THE WHITE HOUSE March 1, 1981 TWENTIETH AIWIWERSARY OF THE

For the last twenty years; more than eighty-thousand American volunteers have fought, and often conquered, illiteracy, hunger, poverty and illness in more than ninety countries. Their efforts, dedicated to world peace through international goodwill, have done much to replace fear and mistrust with mutual understanding. These Americans are past and present Peace Corps volunteers. On this anniversary, and on behalf of all their countrymen, I commend them today for their personal contributions to international friendship and peace. . President Praises Peace Corps Volunteers

J Loret Miller Ruppe, 44, of Houghton, Mich. and Ruppe headed up George Bush's presi- Potomac, Md., has been nominated by President dential campaign last year, and after Ronald d to be director of the Peace Corps. Reagan selected Bush as his running mate, she co- "I have always had a great interest in the Peace chaired the ReaganIBush State Committee and was Corps," Ruppe said, "and I'm very thrilled and instrumental in uniting Michigan Republicans be- excited about the nomination." hind the ticket. On February 18, an informal reception was Born in , Wisc., Ruppe attended held at Peace Corps headquarters to welcome Marymount College in Tarrytown, N.Y. and Mar- Ruppe. The late afternoon event gave Ruppe and quette University in Milwaukee, with a concentra- Peace Corps and ACTION employees a chance to tion in history and education. meet and talk with each other. Sandy McKenzie, Finishing her studies in 1957, she married Philip director of the Office of Volunteer Placement, and Ruppe, and the couple settled in Houghton, Mich., John Guerre, PC management analyst, presented where Ruppe began her long career as a volunteer her with a plant on behalf of the staff. organizer and civic leader. She served as chair- Obviously touched by the warmth of her wel- person of the Houghton United Fund Campaign, come, Ruppe thanked the guests and said she look- as president of the St. Joseph's Hospital Guild, and ed forward to working with them. She also stated as an active member of the Houghton County Re- her belief in the Peace Corps and its continuing re- publican Committee. In 1966, she assisted her hus- levance. "At a time when we're seeking a strong band, Philip, in his successful campaign for election peace, I think this program can be a very important to the 90th , where he re- part of that," she said. presented Michigan's 1 1th district for six terms. Ruppe has traveled extensively through North As a congressional wife in Washington, Ruppe and East Africa, spending time in Kenya, Morocco, served as president of the International Neighbors Egypt and 'the Spanish Sahara. During these Club IVYan organization which assisted wives of travels, Ruppe saw the potential for partnerships government officials, members of Congress and with Third World countries to meet human needs. foreign diplomats. Her attendance at the 1978 Conference on Africa Ruppe and her husband, who retired from Con- in Ditchley Park, England, furthered her interest gress in 1979, have five daughters and now live in and concern with problems in the developing Potomac, Md. world. Page 3

' VISTAIPrivate Sector Work in Neighborhood Development

ederal support for subsidized housing, ec- involved for over a year in an urban investment F onomic development and community im- program along with six neighborhood groups re- provement projects is limited, and becoming more ceiving technical support from NTIC. Four of these so. Experts are of the opinion that public funds groups have used VISTA volunteers directly in the must be linked-up with private monies to assist program. neighborhoods and communities in physical and For example, in Philadelphia's Lower Kensing- economic decline. ton community, volunteers Carol Boylan and Federal involvement in neighborhood revitaliz- Andrea Trexler assisted the neighborhood organiz- ation programs increasingly includes a three-way ation in researching the availability of eligible partnership of community-based organizations, the vacant structures to be acquired for rehabilitation. private sector (such as private financial institutions Aetna is committed to provide interim financing at and corporate investment firms) and the govern- lower-than-market-interest on these properties ment. until they can be purchased by a newly created VISTA volunteers have been a part of this pro- local developnient corporation. The community cess for several years in a number of urban neigh- has established "blockwatch" programs to provide borhoods. One example is their work through the site security, while Aetna is providing liability in- Chicago-based National Training and Information surance. VISTAS act as liaisons between the com- Center (NTIC). The VISTA role was brought out at munity and the Aetna staff insurance agent hired a recent-Feb. 9-1 l-New York City conference co- for Lower Kensington, and assist the community sponsored by NTIC,-a VISTA regional grantee,- in documenting its insurance needs. Overall, Aetna and the Department of Housing and Urban Deve- has committed insurance coverage to the develop- lopment. ment site in all six neighborhoods. The conference, entitled "Neighborhood Rein- Edward H. Budd, president of The Travelers In- ' vestment and the Private Sector," opened with re- surance corporation, announced the formation of marks from WUam O.Bailey, president of the the "Urban Focus Program," a joint national effort between Travelers andN~1~. Aetna Life and Casualty Company. Aetna has been (con?. pg. 6)

Edward Budd Page 4 Training and Counseling, Keys to Career Development

ne of the principal recommendations made me are referred by co-workers or supervisors, but 0by the agency-wide Task Force on Equal Op- the majority just walk in," she explains. "Em- portunity and Career Development in its report ployees at all different levels come in to talk. I submitted last August, was that a position of career help them focus on their career goals based on counselor be established and filled in the Personnel skills, experience, etc. I can also tell them about Management Division of ACTION, Office of Em- writing a 17 1, or how to conduct a job search, or ployee Development and Training. (PMDIEDT) what training they need. Most of all I try to be Erica Smith, who has a master's degree in career factual and realistic. Obviously, if you've spent ten counseling, fills the new position, and is available years in computers, it's going to be pretty hard to to provide individual counseling and guidance to all become a public information specialist." interested employees. If an employee enrolls in an individually mapped Vertis Stovall, Jr. was selected to fill a second -out career development program and completes it, personnel development and training position in the Personnel Management Division guarantees that PMD/EBT, that of career development specialist. that person will have the qualifications to apply for He is primarily responsible for creating programs a certain job. It does not, however, promise selec- for organizational systems. tion. "We recommend training, in-house and out, What that means is that Stovall puts together and map out a career strategy for the employee," career programs that affect an entire occupational says Glenn Blackburn, chief of the Training field. For example, he is now working on a plan for Branch. "We want to give everybody a chance to the state program officer series, where the grade progress, but it's really up to the individual. And I span is GS-5-12, and developing bridge positions believe if you work hard and have ambition, you , so that people in the lower grades can cross over. can go up." Employees must qualify to enter into the program, Blackburn points out another crucial factor in and then individual training plans and growth as- career development-the supervisor. "Much of the y signments are produced, targeted toward career responsibility belongs to supervisors," he says. advancement. "But, since many of these concepts are new at "The program officer design is the first of its ACTION, we will first have to advise supervisors kind in this agency," says Stovall. "It will serve of the fact that they play an important role in the as the prototype for other ones-we're looking advancement of their employees. We will assist at doing something similar in accounting or com- them in developing training plans for their staff, puters." and encourage them to keep open the lines of com- Stovall is also responsible for designing Senior munications with employees as to career goals. Executive Service and management level develop- Career development is available to all employees ment programs. of ACTION, regardless of grade or occupation, Smith, on the other hand, works mainly with in- through the resources of BMDIEDT and Smith and dividuals. "Some of the people who come to see Stovall. They can be reached at FTS 254-3102. Page 5

PC Latin America Director Urges Increased Hispanic Recruitment

The followirlg article by Ed Dela Rosa, Peace Corps regional director for Latin America, was reprinted. courtesy of IIispanic Link news senlice.

n the two decades that dedicated Peace I Corps volunteers have served Latin American people, the involvement of Hispanic-Americans has been minimal - in some areas, non-existent. For the most pad, the Peace Corps has present- ed a white face to its host countries. Six percent of the nearly 5,700 volunteers now in the field are minorities. Fewer than two percent of these are Hispanics. Such exclusion hurts the Peace Corps and the United States by promoting an erroneous view of America among people of other countries. We fail to show the diversity of American society - its many races and peoples. New approaches to recruiting volunteers are re- quired. Hispanic-Americans need to be made a- ware that Peace Corps sentice is possible, and that it is very beneficial to the countries served, to the Hispanic community in America and to the indivi- dual volunteers. Traditionally, the Hispanic popuIation has been largely isolated from the efforts of Peace Corps re- cruiters. Ninety-five percent of all volunteexs have been recruited from colleges and universities, but only five percent of all college graduates are minorities. Naturally, our recruiters are frequently chosen from the articulate, committed ranks of re- turned volunteers, few of whom are minorities. We need to look for voiunteers in the right places, plugging into the activities of Hispanic and develop language skills adequate to make real church, community and business leaders, seeking progress in n host country. potentid volunteers in farming communities, in IWpanic volunteers have a decided advantage in community centers, and in community colleges Spanish-speaking countries where cultural similari- and vocational schmls with high Hispanic emu- ties in food, music and traditions already exist be merits. We need to reach retired Hispanic men and tween themselves and the host people. They have women - as we are trying to reach all older Ameri- no need for the usual six-to-eight week language cans - who are thinking about what to do with the training pmgram. In Latin America, they find it rest of their lives. easier to get a running start. Such changes wilf mean that when the Peace A crucial part of my agenda as Latin America Corps k asked a question about Hispanics, a re- director is to see a significant increase in the num- sponse will be gken by a Hispanic person, rather ber both of Hispanic Peace Corps volunteers and of than by a well-intentioned person who may pro- Peace Corps staff. We must aIso increase the vide an answer that is way off the mark. number of Peace Corps programming and training Most Peace Corps workers agree that it takes contracts grant& to Hispanic Fms. We're 'eat work about a year of a yolunteer's two-year investment now trying to make good the Peace Corps' sincere before he or she can adjust to cultural differences goal to increase Hispanic participation. (cont. pg 6) Page 6

VISTA/PRIVATE SECTOR (from pg. 3)

He discussed the partnership approach that will the initial meeting with Travelers. She recently be- be used between the corporation and community gan working with the Buckeye-Woodland Com- groups in various phases of neighborhood develop- munity Congress. ment where "a common ground of concern" has In the Buffalo (N.Y.) neighborhood of Water- been established which affects both insurance and front-Lakeview, volunteer Gilbert Rodriguez work- investment activities in lower-income urban neigh- ed with neighborhood leaders and assessed resi- borhoods. "Revitalized neighborhoods represent dential and commercial insurance needs which good markets with considerable potential for our eventually-with NTIC assistance-brought Travelers insurance business and real estate investments," into the neighborhood to begin negotiations and Budd said. "We're primarily interested in projects planning. that have a long-term stability for an urban neigh- Phil Sarnpson, staff economist to the Senate borhood; projects that create a cooperative spirit Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, among neighborhoods, the public and the private and a conference speaker representing Senator Jake sectors." He pointed out that Travelers' support Garn (chairman of the committee), acknowledged of urban neighborhoods included such economic that the NTIC national effort and the local efforts initiatives as placing deposits in local credit unions using VISTAS, "are meeting an important need and minority-managed banks, and funding anti- and are at the forefront in developing the capacity arson and community-safety programs. of neighborhood groups to negotiate with lending The Travelers program will extend into ten institutions and generate interest in the private sec- tor for neighborhood reinvestment." neighborhoods in the first year. Local leaders from ' these communities participated in the conference Following Budd's remarks, NTIC Director Gale and met with Budd. Cincotta welcomed Travelers to " the growing partnership between American corporations and VISTAS also are playing a part in the initial i' phases of these projects: In the BuckeyeWood- neighborhood brganizations ..." since, "We all know land area of Cleveland, volunteer Sandra Kluk do- that the pool of government funds alone will not cumented the insurance needs and helped organize be sufficient to revitalize our cities."

HISPANIC RECRUITMENT (from pg. 5)

Peace Corps service enhances job opportunities need not wholly be acquired there. and yields considerable educational benefits. I We Hispanics must realize that our community know employers who would sooner hire a return- in - say, Robstown, Texas - extends well beyond ing Peace Corps volunteer than a Ph.D in foreign the borders of the town. We need to be moving in relations. larger circles, employing our skills and energy at My long experience working with Latin Ameri- county, state, national, and international levels, for can countries has taught me that the problems of the life of our local communities exists in all these the poor in those nations are essentially the same areas. as the problems of America's poor. After two Only by spreading our involvement over the full years' volunteer experience overseas, an individual range of human activity will we gain full participa- is far better equipped to return to work in U.S. tion in decision-making processes. Only then will communities. Although charity, indeed, may begin we make our views fully heard. at home, the know-how needed to get a job done e Page 7

b National Awards Given to VISTA PC Television Spots

A New York advertis- luncheon, where 64 cita- ing agency was recently tions and awards were honored for its work on presented. behalf of ACTION/Peace The award winning Corps. At an awards Peace Corps spots, which luncheon, sponsored by run from 10 to 60 the American Advertising seconds, are part of an Federation, Ted Bates ongoing national recruit- and Co. Inc. received a ment and general aware- Citation of Excellence in ness effort that began public awareness/educa- last Spring. The spots tion for TV campaign were filmed in the 2,000 spots it had made on behalf of VISTA and Peace year-old rice paddies of the Philippines where Corps. The luncheon was held on Feb. 23, in New Peace Corps volunteers are teaching people to har- York City to honor groups which had made out- vest fish in order to increase the protein in their standing accomplishments in 1980 in national diet. * public service advertising. The VISTA 15th Anniversary spots were design- Bates was among 45 agencies, associations or ed to raise the general awareness of the program's radio stations nationwide, recognized for TV, radio activities in its 15 years of existence. The an- or news media work in one of three categories - nouncements ran throughout 1980, the year of the fund raising, public awareness/education, and vol- anniversary, and featured such sports and enter- unteer recruitment. Some 300 people attended the tainment personalities as Jack Lemmon, Phil Silvers, Angela Lansbury, Joe Frazier and Henry Fonda.

PCV and Staff Directory to be Published

A directory of returned Peace Corps volunteers and a variety of local organizations, articulate the and staff will be published by the Peace Corps In- problems, customs, cultures and needs of the Third stitute (PCI). The Institute is a private non-profit World, based on their overseas experience. That organization, founded last year to support Peace method will be the directory, which will include Corps goals, with special emphasis on the Third not only names and present addresses, but dates Goal - to promote a better understanding on the and place of service, skills areas, education and part of the people in this country of the people of current employment. the Third World (PC1 has no official connection Questionnaires are now being circulated by PC1 with Peace Corps.) to individual RPCVs, RPCV groups, as well as To accomplish the Third Goal, PC1 needs a former and current staff. The Institute asks that method of contacting former volunteers and staff they be completed and returned as soon as possi- , who can, through civic clubs, educational forums ble. Questions may be directed to Francie Schwartz, PC1 project manager, at (703) 241-2030. Page 8 . Major Changes in Federal Life Insurance Program

March 1-3 1 has been declared open season to al- the standard $10,000 additional coverage, now low for enrollment or waiver of coverage of Feder- offered at lower premiums (with exceptions), al Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) Dur- purchase of additional coverage in multiples ing this month, all employees who do not file a from one to five times an employee's basic pay waiver of coverage will automatically be covered (with cost varying according to age and by basic life insurance, as all previous life insurance salary) Y waivers become cancelled after March. All employ- e purchase of family coverage of $5,000 for ees should have received appropriate foms. spouse and $2,500 for each eligible child (with There are several changes in the FEGLI program, cost varying according to age). as follows: Employees under 45 years of age receive a grad- the addition of two new foms of optional in- uated coverage (up to twice their annual salary), surance, based on their age. This is at no additional cost an increase in the amount of regular life in- and is automatic with basic coverage. surance for employees under age 45, Employees retiring after December 9, 1980, may eligibility of retiring employees to continue elect to receive a lesser reduction (normal reduc- their coverage by opting to pay premiums tion 75 percent) or no reduction at all in coverage, after age 65, to prevent the 75 percent reduc- by paying the appropriate additional premium. tion in their coverage. If you have further questions, or if you haven't Basic coverage is equal to the employee's annual received insurance forms, please contact Bruce salary to the next highest $1,000 plus $2,000. Em- Hildebrand, Employee Management Relations , ployees with basic coverage may also choose from Branch, Office of Personnel Management, at FTS one of three additional options: 254-8050. Y COPE

Employee Assistance Program (EM) Employees and family members of employees wishing assistance in resolving personal, fami- ly, social, legal, fmancial, drug and alcohol abuse problems may obtain confidential help by calling : COPE Counseling Center 484-7400

ACTION UPDATE

Editor ...... Patita McEvoy Assistant Editor...... Judy Kusheloff Editorial Assistant...... Eileen Gwynn Graphics Designer ...... William Johnson