The schedule for holding COBM meetings has always been to have them the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.  This message is to let you know that our first general membership meeting of 2015 will be the third Saturday of the month, January 17th.  Please mark your calendar.  The officers will be meeting on Saturday, January 3rd to discuss organizational issues to better position us for success in the coming year.

We had a number of challenges in 2014 but managed to keep the organization in tact.  One of the major accomplishments is that we reinstated our 501c3 status.  Another is that we have secured a permanent place for holding our meetings. For most of 2014 we held our meetings at the Salvation Army.  Beginning 2015 our meeting place will change.  Thanks to James Posey we are now able to hold our monthly meetings at the Billy Webb Elks Lodge.  In addition to having a regular place to meet, we will be adding breakfast to our meeting time.  I am excited about this benefit because it will give us a chance as Black men to strengthen the bonds between us.  The biggest challenge facing us in 2015 is to grow our membership.  When you think about the issues African Americans are confronted with today; economic empowerment, unequal justice, health and wellness, preparing our youth to secure a brighter future for themselves, the Coalition of Black Men is in a unique position to take a leadership role in envisioning and promoting change.  But in order to accomplish this we have to have members.  Men who are willing to invest in the change we want to see.  From among our members must emerge leaders, people that are willing to assume roles as officers of the organization or take on the responsibility of committee chair to lead our initiatives.  I am convinced the talent and desire is in our community.  We just have to give men a reason to want to become part of the solution.  Membership in the Coalition of Black Men is very affordable, with an annual dues of $120.  If you haven’t already, please let Morgan Dickerson know if you wish to continue or renew your membership in the Coalition of Black Men.  We can make a difference.  I look forward to seeing you on January 17th.

Wishing you and yours a very prosperous New Year,

Ralph Evans

President

Coalition of Black Men