Bi-Monthly Edition - Vol. 1

Editor’s Report

By Rev. E.C. Dowdy, Editor

Welcome to the premier issue of the Victor Valley NAACP newsletter, The Torch that means that no matter what you have heard, the flame of justice and equity for all peoples is still our primary goal.

We, as an organization are still viable and effecting change.

We invite you to take a short civil rights journey with us; the early years of the nineteenth century are ablaze with intimidation of Negroes. Yet there were Negros who speak out against the injustices, included in that group are: W.E.B. DuBois, Ida Wells-Barnett, William Monroe Trotter and other voices were heard seeking an end to the terror.

From that group of activists came “The Niagara Movement” dedicated to moving the masses forward; from that group came the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People! An advocacy organization that has witnessed many challenges, and has been instrumental in many societal changes.

Now that our trip is over, introductions are in order;

I am Rev. Dr. Elizabeth Coleman Dowdy, D.D., editor of The Torch, and Chair of the publicity committee for the branch. My supporting committee members are: Harold Gilbert, Frances Flowers, R.J. Thomas, and Yolanda Culbreath, it is our desire to produce a newsletter that will inform, inspire and motivate our readers.

We will meet you here quarterly. Stay tuned for upcoming events!!

Freedom is not Free; It has a Price!!

Youth Report

By Harold Gilbert

A NEW YOUTH UNIT

The Victor Valley National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) branch has as one its chief goals for 2007, the formation and chartering of a Youth Unit. Stella Bankston was appointed as Chairperson of the Youth Committee

The NAACP created the Youth and College

Division in 1936. Since then our youth have been an equal partner within the NAACP. The emphasis is on the training and development of tomorrow’s leaders.

We will be reactivating our Youth Council charter. A committee has been established under the leadership of Stella Bankston for this purpose. So far 37 applications for membership in the Youth Council have been received. A great deal of paperwork must be accomplished. Our goal is for the Youth Council to be reactivated and have officers elected before the years end. We will meet with the youth and adult supporters on August 22, 2007 at 6:00 PM. The meeting will at the United in Christ Church, located at 13580 Nomlaki Rd. in Apple Valley. The church telephone is 760 240-6555.

If you desire additional information of the history of the Youth and College Division of the NAACP go to the following URL:

http://www.naacp.org/youth/college/history/. For information about the local Youth Unit and opportunity to be a part of this important work, contact Ms. Stella Bankston, aaabcstar@hotmail.com.

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Local News

The Victor Valley Branch participated in the Juneteeth celebration held at the Victorville Hook Community Center on the 16^th of June. Branch president, Charley Glasper and several of the executive board members were also attended the Victor Valley African American Chamber of Commerce Scholarship luncheon where the speaker was the renowned scholar, physician, and activist Dr. A.J. Rogers, president of the J.W.Vines Medical Society, the local affiliate of the National Medical Association, the grouping of Black

doctors nationwide.

Orbis, the Flying Eye Hospital, returned

to its home base in Victorville for a

Maintenance checkup; the down time

was used by the Spring Valley Lake

Lions and the City of Victorville to host a fund raiser for the flying hospital. Orbis

is the only flying hospital dedicated to

the eradication of treatable eye diseases

in developing countries. They have

traveled to Ethiopia, India, Thailand,

Nigeria and other nations in their

twenty-five year history.

Southern California Logistical Airport was

the setting for a press conference to

showcase the newest member of the

Calif. Firefighting team. It is a gutted

DC-10 transport that now carries three

external tankers filled with 12,000 gallons water/retardants. It is billed as the second alarm, called in by ground forces.

The City of Victorville officially kicked off

its summer Movie in the park on June

22 at Hook park. The funfest series will continue movie in the park nights scheduled all summer long. Visit

http://www.victorvillesports.com.

Health News

What is in the Water We Drink?

As water travels over the surface of the land or through the ground, it dissolves naturally occurring minerals and, in some cases, radioactive material, and can pick up substances resulting from the presence of animals or human activity. In order to ensure that tap water is safe to drink, USEPA and the California Department of Health Services (DHS) prescribe regulations that limit the amount of certain contaminants in water provided by public water systems. The federal food and Drug Administration (FDA) and DHS regulations also establish limits for contaminants in bottled water, which must provide the same protection for public health.

Sources: USEPA- www.epa.gov/safewater

California Department of Health-http://www.dhs.ca.gov/ps/ddwem

Famous Quotes:

“Our flag is red, white and blue, but our nation is a rainbow-red, yellow, brown, black and white-and we are precious in God’s sight.” Jesse Jackson

“Both Tears and sweat are salty, but they render a different result. Tears will get you sympathy; sweat will get you change.”

Jesse Jackson,

“Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.” Langston Hughes, African American poet

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Phone: 760-646-0923

Victor Valley NAACP

P.O. Box 1563 Victorville, CA 92393

Webmaster: Fariman & Associates