibson has denied the allegations.
``We have to regain our credibility and our integrity and the trust of the branches,'' said board member Hazel Dukes in New York. ``We have to service the branches, we must regroup, and we must regain our reputation.''
Similar views were expressed by union representative Sallie Williams, a spokeswoman for 50 of the furloughed workers, who complained about ``poor leadership,'' especially from Gibson: ``If he really cared anything about the NAACP, he should step aside.''
Wednesday, Williams filed a formal grievance on behalf of the out-of-work employees, charging that the NAACP leadership did not consult with the union, Maryland Public Employees Council 67, before abruptly ordering the furlough last Sunday.
Shinhoster said he hoped to meet with the staff in the next few days, but warned that ``there is a possibility that the furlough will be extended for some employees.'' Nevertheless, he said he was ``pleased'' that many staff members had come to work this week as volunteers. He said the NAACP will save approximately $250,000 because of the furloughs.
by CNB