To Julian Bond from Bruce Eckman, 2 Oct 1968, with Bond's draft response

National Education Association

October 2, 1968

The Honorable Julian Bond State Capitol Atlanta, Georgia

My dear Senator Bond:

Your well-known commitment to the cause of quality public school education for all American children prompts us to invite you to serve as a member of a panel of distinguished citizens now being organized by the Association of Classroom Teachers of the National Education Association. This panel will select from nominations submitted by local education associations affiliated with the National Education Association outstanding school boards to be honored in the 1969 National Association-Thom McAn School Board Awards Program. Dr. Austin J. McCaffrey, executive director, American Educational Publishers Institute, accepted the chairmanship of the panel. The NEA-Thom McAn Awards Program focuses the attention of the public on superior achievements of school boards across the nation. This program encourages innovation in local school systems and pays tribute to citizens who serve so faithfully the nation's schools.

The National Awards Panel rely upon the resources of the consultants in their deliberations. All nominations will be screened and ready for the panel's consideration. They will meet only once for one day, April 2, 1969, at the Headquarters of the National Education Association in Washington, D.C. Panel members are invited to the Awards Luncheon in May. The National Education Association=Thom McAn School Board Awards Program underwrites expenses of those members in attendance at the meetings.

For further information, we are enclosing a descriptive brochure, a copy of the 1968 National Awards Luncheon Program, as well as a summary of the top thirteen award winning projects of last year.

We sincerely hope that you will reply affirmatively to our invitation to serve as a member of the Awards Panel.

Sincerely yours, [signature] Bruce P. Eckman President

BE:D:rs Enclosures

[handwritten in a circle] Yes