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Leadership Summit for National Service & Community Volunteering [2]
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NOTES
From
The Strategic Planning Group Meeting
on
May 14, & 15, 1996
The Strategic Planning Group of the President's Summit for Community Volunteering and
National Service held its second meeting at the Crystal City Courtyard Marriott in Crystal City,
VA on May 14, & 15. In attendance (in alphabetical order) were: Mary Babson, Patricia Bland,
Michael Brown, Paula Forman, Timothy Hanlon, Virginia Hodgkinson, Eva Kasten, Regina
Kelly, Wayne Meisel, Mario Morino, Thomas McKenna, Gregg Petersmeyer, Shirley Sagawa,
Eugene Wilson, Harris Wofford, and Michael Woo. Also in attendance were: Sharon
Campbell and John Seeley, evaluators from FERA
The objective of this group was to:
Complete the Development of a strategic plan for the Summit by June 9.
After a quick introduction of each attendee, Gregg welcomed and thanked the group for their
commitment, participation and time. He briefly recapped the notes from the last meeting and
began this meeting with:
Develop the Summit mission statement and discuss Summit Frameworks:
POSSIBLE PROBLEM STATEMENT AND MISSION FOR THE SUMMIT
Problem Statement:
The "magnitude of our social problems will require that all citizens and institutions make a
commitment to volunteering as a way of life.." (Governor Romney). However, organizations
and individuals in the public, private, nonprofit and philanthropic sectors don't recognize
volunteering as one of the most critical tools for addressing community problems; and those
who are engaged as volunteers don't see how their contribution is going to make a real
difference. Without the full utilization of Americans who can give of their time to others,
America will never overcome these problems.
The Mission Statement of the Summit:
To trigger a series of actions that will instill in the American people the belief that:
1) everyone has a gift to give that can make a difference in the life of another person;
2) if most people gave their gifts, America's communities would be transformed for the better;
and
3) there is an urgent need to give those gifts now.
The group discussed the above statement and their views are reflected in the following
comments:
The title should be changed from "Problem Statement" to Opportunity Statement.
People don't feel responsible for solutions in the country, and even if they do, they
don't feel they can make a difference. Therefore, the problems that could be solved
are not being solved.
Recognition by volunteers of what their contribution means is not part of the
experience.
Tell people they are good - our fundamental trait of Americans - re-engage this spirit to
rebuild our common ground.
"Social Problems" politicize the activity
A defining characteristic of America is to use the willingness of Americans to serve
others volunteering. But we've moved away from that. We want to renew and expand
this tradition.
The benefits of volunteering is missing - put in problem/mission.
This is very serious stuff - the magnitude of social problems
Fragmentation of community/alienation is a cause of the problem
Goal - is to solve the problems - means through individual action.
The word "volunteering" creates narrow view -- volunteering engagement or
service.
Making the coming together to solve problems a mandate
Citizenship: loving their country - people are challenged by civic power
The Mission of the Summit:
Individual effort
Catalyst for Action Mobilizing people more than instill a belief. There has to be a
Call To Action
Gift language - change to "something to offer" "talents and gifts", "everyone has
something of value to give"
Make a difference in your life and in the lives of others, people need to see they
get something back
Include institutions and American people as target audiences
Restore/instill a spirit of caring but don't lose responsibility/citizenship
There are ways to get involved - more than a call to action
Help institutions/communities see service as a solution for problems - a paradigm shift
- also get involved themselves
Cause a substantial increase in the volume of those who serve
Frameworks:
1.
People act around very specific things
2.
We should celebrate "traits" that help people give
3.
People are motivated by talents and gifts
-
Belief in collective action is also a motivator
-
Some people need organizations/need help to get involved
Both of these need to happen in order for people to get involved and stay involved.
Chaos theory - catalytic ; Facilitate not control; Need core of "trained" people
4.
I need to be successful/need a benefit
2
VISION OF THE PRESIDENTS' SUMMIT
The Summit will usher in a new era of citizenship in which Americans taking action in
their communities to help solve our serious social problems becomes the nation's
defining philosophy for positive change.
The Summit will challenge individuals, organizations and sectors to commit themselves
to full participation in this new era by recognizing that:
1. They have unique talents, gifts and resources to give to others;
2. They can make a difference in the lives of others and in their own through
their involvement;
3. They have the power and responsibility to act now.
As we enter the 21st century with citizen action as the nation's defining philosophy, we
celebrate America's most distinctive virtue, renew citizenship as a way of life, and
realize America's hope for the future.
3
Summit Outcomes by February 1997
1.
The Summit demonstrates that the collective power of individuals and
organizations using their talents, giving their gifts, and investing their energy can
improve lives and restore community.*
2. The American people become aware of the Summit's central message ---
that every American:
a. Has unique talents, gifts and resources to give to others;
b. Can make a difference in the lives of others and in his or her own life through
involvement in the community;
C. Has the power and responsibility to act now.
3.
People around the country engage in serious dialog about the Summit's
message and discuss how to strengthen the assets in communities to promote
citizen action to solve problems.
4.
Leaders of organizations and communities make commitments to create the
conditions which would lead to more people involved more effectively in their
communities.
Summit Outcomes in 3 Years
1.
Agreements made at the Summit are implemented in communities nationwide.
2.
Every American believes that he or she:
a. Has unique talents, gifts and resources to give to others;
b. Can make a difference in the lives of others and in his or her own life through
involvement in the community;
C. Has the power and responsibility to act now.
3.
Through this new call to action, more people become more effectively involved in
their communities.
4.
As a result of this increased action, we begin to see that problems are solved and
communities restored.
5.
Leaders of organizations and communities make commitments to create the
conditions which would lead to more people involved more effectively in their
communities.
* Widespread and effective citizen action will help communities achieve the following desired characteristics:
(1) Commitment to Children, Youth Developing Good Character and Values, and Strong Families; (2) Excellent
Schools and a Culture that Fosters Lifelong Learning; (3) Meaningful Employment Opportunities and the Hope of
Economic Advancement; (4) A Safe, Decent and Drug Free Place to Live in a Clean Environment; and (5) Quality
Health Care and a Sense of Well Being.
4
The group was divided into two. Group A discussed nos. 3 & 4 of Summit Outcomes by
February 1997 and nos.1 & 4 of Summit Outcomes in 3 Years
GROUP A:
Feb. 6 97 Outcome #3:
Strategy (Pre - Summit; At the Summit; and After the Summit).
a. Through a telecast, having dialogs around the country (using high schools, colleges,
agencies and other organizations as conveners involving the broadcast range of people(C-
Span, etc.).
b. Identify convenors who could bring in the general public (e.g. Communities of Faith).
C. Discussion over the internet.
d. At the Summit, demonstrate what a "dialog" looks like. (e.g. Arthur Miller).
e. Sample dialog with "Q & A" is developed and shared with organizations prior to the
Summit.
f. The vision should drive the substance of the dialog (2 parts) e.g. go to pollsters.
g. Figure out a way to include general" public who don't belong to the traditional
organizations.
h. What is the question that the "typical" citizen wants to discuss at these dialogs after the
Summit? (- very local) e.g.: What can I do to help someone else in need.
Feb. ' 97 Outcome #4:
Strategy (Pre - Summit; At the Summit; and After the Summit).
a. Before and at the Summit, "organizations" announce their plans to more fully involve or
increase the number of people involved
need to make sure this is inclusive
we want you to design and implement programs that encourage the culture of service
be selective - demand a lot, get them to do stuff before the Summit
5
Process for the Commitments:
Prior
At
After
to
The
The
Summit
Summit
Summit
Get some/select
Announce to show
(Dialog)
organizations to actually
what they did.
Design and
do something and
implement
prepare it for
presentation
Call to action other
What did you like,
organizations based
not like
Ask for the "next
on their example
mountain"
Issue a challenge to
Make public
Internet
organizations to make
announcement
Places to
commitments by the
communicate
Summit.
action
Get mass media
Real coverage
"Action
attention for
"Prime Time
Research"
commitments
Coverage"
Create expectations and
Reporting
possibilities
in the year
2000 about
Tell great stories
what
(Shank)
happened
(GOAL)
6
GROUP B: Discussed nos. 1 & 4 of Summit Outcomes by February 1997 and nos 2
& 3 of Summit Outcomes in 3 Years
Feb. 97 Outcome #1:
a.
Build excitement, anticipation, understanding beginning 3 months before the
Summit. (Fill the vacuum after the election) e.g.:
- Media campaign
- Connect PRESIDENTS
- QUOTES (2) from each
- See PRESIDENTS/FIRST LADIES Helping in communities
- Documentary on history of community service/volunteering
- Use internet to build movement
b. Success Stories (people helping / people helped -- that with focus on the Helper)
- Collect stories
C.
Engage/get word out to those who will participate or be part of the follow-up:
- Tune in
- Buy in
- Want to implement
d.
Simulcast arrangements:
1) - cable companies
) Broadcasting
- need advertising so people will watch
) Summit
2) - Doing mini-summits in lots of communities that mirrors national process
e.
SYSTEM/APPROACH/MODEL THAT shows random acts turned into purposeful
change/collective power
f.
Success stories must show:
- enhancement
-
enrichment
Trigger non-random engagement:
Ask at conference
Promote these questions to the media
1.
If you had an afternoon/evening off, what would you most like to do?
2.
How can you imagine enjoying that activity in a way that helps someone who is in
greater need than you?
3. What would you need to try that in a very small way? (Role of institution)
Paradigm Shift: A new way to self identify for community service opportunities
7
The meeting resumed the next day with the Outcomes by 2/97 and in 3 years, which
are:
By February' 97:
1. Summit
- Demonstrates
Individual,
)
& Collective,
)
- Restore a sense of community
& Organizations )
Can be achieved through:
- Presidents' stories
- Media exposure
-
Budgets approved with less political agreements
- Show what would not get done without volunteers (stories)
2. Awareness of central message
a) enhance others lives
b) enrich own life
c) need to do so
Can be achieved through:
- Mass media exposure; organization network exposure
- Awareness -- Change in attitude -- beliefs intent -- Action to act
3. Country-wide Dialogues about:
a) Summit Message
b) Strengthen Community Assets
c) Solve Problems
Can be achieved through:
- Tracking : Awareness; Attitude; Action
- Unlikely coalition
- Identify target groups
4. "Leaders" make Commitments
Create
more people
Conditions
involved
effectively
Can be achieved through:
- Key organizations announce specific commitments
-
Policy changes: National Corporations; Business Leaders
-
Agreement by leaders to depoliticize Volunteering/Service
8
In 3 Years:
1. Agreements Implemented in communities
2. Americans believe that through service:
a) Other lives enhanced
b) Own life enriched
c) Need to do so
3. More people become more effectively involved in community
4. Results of invested action:
a) Problems Solved
b) Communities Rebuilt
After a break the meeting continued with the Brainstorm Agreements by Sector
Leaders. The group broke out by Sectors and discussed, brainstormed and them came
back together to share with each other their ideas based on these questions:
a.
Define this sector - what is it? (Target)
b.
What type of agreements should we seek? What should we ask of
them?
C.
Whom should we approach? Whose the best person to make request?
The Sectors are:
1. BUSINESS
Suggestions:
-
Mix of businesses -- large and small
-
Assumptions - Leverage them - stakeholder groups
-
Labor Unions
-
Public Allies - whose on what board
-
By industry
-
Largest corporate foundations - in terms of money
-
Go after the corporations -- CEO; COO
-
Most respected in their business community
Requests:
a. How can they use their talents and gifts to accomplish our outcomes?
Example: Concerning an HR program - Distributes it as part of HR package
b. Business Advisory Board - Corporate Best Practices -- develop system to
catalog Best Practices - Arthur Anderson
C. Name recognition
d. Get beyond the companies that are always there/ the purest companies,
America On Line - Gene
9
e. A day discussion of service - what people are doing already- companies with
volunteer program - symbolic Day of Service - report our stories - Reatha King
f. Unconventional acts
g. Sharing knowledge across sectors:
- a booklet on how to do the day of service
- best practices - use the internet to distribute the load
- sense of competition about the submissions
- creating an energy (put it on their home page)
- communications strategy - ask one company to help us develop
h. Begin to track in their businesses - traditional employees actually giving of gifts
I. Economic Impact of downsizing - employees are cynical. Figure out a strategy,
increase the competition. Businesses develop alliances with nonprofits - jobs
trainings - building their skills
Summary:
-
Catalyst to people in the company to send respect of service
- Corporate citizens - use their skills or talents
-
Need a distribution strategy:
- Community - Based - Leaders in the community
- Pick a city - a person - the lightning road - pick 20 cities ( 10 or 15 - a few that
are good!)
- CEOs speaking for their firm - the three questions that were asked
-
Logical assumptions: if members get engaged - give tangible link to systemic
change
-
Add to the first outcome "Summit demonstrates - that there is tangible systemic
change
-
Impact -- Citizen action -- Framework: Doing things together show that you can
get something done. People need to get excited - it doesn't do it. Tap the
power of citizens (Just Do It - NIKE).
- Goals and strategies that are collective - the word Rebuild
2.
Communities of Faith/Civic Groups/ Nonprofits/Community Foundations /
Volunteer Centers:
a. Everyone else in the world except business sector
b. Independent Sector and Council of Foundations - use their worldwide web to
do general call, get them involved immediately and help us identify who would
be at the table.
C. Be selective : United Way
d. Communities of Faith - go to National Council of Charities- approach
associations and conferences, get ecumenical religious leaders to sign onto
those messages
e. Major health organizations
10
f. POLF and United Way with Volunteer Centers
g. Minority group associations
Umbrella Organizations:
Ask them to endorse the concept of the Summit, the mission and the 3 questions, then
they can go to their members and bring on examples. Members will give voluntary
service in some way - Principles of the Paradigm - make commitment to significantly
change the role of volunteers in their organization. They will encourage their members
to participate and will routinely share stories of volunteers with staff on a regular basis
Examples of groups under this umbrella leadership are: N.P.O's; Communities of Faith,
Volunteer Centers, Civic and National Groups to include Humane Services such as
Lions, Rotary Leagues, Kiwanis, Elks, NOW, Volunteers of America, Salvation army,
Cancer and Heart Associations, National Health Council, United Way, Center for
Nonprofit Boards, NAACP, Urban Leagues, Council on Foundations, National
Neighborhood Associations, National Council of Churches, Conference of Catholic
Bishops, Congress of Black Churches, National Conference of Christian Churches,
Mormons, Buddhist, Muslims , Brachery Evangelicals, Ron Valler - Stewardship
Committee, etc.
Members (local level)
- What kinds of commitment agreements between and among other organizations.
- Organizations that make agreements or partnerships that measure increase
volunteer service among new groups and or individuals
More effective involvement: Organizations make commitments to increase the level of
time, responsibility and or current role. Commitment on the part of organizations is to
increase the conditions, to increase volume of participation and to recognize the
significant role they play. How do they make commitment and plans to plan for and
implement programs for volunteers and staff to bring more effective use with volume in
mission of each.
Agreements that all people will be given an opportunity to serve and to talk about this
service.. We are going to commit our organizations to participate in the Summit by:
a. to identify specific volunteer opportunities; ways of building capability for
volunteers in order to increase conditions
b. Identify ways to identify various talents and current contact and ways to use
them more effectively
C. Within the specific mission come up with a way they will specifically increase
volunteer service and value to their service
Strategies for Contact:
Who do we approach? - Strategies Analysis of Key Leadership groups
a. Leadership is ( United Way) - their next meeting is in July in Milwaukee
b. Identify key leaders of the Umbrella Organizations that can commit
C. Call to leaders of World Wide Web
11
3. MEDIA
a. Who is the Target? -- All of the Media
b. Broadcast -- Advertising, News, Program Parts - Story, Programming, TV
Networks/affiliation/Cable Independents/Local, Radio- Network and
independents. Print Newspapers, Magazines, Transit, Advertising Editorial,
Web internet - on line services. Entertainment Production companies (Lorimar)
C. What we ask them to do should be guided by the Communications Strategy eg:
-
Ask support in anticipation give of their resources
-
Run materials we provide as well as cover the event
-
Develop their own editorial and contents
- Interviews with the Presidents ahead of time
- Exclusives interviews and morning talk shows one day before the event and
after the event
- Get Oprah to do a show on success stories - focus on youth, ask Gregg's 3
questions of audience on the air
- Take opportunity to writing editorials for newspapers/wires. Instead of
newspapers advertising, get out editorials, get service to donate a sat. feed
of advertising but advertise in medium to small paper who look for content.
Bigger papers to cover ads and develop own stories.
-
On the Radio - huge medium community affair program, talk shows, develop
program around talk show syndication-- Paul Harvey, Chase Osbourn
- On Internet programming to help them seek and explore their opportunities.
Self select a version of Gregg's 3 question that leads to community -- in
your community exist already
d. When do we Approach?;
As soon as possible -- as we have an offering. The more you know, NBC,
Celebrities, talk about Media committee Board Members, Polf Media
Committees "Who do you know, level enough to call you and beg" concentrated
on bigger gang, specific show/talent -- Networks, Major Cable, Major
Newspapers, Major Magazines. Also have networks do promotion based on
their own stars
4. Schools and Universities/Youth:
Define the Sectors: Schools-- Elementary, Junior High, High Schools, Public,
Private, Parochial.
-
Service learning curriculum
-
Implement the new Carengie Unit
-
Nicelodium "The Big Care" weekly reader, Socialistic, Ed Week,
-
Seek affiliation with local community groups to identify opportunities for
meaningful youth service
-
Become open to community groups
-
Post Secondary - persuade to change
-
Require service
12
-
Open their facilities for community meetings
-
Expand academic courses teaching and research, offer degrees
- Engage unions
- Practice "public service" and "citizenship" as a priority
-
Consider community service for admission
-
Encourage more universities to "match" service "scholarships"
- Celebrate/recognize students who serve
- MTV
- Chronicle of Higher education
- American Humanies
- Promote Endowed Chairs in "Service"
- RAND/UCLA study on service
- Increase service for "work/study"
Whom to Approach?
- NAESP
- NASSP
- NEA/AFT, etc.
- YVC
- YES
- Political alliances, etc.
- Student activities
- State Commissions: - CFAT
- National School Boards Associations
-
National Coalition for Service
- Private schools
- Christian/Parochial schools
- Council of Chief State School Officers
- ECS
Post-Secondary Universities etc.
-
Campers Compact
- D. Bob
- COOL
- U Gregonan
- T Eulich
- AAC, ACE, etc
- R Payton
NAICU, AGB
- B Uhling
Higher Ed Cabinet - - Academic Centers - T Ingram]
Business -Higher Ed Forum
- R. Coles
- R. Riley
- J. McDunne
5. GOVERNMENT:
How to get commitment?
-
Go to Clinton & Dole - endorse recommendations, great bulky pulpit opportunity
- Go to Congressional leadership -- focus on encouraging efforts to generate
more involvement for service- not explicitly for supporting Polf or the
Corporation - no meetings until after the election.
13
-
State level - Role of State Commissions -- run and organize own summit
meetings--what do we ask of them?
-
National Governors' Association -- Chief State School Officers, -- American
Public Welfare Associations, National Association of State Boards of
Education, National Conference of State Legislators,
-
First Ladies everywhere
- Each Governor be invited to the Summit. What can a governor be asked to
do? Immunization case, get a Republican and a Democrat Governor ready and
with stories to announce something that catches people's attention. (focus on
an issue in their state. Problem: How to get governors to announce new
initiative at Summit, instead of State Capital (solved by news media strategy).
Which governors are particularly well regarded? -- Gene Sofer -- will make a
list.
-
Local level - National Association of Counties
-
Schools -- Association of School Principals, School Board Associations, School
Administrators -- Take advantage of schools as a place to gather, response to a
safe place, get an insurance company to help with the liability or what other
obstacles that exist.
-
Include reformers. Ethics reform ⑉ ethics discussion bridges gap between
service world and government world. Elected official to be asked to recognize
people in service as regular function.
Next on the Agenda was the discussion of a communications plan for the Summit.
Regina Kelley gave an overall brief with the four key questions:
1. Who do we target?
2. What is the communication intended to achieve?
3. What is the key message?
4. How will we support the message?
1. Target
a. All Americans (primary)
b. All those organizations that can impact/ that we will ask for help in delivering the
message
2. Intended to Achieve
Convince all Americans that the collective power of the individual giving of their gifts
can restore communities and improve lives
3. Key Message:
Through using your own talents and interests, you can enhance the lives of others,
enrich your own life and you have an inner will to do so
4. Support
Everyone can easily discover the interest or talent that they can use to help
someone (Gregg's 3 questions)
a. What do you like to do?
b. Imagine doing what you like to help someone?
C. Need to try in a small way?
14
Discussions revealed on key message:
there is a great need now ... urgency.
Because of great pressing problems to be solved do more effectively
Critical need -- goals/strategies problems
Target:
modify for other sectors
Intended:
Dramatic increase in effective volume
Need twin engine approach: leader strategy to take BIG ACTION
Don't forget the twin engine approach -- need individuals to fuel the groups
Final agenda item was the discussion was on:
What should happen at the Summit itself
-
Communicate ideas
-
Showcase agreements
- Demonstrate results
1. Show a virtual community illustrating the matrix. Points of Light can become
Communities of Light. Show best cases, e.g. Cleveland, Newark, East St. Louis,
etc. Have them say/show what they've already done -- and also demonstrate virtual
-- celebrate. Send people before the Summit to go visit a couple of communities.
2. A small group of people in dialogue are showcased -- then communicated via TV
and Internet.
3. Presidents' role
4. Telethon -- people pledging to do something -- calling in
5. Case studies of what has happened over time -- collective picture
6. Strategic Planning Session
Gregg then thanked everyone for their time, participation and input. But before they left,
each person left a written referral list of contacts/invitees which are:
From Mary Babson (she promised to send us more names):
John Bryan
- CEO, Sara Lee
Jack Welch
- CEO, General Electric
?
- The President of The Business Roundtable
Gordon Raley
- CEO, National Assembly of Health & Human
Organizations
15
From Harris Wofford:
Walter Conkrite
Charles Kuralt
Bill Meyers for a role
John Gardner
Sergeant Shrives
Coretta Scott King
Franklin Thomas from Ford
Identify your leaders -- some of the future:
Allan Khayers
Vanessa K
Judy Kapp
David Battey
Wayne Meisel
Roger Land
From the Film Industry:
Paul Newman
Joanne Woodward
Robert Redford
Arnold Schwasaynagger, some conservative entertainers
Key sports stars interested in service and who are serving on Big Brothers Big Sisters
Sector Leaders.
From Shirley Sagawa:
Marian Edelman
-
Children's Defense Fund
David Liederman
-
Child Welfare League
also teremy Rifkin (ask Susan)
Eugene Lang
-
I Have a Dream
Millard Fuller
- Habitat
Elizabeth Dole
Red Cross
Head of
- AARP
Frank Newman
-
Education Commissioner of States
Geoff Carada
-
Freedom Schools
AI Shanker
- AFT
Head 7 Nat's Education Assoc,
Bob Woodson
-
Neighborhood Coalition
Frances Hesselbein
-
Drucker Foundation
Catherine Milton
-
Save the Children
Bill Bennett
-
Hudson Institution
Cabinet Secretaries
Ted Kennedy
Kathleen Kennedy Townsend
Lietenent or 7 Mayland
Anne Bryant
-
American Association of University Women
Mary Louise SchWeikart
-
National Senior Service Directors Association
Bill Basl
-
Director, Washington State Commission
From Virginia Hodgkinson:
Sara Melendez
-
Independent Sector
Dot Riddings
- Council on Foundations
Sandy Cloud
-
President, National Conference of African Americans
of Christians and Jews
16
Raul Yzguire
-
Council de LaRaza
Antonia Hernandez
-
Mexican American Legal Defense Fund
Given Baker
-
President, UNICEF USA (African American)
Steve Minter
-
Cleveland Foundation (African American)
Susan Beresford
-
Ford Foundation
Robert Wathrow
-
Princeton University (Youth Service)
Bill Gray
-
United Negro College Fund
Eddie Williams Jr.
Center for Political Studies (African American)
There are many others, she will go over her list in the office and forward the list to us.
From Michael Brown:
Rosabeth mass University
-
HBS professor
Jim Austin
-
HBS Professor (Cleveland expert)
Sara Melendez
-
Independent Sector
Stephen Jobs
-
Founder of Apple
Bill Gates
-
Founder of Microsoft
Michael Porter
-
HBS professor (working on community's competitive
advantage
From Michael Woo:
Annie Weinberg
-
Lollapaloozas Foundation
Shelby Coffey
-
Editor, Los Angeles Times
Andy Spahn
-
Dreamworks, SKG Studio
Dr. Chang Lin Tien
⑉
Chancellor, UCLA - Berkeley
Dr. Stephen Sample
President USC
Marge Tabankin
Barbara Streisand Foundation
(Former Director of ACTION)
Ernie Cortez
-
Community organizer San Antonio TX
Father Greg Boyle
-
Jobs for the Future, Los Angeles, CA
From Tom McKenna:
Yufume
NAACP
Heads of Leadership 18 agencies
Sara Melendez
-
Independent Sector
Mayors of top 10 cities
Governors of each state
Michael Bailin
Head of E.M. Church Fund
Senator Dan Coats
League of Women Voters
Susan Beresford
17
From Tim Hanlon:
Larry Tisch
Leslie Moonves
Michael Ovirz
Peter Jennings, Tom Brokar etc.
Dan Rather
Ad Council Chairman
Marone (TCI)
Tommy Morrola (Sony)
Cathy Black
Rupert Murooch
From Gene Wilson:
Broad representatives from Communities of Faith - Mainstream / Evangelical -
Fundamental - Pat Robertson -- focus on the family
Sara Melendez
- Independent Sector
Dot Riddings
- Council on Foundations
Raul Yzguire
- Council de LaRaza
Hugh Price
-
Urban League
Marian Wright Edelman
- CDF
Antonia Hernandez
- MALDEF
Ramon Murguia
- Hispanic Fund (K.C.)
Frank Newman
-
Education Commissioner of the States
John Gardner
- National Civic League
Bob Payton
-
Pablo Eisenberg
-
Center for Community Change
Dan Yanblooich
-
Public Agenda
Chuck Gaston
- Community Builders
David Mathews
- Kettering Foundation
Douglas Patino
-
Hispanics for Philanthropy
Douglas Bestzoo
- AEI
Bill Gorham
-
Urban Institute
Paul Hogan
- LISC
Amati Etz
- Communitorian
Businesses:
Business Roundtable
The Conference Board
RAND
Elaine Ch
- United Way of America
Ray Hoewing
- Public Affairs Council
Bob Bothwell
-
National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy
Youth Service Groups:
David Batty
-
Youth Volunteer Corps
18
Mario Morino:
Erich Bloch
-
Council on Corporatives
Vin Cipolla
-
James River Partners
Russell Aeloff
- Internet
Sen Bill Bradley
-
Sen Bob Kennedy
Allen Spoon
-
President, Washington Post
Henry Fernandez
- LEAP
Bill Lynch
-
Revion
Geoffrey Canada
-
Reeland, NY
Doug Engelbart
-
Institure of the Future
Bert Roberts
- MCI
R. Allen
- AT&T
Lou Gerstner
- IBM
Joe Henson
- Retired
Steve Penning
-
General Atlantic
19
copy for Shirley
May 3, 1996
Mr. Harris Wofford
Chief Executive Officer
Corporation for National and Community Service
1201 New York Avenue, N.W.
8th Floor
Washington, DC 20525
Dear Harris:
Pat and I enjoyed being with you on Monday at the planning meeting and want to thank you
again for your contribution. We are grateful for the good thinking that everyone shared and the
progress that we made on several key issues.
Enclosed are Pat's "flip chart" notes from the meeting that Greer has typed. They will refresh
your memory in advance of our next meeting. The notes may also be useful as you think about
sector leaders who we will want to seek-out and agreements or strategies that we may want to
pursue with them, all of which we will discuss on May 14 and 15. I also hope you will feel free to
send us any thoughts that you have on refining the "shared beliefs" of Summit participants or any
other matters.
Since our meeting, we have thought more about the key idea or message statement for the
Summit. That part of our discussion on Monday is reflected in the attached notes. Given the
suggestions of the group, rather than the statement "Everyone can do something meaningful,
and if most people did so, many of our most serious social problems would be solved", we would
propose:
"Everyone has a gift to give that can change another person's life.
The collective power of those gifts can renew life in any community
because there are more people than problems."
We hope you believe this statement captures the key considerations in our discussion. We like
it. Please let us know what you think.
We are looking forward to seeing you for our meeting in May 14 and 15. The meeting will be
held at the:
Crystal City Courtyard Marriott,
2899 Jefferson Davis Highway
Arlington, VA 22202
703-549-3434
We have made reservations for you and we will cover the cost of the rooms. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
GF
Guff Gregg/Petersmeyer
NOTES
From
The Strategic Planning Group Meeting
on
April 29, 1996
The Strategic Planning Group of the President's Summit for Community Volunteering
and National Service held its first meeting at the Capital Hilton in Washington, DC, on
April 29th. In attendance (in alphabetical order) were: Mary Babson, Patricia Bland,
Robert Goodwin, Timothy Hanlon, Virginia Hodgkinson, Eva Kasten, Thomas
McKenna, Robert Payton, Gregg Petersmeyer, William Shore, Eugene Wilson, Harris
Wofford, and Michael Woo.
The objective of this group was to
Develop a strategic plan for the Summit by June 9.
The objective of this meeting was:
1.
Agree on the key ideas underlying the Summit
2.
Explore, speculate, reflect
ISSUES:
-
National Summit needs to lead to real action in communities focused on engaging
citizens.
-
Need to understand existing local delivery system/persuade them to act.
-
How will the Summit's outcome materialize the linkage between national service
and volunteering?
-
How can you communicate a vision and make it inclusive enough?
-
Common ground has been badly fragmented, how can we build it? Need to
assert shared values.
-
Stakeholders - who are we trying to reach (top-down or bottom-up) - who gets
engaged in the process?
-
Moral authority/yearn for a Kennedy and a Washington - who does the ask? How
do we ask?
-
Who is the target audience? Do we want to expand the pool?
i
-
How do we find the real leaders?
-
How many people really volunteer? - informal and formal - we have common
values but they are not activated.
-
Do we need to prove/demonstrate that community service solves problems - do
we target problems?
-
Building social capital and trust in communities - what contribution will the Summit
make to that?
-
The message to get across to people: that they can make a difference - a
measure of the effectiveness.
-
Tension between verifying impact and having more people accept their
responsibility
-
Depoliticize the process - the human thing
-
Should we reactivate people who already volunteer - or reach out to new
volunteers? Short term or long term intervention.
-
Collectively, I am not alone.
-
Our communities, our country be a better place
-
Help solve community problems
-
Improve the quality of life in a community
-
Create a new possibility
-
People are the solution, not the problem
-
Building stronger communities
-
Restore a sense of personal responsibility
-
This is America's most distinctive virtue - this is what America can be about --
Individual action. Restore/preserve/enhance
-
Every American has the office of citizen
-
What is unique about this Summit?
- Quantum Leap
- What are our assets?
-
What is the question to which the Summit is the answer?
-
What should the Summit say? The challenge: the message vs the action
-
What are the common values that we share as a nation?
- What is the message of the Summit?
- Who is the target audience?
SUMMIT BACKGROUND
1.
Shared Beliefs
2.
Other Positioning Factors:
-
Want to be additive, not competitive or duplicative; want to include all groups
-
Want to center on a dominate, core idea that all would admit is essential and
say it right and/or synthesize what others do
-
A 3 to 5 year movement, not just a summit event
3.
Organizing Frameworks:
-
Big idea/message
-
The "ends" are characteristics we all seek for every community
-
The "means" are individuals actions ("deeds") that help achieve those ends
-
Important to understand how people come to engage in deeds
How All People Can Help Solve
Serious Social Problems in Their Community
Desired
Commitment to
Excellent Schools
Meaningful
A Safe, Decent
Quality Health Care
Community
Children, Youth
and a Culture that
Employment
and Drug Free
and a Sense of
Characteristics
Developing Good
Fosters Lifelong
Opportunities and the
Place to Live in a
Well Being
Character and Values,
Learning
Hope of Economic
Clean Environment
and Strong Families
Advancement
Examples of
- Breakdown of the family
- Limited parental involvement
- No contact with career role
- Shortage of affordable
Substance abuse
- Teen pregnancy/Promiscuity
in child's education
Community
models
housing
Alienation of people with
Problems
- Child abuse and neglect
- Illiteracy
- Lack of job skills
- Crime and drug-infested
disabilities
- Inadequate parenting skills
- Low proficiency in science
- No hope of economic
neighborhoods
HIV/AIDS
- Teen suicide
and math
advancement among low
- Gang violence
Infant mortality
- Racial hatred and prejudice
-
Children starting school not
income youth
- Racial violence
Isolation of terminally ill and
- Youth turning to Crime and
ready to learn
- Limited job or career
- Lack of safe recreational
their families
gangs
-
School drop-outs
opportunities for refugees,
opportunities for children
- Inadequate access to
- Lack of quality child care
-
Poor learning environment
recent immigrants and
and families
affordable, quality health
- Low self-esteem/lack of
- Lack of proficiency in
people with disabilities
- Homelessness
care
direction
English
- Inability to obtain
- Inadequate nutrition
- Physical and sexual abuse/
- Education not valued
employment across racial
-
Environmental/pollution
domestic violence
- Racial tensions in school
lines
problems
- Special needs of children
- Lack of skills in managing
with disabilities
household finances
- Lack of individual attention
- Lack of skills for obtaining
- lack of compelling goals
jobs such as resume writing,
interviewing, etc.
Examples of
Community
- Mentoring/positive role
- Tutoring
- Employment counseling:
- Renovating/building
- Substance abuse education
models
-
Volunteer teaching
resume writing, interviewing
affordable housing
and rehabilitation
Solutions
- Counseling/Education
assistants
skills, support groups
Community crime prevention
- Companionship and
programs
- Mentoring/positive role
- Job search assistance
groups
assistance to seniors
-
Child care alternatives
models
- Apprenticeships and job
- Community anti-drug groups
Parental care and parental
- Parenting skills training
- Alternative places to study
skills training
- Environmental education/
education
- Surrogate families/family
One to one counseling
- Personal and family
awareness
- Hospice care/bereavement
-
counseling
Safe recreational
-
Informal community libraries
budgetary counseling
groups
- Engaging people of different
- Individual and group tutoring
- Friendship, guidance and job
opportunities
Fulfilling activities for people
races in overcoming
in English
counseling to immigrants/
Safe havens
with disabilities
common problems
refugees
- Positive alternatives to
-
- Partnerships between
Support for AIDS patients
- Teen hotlines and support
schools and universities,
- Remove excuse for not
destructive gang activities
and their families
groups
businesses and other
hiring by providing
Personal counseling and
Free medical clinics and
- Recreational opportunities
organizations.
individuals with tools to work
practical assistance for
mobile units staffed by
Children's programs that
effectively in organizations
victims of crime
volunteer medical
-
require parental involvement'
- Entrepreneurial opportunities
professionals
- Career mentors
Shelter, counseling, hotlines
and public awareness for
abused women and children
©The Presidents' Summit
The Journey of an Enterprising Point of Light:
Stages of Engagement
Prepared to Engage
Trigger
Sustained Action
Success
(Traits)
(Events)
(Benefits)
(Behavior)
A combination of the following
One or more of the following events
The work is sustained because small
The enterprising Points of Light
personal characteristics already exist:
often trigger action:
successes are experienced at the
believe they succeed for several
human level. For example:
reasons:
Able to act on faith
Hearing a story
Seeing lives change
Irrationally committed
Bored or restless at some level
Coming to know of someone
in need
Developing new friendships
Targeting the roots of the
Likes to see others do well
problems
Being asked to help
Gaining a renewed sense of
Independent and quietly
purpose
Personal relationships, not
confident
Gradually discovering a gift
bureaucratic programs
Confronting the unknown and
Energetic and enjoys practical,
Fearing for the children
not getting bored
Action and outcomes, not talk,
hard work
process or structure
Finding meaning in tragedy or
Feeling better physically and
Guided and sustained by
a deeply troubling experience
emotionally
Wary of educated incapacity
deeply-held beliefs
Experiencing a spiritual
Profoundly respectful of others
Helping is not new
call or transformation
Not afraid to have fun doing
Positive and patient
Recognizing one's own
serious work
aloneness
Empathy based on personal
Highly resourceful, but
experience
accepting of their own
limitations
Ready to engage talents,
interests and gifts
Copyright © 1995 by C. Gregg Petersmeyer
All rights reserved
KEY IDEA/MESSAGE:
Beginning idea:
"Everyone can do something meaningful, and if most people did so, many of our most
serious social problems would be solved."
Comments/Suggestions:
-
Everyone has something to give, and if everyone gave what they could, we would
make a difference, it would change people's lives.
-
Asset model/building - sense of hope - rather than deficit model
-
More people than problems
-
Everyone has a talent to give
-
Renew rather than rebuild communities
-
Everyone could be great if everyone served
-
Show progress: make this a better/caring society
-
Everyone has the capacity to change to life of someone else
What are the conditions that need to exist in a community in
order for individuals to be engaged in need in his or her
community?
Desired
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
xxxxxx
Characteristics
XXXXXX
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
xxxxxx
(Ends)
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
XXXXXX
TTTTT
Solutions
Deeds
Deeds
Deeds
Deeds
Deeds
(Means)
Conditions
People
Examples of Conditions
1. Individuals would be aware of the meaningful things they could do
successfully and would enjoy doing those things.
2. Individuals would feel safe getting involved and would have control over their
actions.
3. There would be a high volume of opportunities for involvement in
communities. There would be consistent media coverage of opportunities.
-
new opportunities, break the mold
4. Individuals would feel that they are part of a larger ,movement; that they are
not alone.
- this connects past and future; volunteering as a tradition
- recognition of people already involved; praised
- show the diversity of what is working - the stories of what is working
- support systems would be in place to get people involved:
a. establish relationships, place to go
b. build new skills
- incentives need be in place for people to get involved - tangible/intangible -
people need to understand the benefits
- there would be a sense of hope
5. Engagement in the lives of others would be a social norm; an expectation.
- involvement in the life of the community (not the lives of others)
- all the sectors should interact to help people get involved
- engagement in community causes:
- children of communities are critical leaders
- need to make an economic argument. (but may not be able to push very
far)
- need to make moral case, may be even more important
- need to be able to generate interest beyond race, class
- infrastructure must be built
- opportunity must be there
- people need to believe that there is a kinship with those you are being
asked to help. (Good people temporarily in need because of
circumstances beyond their control.)
Question:
What is the appropriate role for government in this Summit?
Conditions:
- Reinforcement of the value by the leaders in the community
-
How do we train/deploy leaders in service? Does that imply full-time
service? - What is the role of full-time service?
-
Set of questions/ways to discuss this among leaders
- Search for common ground is what this is about
Summit Outcomes (by February' 97)
1. People around the country talk seriously about (Service) - dialogue, strategy,
worldwide web, decentralize
2. Closer/new partnerships among "organizations in the field" rather than working
separately.
3. Leaders of organizations make commitments to exploit/create the conditions. They
understand what they each have to offer.
4. Stories of success are spread about organizations/individuals creating the
conditions using their gifts -- More service/more people involved (after the Summit)
5 By the Summit, a theoretical picture of a successful community is shared
After the Summit Outcomes (Within 3 Years)
6. Follow-up agreements years afterwards -- follow-up summits
- Getting people to buy into premise -- what is the fulfillment system that exists?
How do you make it easier to them?
7. Depoliticize the debate about service - Bipartisan
8. Finding the way of asking questions of what's happening/outcome should be
increased awareness.
Questions:
Who to Get Involved?
a. Who to see between now and June; and
b. After the Steering Committee Meeting in June
-
Hugh Price -- Urban League
-
Alliance for National Renewal
-
Independent Sector
-
Dot Riddings -- Council on Foundations
-
Adhoc committee from the world of media
-
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
-
Big Corporations/Business Roundtable
-
Don Yankelovitch -- language and questions
-
National Conference of Mayors
-
Progress and Freedom Foundation
-
Conservative Right Wing Thinking groups -- Heritage Foundation
-
Groups on the left
-
Emmit Carson -- volunteer participation
- NAACP
-
Council of LaRaza
-
Children's Defense Fund
-
Annie E. Casey Foundation -- Ralph Smith
-
National Assembly of Health & Human Service organizations
-
United Way
- YSA
-
Red Cross
-
Public Allies/Cool/Campus Compact
-
Michael Brown
- Cityear
-
Communities of Faith (eg):
-- National Council of Churches
-- Baptist Church , etc
-
Regional Association of Grantmakers
-
Community Foundations
-
Amita Etzioni
-
Jane Adams Fellows
-
Amy Weinberg - Lallapelock
Presidents' and First Ladies' Role:
-
Get as much media as possible
-
Great forum for ask what you can do for your country
-
Get them to actually do service
-
Declaration of the office of the President
-
Collective moral authority
-
Ask them what they would do individually
-
Use libraries/centers to implement as the secondary sites
Other Issues:
-
The name of the event
-
The announcement strategy
Homework:
1. Shared Beliefs -- review
2. List -- add to it
3. Sector strategies
4. Respect by peers -- Interest/Commitment
For apr Thurstay, 11:50 or 4/3/95 costs
March 25, 1996
TO:
Shirley Sagawa
CC:
Harris Wofford
FROM:
Melinda Hudson west
SUBJECT:
Background on the Leadership Summit for National Service and
Community Volunteering
Following is an update on the leadership summit. Over the last three
months, Harris and Bob Goodwin, Board and staff, have been steadily
pursuing the concept and have made tremendous progress on several fronts,
including objectives, staffing, and funding. But, this is the beginning, and a
good time to set our expectations and parameters.
Background
For many years, George Romney had championed the concept that national
attention and intention should be drawn toward service and volunteering as
an effective means to solve serious problems. A key component of his
strategy was a national summit that brought together the leaders of all sectors
of society to begin a full-scale mobilization to attack underlying causes of the
disintegration of our communities and families. Evident in memoranda
over the last few years, there have always been the following key elements to
the idea: convened by the President and his peers of living former presidents;
established beyond partisan and political boundaries; built by the four sectors
he describes (religious and moral, business and labor, volunteer and social,
and government); and focused on the impact that service and volunteering
have on serious social problems.
Before Romney's death, he and Harris has several conversations about this
concept and its timeliness considering the political position of national
service and the practical realities of a declining volunteer base. Both saw the
summit as a way, in Harris's words, to "kick the political football of
AmeriCorps out of the stadium" and back into communities
as well as to
bring needed resources to the field.
Since December, a small group from the Corporation and the Points of Light
Foundation has been exploring the potential for such a gathering and has
found enormous support from both Boards, from funders, and from leaders
in the field.
Planning process to date
Through December and January, Harris and Bob Goodwin began the formal
consultation process with their respective Boards. Through a series of
memos, conference calls, and meetings, the Boards discussed the objectives of
the summit. Attached is a memo from December 13 which captures the
themes discussed. With solid support of the concept, and no serious
reservations expressed, staff from both organizations began to sketch the
outlines of the summit, while Bob and Harris explored staffing and funding
alternatives.
At the January Points of Light Board meeting, former President Bush gave his
enthusiastic support for the summit and offered to co-sponsor and recruit
others for the effort. After that endorsement, an executive committee
composed of members from both boards was appointed to take the planning
to the next phase. The members are:
Reatha Clark King,
Marian Heart
Carol Kinsley
Don Staheli
Tom Ehrlich
Norm Brown
Eli Segal
Michelle Engler
Mary Babson
Mitt Romney
Jeremy Rifkin
Ray Chambers.
In February, staff members from both organizations met to outline the
summit so that discussions could proceed with more concrete parameters.
Terry Russell produced a memo on options for an organizational entity that
would hold the staff and funding for the summit. Both memoranda are
attached.
On March 7, the first "face-to-face" meeting of the executive planning
committee for the summit was held in New York. The concept was gaining
steam, with the interest of Gregg Petersmeyer, former director of the White
House Office of National Service under President Bush, and with the growing
sense of urgency by both boards to tackle larger strategic issues facing
communities. Petersmeyer, pointing out the real peril of hosting "just
another service meeting", proposed a summit that would engage the active
participation of former presidents and a focus on the serious social problems.
Board members discussed at great length their frustration with how
uncoordinated various efforts are in communities and how little support
service receives as a solution to these problems. How could 90 million
volunteers make so little progress?
Current situation
After more meetings and conference calls, the executive committee has
agreed to seek the leadership of Gregg Petersmeyer to be Chairman of the
Leadership Summit. Gregg will continue the process of engaging the former
Presidents, most of whom he knows, and will begin an intensive strategic
planning phase. He will also begin the process, with former President Bush's
help, to recruit Colin Powell to serve as General Chairman. Additional staff
have been recommended that represent both ends of the service spectrum,
with a senior person with national service background and a senior person
with volunteer credentials.
The funding prospects are excellent, and actually underway. Kellogg has
asked for a proposal for up to half of the summit expenses, and Ray Chambers
is considering assisting with the strategic planning phase which begins now.
So with leadership and funding in our sights, the summit concept will be a
reality.
December 13, 1995
CORPORATION
FOR NATIONAL
MEMORANDUM TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
*
SERVICE
FROM:
Harris Wofford Aw
SUBJECT: George Romney's Proposal for
Leadership Summit for National Service and Community Volunteering
Among other items for our forthcoming conference call, I want to discuss this proposal. As
many of you know, one of George Romney's last acts, a few days before his death, was to sign off
on an outline for a "Leadership Summit for National Service and Community Volunteering." Bob
Goodwin, president of the Points of Light Foundation, and I agreed to work with George in planning
the large leadership convocation he had long championed, and to ask both the Corporation and the
Foundation to co-sponsor it.
I attach the short working paper George gave us, in the last of three discussions we had on
this idea. As Governor of Michigan, as the founder of the national Volunteer Centers organization,
and as founding board member of both the Commission on National and Community Service and the
Points of Light Foundation, George Romney tirelessly advocated a national summit that would bring
together leaders from across our society to mount a full-scale mobilization to attack the underlying
causes of the disintegration of our communities and families.
In recent years George had come to see full-time National Service in AmeriCorps (or other
full-time service programs) and traditional part-time, unpaid volunteering as the twin engines that --
working together - could realize the powerful potential of citizens' action to solve some of our most
pressing problems in education, public safety, health and the environment. He was intending to come
to Washington each week to meet with members of Congress to assure adequate funding and a
successful reauthorization for the programs of the Corporation and Foundation. But above all he saw
the proposed Summit for National Service and Community Volunteering as a way to lift sights
beyond the partisanship of 1996 to a new and more effective level of non-partisan citizens action in
1977 and beyond.
George proposed that the call to the 1997 Summit be issued in early 1996, by President and
Mrs. Clinton, by President and Mrs. Bush ( President Bush has just became the active honorary
chairman of the Points of Light Foundation, which he initiated), by President and Mrs. Carter, by
President and Mrs. Ford, and by President and Mrs. Reagan.
1201 New York Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20525
Telephone 202-606-5000
Getting Things Done.
AmeriCorps. National Service
Learn and Serve America
National Senior Service Corps
Memorandum to the Board of Directors
December 13, 1995
Page 2
Bob Goodwin and I think that the attached proposal by George Romney provides a good
starting frame in which to begin planning. We propose that several members of the Board of the
Corporation and of the Foundation be designates to serve on the initial planning committee. Both
of us hope that Mitt Romney, a new member of the Foundation's board, will be one of the key
planners. of this idea which he heard so much about from his father. Sargent Shriver and John
Gardner were also involved early in George's formulation of this proposal, and would be excellent
members of a planning committee. You will have other good participants to suggest, from the civic,
religious, business, volunteer and government sectors.
We count on the two chairs of our boards to participate, and we will enlist interested staff
support in the planning process.
If both boards agree, we would like the first planning session -- at least by teleconference --
to take place sometime this month. At an early stage we should seek the concurrence of President
Clinton and President Bush, and then of the other proposed conveners, and of the initial advisory
group or other structure for sponsorship by the appropriate national civic leaders.
As you might expect, it's been proposed that Colin Powell be asked to play a leading part,
perhaps as Chairman of the Summit.
Please think about how this proposal fits our goals and strategy, and how to take the next
steps.
Attachment
Draft of July 21, 1995
by George Romney
with his editings
LEADERSHIP SUMMIT
FOR
NATIONAL SERVICE AND COMMUNITY
VOLUNTEERING
PREMISE:
We must curb and reverse the vitally serious social problems and
connect
reconstruct torn communities or they will render us noncompetitive
globally and terminate us as a great nation. This will require
cooperation and support of top leadership from all four sectors,
nationally and locally.
PURPOSE:
To persuade top leadership from the four sectors that America's future
global competitiveness requires its vitally serious social problems to
be curbed and reduced and its torn communities to be connected.
The needed cooperation between such leadership should start with a
summit at the national level. The conference should convene
inclusive top leadership from the four sectors: 1) religions Religious and moral;
2) business and labor; 3) volunteer and social; 4) national, state and
local government. Citizens of all ages should be among the invitees.
To secure their attendance and recognition of the urgent need for such
cooperation and its nonpartisan nature, the conference should be
convened by the President and his wife and all former Presidents and
their wives. To make certain the cooperation will contract continue to have this the
the leadership of Presidents, the conference should be held in January
1997 following the next Presidential Election and the winner and loser
should jointly chair the conference. This will also further evidence its
nonpartisan and national importance.
ORGANIZATION:
It will take the time until January 1997 to organize a successful summit
conference of this magnitude. The first step should be to secure the
President's approval of its purpose and organization. The second
step should be selection of the individual or individuals to secure
commitments from the former Presidents and their wives. The third
should be the selection of an inclusive and nonpartisan advisory
committee. The fourth to plan the summit. The fifth to identify the
attendees. The sixth to make it a success.
ITS SUCCESS:
The success of the summit will depend on the willingness of the
national leaders to follow-up by persuading their state and local
leaders to strengthen national service and community volunteering in
their states and local communities. This will require effective state
and national service commissions and community volunteering
structures. The state commissions and community volunteering
structures should launch campaigns to strengthen citizens' national
service, volunteer activities focused on curbing and reversing problems
and
in education, public safety, health, and the environment. Duplication
of programs and projects should be minimized and collaboration of
programs and projects increased .
The national summit in 1997 should be followed up with evaluation
summits either annually or bi-annually.
George Romney
July 21, 1995
copy
I
may
Debtie
MEMORANDUM FOR SHIRLEY SAGAWA
FROM:
Terry Russell
Myung J. Lee
RE:
Leadership Summit
DATE:
February 23, 1996
The Leadership Summit for National Service and Community Volunteering
("Summit"), as envisioned by the late Governor George Romney, would bring together
leaders and citizens from all sectors of our society in support of national service and
community volunteering "the twin engines that, working together, could realize the
powerful potential of citizens' action to solve some of our most pressing problems in
education, public safety, health and the environment."¹ The specific sectors from which
the leaders would be called to convene are: (1) religious and moral; (2) business and
labor; (3) volunteer and social; and (4) national, state and local governments. Harris
Wofford has stated his desire to co-sponsor the Summit with the Points of Light
Foundation.²
Shirley Sagawa has asked the Office of General Counsel to research some
possible options available to the Corporation for National Service ("Corporation") in
planning and organizing the Summit and any possible legal issues that may arise under
each option. For the purposes of this assignment, the following was assumed:
The Summit will be supported with private funds;
The Summit will be "sponsored" jointly by the Points of Light Foundation and the
Corporation; and
The Summit will be staffed by an independent entity.
I.
Legal Authority for the Corporation's Involvement
The Corporation has the statutory authority to organize and implement the
Summit. Under the National and Community Service Act of 1990, as amended, (the
"Act") the Corporation has the authority to "organize and hold conferences, and prepare
and publish materials, to disseminate information and promote the sharing of
information among programs for the purpose of improving the quality of programs and
projects. 3 Assuming the Summit will "improve the quality of programs and projects",
the Corporation has the legal authority to be involved in such an endeavor.
The Act also gives the Corporation the authority to "conduct a campaign to
solicit funds for the National Service Trust and other programs and activities authorized
under the national service laws and to promote and recruit participants for programs
that receive assistance under the national service laws."4 So long as the Corporation
1
Memorandum from Harris Wofford, CEO of the Corporation for National Service, to the Board of
Directors for the Corporation for National Service (Dec. 13, 1995) (on file with author).
2
Memorandum from Harris Wofford, CEO of the Corporation for National Service, to the Board of
Directors for the Corporation for National Service (Dec. 13, 1995) (on file with author).
3
42 U.S.C. $12653 (g) (emphasis added).
Summit Memo
February 23, 1996
Page 1
has the authority to organize and hold a conference such as the Summit, the
Corporation has the authority to solicit funds for such an event. Additionally, the Act
also gives the Corporation the authority to "solicit, accept, hold, administer, use and
dispose of donations of any money or property" in furtherance of the purposes of the
Act. 5
II.
Options
1.
Creating a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization for the exclusive purposes
of accepting donations, organizing and staffing the Summit
It is possible to create a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization to accept donations,
organize and staff the Summit. However, the Corporation, itself, may be prohibited by
section 9102 the Government Corporation Control Act (the "GCCA")⁶ from creating and
controlling this entity.
The GCCA permits an agency to "establish or acquire a corporation to act as an
agency only by or under a law of the United States specifically authorizing the action.' 7
Currently, there is no definitive legal standard on how to establish and operate a
nonprofit corporation consistent with the GCCA. However, in interpreting section 9102
of the GCCA, it is fair to say that where a corporation (1) is created to further
governmental objectives and (2) is under the permanent direction and control of the
government, section 9102 may be applicable.
The Corporation's Inspector General's office recently grappled with this issue in
reviewing the Corporation's involvement with the Partnership for National Service
("Partnership") and concluded that the establishment and operation of the Partnership
by Corporation officials violated the GCCA. In the discussion of the Partnership and the
Corporation's relationship to it, the Inspector General stated that
"although the Partnership was incorporated as a "private nonprofit
corporation in the District of Columbia, CNS has a substantial direct
relationship with the Partnership. For example, CNS has the right to
name members of the Partnership's Board of Directors⁸, and upon the
dissolution of the Partnership, its assets must be distributed to CNS. In
addition, all of the Partnership's officers are also CNS officials. Thus,
CNS officials exercise full control over the Partnership's day-to-day
operations and finances CNS's proprietary interest in the Partnership,
and CNS officials' operational control of the Partnership's affairs, make
the Partnership an agency or instrumentality of the United States.
4
42 U.S.C. $12653 (i) (emphasis added).
5
42 U.S.C. $12651g(a)(2) (emphasis added).
6
31 U.S.C. $9102.
7
31 U.S.C. $9102.
8
While three Directors of the Partnership were required to be officers of the Corporation (or their
designees), the Corporation had no authority to name any of the remaining Directors (between four and six,
depending on the size of the Board). Article III, 2. Board Members are chosen by a vote of the majority of
the Board each year. During a recent Partnership Board Meeting, the Members voted to eliminate this
requirement from their Articles of Incorporation.
Summit Memo
February 23, 1996
Page 2
Accordingly, CNS officials violated the Government Corporation Control
Act in creating the Partnership, and their continuing operation of the
Partnership is improper. 9
If the Corporation creates a new nonprofit organization for the purposes of the
Summit, some may argue that it is in violation of section 9102 of the GCCA. The
Partnership was not created to carry out a specific statutory directive of the Corporation
but to supplement the activities of the Corporation. Yet, the Inspector General
concluded that without specific statutory authority for the Corporation to create the
Partnership, the Corporation violated section 9102 of the GCCA because the
Partnership was created "for the purpose of acting as an agency or instrumentality of
the United States. If the Corporation creates a new nonprofit organization to plan,
organize and hold the Summit, we can probably expect objections from the Inspector
General. Because the Corporation is legally authorized to directly hold or be involved
with the Summit due to the fact that it will improve the quality of programs and
projects, the activities of this newly created entity will be more closely and directly
related to the Corporation's mission that the Partnership was. Henceforth, it may be
argued that this new entity is "an agency or instrumentality of the United States" and
that the Corporation is in violation of section 9102 of the GCCA.
Of course, the Points of Light Foundation is free to create this new entity.
Regardless of who actually creates this new entity, however, a second concern that we
must address is around the issue of control. If there are Corporation officials on the
Board of this newly created entity or if they play a leadership role on the staff, some
may argue that the Corporation is in control and that the newly created entity is an
agency or instrumentality of the United States. With respect to the Partnership, the
Inspector General concluded that because
"CNS has significant proprietary interest in the Partnership. [and] CNS
[] exercises significant operational control over the Partnership [and]
CNS officials have full day-to-day operational control of the Partnership's
day-to-day operations and finances the Partnership would be an
agency or instrumentality of the United States under the GCCA. 10
If the Corporation wants to play a significant role in shaping the Summit, it would have
to maintain control over this newly created organization e.g. number of seats on the
Board of Directors, control over the hiring and firing of staff, control and oversight over
expenditure of funds, etc. Under the criteria used by the Inspector General, the
Corporation would have control over this newly created entity and it would be an
"agency or instrumentality of the United States under the GCCA" whether the
Corporation or the Points of Light Foundation creates the new nonprofit organization.
We, of course, strongly disagree with the position taken by the Inspector General
on the Partnership, as did Hogan and Hartson and OMB. Nonetheless, to the extent
that her position had any validity at all, it is stronger as applied to the Summit, which
is a "conference" within the meaning of our Act. Hence, it is an authorized activity of
the Corporation as opposed to the Partnership, whose function was to complement
rather than duplicate, the activities of the Corporation.
9
Memorandum from Douglas Hilton, Counsel to the Inspector General, to Luise Jordan, Inspector
General (Sept. 13, 1995) (on file with author) (emphasis added).
10
Memorandum from Douglas Hilton, Counsel to the Inspector General, to Luise Jordan, Inspector
General (Sept. 13, 1995) (on file with author).
Summit Memo
February 23, 1996
Page 3
There are also some practical and mechanical issues that should be considered
under this option. First, it takes about 6 months, on the average, to incorporate a
nonprofit organization and receive tax exemption for that organization. Second, this
newly created organization will have the burden of creating an infrastructure e.g.
staffing, liability insurance, fiscal safeguards, and personnel policies within which to
effectively carry out its mission Thus, even if the issues discussed above are resolved,
it may not be the most expedient route for the Corporation to take.
2.
Agreement with an existing nonprofit, tax-exempt entity to organize and
staff the Summit
A more practical option seems to be that of entering into a cooperative
agreement with an existing nonprofit, tax-exempt entity that can receive tax-deductible
donations, organize and staff the Summit.
In choosing a third party organization, it would be prudent for the Corporation
to publish a notice in the federal register so that we could inform the public of our
intentions and allow all interested parties to apply. While the Corporation is not legally
required to open up the process in this manner, it would help avoid any appearance of
the Corporation favoring one organization over another.
Under this option, the Corporation and the Points of Light Foundation would
enter into a cooperative agreement with an existing organization such as the Union
Institute or the School of Philanthropy at Indiana University 11 to set up a segregated
fund, hire staff, and organize the Summit. The cooperative agreement will specifically
delineate the duties and responsibilities of each party. For example, the cooperative
agreement can state that the Corporation and the Points of Light Foundation will be
responsible for raising the funds for the Summit and that the use of such funds will be
jointly governed by the Corporation and the Points of Light Foundation. Additionally,
the agreement could state that the shape and direction of the Summit will be jointly
controlled by the Corporation and the Points of Light Foundation.
Whether the privately raised funds for the Summit are distributed through the
Corporation or directly to the third party organization, the cooperative agreement
should clearly state that the Corporation has the authority to review all expenditures of
funds. The Grants and Legal offices should work together in drafting the cooperative
agreement to ensure that there is sound financial system in place to control the funds
that the Corporation is involved in raising for the Summit. In organizing and holding a
such a major event as the Summit, the Corporation should also ensure that the third
party organization has adequate liability insurance. With an endeavor of this
magnitude, the third party organization will probably have to purchase additional
insurance. These specific issues can be explored and addressed more fully if this option
is chosen.
11
Some other possibilities are: The Haas center at Stanford University; and the Aspen Institute.
Summit Memo
February 23, 1996
Page 4
MEMORANDUM
February 28, 1996
For:
Bob Goodwin
Harris Wofford
From:
Gregg Petersmeyer MP
Subject:
Presidential Summit
Thank you for thinking that I could play a major leadership role in the planning, execution and
follow-up of a national presidential summit based on some of the hopes of our good friend, the
late George Romney.
I have put down a few of my thoughts on the subject. The bottom-line is that I regard this
summit no differently than a classic super-power summit. It has tremendous potential, but it is
treacherous getting from here to there. For that reason, essentially all of the work, especially
agreements to be followed-up on, must be hammered out before the summit, not during it or after
it is over. Only the fine-tuning of agreements left for actual summits. The summit should really
be the start of an implementation process, not a time when people begin thinking about what
should be implemented.
What I Would Bring to the Task
1. Have a demonstrated commitment to the issue and, like George Romney, see it as a
mainstream American issue, not in any sense an issue in the exclusive domain of the non-profit or
governmental worlds.
2. Have a track record for being inclusive and scrupulously non-partisan on the issue of
community service and for publicly indicating that "there are many roads up the mountain."
3. Know many of the members of the two Steering Committees of the Boards and have worked
successfully with them before.
4. Have met President Clinton who has been complimentary about my work in the White House.
At President Bush's initiative, he and President Clinton discussed Points of Light during the
transition.
2
5. Have met all of the living former Presidents and, with respect to former Presidents most
relevant to the summit --
Have the confidence of George Bush.
Was instrumental in arranging the White House meeting between George Bush and Jimmy
Carter, at the request of President Carter, and a subsequent meeting between Carter and
several cabinet secretaries concerning federal waivers for elements of the Atlanta Project.
6. Acquainted with Colin Powell who has high regard for the work that I did in the White House
and an interest in the work that I have done since then.
7. Have worked successfully in the past with both Harris Wofford and Bob Goodwin. I am also
known to several of the key officers at the Corporation and the Foundation.
8. Have personal relationships in key fields from which summit participation should come and on
which summit follow-up will rely and which can be combined with relationships of others (e.g.,
foundations, media organizations, communities of faith, business community, political
community, and educational institutions).
I Also Bring a Point of View
For better or worse, I bring a point of view about a variety of subjects that would inevitably
impact my leadership of a summit. They include, but are not limited to (!), the following:
1. If America is to go where it wants to as a people, three engines must get us there: economic
growth, government action, and community action. Included in community are the family, places
of worship, social and educational institutions, businesses as community members, and the web of
informal relationships that meaningfully engage people in one another's lives. While each engine
has a critical role to play, the "horsepower," efficiency and effectiveness of the "community action
engine" can be substantially improved.
2. I believe there are half-a-dozen identifiable core elements of a healthy community, ones that
would make a community a good place to live, work and raise a family. There are specific kinds
of positive activities that every kind of organization can sponsor that will help a community
achieve those elements of health. There is a role for meaningful one-to-one relationships in each
of these areas.
3. The individual factors can be identified that matter most in the lives of those who play a direct
role in the lives of others in need. I regard the people of deeds, not words, who play such roles as
the authentic builders of civil society and trust today. I have spent much of the last three years
answering the following questions: What conditions must obtain, what qualities must exist, what
3
experiences must occur for an individual to take the step from inaction to action, form
indifference to engagement in the life of another person in need.
4. The more that is done in so called community-building, the more we realize that nothing
meaningful can be accomplished if the local people themselves are not engaged. Community
building doesn't really work unless local residents create their own initiatives, or negotiate with
outsiders on what they think will work and on what they will take ownership. Therefore, if we
want communities to work, all segments of our national life, in one way or another, should be
about the business of engaging people in their own work in their own communities.
Key Early Steps
That Would Need To Be Taken
1. Meet with the two Board Steering Committees to get their points of view about what they
would hope would be accomplished.
2. Meet with President Bush for him to place a call to Colin Powell asking him to agree to be the
General Chairman and to meet with me to discuss the summit, including his ideas about what he
would hope would be accomplished.
3. Meet privately with each of the former Presidents (Nancy Reagan instead of President Reagan)
either with Colin Powell or alone to discuss the summit idea and ask for each of their points of
view about what they would hope would be accomplished.
4. Meet with a small number of potentially key funders to describe the conference, seek their
point of view about what should be accomplished and ask for a commitment of funds.
5. Pull together an interim staff to draft a strategic plan for the summit including a firm budget
with souces of funding. Gain approval of the plan with the Board Steering Committees.
6. Hire staff in seven key areas: fundraising, logistics, participants, program, documents, media,
accounting.
Basic Approach
1. Position the summit in the context of George Romney's vision.
2. Use the key findings from the meetings with the former Presidents, the two Board Steering
Committees, and the key funding groups to outline the conference approach.
3. Set out several philosophical tenets that are necessary to achieve the vision.
4. Identify specific desired outcomes.
4
5. Identify what is going to have to occur before the summit and at the summit for the desired
outcomes to be achieved.
Agreements
1. The right title is important to me. It needs to be a strong and unambiguous title because I
would the one responsible for driving the process. This is not something Colin Powell will do day
to day during the run-up to the summit. I would be dealing with a huge variety of individuals
(former President's, their staffs, etc.) who would want to be assured that I have the authority to
act. Therefore, assuming that President Clinton and the former President's (plus a President-elect
in the event that President Clinton is defeated) would all be Honorary Chairmen and perhaps
summit hosts, that Colin Powell would be the General Chairman, that perhaps the Chairpersons of
the Corporation and the Foundation would be Vice-Chairman and that there would be a Steering
Committee consisting of Harris Wofford and Bob Goodwin, plus various members of the two
organization boards, I would like the title of Chairman or Executive Chairman.
2. I would be authorized to hire an assistant right away, plus other staff in due course (although
hopefully most would be loaned from the Foundation, Corporation, and other places), and would
be given adequate office space and travel budget especially for the early rounds of meetings with
the most important potential participants. I would plan to devote approximately 75% of my time
to the effort in April, May, June and July. Beginning in September, I would devote almost 100%
of my time. I would ask to be compensated at what would translate into a $95,000 a year salary
or $380 per day (assuming a 250 work day year)
My Fears
1. That we do not succeed at lifting this topic out of the traditional place where it is positioned by
the culture, namely with the non-profits. And even there it always positioned too narrowly.
2. That the effort will slide into nothing much more than an arbitration about the future of two
Washington agencies, the Corporation and the Foundation, which is not appropriate work for the
summit.
3. That the role of the former Presidents will be fundamentally suboptimized in the planning
process. They have a lot to offer in thinking and in the run-up to the summit, but it will be easy
for staff folks to dismiss that possibility. If we do that, it will not really be their summit and
everyone will know it.
4. That if the planning does not get started soon, and we are able to put together a strong
strategic plan, including a budget, we will miss the opportunity to have the summit between the
election and the next inauguration.
5. That the summit will not be adequately funded.
March 4
TO:
Harris and Bob
Kenn and Richard
FROM:
Melinda, AnnMaura, and Rhonda
RE:
Draft Staff Outline for Summit
In preparation for the March 7 meeting, attached is a broad treatment of the
summit, its mision, objectives, framework, process, and timing.
Please edit at will. The results will be faxed to the executive commitee right
away
Leadership Summit
for National Service and Community Volunteering
Mission
The summit will be gathering of leaders whose mission will be to plan how
to solve our most critical social issues using all of the resources that their
sectors can bring to bear, the primary one of which will be service. This will
not be just a service summit; the focus would be too narrow, the results too
parochial. Instead these leaders should tackle the greater challenges
communities face, the issues that have proven to be intractable in part
because they are complicated, interrelated, and rooted in disconnection
and
apply service as a resource to solve those problems. If the focus remains on
the greater issues, with service as a "critical path" solution, then the leaders
are freed to create strategies that cut across sectors, industries, issues, and
constituencies to frame a civil society in which freedom is active, in which
service is a necessary component of citizenship and a cornerstone of
democracy. Service becomes the antidote to social problems
and the
foundation of a civil society.
Objectives for the Summit
position service as a key component to solving serious social issues
move service beyond the political spectrum
promote the ethic of service, service as integral part of being a citizen in a
free nation
develop a strategy for the whole family of service, across sectors, programs,
demographics, and funding
conceptualize and implement a structure for states and communities for
the problem-solving strategy
highlight the synergy of volunteer, unpaid service, and national,
stipended, service
capture the public's imagination
Leaders would represent the following sectors (an expansion of Governor
Romney's critical four):
Government
Corporate/business
Religious/moral
Nonprofit
Education
Media
Framework
Govern't Business Religious N'profit
Ed
Media
Quantity
Focus
Barriers
Look across a row and a column:
Across Quantity: each of the sectors has a role to play and resources to deploy
towards achieving a quantity goal such as more seniors in service. For
instance, Government could shoulder some of the funding burden, Business
could organize and support their retirees, Religious could host the service
bringing their parishioners into the projects, Nonprofit could organize its
delivery, Education could provide expertise, student power, and the Media
would build public enthusiasm and support. And so on
Process
These goals and sectors would be organized and developed through working
groups chaired by the Presidential leadership team that is co-convening the
conference. The specifics, the priorities, the papers would be developed over
a period of months preceding the Summit. The Summit would be the
culmination of this exploration and an opportunity to knit together the
separate working groups' endeavors into something approaching a strategic
plan for restoring a civil society through service.
Timing
Two key dates in 1997 surface for their symbolism: President's Day, February
17, and National Volunteer Week, April 20-26.
The fast track would be to announce the summit this Volunteer Week,
launch the working groups with Presidential leadership this summer and fall
(potential meeting on a holiday such as MLK Day in January), and convene
the Summit on President's Day.
The slower track would be to hold a working group session on President's Day
and the Summit during National Volunteer Week.
The timing decision will be driven by a number of variables such as staffing,
funding, and the ability to lock-in commitments from the former Presidents
and their spouses and other key leaders. Some other activities that may affect
the timing and that could support the process include:
1996
April 21-27
National Volunteer Week: announcement?
May
National Service Grantmakers Forum
June 8-11
National and Community Service Conference/Day of
Dialogue/Connect America
July 14-17
National Senior Service Corps Conference
September
Rifkin Conference
POLF Corporate Awards
October 96
SuperConference (Youth Service America)?
1997
January
MLK Day
February 17
President's Day: Summit or working groups?
April 20-26
National Volunteer Week: Summit?
Summer 97
National and Community Service Conference
Structure and Staffing
The recommendation is to construct a separate staff and office for the
implementation of the Summit and all of its outcomes. Following is a
potential hierarchy:
Co-convenors: Presidents and their spouses
Potential national chair
Steering Committee - bi-board, both CEO's, and staff
Secretariat - new dedicated staff and Executive Director
insert chart
Next steps
Agenda
Update
Approach to leadership
Framework
Funding
Role of Corporation and CNS
Meeting schedule
Co-convenors
Presidents and their spouses
National Chair
Steering Committee
CEO
CEO
POLF Board
CNS Board
Summit Staff
with Exec. Director
drues for Havis
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