    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (2000, Book I)]
    [May 17, 2000]
    [Page 956]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 956]]

    Memorandum on Strengthening Our Commitment to Service Through Voluntary
    Opportunities
    May 17, 2000

    Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies

    Subject: Strengthening Our Commitment to Service Through Voluntary
    Opportunities

        Volunteer community service is a great American tradition and a
    profound expression of the civic values that bind us together as a
    Nation. Nowhere is the spirit of volunteerism more alive than among
    employees of the Federal Government, thousands of whom serve their
    country with dedication at work and as volunteers in their local
    communities. On April 22, 1998, I directed Federal departments and
    agencies to expand community service opportunities for Federal employees
    by making maximum use of existing flexibility in work scheduling
    policies. On June 17, 1999, I encouraged all departments and agencies
    with operations in the District of Columbia to apply those policies so
    that their D.C.-based employees could take advantage of an important new
    community service opportunity: tutoring public school students in a
    program called D.C. Reads This Summer. Over a thousand Federal employees
    chose to take part, and based on the program's success last summer, I am
    today inviting Federal employees to sign up for the program again this
    summer.
        From July 6 to July 27, 2000, an estimated 22,000 D.C. school
    children with low test scores will be in mandatory enrichment summer
    school programs run by the D.C. Public School system. Students whose
    scores do not markedly improve risk being held back a grade. This is
    part of the District's ambitious plan to end social promotion while also
    giving children the extra help they need to meet higher standards--the
    kind of positive reform I have called on all school districts to adopt.
    As the District's largest employer, the Federal Government has a unique
    opportunity to help children improve their scores and rejoin their
    classmates this fall.
        That is why I am pleased that the Corporation for National and
    Community Service is assisting Federal departments and agencies in
    recruiting Federal employees to become volunteer reading tutors through
    the D.C. Reads This Summer program.
        Employees who choose to sign up with D.C. Reads This Summer will
    receive training and be able to work one-on-one with students once or
    twice a week for 4 weeks at one of 25 school- and community-based
    tutoring sites around the city. I encourage departments and agencies
    that have not already done so to find a member of their staff willing to
    volunteer as a liaison to D.C. Reads This Summer. I ask departments and
    agencies to inform employees of this rewarding volunteer opportunity and
    assist where possible in transporting employees to and from the sites. I
    also ask that you continue to encourage and support employees who choose
    to volunteer through other community programs. In addition to D.C.
    Reads, there are many excellent programs being run through libraries and
    religious and community centers throughout the D.C. area. Finally, I
    encourage you to maintain or strengthen any preexisting partnerships
    that your department or agency may already have with D.C. or other local
    school systems, including tutoring in year-round programs.

                                                          William J. Clinton