Williams' denial notwithstanding, it's difficult to ignore a charge that is so widely repeated. "It's always been a concern," says Houston. "The first thing they ask when someone calls is, are you a member? Membership is the blood line for certain, but the NAACP addresses issues and civil liberties whether you're a member or not."

"I can attest to the fact personally," says Stallworth. "I had an incident with my former employer trying to fire me. I appealed to the NAACP for support. I was told that as soon as I paid my membership dues they would get their lawyers on this. That's contrary to the NAACP (mission)."

Says Dew, "I would get calls from people telling me,'(Williams) won't respond because I'm not a member.' (Williams) denies it. But there were people who were refused help because of membership."

Lewis says none of this is true and that usually membership isn't the issue. He says the NAACP receives frequent calls from people who want help with an issue that has nothing to do with civil rights.

"I get a call from someone saying, 'My son is in jail. Will you get him out?' I say, 'Why is he in jail?' 'Robbery,' they say. Fifty, 60 percent of the time it's not even a civil rights issue! Ninety percent of the time they're not even members, and they're demanding our help!"

• Another charge is that Williams will not cooperate with other individuals and organizations in the black community. That issue came to a head about a year and a half ago when the Martin Luther King Human Rights Commission solicited funds in the community to raise scholarship money for minority kids. Williams filed a complaint with the Utah Attorney General's Office claiming that they were illegally competing for the same funds and taking potential NAACP dollars.

This rankled other black leaders, who saw it as counterproductive for a group whose purpose was to help minority youth.

According to Henderson, the AG's office told them no laws were violated and that they needed to work together to mend the rift. As a compromise, Henderson says the commission tried to get Williams to meet and agree to split the scholarship, but she refused.

"The NAACP does not take direction from other organizations or churches," says Williams. "We have our own policies."

Says Henderson, "We're not trying to tell them what to do. We just want to work together for the betterment of the community. I was a member of the NAACP in Utah and Virginia, and I can tell you it has always worked with other organizations to solve problems. It's Jeanetta's way or no way, and her way is not working."

"We were raising 20 scholarships a year at $1,000 each for high-achievement students in the black community," says Stallworth. "We did this every year. (The AG's office) said she should work with us. She never has and never would. She chooses to go it alone. She views (working with other groups) as a threat to her authority."