gram, Senior Volunteer Program, University Year for ACTION, National Student Volunteer Program and School Partnership. Your thoughts about our successes and failures as well as new ideas for demonstration projects and for strengthening current programs would be very helpful. Right now we are in the midst of a “Citizen's Review" of all ACTION programs. Teams of citizens and ACTION staff are working to assess what effect ACTION has had and to look at our staff and financial resources as a preclude to any suggested changes. The meeting here will mesh with that review process. We will be meeting on June 17, at 1:30-5:30 p.m., here in my office on the fifth floor (806 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20525). Would you please contact Ms. Cathy Quense at (202) 254-5195 as to your availability on that date. Also, please contact Ms. Wavie McCarthy at (202) 454-3368, who will arrange for your hotel and travel through our travel office. Enclosed you will find a list of invitees to this session. I hope that you can make it. Sincerely, SAM BROWN, Director. ACTION, Mr. MARK KAPLAN Connecticut Citizens Action Group, DEAR MR. KAPLAN: I'm now a little over three months into this job, but it is not yet clear to me where ACTION should be going. Consequently, I am inviting a small group of people to meet in a wide ranging discussion of the future of our domestic programs. These programs include VISTA, Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Volunteer Program, University Year for ACTION, National Student Volunteer Program and School Partnership. Your thoughts about our successes and failures as well as new ideas for demonstration projects and for strengthening current programs would be very helpful. Right now we are in the midst of a "Citizen's Review" of all ACTION programs. Teams of citizens and ACTION staff are working to assess what effect ACTION has had and to look at our staff and financial resources as a prelude to any suggested changes. The meeting here will mesh with that review process. We will be meeting on June 17, at 1:30-5:30 p.m., here in my office on the fifth floor (806 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20525). Would you please contact Ms. Cathy Quense at (202) 254-5195 as to your availability on that date. Also, please contact Ms. Wavie McCarthy at (202) 254-3368, who will arrange for your hotel and travel through our travel office. Enclosed you will find a list of invitees to this session. I hope that you can make it. Sincerely, SAM BROWN, ACTION. Mr. PAUL BROWN, Coalition for United Elizabeth, DEAR MR. BROWN: I'm now a little over three months into this job, but it is not yet clear to me where ACTION should be going. Consequently, I am inviting a small group of people to meet in a wide ranging discussion of the future of our domestic programs. These programs include VISTA, Foster Grandparent Program, Senior Volunteer Program, University Year for ACTION. National Student Volunteer Program and School Partnership. Your thoughts about our successes and failures as well as new ideas for demonstration projects and for strengthening current programs would be very helpful. Right now we are in the midst of a "Citizen's Review" of all ACTION programs. Teams of citizens and ACTION staff are working to assess what effect ACTION has had and to look at our staff and financial resources as a prelude to any suggested changes. The meeting here will mesh with that review process. We will be meeting on June 17, at 1:30-5:30 p.m., here in my office on the fifth floor (806 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20525). Would you please ontact Ms. Cathy Quense at (202) 254-5195 as to your availability on that date. lso, please contact Ms. Wavie McCarthy at (202) 254-3368, who will arrange or your hotel and travel through our travel oflice. Enclosed you will find a list of invitees to this session. I hope that you can make it. Sincerely, SAM BROWN, Director. ACTION, Is. MARY ОCHS, Hount Plains Congress of Senior Organizations, DEAR MS. OCHS: I'm now a little over three months into this job, but it is not et clear to me where ACTION should be going. Consequently, I am inviting a mall group of people to meet in a wide ranging discussion of the future of our omestic programs. These programs include VISTA, Foster Grandparent Protram, Senior Volunteer Program, University Year for ACTION, National Student Volunteer Program and School Partnership. Your thoughts about our successes nd failures as well as new ideas for demonstration projects and for strengthening urrent programs would be very helpful. Right now we are in the midst of a "Citizen's Review" of all ACTION programs. Teams of citizens and ACTION staff are working to assess what effect ACTION has had and to look at our staff and financial resources as a prelude to any sugested changes. The meeting here will mesh with that review process. We will be meeting on June 17, at 1:30-5:30 p.m., here in my office on the fifth door (806 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20525). Would you please contact Ms. Cathy Quense at (202) 254-5195 as to your availability on that date. Also, please contact Ms. Wavie McCarthy at (202) 254-3368, who will arrange for your hotel and travel through our travel office. Enclosed you will find a list of invitees to this session. I hope that you can make it. Sincerely, SAM BROWN, Director. Question 3. What was the financial status of the organizations on both lists that you invited to the Roundtable? Did they have extensive financial backing, did they operate on moderate budgets, or were they barely getting by? Also, what was the source of each organization's operating money at the time of the Roundtable discussions? Please provide this information for the record. Answer. Disclosures of the financial status of those organizations which were represented by participants in the Roundtable discussions was not required by ACTION. ACTION does not have access to the information requested, and therefore cannot provide it. Question 4. Although I have asked before and it has not been provided, I am asking once again for copies of all minutes of meetings, documents, reports, recommendations, including internal ACTION memoranda by employees of ACTION regarding the so-called Roundtable discussions. Answer. As we testified during the hearings, the Roundtable discussions were simply informal brainstorming sessions. No minutes were taken, nor were any reports or memoranda written. That there was no written documentation is substantiated in a July 22, 1977 letter from Sam Brown to Maria Varela, an invitee to the discussions who was unable to attend. A copy of this latter is attached. Ms. MARIA VARELA, La Clinica del Pueblo, de Arriba, Tierra Amarilla, N. Mex. JULY 22, 1977. DEAR MARIA: Thank you for your letter of June 14, 1977. I am sorry you were unable to make it up here for the community organizers roundtable discussion last month. Wavie McCarthy and Cathy Quense explained that travel arrangements just couldn't be worked out for you. At this time no similar meetings are scheduled for the future. However, if you are ever in Washington, D.C., Margery Tabankin and I would be happy to meet with you. The community organizers roundtable was very informal and no written material came out of it. We touched on areas of concern shared by grassroots activists from all around the country, and we would welcome your input as well. If you wish to discuss new directions in VISTA, call Joe Bass, who is the Chief of the VISTA Operations Branch. He is in Marge's office at (202) 2545195. Once again, I am sorry we did not get to meet each other last month. Sincerely, SAM BROWN, Director. Question 5. During the hearing I asked Ms. Tabankin, “regardless of where the concept for National Grants came from, once you, as the Director of VISTA decided to give National Grants, how did you proceed? How did you go about informing individuals and organizations that grant money was available." Pursuant to this, please provide copies of each letter to each invitee. Answer. 1. Discussions were held within the Agency to explore the programmatic and legal feasibility of a national grants program. The basic advice air tained was that the processing of national grants was not significantly different procedurally from the processing of regional grants, except that it would occur at headquarters. 2. Ms. Tabankin and the VISTA staff had verbal discussions with potential sponsors concerning VISTA's intent to accept applications for national grants from qualified applicants. Ms. Tabankin also described the national grants program in speeches. The emphasis in these discussions and speeches was the desire of the new administration to return VISTA to its original purpose of helping poor people organize to participate in the solution of the problems which perpetuate poverty, rather than continuing the then predominant emphasis on services. In this context national grants were viewed as one of a number of ap proaches which would be used to provide leadership and direction within VISTA. 3. Regional Directors were informed of the proposed program, and they, presumably, informed their staffs. 4. As inquiries came in, VISTA staff provided assistance and guidance to potential applicants. 5. When applications were received, they were processed in accordance with regular agency review process. Attached are the following documents related to the process: A. Memorandum-Ken Hill, Deputy Associate Director, to Regional Directors, dated May 27, 1977. B. Letter to John Zippert, Federation of Southern Cooperatives, from Diana London, VISTA, dated June 22, 1977. C. Letter to Shell Trapps, NTIC, from Janelle Cousino, VISTA, dated July 15, 1977. D. Memo (undated) from Heather Booth to Marge Tabankin. Subject: Placement of 100 VISTA Volunteers. E. Memo (undated) from Heather Booth to Marge Tabankin. Subject: Placement of 100 VISTAS. (With attachments.) F. Memo (undated) from Diana London, VISTA to Heather Booth. Midwest Academy. Note: Since the original is in our files, this letter may not have been sent. G. See also memorandum (undated) from Marge Tabankin to Irene Tinker contained in the response to question 6. Memorandum for regional directors. ACTION, As you know, all VISTA grants must currently be submitted to headquarters for approval by GC and DO/VISTA. We have also, recently, asked you to not proceed with the development of any grants which were not in the final stages s of a few weeks ago. This was done to allow us to recoup substantial VISTA rant monies for a national grant program. Unfortunately, we have indications that in some Regions the letter or intent f this direction is not being followed. I am concerned that only grants which vere actually in the final stages of development, for which final negotiations have een on-going, and that are of high quality be funded. Regional Directors are hereby directed to handle VISTA grants in the following nanner: a. Any grants in the stages of development prior to PRB as of this date should e stopped. Exceptions to this may be discussed directly with Marge Tabankin, Director of VISTA/AEP. This is consistent with prior guidance on this matter. b. All VISTA grants developed in the Regions now require the concurrence of the Director of VISTA/AEP prior to funding. The 10 day negative turnround rule does not apply in these cases. Such grants will be reviewed in DO/ VISTA for programmatic content and quality and the timeliness of the developnent process. Each will receive sensitive consideration and will likely be disussed with the Regional Director and possibly the State Director. c. Potential grantees should be counselled to not expect that funding of grants which are hereafter submitted will be pro forma. On the other hand, high quality projects which have been in the development stages for some time will very ikely receive approval. Please know that I do not intend this directive to be construed as punitive. I realize that we have changed signals on you regarding the VISTA grant procedures a number of times. The few situations we see may simply be the result of confusion over prior guidance. However, you can appreciate that it is important that the national grant program get underway with sufficient funding so that it can “plough the ground" for the future direction of VISTA. I am anxious to assure that it be given every chance of success. Many thanks, KENNETH L. HILL, Mr. SHEL TRAPPS, National Training and Information Center, DEAR SHEL: I enjoyed talking with you about a proposed VISTA Grant project because your organization encompasses the kind of programming that we are very interested in. I have enclosed the initial forms you will need for submitting the grant project proposal; please look them over, however, and give me a call before you start the formal paperwork. (1) Project Narrative to be completed by the National Training and Information Center as the proposed national grantee indicating its management. coordination and training functions under the grant as well as any other specific tasks it will perform, e.g., volunteer recruitment, not done by ACTION or by the local organization under your "network". (2) Project Narratives from Local Organizations-to be completed by each organization which will serve as a VISTA local "sub-sponsor" under the grant. Each of these groups should identify the issues which volunteers will be invloved in, activities centered around these issues, numbers of volunteers per site, and methods of recruitment, training and supervision. Volunteer job-related transportation needs should also be addressed by the local organization. (3) Volunteer Work Plan-should be done by the local organization to differentiate among "types" of volunteer assignments and to aid in recruitment. If any volunteer are to be recruited by ACTION, we will use these work plans to inform potential recruits about the types of assignments they will be getting. (4) Guidelines for Developing VISTA Grant Projects-these guidelines were Originally written for VISTA grants to be developed by ACTION State and Regional Offices. Under the "national" grants, VISTA/ACTION Headquarters will receive, review and approve the grant package. We will, however, send back to each State and Regional Office those portions of the Narratives which will operate within their jurisdiction(s). We are asking our field staff to review and comment on the proposals and to make site visits as necessary so that they can get acquainted with the local projects. Feld staff will forward their comments to us prior to Headquarters review and final decision on the grant proposal. Chapter 5 of the Grant Guidelines contains the costs allowed under a VISTA grant and the average/maximum amounts per budget line-item. The starred items must be provided to all VISTAS under the grant, with amounts varying under the training, travel and supervision areas as we discussed on the phone. Career development assistance for low-income volunteers and technical assistance can be incorporated into the training line-items. Allow only as much under recruitment and payroll administration as is really needed. In arriving at budget amounts for supervision, on-job-transportation, and training, please bear in mind that we have established a $6,000 maximum figure for each volunteer which must also include the approvimately $250 which is ACTION's cost for volunteer health coverage and is paid outside of the grant The Center will, therefore, have to prepare a budget on the basis of a $5,750 ceiling figure per volunteer. It may be helpful to "rough out" a budget and discuss it with me before you proceed with any formal submission. Develop up to a 15 month budget allowing for staff salaries, staff travel, etc. for the three month start up period. Plan a 12 month budget for VISTA volunteer salaries and bene figts in the same budget plan (page 8b). Also, attach budget narrative explain ing each line-item on page 8b. I have also included the Memorandum of Understanding that must be signed and agreed upon between each component sponsor and the national VISTA grantee. The items included are essential, but additional items agreed upon between the Sponsor and national grantee can be included. Please let me know if you plan any substantial changes in the format. A requirement for involvement of the low income population the project plans to serve can be met by the organization's board of directors or advisory committee if it is composed of at least 50% low income persons or their representatives. If the board does not meet this requirement, a new committee or subcommittee of the existing board that will comply with the directive should be developed for advising and participating in the project development and implementation process. I will need the completed application with all the appropriate narratives in our office by July 30, 1977. This has been established as an absolute cut off date for receipt of national VISTA grant applications. Please call me at our toll free number, (800) 424-8580 ext 82, as soon as you have had a chance to look over these materials so that we can begin moving on the paperwork. Look forward to meeting you. DEAR JOHN: I enjoyed talking with you yesterday about a proposed VISTA Grant project because your organization encompasses a geographic area and programmatic area that we are very interested in. I have enclosed the initial forms you will need for submitting the grant project proposal; please look them over, however, and give me a call before you start the formal paperwork. (1) Project Narrative to be completed by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives as the proposed national grantee indicating its management, coordination and training functions under the grant as well as any other specific tasks it will perform, e.g., volunteer recruitment, not done by ACTION or by the local organization under your "network". (2) Project Narratives from Local Organizations to be completed by each organization which will serve as a VISTĂ local "sub-sponsor" under the grant. Each of these groups should identify the issues which volunteers will be involved in, activities centered around these issues, numbers of volunteers per site, and methods of recruitment, training and supervision. Volunteer job-related transportation needs should also be addressed by the local organization. |