ACTIQN May 7,1981 update.. . / -

OLDER 4MERICANS

,A' MONTH ~ Page 2

Honoring the Contributions might not listen if he hadn't experienced it first- Of Our Senior Citizens hand." Another older American, Senior Companion Girard Garland, 66, is a facilitator in the alcohol services division of a Bar Harbor, Me. hospital, ex- ith a flourish, Dook Heirnendenger, 67, tending his hand in friendship to recovering w delivers a final chord on his handmade alcoholics. "I'm not a reformed alcoholic, I'm an dulcimer and welcomes the praise of his audience: informed alcoholic," he explains. "The very nature spontaneous hugs and kisses from a dozen Head' Start' youngsters. .Adjusting his- lavishly decor&ed of the disease promotes not admitting problems. All I can tell people, if they want to listen, is what old felt hat, he beams, "I grow younger every day. happened to me, what booze has not done for me, I can't fmd time to do everything I want. and what sobriety has done for me." Heimendenger, an RSW volunteer in Flagstaff, An alcohol counselor at the hospital says that Ariz. is one of nearly 300,000 older Americans Garland "serves a particularly valuable function in who donate their services through ACTION'S the group made up of the spouses of alcoholics. OAW programs-as Senior Companions, as Foster He can represent what the alcoholic's point of view Grandparents, as well as Retired Senior Volunteers. might be. He has extraordinary insight." This month, traditionally proclaimed Older Americans Month, communities throughout the country will celebrate the contributions of some 25 million older Americans. 3 In addition to those serving through OAVP pro- ...Y ears of grams, an estimated five-million seniors are active volunteers - private citizens who contribute years accumulated skills of accumulated skills and knowledge to improve the quality of life. They contribute in a variety of areas-in neighborhood legal service centers as and knowledge... paralegals and advisors; in nursing home ombuds- men programs; in new neighborhood watch pro- grams, protecting life and property; and in area In addition to serving through the OAVP pro- agencies on aging. grams, older Americans also serve in VISTA and In a recent interview, OAVP Deputy Director . About 260 PCVs are classified as Bill Hoing said, "In a society where people age 60 "olderw-five percent of the total volunteer force; and over comprise the most rapidly increasing age and some 450 senior citizens now serve in VISTA group, where more and more older people are be- - over 10 percent of that volunteer force. ing supported by fewer and fewer younger people, Their.work is iraried., For example: it is more important than ever that every individual work up to his or her potential. Our society can Mary I(im Joh, one of the oldest PC volunteers afford no less. I think ACTION/OAVP programs at 74, spent 28 months in Liberia, teaching have placed that expectation on older Americans, basic health care, personal hygiene, bacteriolo- and as result, they are doing their best." gy and parasitology to nurses and villagers. "I One such American is Ogle Boyer, a former didn't want to just sit around and die, after prison inmate who served a 30-year term in the reaching mandatory retirement age," she ex- Ohio State Penitentiary. Released last year, Boyer, plains. 77, now serves as the first Foster Grandparent Mary Smeltzer, 63, taught in a government- parolee. One of 79 low-income seniors working in sponsored vocational training facility as a PCV Ohio correctional facilities, he sees his mission in Botswana. "I've led a varied life. The Peace as "explaining the prison system to the boys-how Corps was just par for the course," says they'll get treated in the pen. 'you'll get misery,' Smeltzer, a former math and kindergarten I tell 'em." teacher. "My friends talk about my courage. I ., One inmate, scheduled to leave soon says "a lot tell them, 'listen, it would have taken more .. of guys listen because he's done time himself. They courage to stay home.' " ... people age 60 and over comprise the most rapidly increasing age group.

a Ray Brabrandt, 67, a VISTA volunteer in Carl Roberts, 76, a VISTA volunteer in North Minneapolis, Minn. helped established a co-op Dakota, is assigned to a small farms pilot pharmacy in that area. The co-op is owned by project sponsored by the Farmers Home a senior citizen, employs a full-the pharma- Administration. He helps small farmers keep cist and offers a 10 percent discount to the their businesses in operation and improve their elderly. VISTA volunteers helped publicize standard of living. "I feel that I can help the program to get it off the ground, actually others avoid the pitfalls I encountered as a worked in the store and set up similar cooper- farmer," he says. Roberts designed a standard- I - ative type programs in 25 #drugstoresthrough- ized accounting system now used by the .' out the state. U.S. Department of Agriculture to help farmers maintain accurate records. (conr. page 9) . Page 4 PC 20th Anniversary: RPCVs , Ruppe ,Tsongas Lead Boston Events

undreds of former Peace Corps volunteers or later in law school," he said. Hgathered at Boston's John Fitzgerald The Senator also remarked that "the tragedy of ~enned~Library on April 11 to meet senator Paul Americans today is that we have people in govern- Tsongas (D-Mass.) a P.C. volunteer in Ethiopia, ment and across the nation who feel that the 1961-63, and Peace Corps Director-designate misery and death of people in other countries Loret Miller Ruppe, at a celebration of the 20th somehow does not affect them. Eventually, if we anniversary of the signing of the Executive Order ignore that misery and death, it will come to our creating the Peace Corps. shores. The celebration began with a performance by "The sense that we are all part of the family of Harvard College's Expressions Dance Company, an man was part of what the Peace Corps taught me. Afro-Caribbean group, in the glass pavillion of the A capacity to love one another - that is what the Library. The program included remarks by former Peace Corps and John Kennedy brought to this volunteers; Jeff Ciufredda, a representative from country," he said. Congressman Silvio Conte's (R-Mass.) office; Ruppe pledged her support to the "idealistic and Belize Country Director Marnesba Hill; Tsongas realistic goals of the Peace Corps which is dedicat- and Ruppe. ed to promoting world peace." Tsongas described his Peace Corps service as With respect to the 10 million dollar reduction "the most formative experience of my life. I for fiscal year 1982, Ruppe said it was in line with learned a heck of a lot more than I did in college, budgets cuts in other federal agencies. "We are going to take the majority of our cuts in Washing- ton," she vowed, "because we want to keep as many volunteers in the field as we can." L The 20th anniversary of the Peace Corps was also celebrated in a month-long exhibit entitled "Other Places, Other Ways: Twenty Years of Peace Corps," in the library's new Changing Ex- hibits Room. Returned volunteers were asked to share their significant volunteer experiences in the form of excerpts from journals, letters, clip pings and photographs. These personal stories of people, projects, achievements, frustrations and insights gave visitors to the library a varied and human look at the Peace Corps. Textiles from developing nations lent by former volunteers served as a background for the exhibit. During the Massachusetts school vacation week (April 20-25) former volunteers gave slide present- ations and conducted discussions on their countries of service as a part of a program on the developing world which also featured films from such organiz- Left to Right: Dan Fenn, director of the John ations as the United Nations and UNICEF. On F. Kennedy Library; Loret Ruppe; and Senator April 25, three former volunteers, Douglas Henderson (Bolivia 1963-68), Jeffrey Lewis (Mauritania 1965-67) and Leonard Unger (Laos 1962-64), participated in a panel discussion on America's policies in the developing world. Editor's note: In addition to Senator Tsongas, four other members of Congress have served as 1 Peace Corps volunteers. (See pg. 8) * -- Page 5

N.Y. Governor Lauds Work of FGPs

The largest recognition and training event of its tion programs to help children in private homes. kind took place April 1 - 3 at Grossinger's Hotel At the conference, Foster Grandparent Program in Liberty, N.Y., for the more than 1,800 Foster (FGP) Chief Jack Kenyon announced that there is Grandparents in New York State. As a highlight a request for a "modest increase" of $1.7 million of the occasion, New York Governor Hugh Carey in the program's budget for fiscal year 1982. declared April 1, 198 1 Foster Grandparent Day in Kenyon spoke about First Lady Nancy Reagan's that state. involvement with FGP - helping with the first state In a special proclamation issued by the Gover- funding of the program in California, when her nor's office, Carey said that it is "highly fitting husband was governor, visiting the Syracuse FGP in that recognition be given to the dedicated efforts the fall of 1980, meeting with ACTION officials at of Foster Grandparents, who represent a reservoir the White House on Feb. 9, 1981 and holding a of understanding, experience and compassion." press briefing on FGP the same day. The Grandparents serve more than 4,000 children, In addition, Kenyon said Mrs. Reagan recently including troubled and disabled youth, in more completed a series of radio and television an- than 400 institutions and agencies throughout the nouncements on FGP to be run nationwide state. The New York state budget calls for addi- throughout the year, beginning in May - Older tional money to support 100 Foster Grandparents Americans Month. (See article in this issue) who will work in early intervention and stimula-

Jack Kenyon addresses conference -_ Page- 6 ' Family Violence : n Abusers Helped to Control Destructive Behavior

lore family vio- lence and all its middle-aged parent from Rockland County, ramifications. . N.Y. "A family relationship," he says, "has According to to have love and respect, not fear." Dr. Shapiro, executive Mere platitudes? Not when spoken by ector of the volunteer gram's chief archi- wife7 who now devotes free time to helping others tect, the workshop is among the first in the nation "see where men are at." to assist alleged batterers themselves. "When it Ray is a graduate of a six-week spouse abuse mme to working with domestic ~olence," says educational workshop sponsored by the Volunteer shapiro, "the people who weren't being handled Counseling Service of Rockland County- a pro- were me,^^^ gram that has had a 75 percent success rate getting Many of the men coming into the workshop are men to stop domestic violence. hostile," notes Phyllis B. Frank, program director The workshop was funded by a $607000 de- of the Counseling Service's Domestic Violence n~onstrationgrant from the policy development Project and a prime developer of the spouse abuse branch of ACTION'S Office of Policy and Planning project. u~ostof the men come llere thinking it is in October 1979, and renewed for another year, to the ri&t of the husband to do what he wants," last until October 1981. SO far, it has served 44 ~~~~k says. And after completing the workshop? men who were either court-mandated into the u~~~tleave here vitally defused," she says. program or recommended to it informally by former batterer Ray explains, "We .learn that no- probation departments. body has the right to put their hands on another Its success has already affected New York state person.', law; Governor Hugh Carey recommended, and the Weekly workshop groups follow a discussion for- State Legislature enacted7 a measure calling for d mat and involve alleged batterers and trained vol- family t~ institute a program for wife- unteer workshop leaders, many of them profession- batterers modelled on the ~ock~andCounty Pro- . . als recruited from area institutions and graduate Ject. schools. "However," Frank points out, "the pro- In addition7 Ray and other workshop graduates fessional volunteers, people from the communi- have formed the Men's On-going Voluntary Ex- ty, the program's backbone.- . change (MOVE), a weekly discussion group attend- The workshop is essentially a course that teaches .* ed by 20 county men and volunteer facilitators to fcont. page 8) Page 7 Breakfast at Headquartem Kicks off Nationd Volunteer Week

On April 27, some 350 ACTION and Peace Greeting the audience, Rodgers said, "Volun- Corps employees crowded into the NANEAP teers are at the heart of what this country is all Region offices to attend a breakfast marking the about, ever since the early pioneer days when there beginning of National Volunteer Week (NVW), were no federal programs. Volunteering is not just which ran through May 2. The celebration gave a government concept, but a private concept, and agency headquarters staffers a chance to express we are pleased to have people here today who re- their appreciation to their colleagues and others present the private volunteer community." throughout the country who volunteer in their ACTION Director designate Pauken said, communities. "There is a need for this agency to be a catalyst A group of 50 staff members, headed by Peola for voluntary activity over the following years. Spurlock, special assistant to the Peace Corps We must identify the needs in this country and de- associate director for Development Education, and velop programs to help meet those needs in some OVCP's Cheryl Althaus, ACTION NVW Committee very troubled times." He added that ACTION Chair, coordinated the event, which offered a would be a vehicle through which Vietnam veter- variety of dishes - each contributed by ACTION/ ans could work with fellow veterans in need - PC employees. "people who haven't yet been able to get their Agency senior staff, the ACTION and Peace feet on the ground." (ACTION Update plans to Corps Directors-designate, and guest speakers from run an indepth story on this proposed new pro- private voluntary agencies voiced their appreciation gram in an upcoming issue.) of and concern for the need of volunteers. Congratulating volunteers for " the work they Speakers included Washington, D.C. Mayor Marion are doing in their community," Ruppe explained Barry, PC Acting Director William Sykes, who that "My years of volunteering have produced a served as master of ceremonies, ACTION Act- lot of happiness for me. It is my belief that if you ing Director Dana Rodgers, ACTION Director- get out and give, you will be a much happier per- designate Thomas Pauken, Peace Corps Director- son for it." designate Loret Ruppe; Kenn Allen, executive vice- Expressing his "delight to be here," Mayor president of VOLUNTEER-the Center for Citizen Barry praised the work of ACTION and Peace Involvement; and Ruth Sloate, executive director Corps volunteers "who give of themselves. I know, of the Volunteer Clearinghouse of the District of firsthand, the work of those volunteers," Barry Columbia. said. "If there ever was a time when we needed (cont. page 8)

Left to Right: Thomas Pauken, Mayor Marion Barry, Bill Sy kes, Ruth Sloate, Loret Ruppe NV W (from page 7) volunteers, it is now."' plemented the official observance of NVW at Barry then read a special proclamation naming ACTION/PC. April 27 as ACTION/Peace Corps Community Vol- Accepting her award, Miller said, "All the activi- unteers Day in Washington, D.C. and calling on ties going on this week are possible because of the D.C. residents to honor those volunteers "in grate- work of volunteers. These events are the result of ful acknowledgement of the exceptionally out- a strong commitment on the part of everybody in standing contributions which they make to their the agency." fellow citizens." At the ceremony's close, Cheryl Althaus present- During the ceremony, Pauken and Ruppe pre- ed awards to winners of the NVW door design con- sented a special outstanding volunteer award, in test. First prize went to the VISTA office and the form of a plaque to OVCP Director Merce- second prize went to the Community Energy Pro- dese Miller. This award, they said, was being pre- ject office in OVCP. The Peace Corps and sented in- response.- . - - - - to the fact that Miller had im- NANEAP offices won third and fourth prizes, re- spectively.

Workshop ffrompaged) men the consequences of destructive behavior. It Phyllis Frank says that numerous requests have is not, says Frank, "simply an encounter or con- come in from around the country on the work- frontation group. It is a place men can go and talk shop. "It is easily replicated," she says, adding that about the kinds of problems men have," she con- future funding for the Rockland County project is tinues. "This is not punishment. Whether the alleg- a problem. "We hope to interest state and private . ed batterer is guilty or not is irrelevant. This is a sources so we can continue after ACTION funding place men can blow off steam and share problems runs out in October." with each other." i

OPP Project Manager Calvin Dawson explains 2 further: "Before, we were going downstream, pulling the victims out of the river and providing Five RPCVs Now Serve in Congress them with needed services. Now we are also mov- ing upstream, trying to find the perpetrator of the Five members of the U.S. Congress - two crime and providing that person with assistance Senators and three Representatives - have in stopping his illegal and destructive behavior." emerged from the ranks of those who have The workshop tries to teach participants vital served as Peace Corps volunteers during the facts: that violence is damaging to all family past 20 years. Two are Republicans and three members; that domestic violence is as illegal are Democrats. And they're all about the as street assault and court systems are increasingly same age - between 37 and 40. serious about stopping it; that violence is unaccept- Senator Christopher (D-Conn.), 37, was a able learned behavior and can be unlearned; and volunteer in the Dominican Republic, in that violent persons are solely responsible for their 1966-68; Senator Paul Tsongas (D-Mass.), 40, actions and can control them. served in Ethiopia in 1962-64; Rep. Thomas Finally, says Dr. Beverly Houghton, research Petri (R-Wis.), 40, was a PCV in Somalia, specialist with the Domestic Violence Project, 1966-68; James A. Courter (R-N.J.), 39, was "Battering men are taught that violence is not un- a volunteer in Venezuela in 1966-68; and common and exists in one of four marriages, cut- Rep. Tony Hall (D-Ohio), 39, served in Thai- ting across all lines of race and social class. land in 1966-67. "Domestic violence," Houghton says, "is a pro- duct of imbalance between the sexesthe result of sex-role stereotypes that give unrealistic images of what men and women should be. Hardly a man in the workshop," she adds, "hasn't experienced domestic violence. Seventy-five percent either wit- nessed or were victims of domestic violence as children." Page 9

ties of more than 296,000 volunteers in the Retir- Betty Brake Named ed Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), Foster Grandparent Program and Senior Companion Pro- gram. OAVP Director "These volunteers are all doing fantastic work in their communities. All three programs are unique - so economical, yet so beneficial. They are such valuable resources for both the young and the old," says Brake, who has volunteered much of her time and effort to community and political ser- vice over the years in Oklahoma City, where she has lived most of her life. A member of the Oklahoma State Republican Committee and vice-chairperson of the Republican party in Oklahoma County from 1967 to 1971, Brake was cochairperson and executive director of President 's election committee in the state in both 1976 and 1980. She served as an assistant to the executive director of the Okla- homa Political Action Committee off and on for about five years during the 1970s. The new OAVP director would like to expand all three programs with the help of funding from state and local government agencies and private institutions. "I hope to achieve maximum effici- ency with the funds we now have to work with' and, at the same time encourage local program sponsors to seek additional funding in their com- munities," states Brake. "The only way we can ex- pand is through private funding, and there is a big possibility for it out there." She would like to see more Foster Grandparent and RSVP volunteers serve young people who are troubled with drug Betty Brake, from Oklahoma City, Okla. has and alcohol problems, and victims of child abuse. been named deputy associate director of ACTION Brake received a bachelor's degree in English for the Older Americaq Volunteer Programs from the University of Oklahoma in Norman. (OAVP). The widow of Dr. Charles M. Brake, she has Brake, a 60-year-old widow, oversees the activi- four children and three grandchildren.

Older Americans Month (frornpage 3)

In observance of Older Americans Month, public gional hearings to be held in August and Septem- service announcements are being sent to radio ber, will give Americans additional opportunities to stations across the country, in honor of our senior speak out about the way age is affecting them in citizens. And First Lady Nancy Reagan has record- American society. All these issues will be addressed ed radio and television spots for the Foster Grand- at the third White House Conference on Aging in parent program, to be broadcast throughout the December, 198 1. year, beginning this month. These events are only a few of the ways in which By June 1981, over 10,000 community forums, we recognize the achievements and dedication of older Americans-citizens whose talents, experience ," and 57 state and territorial conferences will have been held since May 1980 to address issues and and wisdom contribute so much to our communi- concerns affecting the elderly. In addition, four re- ties and our society. Page 10 What Others Say About Us

Editor's Note: Below, we have excerpted an article titled, Peace Corps: The First 20 Years, by Barbara Adams. The article originally appeared in the October I980 issue of Topic Magazine, a publica- tion of the International Communication Agency, which is distributed in over 40 countries in Afn'ca. It is excerpted with permission.

here is not enough money in all America to soldiers of war," Kennedy said, "but we also "Trelieve the misery of the underdeveloped need them as 'ambassadors of peace.' " The U.S. world ...But there is enough know-how and enough Congress formally approved the idea the following knowledgeable people to help those nations help September by passing the Peace Corps Act. How- themselves." ever, even before its passage, the first volunteers , It was with these words on November 2, 1960, had stepped off a plane in Accra, Ghana, and that John F. Kennedy, just a few days before he sung the Ghanaian national anthem in Twi. The was elected President of the United States, fmt Peace Corps had been launched. proposed the formation of "a Peace Corps of tal- In its first years, the Peace Corps attracted ented young (people) willing and able to serve their primarily young men and women just out of the country for three years as an alterntive to peace- university. Two out of every three volunteers time selective service." served as teachers at the primary or secondary Earlier in his campaign Kennedy had asked school level. Countries in the Third World had not 10,000 University of students, "How yet developed an indigenous educational capacity. many of you would spend part of your lives Countries now have their own liberal arts gradu- helping other people in other nations?" The re- ates available for the generalized work that Ameri- sponse was thunderous. Although others, such as can volunteers used to perform. Today, less than Senator Hubert H. Humphrey, previously had half of the volunteers work in education, and many proposed a "youth corps," it was the fortuitous of those who do are involved in nontraditional pro- coupling of Kennedy's renewal of the concept with grams. the availability of well-educated, idealistic young During the 1970s program administrators were people that made the venture succeed. criticized for favoring skilled volunteers over In the two decades since then, over 80,000 motivated but inexperienced young people. Cur- Americans have served as Peace Corps volunteers rent statistics however, tend to support this in more than 85 developing countries. As the needs trend: 40 percent of the volunteers are now be- of these countries have changed, the Peace Corps tween the ages of 26 and 50. Perhaps the most not- has evolved to respond to new challenges. Today able characteristic of current volunteers is an ex- nations requesting Peace Corps volunteers are in- pectation of mutual exchange rather than a motiv- terested in programs that foster self-reliance. Vol- , ation to export the American way of life. As one unteer skills are rigorously matched with each 26-year-old volunteer remarked as she left for country's requirements. Emphasis is on such Brazil, "The old sense that America had all the fundamental concerns as food production, water answers and an obligation to impart them to others supply, energy development, nutrition and health has passed." education. Since the first volunteers began their work, al-

On March 1, 1961, President Kennedy signed an most 50 nations have come into existence. Now, p, Executive Order creating the Peace Corps. "We as in the 1960s the Peace Corps serves only at the , cannot discontinue training our young men as Page 11

invitation of a host country. Volunteers seek to developing country. For its part, the commudty supplement-not supplant-the efforts of the local pledges to provide 25 percent of the construction people. Indeed, the projects that meet with the costs, plus all land and labor. A former Peace Corps greatest success are those developed jointly, with Africa regional director has described the Peace the host country identifying a need and the Peace Corps as "probably America's leading university" Corps worbg with host country officials to de- in international studies, providing, however, a very fine how that need might best be met. different kind of education. Some of the reasons The Peace Corps philosophy can probably be current volunteers give for going into the Peace summed up in the statement that "The world's Corps parallel those given 20 years ago. But today's problems are big, but the answers are small." In volunteers temper their idealism with a hefty dose projects that stretch around the world, in Latin of life's realities. "We don't go intending to save America, Africa, Asia and the Pacific, some of the world," says one 30-year-old, "but we do hope these "small answers" have made an amazing to slowly introduce changes." difference in the way people live. Communication between nations-as between The scope of Peace Corps activities is wide. individuals-is a delicate process. The words of Volunteers may, for instance, work on a bridge- John F. Kennedy in 1960 are equally true today: building project in Nepal, help f~hermenin the "A program for peace can be no better than those Philippines to improve fishing techniques, design who implement it. Our stature abroad can be no water supply systems in Belize, develop disease- more respected or influential than those who speak resistant varieties of vegetables in Western Samoa for us." or teach masonry skills to vocational students in Ghana. When volunteers' jobs are done, they move on, leaving behind people with the ability to carry on the programs they initiated. In one Costa Rican program, this phasing-out process reduced the number of volunteers to two-but left 400 trained , Costa Ricans to continue the work. Changes within the Peace Corps itself during the past decade have encouraged diversity in the make- up of volunteers. In 197 1, President Richard Nixon brought the Peace Corps under an umbrella agency known as ACTION. At the same time, VISTA, the domestic counterpart of the Peace Corps, was also made a part of ACTION, along with other federal volunteer programs. Administrators began to try to attract more minority group members and more women. This strategy is still in effect. As one of- ficial commented, "We are very definitely interest- ed in minorities. The peace effort has got to in- volve every person in the world." The obvious ad- vantage to recruiting Hispanics, for example, is that they have a cultural and linguistic head start for jobs in Spanish-speaking countries. The Peace Corps now has approximately 6,000 volunteers worldwide, down from a peak of almost 15,000 in 1967. Former volunteers form a network across the United States, helping to give new re- cruits a realistic sense of what to expect. As with any 20th anniversary, the 1980-81 Peace Corps celebration looks to the past as well as to the future. From an idealistic beginning in the 1960s, the Peace Corps has preserved its image as creative and flexible. New ideas are constantly be- ing incorporated. For example, under the Partner- ship Program, U.S. schools, clubs and organizations raise money for a specific community project in a .. Page 12

- Discrimination Laws Protect Peace Corps, VISTA Volunteers

As a result of a recent amendment to the Do- al counseling, it may become the subject of a mestic Volunteer Senrice Act, a range of federal formal investigation. The investigator's report will anti-discrimination laws protecting all Peace be reviewed by ACTION/PC's Director of Equal Corps and VISTA volunteers went into effect on Opportunity, who will attempt to mediate the February 20, 198 1. The amendment provides for complaint informally. If these fail, a final agency the application of the nondiscrimination policies decision will be made by the appropriate program and authorities of the Civil Rights Act, the Age director. Discrimination Act and the Rehabilitation Act to The new regulations also provide for a pro- those volunteers. cedure for handling "class complaints" which may The laws prohibit discrimination on the grounds be brought on behalf of groups of persons who be- of age, sex, race, color, religion, national origin or lieve they have been the victims of prohibited dis- handicap. Peace Corps and ACTION programs have crimination. always considered themselves bound by the spirit "In many respects, these new procedures closely of federal anti-discrimination policy, according to parallel those established to handle employee dis- Louise Maillett and Paul Magid, spokespersons for crimination complaints," Magid says. "However, ACTION and PC General Counsel, respectively. in recognition of the unique status of volunteers, "However, the new regulations represent the first they are not identical."

time the agencies have had specific procedures Before publishing the regulations, ACTION/PC , under which applicants, trainees or volunteers who consulted with the Equal Employment Opportuni- believe they have been the victims of agency dis- ty Commission, the Interagency Coardinating crimination may have a formal review of their com- Council, the Interagency Committee on Handicap- plaints," they agree. ped Employees and the Secretary of Health and The new procedure provides the chance to in- Human Services. Regulations then appeared in the ' formally resolve complaints of discrimination Federal Register for public comment. After review through Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) of the comments, the regulations were published in counselors. ACTION and Peace Corps EEO final form on January 6, 1981, with an effective couselors will provide those services in the U.S. date of February 20. The State Department and the U.S. Agency for Copies of the regulations are available from the International Development have indicated their Director of the Equal Opportunity Division at a- willingness to provide counseling services overseas. gency headquarters. Contact Lina Dargan FTS 254- If the matter cannot be resolved through inform- 5940.

ACTION UPDATE

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