As the new President of the West Volusia Branch of the NAACP, I had the privilege of attending my first Florida State NAACP meeting in the capacity of president. Our branch was historically well represented by nine of our enthusiastic members. The group was energized, engaged, and eager to learn how we could contribute effectively to our roles within the branch.
Upon taking my seat, I was humbled to realize that the gentleman sitting to my left was, in fact, the State President, Mr. Donald Hart, Sr. In our initial conversation, he immediately pointed out that there was a place for me on the Environmental Committee—something that resonated with me given my professional background in the field. Throughout the meeting, I was genuinely impressed by the quality of the presentations and the expertise of the panelists who shared their vast knowledge. Their insights provided valuable guidance for the work within the organization.
As an efficient secretary, Ms. Kimberly Cline kept us engaged in networking, our membership chair, Mr. Rakeem Ford, political action chair, Ms. Shakhea Hinton, Youth Council Coordinator, Dr. Sherry Pugh, Assistant Secretary, Ms. Stephanie Eddings, member-at-large, Mr. Michael Williams, Youth Seannay DeBoise, Health Chair, Ms. Janea Ponder, and I found ourselves strategizing in our group huddle and engaging with our counterparts. Additionally, seeing our own Ms. Janae Ponder selected to join the expert health panel gave us a feeling of inclusivity. Mr. Mike Williams gifted the attending branch presidents and chairs with a copy of the book, The Bomb Heard Around the World by Gregory Marquette, which tells the story of Harry T. and Harriet Moore, NAACP martyrs.
A particularly memorable moment occurred when one of our pre-med youth members stood up to speak. This young leader emphasized the importance of youth presence and participation in shaping the organization’s direction. As a mentor, it was both inspiring and gratifying to witness the next generation stepping forward and affirming their commitment to the cause. Our branch was fortunate to bring one of our own youth members, who eagerly absorbed the information and experiences shared during the meeting.
Overall, I found the meeting to be productive and engaging, and I am confident that the insights we have gained will help us achieve our objectives moving forward.
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Rev Dr. Caroline Shine currently serves as President of the West Volusia Branch of the NAACP.
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