[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