"The local Albemarle-Charlottesville Chapter of the NAACP held its Annual Founders' Day Celebration Ceremony at Burley Middle School on Sunday, February 17, 2008. Approximately eighty citizens of the region, including Presidents of area NAACP chapters, came to participate in this acknowledgement of the founding of the NAACP. This momentous founding event occurred on February 12, 1909 when a few concerned white and black people came together to form what is now the oldest, largest and most influential civil rights organization in the country.

Those who attended were privileged to hear a rip roaring keynote address made by The Reverend J. Rayfield Vines, Jr., State Conference President of the NAACP. Reverend Vines was interrupted by applause several times as he spoke about "standing on the promise" - the theme for this year's Founders' Day celebrations across the Nation. Reverend Vines reminded his audience that most often it is the few who keep organizations alive and lively. Several times he asked the audience to query themselves on the issue of whether their lives matter. At times it seemed that he was preaching a sermon when he reminded all present that they needed a passion in life; that they needed to believe in something enough to fight for it and to never give up.

After the celebration in the main auditorium, attendees were treated to a reception, complete with a bountiful repast, which was by all accounts the continuation of a wonderful afternoon." (Robert Gest III, electronic press release, February 17, 2008)