Adelante - Community Issues Regarding Education and Justice

Richard V. Cruz Memorial Foundation Board Endorses The Appointment Of Dolores Huerta To A Full Ten Year Term As A Member Of The Board Of Regents Of The University Of California

On February 8, 2004, Dolores Huerta participated as a featured speaker at the scholarship fund-raiser held by the Richard V. Cruz Memorial Foundation. She addressed important issues affecting the under-served and disadvantaged people of our state. She demonstrated a keen awareness and a thoughtful analysis of such matters.

She presently is serving out the tail-end of a term of an abbreviated appointment to the Regents of the University of California.

On February 23, 2004 the Board of Directors of the Richard V. Cruz Memorial Foundation voted to endorse the re-appointment of Dolores Huerta to a full twelve year term as a member of said Board of Regents. In doing so the Board took into account the mission of the Foundation to award scholarships to continuing law students from accredited California law schools of which three are under the jurisdiction of the Board of Regents. It also took into account Ms Huerta's considerable experience and ability that would be invaluable to the Board of Regents and the people of the State of California.

We encourage all people interested in quality and equality in education to join us in sending your concerns in writing to the Governor of California. A sample letter is presented for your convenience. Please personalize your letter and mail it to the Governor and to the First Lady of California at the following addresses:

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax 916-445-4633

First Lady Maria Shriver
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-445-2841
Fax 916-445-4633

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SAMPLE LETTER
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Re: Permanent Appointment of Dolores Huerta
To The U.C. Regency
Dear Governor Schwarzenegger,

Congratulations on your election to the Governorship of the State of California. With respect to one of your upcoming duties I am writing to urge you to appoint Ms. Dolores Huerta to a full twelve year terms as Regent of the University of California in March 2004.

Ms. Dolores Huerta would be an asset to the U.C. Regency for many reasons. Ms. Huerta is an internationally famous American “icon” and American historic figure. Her appointment by you would be well-founded and laudable.

Ms. Huerta is a prolific American historic figure in many respects. Below is a partial list of the several organizations she co-founded:

	1955, co-founded the Sacramento chapter of the Community Service Organization (CSO)
	1960, co-founded the Agricultural Workers Association
	1962, co-founded with Cesar Chavez the National Farm Workers Association (NFWA)
	1966, merged NFWA with the Agricultural Workers Organizing Committee (AWOC) to form the United Farm Workers Organizing Committee (UFWOC)

Below is a partial list of the legislation for which Ms. Huerta successfully lobbied:

	1960 legislation giving native Spanish speakers the right to take the California drivers’ examination in English,
	1962 legislation repealing the controversial “captive labor” Bracero Program,
	1963 AFDC benefit eligibility and disability insurance for California Farm Workers,
	1973 enactment of the Agricultural Labor Relations Act,
	1985 Federal Immigration Act

Below is a partial list of historic events in American history for which Ms. Huerta was responsible:

	1966 Ms. Huerta successfully negotiated the first UFWOC contract with the Schenley Wine Company, the first time in American history that farm workers negotiated a collective bargaining agreement with an agricultural corporation,
	1966 Ms. Huerta negotiated farm worker health and benefit plans contracts,
	During early 1960's Ms. Huerta obtained UFWCO agreements which required agricultural growers to stop using toxic pesticides such as DDT and Parathyon due to toxic exposure to the farm workers, American consumers and the environment,
	During her famous collaboration with Cesar Chavez Ms. Huerta founded the Robert F. Kennedy Medical Plan, the Juan de la Cruz Farm Worker Pension Fund, the Farm Workers’ Credit Union, and the National Farm Worker Service Center, Inc.

Below is a partial list of the awards Ms. Huerta has received:

	In 1984 the California State Senate awarded Ms. Huerta with the Outstanding Labor Leader Award.
	In 1993 Ms. Huerta was inducted in to the National Women’s Hall of Fame.
	Also in 1993 Ms. Huerta received the American Civil Liberties Union Roger Baldwin Medal of Liberty Award, the Eugene V. Debs Foundation Outstanding American Award, and the Ellis Island Medal of Freedom Award.
	In 1998 Ms. Huerta was one of the three Ms. Magazine’s “Women of the Year,”,
	Also in 1998 the Ladies Home Journal’s published Ms. Huerta’s name as one of the “100 Most Important Women of the 20th Century.”

In the latter 1960's Ms. Huerta lobbied in Sacramento and in Washington D.C. and as a legislative advocate she led farm worker campaigns to support political candidates. Robert F. Kennedy acknowledged her help in winning the 1968 California Democratic Presidential Primary moments before he was shot in Los Angeles.

Clearly Ms. Huerta is an outstanding American and important international historic figure. I believe that your predecessor Governor Gray Davis intended to permanently appoint Ms. Huerta to the U.C. Regency once the temporary term expired. Your permanent appointment of Ms. Huerta to the U.C. Regency would be commendable and consistent with the prestigious history of the U.C. Regency.

Sincerely,