This is a response from Sydney Bowen to the editorial entitled, “A Tale of Two Alumni Organizations” Part II
Mr. Bowen is the President of the NDAC California Chapter and is a graduate from the Douglass Class of 1958.

This is his response in part. Not published in its entirety because of length.

 

CFN Editor

 

I can be silent no longer.

 
ARGUMENTS AND FINANCIAL DISTRUST ARRIVED WITH JOHN BERNARD. THERE'S BEEN ALMOST CONSTANT DISCORD SINCE AND WITH THE ARRIVAL OF JOHN.
 
NOW AS TO YOUR COMPLAINT ABOUT LACK OF RESPECT FOR THE "DAA" PRESIDENT AT GRADUATION.

 

R-E-S-P-EC-T

IS EARNED

Yes, you could say he deserved some recognition just because of his position.

How can John expect to be honored when he goes to the school office to pick up mail and omits to even say good morning to anybody in the office including the principal, other teachers and coaches, and office staff?

How can John expect to be positively thought of when he has never asked or checked with the school staff to see what he can do to assist and make their load a bit easier that day?

How can John want to be recognized when he's never volunteered to do something for the school on his own initiative?

Yes, he gathered a group of his "boys" to help clean up the auditorium prior to the grand opening, but that was 2008.

 
Yes, he shows up on Wednesday to have lunch with his cronies, but what actual help did they provide to the students or staff.

Yes, and I give him due credit for the $12,000 in scholarships the DAA gave to the 2009 grads from other Memphis schools and I give him due credit for the seven  $1000 scholarships to 2010 Douglass grads.

Yes, he made the motion to give $1,500 of NDAC funds to Douglass Middle. However, he more often communicates no local support to the Douglass schools. In other words, don't ask us for help.

As DAA President, he should be the primary and sought-after contact by both principals, community, church, civic, and business leaders.

 
John needs to accept that other real leaders decide on how, when and whether to recognize other leaders and usually do what they think is best. John does.  It starts when one is ignored or mistreated.

Instead of complaining, John needs to work to earn the respect and admiration of the school's staff and students.  He needs to seek for ways to assist the activities that go towards making school time a great time for Douglass students.

THEN HE'LL BE THE FIRST PERSON ON CENTER STAGE.