Committees

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, Reserve, and 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 Branch and the National Director of Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs.

Communications

The committee on Communications 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 understanding; (2) work to eliminate employment segregation and discrimination in those industries, comprising their communications arts and sciences (radio, telephone, television, motion pictures, newspapers, books, related computer communications, business, cable television); (3) seek to insure Black minority ownership and control of print and electronic media Ñ 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 businesses 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 minority groups.

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) and familiarize itself with textbook material therefrom 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.

Finance

The Finance Committee shall consist of the President, Treasurer, and at least one other member. It shall study the financial needs of the branch and shall be responsible for drafting an adequate annual budget.

Freedom Fund

The Freedom Fund Committee shall plan and conduct fund-raising activities, including 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 seek ways to improve the economic status of minority groups by (1) working to eliminate discriminatory employment practices in industry and government, wage and promotion, unfair dismissals; (2) encouraging greater participation in the trade union movement; (3) working to end discriminatory practices in labor unions; (4) securing the enactment of state and federal fair employment practices legislation; (5) working for improved opportunities in vocational and apprenticeship training.

Legal Redress

The Legal Redress Committee shall: (1) investigate all cases reported to it; (2) supervise all litigation in which the Branch 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

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; and (3) be responsible on a continuous basis for soliciting new members and for securing renewals.

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; (40 work to improve the administration of justice; (5) work to secure equal enforcement of the law; and (6) keep the National Office and the Branch informed of all proposed legislation which affects minority groups. The Committee shall be nonpartisan and shall not endorse candidates for public office.

Press and Publicity

The Press and Publicity Committee shall: (1) endeavor to secure publicity for the work of the Branch and the Association in the local press and on radio, television and other media; (2) attempt to interest persons in charge of local news media on conditions affecting minority groups; (3) seek to counteract derogatory and erroneous statements in local news media about Blacks and other minority groups; 94) be responsible for forwarding to The Crisis items covering Branch activities and important local affairs; and (5) act as far as possible as an agency for the promotion and sale of The Crisis. No publicity shall be released without first being approved by the President of the Branch.

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 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, fundraising, and the struggle for equality and full civil rights; (4) provide resource assistance for religious education and social action activities, associated with the improvement of race relations.

Youth Work

The Committee on Youth Work shall consist of the Youth Council(s) Advisor(s), the Youth Council(s) President(s), and five (5) persons appointed by the Branch President. (1) The Youth Council Advisor shall chair the committee. (2) The Youth Work Committee shall develop and coordinate the programs of the senior and youth groups. (3) The Committee shall turn the names, addressees, and membership dues of youth solicited by the Branch over tot he appropriate National Office recognized youth group, if any, in their community. (4) If there is no local youth group recognized by the national Office, the Branch must, upon receipt of twenty-five (25) youth memberships, apply to the National Office for a Youth Charter and organize the appropriate youth group.

Life Membership

The Life Membership Committee shall consist of a Life membership chairman and/or Co-Chairman and at least three (3) other members. It shall be the function of the Life Membership Committee to initiate all possible means to obtain Life Members and sponsor a continuing program towards this end.

Holiday Seal Committee

The Holiday Seal Committee shall set up and conduct a sale of Seals each Holiday for the purpose of raising funds for the Freedom Fund. It shall work hand in hand with the Freedom Fund Committee.