The NAACP Alabama State Conference 54th Annual State Convention 2006
"A Tribute To Rosa Parks"

The NAACP Alabama state conferences 54th annual state convention was a smashing success and the Eufaula Barbour County Branch was there in attendance!  This week long celebration, a tribute to Rosa Parks began on Oct. 4th with a gala reception at the beautiful civil rights institute in Birmingham, al.  the event was sponsored by the Alabama power company and it was first class all the way. Many of our sponsors from Wal-mart, Hyundai motors, Alabama, Pfizer pharmaceuticals and Wachovia were in attendance.  Al state conference president, Edward Vaughn welcome our guest speakers, lt. Governor of Alabama, the honorable Lucy Baxley, the honorable mayor of Birmingham, Bernard Kincaid and the metro Birmingham NAACP president, Hezikah Jackson IV. Wal-Mart donated 8 new computers to the State Conference. On Thursday Oct. 5th we held an NAACP membership and voters registration drive in Birmingham.  This same drive was held on Saturday Oct. 7th in Montgomery, Anniston, and Dothan. 

Red cross disaster training was held for NAACP members on Thursday with Rev. Nelson Rivers and the National office in attendance.  The convention itself opened on Friday Oct 6th at the quality inn & suites in Montgomery, AL. The honorary convention chairs were ms Johnnie Carr of Montgomery bus boycott fame, Dr. John Cashin of Huntsville, a pioneer in black political action in Alabama and dynamic Tuskegee attorney and long time partner of the late Atty. Johnny Cochran, Jock Smith, Esquire. The convention featured speakers and workshop presenters from NAACP members and others around Alabama and from other parts of the nation.  Our Saturday night freedom award banquet featured entertainment by the Heartvoice Trio of Baton Rouge, LA and speakers, Rev Kenneth Glasgow of the al state conference prison project and atty. Ryan Haygood of the NAACP legal defense fund in new york.  Both speakers emphasized the importance of voter registration and voting especially the recent court decision the NAACP won in Alabama allowing some ex felons and inmates not convicted of a crime to vote in the state of Alabama. The Alabama state conference also joined the movement for a mortatorium  on the death penalty in Alabama.  The freedom fighter of the year award went to Mrs. Ethel Simmons of the Cherokee County (Centre, AL) branch.  The convention closing event was a gospel concert by the Heartvoice Trio at New Life Baptist Church in Montgomery on Sunday Oct. 8th.  The conference president Edward Vaughn said the attendance of over 300 persons made the 54th Annual State Convention one of the best yet.  NAACP Montgomery branch secretary, the late Rosa Parks would have been proud of this weeklong tribute to her in her hometown. 

“It takes Teamwork to make a Dreamwork!”