ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, March 23, 1990                   TAG: 9003232709
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

PLAYING POLITICS WITH VOLUNTARISM

ON BEHALF of the Voluntary Action Center of the Council of Community Services, my sincere thanks for exposing the politics behind the national service issue in your editorial April 5, "Politicking only hurts voluntarism."

The concept of national service has been bandied about for several years, and President Bush jumped on the bandwagon during his campaign to gain positive publicity. Bush himself was reportedly puzzled at first by the phrase "thousand points of light," which speechwriter Peggy Noonan penned for his acceptance address at the Republican convention in New Orleans. It was only weeks afterward that Bush explained the symbolism referred to the American ideal of voluntarism.

As your editorial so aptly stated, President Bush has yet to commit to a national service program with real substance. Thank heaven Democrats in Congress are forging ahead and have received support for their community-service grant programs.

The Voluntary Action Center is working overtime in our area to encourage volunteer activities. Our sponsorship of National Volunteer Week, April 22-28, is one way we recognize the tremendous contributions of volunteer time and talent.\ GERI E. MULLER\ Director, Voluntary Action Center\ ROANOKE 


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