INTERIM NAACP DIRECTOR CANCELS FRIDAY VISIT TO CAPE GIRARDEAU

Earl T. Shinhoster, newly-appointed interim executive director of the NAACP, canceled his speaking engagement in Cape Girardeau Friday night.

Shinhoster, who was named to the position last weekend, was scheduled to address the Cape Girardeau branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

"These are crucial times for the NAACP," said Ina Boone, NAACP Region IV director, who attended the Cape Girardeau meeting. "Some problems came up and Shinhoster was unable to get away for this meeting."

The Friday rally, held at St. James AME Church, 516 North St., was designed to attract new NAACP members and to discuss economic development.

John Johnson of Baltimore, Md., NAACP national director of labor, attended the meeting in Shinhoster's place.

Shinhoster was serving as project administrator of the NAACP Community Development Resource Center when he was named interim director after the 64-member NAACP board fired Benjamin Chavis Jr. as director for what the board termed "conduct inimical to the best interests of the association."

Shinhoster will serve as interim executive director until a permanent replacement for Chavis is found -- probably in 30 to 60 days.

Meanwhile, Chavis has talked about forming his own group.

"Chavis has appeal to a lot of young people," said Michael Sterling, Cape Girardeau branch president of the NAACP. "He could probably be successful in forming a second group, but we don't need to show division at this time. The NAACP is 85 years old this year, and we need to work together."

Shinhoster has told wire services he plans to continue some of the programs started by Chavis, including an outreach to African and Caribbean nations. Shinhoster said he would like to restore the faith and confidence of NAACP members as well as erase the $3 million deficit left by Chavis' administration.