About The Savannah tribune. (Savannah, Ga.) 1973-current | View Entire Issue (Aug. 20, 2008)
Savannah Branch NAACP Earl T. Shinhoster Voter Empowerment Campaign Voter Registration Planning Meeting Thursday, August 28,2008 6:30 PM at St. Philip Monumental AME 1112 Jefferson & West Park Ave PRSRTSTD U.S POSTAGE PAID Savannah. GA Permit No. 923 “GEORGIA’S BEST WEEKLY” ahannaf) tribune Week of August 20,2008 - August 26,2008 • Vol. 36 No. 27 • www.savannahtribune.com • 912-233-6128 • Fax: 912-233-6140 100 Black Men of Savannah Inducts New Members T he 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. aims to "think glob ally and act locally" by implementing the mission of its National organiza tion, 100 Black Men of America, Inc.. This mis sion is to improve the qual ity of life within the Savannah/Chatham County community and to enhance educational and economic opportunities for all African Americans. On August 14, 2008, The 100 Black Men of Savannah improved its chances of succeeding at its mission by inducting seven outstanding young men into its membership. The induction ceremony was held in the Savannah room of the Hyatt Hotel. The new inductees who were present for the cere mony included Aldric Dekle, Gregory Stepherson, Christopher Middleton, James Walker, James Jones, Michael Carter and Wilcher Spikes. The 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. serves as a beacon of leadership by utilizing the diverse talents of its members to help African-American youth achieve and empower them to become self-sufficient shareholders in the eco nomic fabric of the com munity. The members have pledged their talents and resources to inspire and support young African- American men who need guidance, structure, and a sense of self-worth. The 100 Black Men of America is one of the fastest growing community service organizations in the United States with over 106 chapters globally. Its national membership con sists of more than 10,000 Black men who mentor over 100,000 youth. Membership in the 100 Black Men of Savannah, Inc. is open to 'men of good character and achievement' who have a commitment to strengthen ing and improving the community. There are cur rently 50 members. See The 100, page 15 SSU Graduate Percy Mack Named New Richland One Superintendent of Schools By a unanimous 7-0 vote, the Richland One Board of School Commissioners of Columbia, SC, named Dr. Percy Mack the district's new superin tendent. Dr. Mack began the schools year as teachers and other staff returned on August 11 and students on August 18. Chairwoman Wendy Brawley released the following statement on behalf of the Boa rd: "On behalf of the Board of Commissioners of Richland County School District One, I am pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Percy Mack as superintendent, effective July 1,2008. This Board action followed an extensive superintendent search conducted for the district by BWP and Associates, a search firm headquartered in Libertyville, Illinois. During this process, the Board received 59 completed applications, and the full Board conducted interviews with six candidates before nam ing three finalists. These finalists were invited to the district for a second round of interviews. The public had an opportunity to interact with the finalists at a reception on May 6. While all three candidates Dr. Percy Mack were personally and profession ally impressive, after careful deliberation, the Board has con cluded Dr. Mack was best suited to lead the district. Dr. Mack is a native of Savannah, Georgia, and has served as superintendent of the Dayton Public Schools in Dayton, Ohio, since 2002. Prior to his service in Dayton, he was an assistant superintendent in the DeKalb County School System in Decatur, Georgia. He also served that district as, a coordi- See Dr. Percy Mack, page 12 Shinhoster: We Will Make Millionaires Richard Shinhoster by Claudia Clarke On August 10, 2008, Richard Shinhoster was the speaker at a special NAACP Mass Meeting called to allow a special SPLOST/ESPLOST Oversight Task Force to report on their efforts. The Task Force is charged with the responsibility of helping to insure that an equitable proportion of the Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) and the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (ESPLOST) revenues are awarded to local African- American-owned enterpris es. According to Shinhoster, the African- American community voted overwhelmingly to continue the one-cent sales tax that will benefit Chatham County and the public school system. Shinhoster said that based on the projected $800 million to be generated from the taxes, the minimum amount that should be dis tributed to local African- American-owned enterprises is $160 million. “This is the message the Oversight Task Force has delivered to the Savannah-Chatham Public School System, Chatham County Government, and the City of Savannah,” he stated. “We believe that a minimum of 10 to 12 new millionaires should be created from the contracts awarded from SPLOST/ESPLOST funds Shinhoster continued. Shinhoster used the term “millionaire” to describe businesses that grow, and sustain them selves, at levels sufficient to participate in the “billions of dollars in public and private development projects that will take place in Savannah during this decade.” It is the vision of the Oversight Task Force to encourage, support and advocate for a class of con tractors, businesses and other professionals that will suc cessfully compete and obtain multi-million dollar con tracts. According to Shinhoster, the Task Force envisions a growth in busi ness development in the African-American communi ty similar to the growth in Atlanta during the adminis tration of Mayor Maynard Jackson. “When the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport was constructed, a business playfield was established and many new African-American enterprises developed and thrived.. .not one or two suc cessful Black businesses, but many, limited only by their abilities to participate,” said Shinhoster. In addition to Shinhoster, the members of the NAACP Oversight Task Force are Claudia Clarke, Robert Bess, Rev. Mathew Southall Brown, Nakita Brown, Patrice Grant, Roy Jackson, Roy Thomas, Larion Williams and Dr. Prince A. Jackson, Jr, Ex- Officio. This Task Force has joined with several other interested groups to ensure maximum African-American participation in the contracts awarded as a result of SPLOST/ESPLOST funds. The Task Force has met with senior officials of the Board of Education, City of Savannah, and Chatham County Commission, and shared its vision and con cerns. However, the Task Force is currently concentrat ing on the proposed expendi tures by the Board of Education because the school system is spending the tax revenues first. Shinhoster said that the Task Force has proposed a policy that ensures a 20 per cent minimum acceptable level of participation. He noted that the governmental bodies do not have such a policy, but that they have agreed to conduct a disparity study that will be the founda tion for a policy. ESPLOST will generate approximately $360 million over the next five years and the Task Force expects the Board of Education to spend $72 million through African- See Shinhoster, page 16 ank tate arver branch a 10 Skidawa\ and proud tradition of service Savannah, Georgia 31406 7110 Road c } FDIC
