◆ SpookStack

a me ee wire that its job is to develop better understanding among its own members as well as to see to it that the local tchool board does not evade its legal responsibilities, As soon a8 you have THE JOINT COMMITTEE The term “Joint Committee” is one which was developed out of the experience of citizen groups working over a Period of years in such places as Washington, D. C., and Knoxville, Tennessee, and is used here to describe this type of com- munity activity, What Is Its Purpose? To bring about Prompt and orderly desegregation of public schools through maximum support from existing community Organizations, To stimulate cooperation among all &roups for the continued improvement of the Public school system before, during and after the transition Period. Who Are Its M embers? A Joint Committee consists for the most part of people who are active members of a wide variety of community organi. zations such as churches, unions, League of Women Voters, NAACP, PTA, Urban League and Civic Clubs. In addition there may be individual members who can contribute active- ly to the Planning and work of the Joint Committee even though they do not represent an organization, Just aa the original informal group starts with a few people, the Joint Committee can start with the support of only a few organi- zations and add to its membership as it goes along. How Does It F unction? The Joint Committee works as a fact-fi ding and educations! éroup, offering services, acting as a cleuring house for infor- = ~—— A ee mation and drawing up specific statements and plans for « tion to be submitted to Participating organizations. It eau no statements, seeks no publicity and takes no action in | own name. It does not attempt to take away power or pre tige from existing organizations but rather is set up to c ordinate and supplement their efforts. Joint Committee members from existing organizatior should be specifically authorized to represent their organiz. tions. It should be made very clear, however, that organiz: tions do not commit themselves to any policy or course action by designating a member to represent them on th Joint Committee. They may decide to endorse or act upo some of the Joint Committee's recommendations and to re ject others, Once a statement of Policy or a plan of action has been de cided upon by the Joint Committee, copies of the propose: Plan should be mailed to each member. He in turn is re sponsible for presenting it to his organization for considera tion. A deadline should be set for the organizations to arrive ate decision on the Proposal] and to reply to the secretary of the Joint Committee. The secretary then issues a statement signed not by individuals but in the name of all organizations which have given approval, When personal action is to be taken by members of the Joint Committee, such as a conference with schoc! board men- ber, each person speaks as an individual or as a represen- tative of his own Organization, sof as a Joint Committee member. Most Joint Committees wil] naturally have a jew energetis, devoted persons who att-nd moat of the meetings and assume responsibility for making plans; others will attend meetings when subjects of special interest are discussed. This should not prevent the Jom Cy nmittee from working and Planning ahead, on the basis ¢! ; ‘ajority agreement «Tang members Present. On the ovhe, Ad, less active memhbera should net be permitted to fy b ote wayside, Notify x: inembers ef Joint Committee meein. s by post card or tel. j-ione. Larger groups may send out 4 imple aewoletter, : copies cf the ae Fo