Box 7, Folder 15, Document 17

Box 7, Folder 15, Document 17

DRAFT
10/4/67

REPORT OF SPECIAL WORKING SUB-COMMITTEE ON ORGANIZATION

In recognition of the importance of agreement and clarity as to procedure
for an ad hoc group such as The Urban Coalition, on September 21st the
National Coordinators proposed the establishment of a representative committee
drawn from the Working Committee to consider two questions:
1. What procedures should be adopted to enable the
Steering Committee to develop and implement public
policy positions?
2. What organizational structure should the Coalition develop?

The Committee consists of the following members:
Rabbi Richard Hirsch, Chairman (Synogogue Council of America)
Wayne Smithy (Ford Motor Company)
Alfred Eisenpreis (Allied Stores)
Andrew Biemiller (AFL-CIO)
Peter Tufo (New York City)
Bayard Rustin (A. Philip Randolph)
Harold Fleming (Potomac Institute)

PUBLIC POLICY POSITIONS

Generally speaking, the public policy positions of The Urban Coalition should
be achieved by consensus. Occasionally, however, it is likely that individual
members of the Steering Committee may, for good and sufficient reason, wish to
dissent or express reservations. This is to be expected and should be provided
for with a procedural agreement that will enable the Coalition to act, at the
same time protecting the interests of those in disagreement. Such procedures
should be simple and clear. They should be limited to public policy positions.
(The normal administrative affairs of The Urban Coalition should be governed
by regular parliamentary procedure with simple majority approval serving as
the basis for action). In so far as possible, advance notice shall be given
of public policy questions to be on the agenda of any meeting. Issues of
public policy not on the advance agenda may be added to the agenda for dis-

cussion at the meeting with the approval of a majority of those present,
The following procedures are proposed with respect to public policy positions

of The Urban Coalition:

A quorum shall be a majority of the Steering Committee.

Any Steering Committee member may be represented by an alternate.

Public policy decisions will be made only by the Steering Committee.

Only those approving (voting YES) will be listed in public statements.

It is understood that each Steering Committee member is free to determine
the form and extent of his participation in any activities to implement
any public policy position taken by The Urban Coalition.

Members of the Steering Committee, or their alternates, may vote YES,

NO, or may ABSTAIN.

The Coalition shall take no action on any public policy matter where:

a) Any five members of the Steering Committee (or their alternates)
vote NO.

b) Any one of the five elements of the Steering Committee (business,
labor, civil rights, religion, local government) vote NO, pro-
vided that at least a majority of the members of that element
are present (or represented).

Polling the Steering Committee will ordinarily not be necessary. Should
the need occur, it should be limited as far as possible to implementation
of those issues upon which the Steering Committee has already acted. Such
special polls should be communicated in writing or by telegram with a spe-
cified response date indicated. Such emergency polls shall be governed

by the procedures outlined above for determing all public policy positions.

ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE



In order to be effective, the Steering Committee of the Urban Coalition should

not be substantially enlarged beyond its present number. For the present, the

task force concept can provide ample opportunity for enlarged participation in

the program interests of the Coalition. The leadership and members of the

task forces can report to and meet with the Steering Committee as needed.

Persons can be enlisted to work on projects as they arise.
As counterpart local coalitions are formed, however, or as existing coalition
groups express their desire to support and work for the goals of the Urban
Coalition, provision will have to be made to channel and coordinate these
groups. It is recommended, therefore, that the Steering Committee authorize
the establishment of a Council on Local Coalitions. Local groups affirming
their support of the Statement of Principles, Goals and Commitments and having
memberships that reflect the elements of the National Steering Committee shall

be invited to designate two representatives to serve on the Council.

At an early date, a meeting of the Council will be convened for the purpose

of exchanging views, making recommendations to the national Steering Committee,
and electing two representatives to serve on the national Steering Committee.
Staff services for the Council will be provided by the national coordinating

staff.