Action Update
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/ Helping A(=TION Fight Drug Abuse SEE PAGE 3 PROPERTY 06 ACTlO N LIBRARY MARCH 1982 Washington, D.C. ACTION Encourages Operation Rescue: Corporate Volunteer Volunteer Tutors Work Programs in Elementary Schools Large and small businesses that want to become more involved on a volunteer level in their com- "Operation Rescue is producing great results but munities will soon be getting a helping hand from more can be done," says ACTION Director Tom ACTION. Pauken acknowledging a recent address by District of Columbia Superintendent of Schools Floretta The agency's Office of Volunteer Liaison (OVL, McKenzie. formerly the Office of Voluntary Citizen Participa- tion) is setting up a clearinghouse to share successful Superintendent McKenzie reported that Operation corporate volunteer programs with other companies. Rescue, a volunteer tutoring program that builds "The emphasis will be not only on cash contribu- basic reading and math skills of D.C. elementary tions, but on companies providing in-kind services school children, would expand the role of volunteers and on getting executives directly involved in com- from the public and private sectors. munity volunteer activities; perhaps loaning execu- McKenzie noted that ACTION "plans to continue in tives to work with volunteer organizations," said its role as a catalyst to other federal agencies in the OVL staffer Dan Bonner, who along with staffer recruitment of volunteers." Harriet Kipps is setting up the program. According to Pauken, who last fall wrote to U.S. Responding to President Reagan's call for Americans cabinet heads requesting that they encourage em- to roll up their sleeves and volunteer, the ACTION ployees in their agencies to join the volunteer tutor- program ". .will complement the work of the ing drive, "Operation Rescue has succeeded in reach- President's Task Force on Private Sector Initiatives," ing some 3,000 school children, but more than 25 said OVL Deputy Director Peggy Knight. percent of D.C.'s 40,000 elementary school students heed our help. (cont. page 4) The OVL staff is currently looking into corporate- sponsored volunteer programs, finding out which ones have worked and why, and setting up informa- tion networks with various business and trade orga- nizations to share ideas with other companies. "Business has a long record of giving dollars to worthwhile causes," said Bonner. "But sometimes companies don't know there may be other ways to get involved. We want to show them specific ways." Initial reaction has been encouraging, according to Bonner, who has been exploring the idea with a number of Fortune 500 companies and with such hrganizations as the National Associations of Manu- cturers and the Chamber of Commerce of the Efrern Johnson tutors students under Operation nited States. Rescue. \. /' I /" VVLP Aide Lauded -- - -- for Dedicated Service ---- --- - =--- - -=- Emogene Cupp, a staff assistant with ACTION'S DIRECTOR -- - -- -- gi Vietnam Veterans Leadership Program (VVLP) for 7=gB-- - the past two months, was congratulated by agency = - Director Tom Pauken for her "dedication and inval- uable help in getting this badly-needed program off the ground." Pauken made the remarks at a farewell gathering for Cupp on February 5, her last day with The interest that has been generated in ACTION'S ACTION. Drug Use Prevention Program has been astounding and reflects, I believe, an awareness among all seg- Cupp, a recently retired buyer with the Army-Air ments of our society that drugs are bad news. They Force Exchange Service, learned of VVLP through rob us of time, of dollars, and most important, of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund (VVMF). potential-the potential of our youth to grow into "I had been looking forward to my retirement," she healthy, responsible adults. says, "but when I heard they needed somebody to help get this program started, I applied to work on a temporary basis-until a permanent, full-time person I was pleased to welcome Melissa Gilbert, who plays could be hired." Laura Ingalls in television'$'little House on the Prai- rie:'to ACTION and to announce that she will be the national spokeswoman for our Drug Use Prevention Program. Melissa has already made an appearance in Los Angeles on our behalf and is eager to do all that she is able to promote our program. National Volunteer Week, April 18-24, is fast ap- proaching and you will soon be hearing of a number of ways you can take an active part in what is a special week for all of us. I hope you will take ad- vantage of those opportunities. With warm regards, Ton2 Puuken and Emogerze Cupp Cupp has worked as a volunteer with Vietnam vet- erans since 1968, when her only son, Robert William, was killed while on active duty with the Army in Tom Pauken Vietnam. (She and her husband have a daughter who lives in the Washington, D.C. area.) In addition to her involvement with VVMF, Cupp is an active member of Gold Star Mothers, a national organiza- tion of women who have lost sons or daughters in wars. "In Gold Stars we do volunteer work, often at Congratulations to the VA hospitals, and give support to other mothers of lost sons," explains Cupp, who served as president Paukens of their Alexandria, Va. chapter in 1978-79. She also participated in special services honoring Viet- nam veterans at Memorial Day ceremonies in Arling- Our heartiest congratulations to Tom and Ida Pauken, who on Feb. 13, became parents for the ton, Va., last June. sixth time. The new arrival, Victoria, weighed in at VVLP National Director Jack Wheeler said, "Mrs. eight lbs., six oz. Cupp's kind helpfulness and total commitment to the best interests of the Vietnam veterans has made her a very valuable asset to our program. We will miss her, and we wish her well." TV Star Joins with ACTION in Drug Prevention Program TV star Melissa Gilbert, 17, known to millions in her role as Laura Ingalls in "Little House on the Prai- rie," will serve as national spokesperson for AC- TION'S new drug use prevention program. At a February 17 press conference at agency head- quarters, Gilbert and ACTION Director Tom Pauken discussed her participation in a campaign to make young people and their parents aware of the haz- ards of drug use. "It is critical that other young leaders like Melissa around the country step for- ward, whether they're in the entertainment field or whether they're simply able to lead their fellow stu- dents," said Pauken. Melissa GiIbert and Tom Pauken Gilbert thanked Pauken for the opportunity to join forces in combating what she termed, "an epidemic schools, churches and other youth oriented organi- of frightening proportions among young people in zations. The agency's Young Volunteers in AC- this country." She said, "I think we should set an TION program in which teens serve as volunteers to example. Since we are in a position where we get a help other teens, will also play a vital role in the lot of publicity, and people know who we are and drug program, as will older volunteers in RSVP. what we do, it's important that they know we don't do drugs." Following her discussions with ACTION officials, Gilbert then met with First Lady Nancy Reagan Pauken said the agency will help with technical as- who, along with the President, will host an ACTION- sistance and several demonstration grants. He also sponsored White House Briefing on Drug Use and indicated there would be close cooperation with the Family on March 22. $1 17.7 million proposed Agency Budget Submitted to Congress President Reagan has asked Congress for $1 17,72 1,000 TION Director Tom Pauken said, "In this time of to fund ACTION programs in fiscal year 1983. The re-examination of governmental priorities and pro- request represents a decrease of $1 1,185,000 from grams, I am convinced that the ACTION approach the current FY 1982 level. of fostering self-help and self-reliance is vitally im- portant in helping private citizens and local com- The President requested increased funding for the munities meet their needs." Retired Senior Volunteer Program, the Service- Learning Programs and the Citizen Participation and During FY 1983, ACTION will focus its attention Volunteer Demonstration Programs, the same fund- on the problem of runaway youth, Vietnam veter- ing level as FY 1982 for the Foster Grandparent and ans, drug abuse and illiteracy, in addition to its con- Senior Companion Programs, and a significantly de- tinuing emphasis on long-term care, consumer coun- creased funding level for Volunteers in Service to seling and development of private sector voluntar- American (VISTA) to coincide with the proposed ism. phase-out of that program during FY 1982. Reduc- tions in estimated cost for program support reflect The Retired Senior Volunteer Program's FY 1983 the recent separation of the Peace Corps from AC- spending level of $27,445,000-an increase of TION, which was fully implemented on Feb. 2 1. $85,000-will allow for an FY 1983 total of 345,200 volunteers. In submitting the budget request to Congress, AC- (cont. page 7) Director's Hill Operation Rescue (from pw 1) Testimony Emphasizes "The amazing results thus far," he adds, "show what is possible when federal workers and their private Need for Voluntarism sector counterparts join as volunteers to solve local problems." In testimony on Feb. 3, before the House subcom- Initiated in March, 198 1 by the D.C. Public School mittee on Manpower and Housing, ACTION Director System, the Washington, D.C. Urban League and Tom Pauken said that President Reagan "wants to various private sector groups, Operation Rescue has do everything he can to encourage voluntarism." involved 1,000 volunteer tutors in [heading-off pos- The President has emphasized his commitment to sible failure of D.C.