MEETING OF 3398th Reception Battalion Reunion Committee

Hello All,

I trust that you are well and recovering from IRENE. We have a very important meeting scheduled for Thursday; September 1, 2011 at 6:00pm. It will be held on the campus of Pitt Community College in the VERNON WHITE BLGD. 12. This is where we held the last meeting which is on the front of the campus in front of the flag pole. We will start on time and end on time. This is the last meeting before our reunion on September 17, 2011.

Curtis L. Best
President 3398th Reception Battalion Reunion
252-756-7519

Obama responds to black critics, talks unemployment – Source: Qcitymetro

The President wanted to remind African Americans that the nation’s first black president is fighting for them, as he is fighting for all Americans, but change will not happen overnight. (Read more)

THE “WHITE LIKE ME” TOUR by William Reed Columnist

Before he went to Martha’s Vineyard for 10 days at a 1,200-acre, $50,000 a week hobby ranch, President Obama’s three-day tour of the American heartland illustrated his reelection plans and strategy. In the “White Like Me Tour”, Obama sought to get the attention of population segments disillusioned with him and infuse Middle-American voters with optimism, while convincing them that his approach offers the most rational path to economic stability.

The tour allowed Obama a picture-perfect platform to strategically define the Republicans as so unwilling to compromise they would risk financial chaos. But, the “White Like Me” tour allowed Obama to “press the flesh” among America’s heartland and brought controversy and discussions about Obama’s presidential job performance and the policies he supports. The bus tour had the trappings of a candidate wooing voters. The trip, with all the presidential accessories in tow, took Obama through rural hamlets in Minnesota, Iowa and western Illinois and allowed him to shore up his posture in the polls and his political position with White voters. Obama went to Henry County, Ill., which has a Black population of 2.2 percent; to Winneshiek County, Iowa which is 0.6 percent African American. In Decorah, Iowa, Obama declared he’d propose a major jobs package to Congress in September.

Obama’s not delivering for any segments of the American population except the rich. But, a soaring jobless rate among African Americans and a newfound comfort by Black lawmakers to criticize Obama’s economic policies should prompt White House officials to focus more directly on Black America. Urban Blacks are experiencing 25 percent unemployment and the White House needs more collaboration and cooperation from leaders in Black America. At a jobs forum in Detroit, Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) blasted the president’s bus tour and has asserted that Obama skipped hard-hit African Americans and their communities. Waters said “We want to give him every opportunity but … the unemployment is unconscionable.”

The poverty rate in Black Caucus districts is 50 percent higher than the national average. African American joblessness is 16.2 percent, and nearly 41 percent for Black teens. In spite of those numbers, a Washington Post/ABC News poll shows Obama still enjoying rock solid support among African Americans – an 86 percent approval rating for the way he’s handled the economy. Among Whites and independent voters, Obama gets a 26 percent rating. Waters is right saying: “it’s time for us to step up and note that our communities are not being dealt with and to make sure that this administration understands that we cannot continue to go on this way and … we cannot be quiet. We have decided that not only are we going to remind the administration about the devastation and the pain that we’re experiencing, but we want to be a part of helping to develop the solution. Whatever the plan to be unveiled in September, we intend to be a part of it.”

When will the administration pay attention to Black needs? What will it take for African Americans to be a part of Obama’s plans for the nation? Obama need not go further than National Urban League President Marc Morial’s 12-Point Plan for Job Creation. The League’s Plan is based on Urban Jobs Act legislation sponsored by New York Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand and Brooklyn Rep. Edolphus Towns. The Urban Jobs Act provides federal grant funding to non-profit organizations to offer job training, education and support services for urban youth and young adults. Funding Urban Jobs Act programs makes sense. It can help eliminate Black unemployment. The Obama administration needs to fund targeted programs that connect at-risk youth to jobs and gives 18 to 24 year olds skills training, mentoring, and GED preparation. When President Obama speaks to the nation in September about the labor situation, he’s expected to present new and relevant initiatives to grow the economy and create jobs. It would be gratifying to see Obama present the Urban Jobs Act to the public among his recommendations to put Americans back to work. See the full plan at www.nul.org/content/12-step-blueprint-jobs-plan.

(William Reed is available for speaking/seminar projects via BaileyGroup.org)

See related:

William Reed Columnist

Pinetops medical clinic to open Tuesday – Source: Rocky Mount Telegram

A new medical clinic in Pinetops that will provide expanded services for rural residents in the area is scheduled to open next Tuesday.

University Health Systems Physicians (Read more)

Breaking News – Is It True That Terry Smith Is No Longer The Editor At The Tarboro Daily Southerner?

Is it true that Terry Smith is no longer the editor at the Tarboro Daily Southerner?

Black leaders turn up the heat on President Obama – Source: Politico

If there’s anything close to a political certainty in 2012, it’s that Barack Obama will get more than 90 percent of the African-American vote.

But that doesn’t mean every black Obama supporter will vote for him happily — nor does it guarantee that turnout will approach the stratospheric levels of 2008, even though Obama needs a huge showing from his base to offset the expected loss of swing voters in states like North Carolina, Virginia and Pennsylvania. (Read more)

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President Obama – I Had Been Waiting For The Answer And Oops There Is It

HURRICANE IRENE DISASTER RELIEF CONTACTS

HURRICANE IRENE DISASTER RELIEF CONTACTS

I know many of you are without power and may not be able to get this message. Hopefully – it will help some of you. I know it is frustrating to be without power and even more to be dealing with damage to your home or business. All of your public officials are working hard for our recovery. Some of these numbers below may be of help:

If there is damage to your house or business – please make sure the county emergency management office has a report of your damages.

Halifax County Emergency Management – Tina Hinton, Director or Jennifer Simmons – 252/583-2031 (Report any damages to this number)

Nash County Emergency Management – Brian Brantley – 252-459-9805.

Brenda Jones, Exec. Asst. Legislative Liaison, NC Div of Emerg. Mgmt — 919-218-3742 or bmjones@ncem.org.

Emily Young – Manager, Individual Assistance Program, NC Div. of Emergency Management, State Individual Damage Assessment Issues – 919-715-8000 — Ext 289

Red Cross – 800-854-1097—Individual emergency needs (food, water, housing, etc.)

Food, Water and Ice Distribution: Enfield Fire Department; Roanoke Rapids Recreation Center (State Mobile Unit). Help available for any person/family in the area.

Angela R. Bryant

717 West End St.

Rocky Mount, NC 27803-2817

252-442-4022; e-fax – 703-783-8553

bryantahsd@earthlink.net

President Obama – I Had Been Waiting For The Answer And Oops There Is It

I have found my answer not your answer but my answer right here.

Thank you THE BLACK LONG ISLAND ICED TEA PARTY for sharing the following. I have been getting so sick of all of the mess surrounding the President. Most folks are making valid points that the President could do more, maybe, maybe not, need some help? I say you damn right, we must hold him accountable but we must also do our part. But what can we do? For me this is the answer.

He is right. We need to get this President Some More Power. He is also right that we have not marched for this President. I have said it over and over that President Obama’s Presidency is still a Civil Rights Moment. Until we stand together and support this President, we will see ourselves continue to go backwards and lose all that our ancestors fought for out of ignorance. Source: THE BLACK LONG ISLAND ICED TEA PARTY  

Andrew Young: Getting The President Some Power (VIDEO)

Tarboro NC– Breaking News: The Town Of Tarboro Will Have A Special Meeting To Discuss The Condition of The Town Common And Its Ability To Host Special Events Due To Hurricane Irene

School Closings – Edgecombe And Nash Counties Schools Closed Wednesday August 31, 2011

Edgecombe and Nash Counties Schools closed Wednesday August 31, 2011 for students. Edgecombe County Schools optional teacher workday.

Stay tuned for updates.

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Edgecombe County Public Schools

Edgecombe County – ECPS Recovers From Hurricane Irene And Tornado Damages (Will Meet At 3:30 PM Today About Re-opening The Schools)

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Edgecombe County Public Schools

Wave of Medicaid cuts to begin – Source: News & Observer

New cuts to health services for the poor take hold in October, with the elimination of eye exams and glasses for adults on Medicaid.

Medicaid recipients are receiving notices about reductions, eliminations or other changes to an array of health services in the next few months. The $354 million Medicaid cut in the state budget includes limits and other changes to services totaling $16.5 million. (Read more)

Edgecombe County – Hurricane Results In School Damages And Closings For ECPS

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Edgecombe County Public Schools

Homegoing for William Bryant, Sr. (New Bern NC)

My condolence goes out to my mother-in-law Lillie Douglas Bryant, wife Brenda Douglas Dancy, the Douglas and Bryant families on the loss of your love one William Bryant Sr.

Script.: Read Eccles. 3 and know, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:”

Song: God Is Taking Us Away – Rev. James Cleveland and the Southern California Choir

The Obituary – Services will be held Thursday September 1, 2011 1:00 PM.

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More obituaries

Remembering August 28, 1963: A hot summer’s day, a defining moment by Congressman G.K. Butterfield (D-NC) 1st Congressional District

It was the summer of 1963. Despite the heat and humidity in my home community in eastern North Carolina, life was as it had been for generations. Poor and totally segregated. There were very few job opportunities (except for domestic work and tobacco processing) and so within twenty-four hours after high school graduation, most black kids headed “north.” (Read more)

Note: As always my Congressman giving us an historical moment. Thank you my friend. Curmilus Dancy II – The Professional Agitator