BNCA Meeting Minutes
February 18, 2025
BNCA President Petti called the meeting to order. Tonight’s meeting was an in-person meeting and was held at the Woodridge Library at 1801 Hamlin Street NE.
There were two significant items on the meeting agenda:
- A Conversation with Pierpont Morgan Mobley – Family-Man, Civil Rights Trailblazer, Author and Brookland Resident
- BNCA Officer Elections
Conversation with Pierpont Morgan Mobley
President Petti welcomed Mr. Mobley and also his wife, partner, and friend for more than 50 years, Jeannette Mobley. Both are long-time residents of Brookland and long-time BNCA members. Petti then introduced Pierpont Morgan Mobley. She explained that, despite having been named after the wealthy banker and financier John Pierpont Morgan, Jr., Pierpont Morgan Mobley was a self-made man who made his own way in the world and ultimately became the first Black person to work in the White House Personnel Office under four Administrations: Johnson, Nixon, Ford, and Carter. He went on to write a book about his life’s journey and experiences: Blackside of the White House: A Memoir for Generations to Come.
President Petti went on to interview Mr. Mobley about his book in a conversational style. Mr. Mobley described his impetus for writing the book, his early life in segregated Washington DC schools, shared several personal experiences with racial prejudice, how he came to receive a White House appointment, and life in the White House workplace under the different presidents. Mr. Mobley ended with some observations about President Trump and his effect on racial reconciliation and offered some parting words of advice to the next generation. For the interesting details, you’ll have to read the book. Blackside of the White House by Pierpont Morgan Mobley can be purchased directly from the author or at Amazon.com.
BNCA Officer Elections
BNCA has seven officers: President, Vice President, Treasurer, Membership Coordiator, Corresponding Secretary, Recording Secretary, Member-At-Large. Once a year, at BNCA’s February meeting, BNCA holds its annual elections for officers.
President Petti began this portion of the meeting by establishing the existence of a quorum. So that everyone would have a common understanding, she then explained the ground rules for the election process. She explained that BNCA would be voting on candidates for the 2025 term of all seven offices.
Each candidate for office was given one minute to identify the office they’re running for, introduce themselves and offer a few words explaining the reason for their interest in running for the office. ANC 5B-04 Commissioner and BNCA member Ra Amin served in the role of timekeeper.
Candidates for each office stood and self-nominated and spoke on behalf of themselves and their interest in serving. BNCA and DC League of Women Voters member Chris Matthews, recorded the nominations as they were received. While BNCA and DC League of Women Voters Anne Anderson stood ready to collect secret ballots from Voting BNCA members, since only one candidate was nominated for each office, BNCA member Jeannette Mobley moved to approve all of the candidates by acclammation. The motion was seconded and all of the candidates were approved by acclammation.
BNCA’s 2025 Officer Corps is as follows:
President: Dawn Amore
Vice President: John Leibovitz
Treasurer: Josh Bercu
Membership Coordinator: Rene McCray
Corresponding Secretary: Elise Scott
Recording Secretary: Kathy Jacquart
Member-At-Large: Kinyofu Mlimwengu
President Petti congratulated the new Officers and thanked the outgoing Officers, Fred Jackson (Member-At-Large) and Ed Kent (Treasurer) for their service.
Minutes submitted by Caroline Petti.
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