While I was still living in Biloxi, Mississippi, I became a "member in good standing" with the Booker T Washington Alumni, and at the time, I considered it an honor to be a part of and in some ways, still am. In 2004, Ms Rosemary Lewis, Founding President, informed me that the alumni membership had voted to have a banner designed to be use at various functions. The banner's design theme was to reflect the birth and life of BTW (1922 to1969) and I was asked to design and submit a working draft of how the banner would look. The design which included the authentic BTW Trademark on one side and a Bulldog to represent our Mascot on the other, was submitted for review and accepted by a majority vote. See attached Banner.
After a bogus election deprived the founding president of possible reelection and due process to recount contested votes, a autocracy was born right under our eyes and has been ruling for 6-years since! I personally supported Ms Lewis because Robert's Rules of Order, the rules that we had accepted to govern our members, our "Bulldog" family, were broken. This created a fractured assembly and many folk vowed not to return with the Empress still in the room. Ahh, only two folk come to mind with this type of power: Patton and Hollie, not necessarily in that order but either way, I want you back.
My fellow Bulldogs, remember this, we have a tradition to uphold and pass on to our kids because we are the surviving BTW torch bearers. We should thrive to make the BTW alumni the threshold that all others are measured but we cannot do that without positive leadership toward a common goal. No one person can make decisions representing the legacy of Booker T Washington, High, this is a family affair. We have got to have attainable goals. Keep in mind the only things we have left of this once magnificent landmark is: a fraction of a building; ourselves and our memories. The alumni has to be the conerstone that insure that we dig our political heels deep enough to keep the remaining structure standing. We've got to save what we can, we owe that to each other, our kids and the ones who have gone before us. Togetherness will enable us to move forward as a unit and help others (students) in the process. The alumni can't lead if it dosen't have the ability to follow its lead.
Oh by the way, when I fought for what I knew was right, the BTW Trademark and Bulldog Mascot was rejected and not allowed to be used by the Alumni, ever again. EVER AGAIN. Imagine that, now that's power Patton and Hollie, not necessarily in that order, ever dared dreamed of.
But those of you who know me, really know me, will understand that this is not about me, its about being right and doing the right thing for the right reasons. I invite your comments, you already got mine. I ain't mad, I'm just stubborn, you know, like a damn ole' Bulldog!
Love ya'll
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I, along with several other original members decided to organize an alumni of our own in 2003, meaning a real "Booker T. Washington High School Alumni" of former BTW classmates that would be representative of our school because it has so much history. We first decided to just have a Class of 1959 reunion, which is my class; then, we decided to include other 50's classes, then after it started to catch on, it was finally decided to organize a school alumni.
As we progressed forward, personal issues came up between me and my best friend that I honestly tried to handle by separating fbusiness from friendship. It actually disrupted the progression of the alumni, and others in the alumni formed a conspiracy to oust me as president by overriding the Roberts Rules of Order and writing by-laws that would support the election of the "new president-elect," which dictated my immediate removal after the election, even with the reunion being a few months away, and the new president-elect would take over, "just like that"... There were some members who suddenly popped up on the election day that had not attended a meeting in several months, but, they came to vote on that day at the request of the conspiracy party in support of the new president-elect. I remember in the meeting after the "bogus election," Dorothy Swanson said in front of everyone: "The president of the United States is elected in November, but, does not take office until the following January." If I could have continued on, it would have given me time to accomplish my goal for the first year of office, and our first reunion but, "they wanted me out immediately," and "they got their wish."
In the beginning it was my dream and goal to get the alumni organized and on solid ground and pass the torch to the new president-elect at our first school reunion "with dignity." So much for wishful thinking. However, I was proud of the fact that under my leadership, we did get a lot accomplished in those first months. We recruited well over a hundred members in Dallas and several other states; we had a nice savings account, we made contributions to Paul Quinn College, we donated food baskets locally to those in need during the holidays. Kenneth Douglas worked very hard to get the alumni incorporated. Cecil Brown designed the banner as I requested after discussing and voting on it by the alumni. That banner is the original, official BTWAA banner. He also designed our first official T-shirts, and, some caps. We had a few fundraisers to add money to our savings for the scholarship fund. We were in the midst of starting the scholarship fund for promising & deserving students at Booker T.
So, under my leadership, all was not completely lost.
Booker T. Washington is dear to my heart as I believe it is to all of us; it was a great school in "our time." It produced some great people; "You and Me. Us." The alumni should have been an organization of integrity. It started out that way without a doubt, but, it didn't continue that way. What was done to me, as founding president, was atrocious in every sense of the word. It was a humiliating experience that I will never forget, but, I have gotten over it and forgiven everyone involved, and have moved on.
It is my hope that one day the alumni will pick up where it left off in the beginning. Even though I know some good has ocurred since my departure, such as scholarships, etc., but, there obviously is still some questionable activity going on. I know there are good people with good intentions in the alumni now working hard to keep the memory of "Dear Ole Booker T. alive and respectful, but, it is time for a change in leadership. Just out of curiosity, I would like to see those unopened, mailed ballots.
As I said after the election to those who supported me, voted for me, and worked with me for the good of the alumni, after six years, "I still thank you"....
This is a link to the ROBERT'S RULES of ORDER page that has been on our website for nearly a year for the benefit of all. Clicking the picture below will take you there.
Cecil, thank you for sounding this call online for the knowledge and benefit of all, and thanks for endeavoring to push this needed purpose in the past with an humble spirit even in the midst of its urgency. This picture with members and the banner may also be worth a thousand words in witness to all you have said. And the trademark and Bulldog on the apparently first alumni website give further testimony. (The entire site is linked to here: https://btwdallas.ning.com/page/btwaa-founders)
We who are gathered here in unity could possibly transform our heritage and the alumni association into all it can wonderfully be by insisting with courage on the abandoning of damaging personal politics in all aspects of alumni organization operations. This could forge the Alumni Association into the conscientious keeper of the legacy of our premiere institution it should be, without personal politics ruining that for all who've lived it and for our posterity who deserve to re-live it vicariously to know the roads and works we've trod in Booker T. Washington's history.
May our quest be blessed with vision, focus and Bulldog love.
YOU and OTHERS CAN BRING A LOT TO THE TABLE....TO MAKE US A STRONGER FAMILY OF BTW BULLDOGS!
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