Free Meals the Week of August 10th
2020 is a [Branch] Election Year
We are all of course aware that there is an election taking place in November that will determine whether civil rights protections, environmental protections, consumer protections, and nearly every other function by which government is supposed to protect its citizens from powerful monied interests will continue to be dismantled at a rapid rate. Furthermore, we are experiencing a global pandemic the likes of which hasn’t been seen in a century.
In the light of these grim struggles, the Branch’s election will be a relatively light affair. Happily you don’t really need to worry about it right away; unless you want to run for office. Here is the timeline for the Branch’s 2020 Election:
Step 1: the Membership Deadline:
In order to run for election in November of 2020, you must be a member in good standing as of May 1st(1), with your membership dues paid up. If you have even a single day of lapsed membership from May 1st to the election in November, you will be ineligible to run. We have seen this happen in our very Branch in the past, and the Secretary wishes to ensure it never happens again.
If you think you might run, check your membership card; if the Expiration Date is coming up, renew now! Whatever the date may be, please make a mental note to renew before then, if you think you might run. On their part, the Secretary will do their best to remind you when your dues are due, but it is ultimately your responsibility to keep up your membership.
Note: it is currently impossible to renew your membership in our Branch from National’s website.
You must renew your membership at join.sandiegonaacp.org, either with a credit card or by downloading a membership application and mailing it in with your check. Please write [email protected] with any questions.
Step 2: When and Where?
At our August General Membership Meeting, the Membership will decided to hold the election on November 12th, from 4pm – 9pm. Due to COVID-19, elections will not be done in person but will take place through an online voting system.
Step 3: Nominating Committee & Number of Members-at-Large
The next steps in our election take place at the September General Membership Meeting. We need to do three things at that meeting: Elect the Nominating Committee, decide how many Members-at-Large there should be on the Executive Committee, and choose the method of the election.
The Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee consists of 5-15 members, only 2 of which may be current Officers or Executive Committee members. In order to serve on the Nominating Committee, you must have been a member in good standing of the NAACP San Diego Branch for the entire time period of August 4th, 2020 through September 3rd, 2020.
The work of the nominating committee will be to produce a “slate;” persons recommended for each Branch Office and each at-large position on the Executive Committee.
Members-at-Large
Members-at-Large of the Executive Committee are elected members who are on the Executive Committee without serving the Branch in a specific office or as a Committee Chair. The Branch chooses in September how many should be elected; a minimum of 10 to a maximum of 24.
Election Method
Due to COVID-19, the Board of the NAACP has decided that all elections must take place online. They will be recommending software we can use for these online elections; we will choose from one of the recommended packages.
Election Guidance from National
2020 Election Procedure Manual
2020 Election Dates to Remember
Note 1: Those of you who study the bylaws on a daily basis (we assume that is all of you) may have read that the membership deadline is April 1st. That deadline has been moved, for this year only, by the National Board of Directors.
August 13: Courage California Presents Dr Angela Davis
This looks interesting:
Join us on August 13 for “Courage for the People,” a conversation with long-time activist and educator Dr. Angela Davis led by Black Women for Wellness Action Project Executive Director Nourbese Flint and a fundraising event to benefit Courage California. The evening will spotlight the visionary leadership of Black, Indigenous, and other women of color; connect Black Lives Matter to our broader lineage of movements; and highlight how we can fight systemic racism on the ballot. The event will also feature special guests such as Oakland Youth Poet Laureate, Samuel Getachew, and a special appearance by the Emmy-, Tony-, and Grammy-winning Billy Porter!
DavisRegister HERE to reserve your spot NOW. Please note that this is an exclusive event, and to attend you must register before August 11 or while space is available. There are a limited number of tickets, and the event will NOT be recorded or made available to the public afterward.
Once you register, our team will follow up with more information in the first week of August. For questions or concerns, contact Molly Watson at [email protected].
The revolution is live, and Courage California is here for it. We look forward to having you join us on August 13!
In Solidarity,
Molly Watson and the Courage California team
Vivian and Lewis, Iconic Giants Both Gone
Gone and sorely missed, but never to be forgotten, nor will their achievements fade. Honor them by getting into good trouble and getting out the vote!
Going Solar
Solar Energy is a hot topic right now, as our climate crisis continues, aided and abetted by the low-IQ individual currently occupying the White House. The good news is that there are many options available to homeowners who want to go solar; the bad news is that can make it hard to decide which option is right for you.
One of our new members, Jeff Dobhriste, put some time and into the issue, an here are his recommendations:
How Much Do You Need?
The average home needs 4-8 kilowatts of power; at current prices, that will cost between $16,000 and $21,000 to install.
DIY?
You can save half that money if you install the system yourself. Be careful, though, as you’ll need permits, expertise, and you won’t get a warranty. Definitely for experts only!
Tax Credits
The Federal government is offering tax credits for solar installation through December of 2021. These credits are 26% of the cost this year, but decrease to 22% in 2021.
California offers $3000 per kilowatt in its SASH-DAC program, which specifically targets disadvantaged communities.
Maintenance
You should expect to have your panels professionally cleaned twice per year, at a cost of around $150 per cleaning. If your panels are damaged, they can be expensive to repair, but most companies offer warranties, and your homeowner’s insurance may also help.
The Payoff
You can expect your lower energy bills to pay off the cost of your solar panels in 6-10 years, counting tax incentives; less if you qualify for California’s SASH-DAC program. There is a handy calculator here if you want to run the numbers for your home.
Own, Don’t Lease
Consumer Reports recommends you skip the companies that offer to lease you panels and give you a lower rate on your electricity. The money you save is likely to be substantially less over time than if you owned your panels and you have limited control over what they do to your roof. Additionally, if you own solar panels, they will increase the market value of your home, but if you lease them, they may reduce the market value of your home because they complicate the selling process and/or impose a commitment the buyer may not want.
Bottom Line
If you’re considering solar and you can afford the up-front cost to buy your own panels, buy your own solar now. The tax credits are diminishing, and while technology is improving, it’s not improving so fast as to outweigh the benefits of the tax credit.
Don’t be tempted by the folks who just offer you a discounted rate on power, but want to own the panels themselves; this isn’t likely to save you very much money and may lead to headaches.
Support from Wrapify
We are very pleased to say that Wrapify has decided to support the NAACP San Diego Branch with some of its on-vehicle advertising and matching donations!
Thank you, Wrapify!
Our Juneteenth
We loved this message from the President of the NAACP Oakland Branch so much, we decided to post it here for our members, too:
NAACP Family, Sponsors & Friends:
Juneteenth is a special time of the year. It is a significant reminder of how precious freedom is. Africans were brought to America to be slaves in 1526. We were in servitude for over 300 hundred years before 1863 when the Emancipation Proclamation went into effect.
The Emancipation Proclamation only freed the slaves from states who fought for the Union during the Civil War.
Slavery was inhumane. How was it possible for civilized people to treat human beings in such a terrible, barbaric, and uncivilized way?
The Emancipation Proclamation became effective on January 1, 1863 and it was in 1865, over two years later, when the news of emancipation reached Texas.
Juneteenth is known as African-American “Freedom Day”. Traditionally, it is a day of celebrations with speeches, parades, food, and drink.
Today our celebrations of freedom are marred. We are shutdown with the coronavirus and the demonstrations resulting from the murders of George Floyd and others by the hand of law enforcement and other white men. What is there to celebrate other than the unification of our community to remove the obvious inequities that exist in our country. Poor schools, lack of employment, lack of adequate health care, and continued problems of unequal justice came with freedom.
We have to use this day as a day of thought and remembrances of those who gave their lives since the Emancipation Proclamation in a quest to truly gain the promised freedom. We don’t have it yet, but we must continue the fight for racial equality and social justice.
George Holland, Sr., President
This Juneteenth, be positive, love and respect each other.
NAACP Oakland Branch
FERC Petition Solar NEM Initiative
Please visit: sandiegonaacp.org/ferc-nem to sign on.
Please send questions to [email protected]