WS Chronicle

Changes announced during first annual meeting under CEO James Perry

BY TEVIN STINSON

THE CHRONICLE 

The evening was bittersweet during the Winston-Salem Urban League’s annual meeting held inside the Novant Health Conference Center on Silas Creek Parkway.

During the first annual meeting under the tutelage of Chief Executive Officer and President James Perry, members elected nine new directors to the board.

While ushering in the future, the league also said goodbye to four directors during the meeting on June 28, including board chair Evelyn Acree, who has served almost half a decade.

Dr. Chere’ Gregory, vice chair and chair of the nominating committee, announced the names of the directors during the meeting as general members and those affiliated with the Young Professionals organization listened intently.

The new directors are: Marquis H. Bennett, Tim W. Bell, Hana T. Carson, Gerri Johns, Marcus T. Lane, Jimmy L. Norwood Jr.,Gregory Scotts Parks, James W. Shaw Jr. and Quentin Williams.

Although the meeting was open to the public, only members in “good standing” were allowed to vote during the board elections. Prior to the meeting, members received a ballot with the candidates’ names.

After reading the names, Gregory, senior vice president of physician services at Novant Health, said she felt confident in the new directors’ ability to bring the community together.

“Rarely have I seen such an exciting cross section of smart, committed leaders,” she said. “They are ready to unify behind this organization.”

Following a tribute honoring her, Acree said she felt confident and at peace with her departure.

“They say you should leave things better than they were when you found them. And I can confidently say that the Winston-Salem Urban League is better now that it was when I found it.”

Acree, the senior vice president of Mechanics & Farmers Bank Piedmont Triad Region, has served as board chair since 2012. During her tenure, the nationally acclaimed agency that strives for racial equality through the alleviation of poverty, has expanded offerings beyond Winston-Salem and Forsyth County and into other communities across the state.

Board secretary Tamara Smith thanked Acree for her dedicated service. Smith mentioned that although she is leaving, her name will live on through the good deeds of the organization.

For many of us, Evelyn’s name is synonmous with leadership, synonymous with service, synonymous with trust, synonymous with virtue. Evelyn’s name is synonymous with the Urban League.

“We are quite sad to see her go.” Smith said.

Although her reign as board chair has come to a close, Acree noted, she will always be a part of the organization.

“You know what they say,” said Acree. “Once an Urban Leaguer always an Urban Leaguer.”

Other directors whose terms have expired are Beaufort Bailey, Ron Weatherford and Sofia Porter.