Some 500 people gathered Saturday evening for the Norfolk Branch of the NAACP’s 51st Annual Life Membership and Freedom Fund Banquet. The event was held at The Murray Center, which has become the premier location in Norfolk for such outings. Among the attendees were US Rep. Bobby Scott, Sen. Creigh Deeds, Dels. Kenny Alexander, Joe Bouchard, and Paula Miller, 2nd CD candidate Glenn Nye, 2009 LG candidate Jody Wagner, Norfolk Clerk of Court George Shaeffer and Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald. Offering greetings to those assembled were Sen. Yvonne Miller, Norfolk Police Chief Bruce Marquis and Norfolk Sheriff Bob McCabe.
Conspicuous by their absence were the eight members of the Norfolk City Council. Perhaps they all had to be in Hampton at the Crime Line event, but several of those mentioned above made it to Norfolk before leaving for that event. I wish the Council members had made a similar effort.
The theme of this banquet was “Power, Justice, Freedom” and keynote speaker, The Rev. Dr. J. Rayfield Vines, Jr., did not disappoint. Dr. Vines is the president of the Virginia State Conference of the NAACP and was raised in Suffolk. He reminded us of how far we have come ~ and how far we have to go. He was entertaining and energetic, and received a standing ovation (and a loud chorus of “amens”) at the conclusion.
We were treated with two solos from Earl Bryant. I wish I had taken my recorder with me. He was absolutely amazing!
Norfolk chapter president James Rivers, himself the recipient of his Golden Heritage Membership plaque, presented the following awards:
- Trailblazer Award: Rev. Dr. J. Rayfield Vines, Jr.
- Presidential Award: Sheriff Bob McCabe and Police Chief Bruce Marquis
- Community Service Award: Dr. Ruth Perry and Vivian J. Paige
A wonderful time was held by all. Go ahead and mark your calendar for next year’s event: the first Saturday in October, 5pm. 😉
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
You have always seen Norfolk, Virginia, Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald often at Cause Parties. It’s her Dubya Approach to careering in politics.
She’s at these Cause Parties, not because she supports the cause, but because she supports herself by being at parties that support causes. Like Dubya, Sharon McDonald is not even aware of the lifestyles of her employees and most don’t want her to know anyway lest they be deemed guilty for associations and fired for having a life outside of the office, second jobs, secret get-away’s, or volunteering for the “other party.”
It’s been reported that a number of people who have lost their jobs under the McDonald administration have been bribed with $5,000 parachutes in exchange for not reporting termination-without-cause to the Virginia Unemployment Commission. This smacks of Dubyaism.
Isn’t it time that Norfolk consider a strong opponent to McDonald. Someone who will recognize the arts, do something for poor people, and really understand the colored experience as well as she understands her own neocon lifestyle?
McDonald is Norfolk’s Lipstick Pitbull.
Let’s not forget McDonald has easily earned the prestigious
titles of Diva and Whack Job as well. The only thing Sharon
McDonald truly cares about is Sharon McDonald. In 2009, will
Norfolk citizens continue to embrace change, veto McDonald’s
disingenuous service and dethrone this tainted Queen of
Narcissism on Election Day? YOU BETCHA!
Looks like 2008 is shaping up to be a banner year for Sharon McDonald’s way of handling the holidays. Some of her strategies:
-Forcing employees into work at 7 a.m. the Monday after Thanksgiving with no overtime pay.
-Calling a meeting of all staff to publicly give her annual “Lumps of Coal” to those she doesn’t like.
-Giving staff “time off” for shopping at certain retail shops.
-Forcing staff to take “time off” instead of overtime pay.
To all who know the real Sharon McDonald, send her a Christmas gift she truly deserves. Give the a LUMP OF COAL.