New York and Baltimore Share NAACP’s Top 2008 Thalheimer Awards
Baltimore President Announces Recruitment of Honorary Co-Chairs for Branch Centennial Committee
(BALTIMORE – July 31, 2008) - The New York, NY and Baltimore City Branches of the NAACP, the nation’s oldest and 2nd oldest chapters (respectively), shared this years’ highest branch awards. Each year, during the NAACP Convention, the Thalheimer Awards are given to branches for their excellence in the areas of Programs and Publication.
The New York, New York Branch, lead by Dr. Annie B. Martin, won 1st place in the Class 1-A (1,000 or more members and no paid executive director) for “Programs” and the Baltimore City Branch, lead by ‘Doc’ Cheatham, won 2nd place. In a reversal, the Baltimore City Branch won 1st place Class 1-A (1,000 or more members and no paid executive director) for Publications and the Brooklyn Branch won 2nd place.
Last year, the Baltimore City Branch won both 1st place awards and the Brooklyn Branch won 2nd in both categories. For over 2 decades the New York, NY Branch has consistently won 1st place. There are over 2,200 units in the NAACP.
The award is named after Ross Julian Thalheimer. Born November 21, 1905, in Baltimore, MD, Thalheimer died February 20, 1977. He was a Johns Hopkins University instructor in philosophy and a University of Washington instructor in philosophy and Sociology. He was also President of the Thalheimer Foundation, Inc. (1957-77).
This year’s convention was held in Cincinnati, OH from July 12-17, 2008 with a theme of “Power, Justice, Freedom, VOTE!”
Both branches also received awards for being in the top 17 largest membership branches in the nation. The 50 Grand Club Award is given to these branches that have increased and maintained a membership of 1,000 members or more.
“Dr. Martin is the leader in the nation for branches and I have tried to emulate everything that she does,” states President Cheatham. Cheatham added, “She is the godmother of branches due to her leadership, knowledge and intellect. And, I consider her my mentor. If branch presidents want to know how to run a branch, and what to do and not do, sit at the feet of Dr. Martin.”
The 2009 Convention will be held in New York, NY where the organization was founded February 12, 1909. The theme for next years’ convention is “WE ARE 100.” The New York, NY branch was founded in 1911 and the Baltimore City Branch in 1912.
President Cheatham is presently recruiting 100 Honorary Co-Chairs to help the branch celebrate the Centennial of the nations’ largest and oldest civil rights organization in the world. FMI regarding the criteria to be an honorary co-chair, contact President Cheatham at 410/669-VOTE.
Founded in 1909, the NAACP is the nation's oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in the public and private sectors. The Baltimore City Branch founded in 1912, by Rev. Dr. Harvey Johnson, is the 2nd oldest branch, 2008 recipient of the NAACP Thalheimer Class 1-A 2nd Place Programmatic Award, 2008 NAACP Thalheimer Class 1-A 1st Place Publication Award, 2007 NAACP Region VII recipient of the Enolia P. McMillan Branch of the Year Award and President ‘Doc’ Cheatham was the recipient of the 2007 NAACP Region VII Thurgood Marshall Man of the Year Award.
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