Lansing Branch Committees
Executive Committee
Meeting Date/Time: Thursday before the General Membership Meeting, 6 p.m.
The Executive Committee shall: (1) have general control of the affairs and program of the branch, subject to the authority of the branch and the provisions of the Branch Constitution; (2) creates special committees as needs arise; (3) fills all vacancies in branch offices; (4) decides matters of branch policy subject to endorsement by the branch in accordance with National Office policy; (5) Appoints, employs and enters into contracts with salaried employees subject to employment procedures and qualifications approved by the National Office; (6) renders monthly reports to the branch containing reports of all special and standing committees
Standing Committees
Check the Branch Calendar for Meeting Dates and Times
Afro-Academic, Cultural, Technological and Scientific Olympics (ACT-SO)
The Committee on ACT-SO shall follow these rules: (1) must be properly registered annually with the National Office and follow all directives outlined by the National ACT-SO Program; (2) understand that it is a major project of the NAACP. With ACT-SO, the NAACP is providing an instrument through which African-American youth are encouraged and inspired toward excellence in academic and cultural pursuits while benefiting from the maximum support of their communities; (3) uphold its goal of ACT-SO that affords the same respect for African-American Scholastic and cultural achievement that is given to heroes; and (4) recognizing that ACT-SO conducts annual academic competitions for students in grades nine (9) through twelve (12) in NAACP Branches throughout the country in accordance with the published guidelines of the National Office and oversight of the National Director of ACT-SO Program.
Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs
The Committee on Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs shall: (1) seek to establish a working relationship with those agencies in government, national, state and local, having the responsibility in the affairs of members of the various Armed Services and Veterans and to see that the programs to which they are responsible are administered fairly and justly to members of the minority community; (2) study conditions pertaining to veterans and members of the Military Service and their dependents and/or survivors in the community; (3) serve as a center of information on matters affecting the members of the Active Military, Reserves, State National Guard and Veterans; (4) maintain a repository of materials, information and forms to be used in assisting veterans and/or dependents of veterans and military personnel with their problems; (5) receive and act on all complaints relative to acts of discrimination on account of race, color, creed, or denial of benefits to which they are entitled because of discrimination; (6) prepare a quarterly report on committee activities to be submitted to the Executive Committee of the Unit and the National Director of Armed Services and Veterans Affairs.
Communication, Press & Publicity
The Committee on Communication, Press & Publicity Committee shall: (1) seek to promote media content consistent with fundamental NAACP goals which include the elimination of racial isolation and fear and the furtherance of multiracial and cultural understandings; (2) work to eliminate employment segregation and discrimination in those industries, comprising the communications arts and sciences (radio, telephone, television, motion pictures, newspapers, books, related computer communications, business, and cable television); (3) seek to insure Black minority ownership and control of print and electronic media – both hardware and software; (4) monitor local and national media, especially advertising performance; (5) provide the national office with research and data on those local business engaged in communications arts and sciences and; (6) seek to insure that all people have a meaningful right to choose from and have access to a variety of high quality telecommunications goods and services at reasonable costs.
Community Coordination
The Committee on Community Coordination shall enlist the support of other community organizations on issues affecting the interests of African Americans and other communities of color.
Economic Development
The Committee on Economic Development shall implement local efforts and support national programs to preserve and expand economic empowerment among African-Americans and other communities of color by: (1) researching and establishing relationships with private and public entities; (2) supporting the work of the National Office in monitoring the progress and activity of private and public entities designated by national programs; and (3) implementing local efforts to promote the growth of business ownership; (4) increasing employment and job creation; and (5) encouraging business development and home ownership.
Education
The Committee on Education shall: (1) seek to eliminate segregation and other discriminatory practices in public education; (2) study local educational conditions affecting minority groups; (3)investigate the public school system and school zoning; (4) familiarize itself with textbook material used in the school and seek to eliminate material there from which is racially derogatory; (5) seek to stimulate school attendance; (6) keep informed of school conditions and strive to correct abuses where found and; (7) aim to be a center of popular education on the race question and on the work of the Association
Freedom Fund Dinner
The Freedom Fund Committee shall plan and conduct fund-raising activities, entertainment, and other projects, for local and national purposes within the scope of the Association’s program. It shall work closely with the Finance Committee.
Housing
The Committee on Housing shall: (1) study housing conditions in the local community; (2) receive and seek to address complaints of discrimination; (3) oppose all restrictive practices whether public or private; and (4) disseminate information and render such other assistance which may eliminate discrimination in housing.
Labor and Industry
The Labor and Industry Committee shall: (1) seek ways to improve the economic status of minority groups by working to eliminate discriminatory employment practices in industry and government, wage differentials based on race, unequal opportunities for training and promotion, unfair dismissals; (2) encourage greater participation in the trade union movement; (3) work the enactment of state and federal fair employment practices legislation and; (4) work to improve opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training; (5) provide competent vocational guidance and training on an integrated basis for young African American, e.g., to make it possible for competent, highly trained African Americans to compete on an equal basis for managerial, scientific, skilled, professional and other desirable jobs and to encourage qualified African American youths to seek admission to local apprenticeship training programs and; (6) work for the attainment of equality of opportunity in on-the-job training in upgrading and promotions in pay scales and in seniority.
Legal Redress
The Legal Redress Committee shall: (1) investigate all cases reported to it; (2) supervise all litigation in which the Unit is interested; and (3) keep the National Office and the Branch informed on the progress of every case. It shall not give general legal advice.
Membership and Life Membership
The Membership Committee shall: (1) work throughout the year to maintain and increase the membership of the Association; (2) be responsible for planning and organizing the annual membership campaign; (3) be responsible on a continuous basis for soliciting new members and for securing renewals; and (4) initiate all possible means to obtain Life Members and sponsor a continuing program towards this end.
Political Action
The Political Action Committee shall: (1) seek to increase registration and voting; (2) work for the enactment of municipal, state and federal legislation designed to improve the educational, political and economic status of minority groups; (3) seek the repeal of racially discriminatory legislation; (4) work to secure equal enforcement of the law and; (5) keep the National office and the Unit informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The committee shall be non-partisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.
Religious Affairs
The Religious Affairs Committee shall include ministerial and lay religious leaders who are members of the branch. It shall: (1) promote an educational program designed to give a moral and ethical interpretation to the civil rights struggle; (2) interpret the work of the Association to organized religious groups of all faiths; (3) enlist the support of such organized religious groups for membership, fund raising and the struggle for equality and full civil rights; and (4) provide resource assistance for religious education and social action activities associated with the improvement of race relations.
Women In NAACP (WIN)
WIN shall address within the framework of the NAACP, civil rights issues affecting women and children and shall carry out other civil and cultural activities to enhance membership and provide financial support to the Branch. The purpose WIN is (1) to enhance the leadership role of women; (2) to serve as an advocacy vehicle to address the social, economic, political, educational, health and welfare issues affecting women; (3) to advocate for the emotional, mental, physical and spiritual development of children and (4) to support the policies as well as the on-going mission and vision of the NAACP.