Speech #920155934

works with the planning group of Rural Missions in the development of a Comprehensive Rural Health Program for the five major islands of Charleston County. This center will be In the heart of the migrant work area and will serve migrants as well as seasonal farm workers. Health programs are also conducted in Dorchester and Williamsburg Counties. Three members of the Governing Board of the SCCFW serve on the State Committee to Study the Problems Confronting Migrant LaborersLaNue Floyd. Marybelle Howe and McKinley Washington. The Board on September 22. 1971 adopted plans which answer the Special Conditions of the grant. These plans are the will of the Board and are in agreement with the program as approved by OEO on May 26. 1971. These plans would have been sent in on July 1. 1971 if the Migrant Division had not insisted on rewriting the program in such a manner that seemed unfesaible. Inoperable and completely removed from the people for whom it was intended to serve. This interference from the Migrant Division against the wishes of the majority of the Board must stand as the major reason for the difficulties of the SCCFW. The Special Committee of the Board was not representative of the elected seasonal farm worker Board contingent and did not have the support of the communities served by the four centers nor the staff of these centers. In fact. the various community groups were not allowed any say in determining the Migrant Division plan. A meeting was held with the Center Directors by Robert Lunz and Ray Robinson in which staff was told that the Migrant Division plan would be implemented or the grant would be terminated. The September 9th Board meeting was the first opportunity that seasonal farm workers had had to express their wishes and opinions to the whole Board. and the action of the Board on this date represents the desires of the people. the Board has always attempted to run programs which are responsive to the needs of the people rather than the dictates of those who are not familiar with the problems of migrants and seasonal farm workers in South Carolina. The compliance suggestions mailed from the Migrant Division were adopted by the full Board on September 22. 1971. (a) The election of staff members in an advisory role to the Board was a staff suggestion in order to increase communication efforts and coordination for a multicounty program. We feel that it would strengthen the program and the role of the Executive Director. as well as give the Board members a greater opportunity to become more familiar with the ongoing workings of each center and other components. We are not wedded to this idea and if the Migrant Division sees this as undesirable. it can be dropped. (b) The plan submitted to the Migrani Division does not provide for onethird seasonal farm workers. but rather. that 51% of the Board members will be elected. OEO Instruction COO 51 does not make this a requirement of governing boards. (c) The SCCFW has used one third (y/) of its Board members as a quorum since this is a part of the bylaws and approved by Noel Klores. If we must have fifty percent (50%) of the membership for a quorum. we will do so. (d) The Board opinion is that the SCCFW noncompliance is the direct fault of the Migrant Division. not of the grantee. The SCCFW has attempted for nine months to gain compliance with the Migrant Division as to the terms of the grant as approved and according to the wishes of the seasonal farm worker community. (e) The Executive Committee does not suggest satellite centers as a modification of the grant. Satellite centers are provided for in the general body of the approved grant. B.(1) The SCCFW has a regular C.P.A. who audits all of the Commissions books and grants.