Anniston/Calhoun NAACP Chapter now inactive

State NAACP officials say the Anniston-Calhoun County chapter of the organization is no longer active because of non-compliance with the organization’s bylaws.

Those officials plan to reorganize the local chapter and hold elections for new officers. 

Bernard Simelton, Alabama NAACP President, said Monday that the Anniston-Calhoun County branch fell out of compliance last summer when membership fell below 50. The chapter also failed to hold an election in November for chapter officers.

Former Anniston-Calhoun County NAACP president David Baker says a lack of local interest prevented the required election of chapter officers. Baker said turnout at chapter meetings regularly fell below the required 26 to be considered a quorum. Baker said Holding an election wasn’t possible with such low turnout.

Baker became chapter president when the former president, David Reddick, was elected to the Anniston City Council in November 2012. Baker had served as the local chapter’s vice president prior to Reddick’s departure.

Baker and Simelton both said the need for an active local NAACP chapter is great.