January 12, 1972

Mr. Robert S. Mcnamara
President
World Bank
Washington D.C. 20433

Dear Mr. McNamara:

Within the World Bank Group there is a widely felt and growing need for greater assistance to families. About half the staff has been here less than two years and there are numerous problems of adjustment. Some of the staff are leaving the bank because of unhappiness of wives in their new environment. Of interest and importance also to both old and new families is understanding of the large purpose of the World Bank and a sense of participation in its mission.

Many have been asking for help over the last 2 or 3 years. A group of wives has come together informally, recently, to explore the problems and to consider what is needed. Many wives have offered to help. These spontaneous offers need to be organized and developed. There is widespread interest in establishing an organization of Bank wives to channel and direct these efforts. We hope that the World Bank Group will extend the recognition which is required for these efforts to be effective.

We acknowledge the scale and scope of services which are provided by Staff Relations. We are not proposing to duplicate but to ease their overburdened job and to establish on a volunteer basis a separate organization which could function independently but cooperatively with Staff relations. To be effective, such an organization would need a full-time executive Secretary and supporting services, these latter consisting of adequate office space and an office secretary. The job of Executive Secretary can not be undertaken on a volunteer basis or on a half-time basis. This person would be directed by the Executive Committee of wives and situated in the personnel department.

We are proposing that the organization be called WIVES, an alliteration for World Bank Group Volunteer Services and will serve the professional as well as the non-professional staff. We would like official recognition of this organization.

The services which WIVES would offer would include:

1. More personal welcome to new bank families in Washington including initial hotel visiting to ascertain individual needs, house hunting assistance and discussing related matters such as schooling, shopping and transportation. Wives would help to interpret the detailed information received from the Bank concerning orientation in the Washington Community. (Under a carefully developed training program).
2. Language assistance from volunteers.
3. Development of contacts between the newly arrived and already resident wives and children.
4. Assistance for Bank wives who request help in finding employment.
5. Assistance for Bank wives who request help in finding volunteer activities. This could include teen-age children of Bank families.
6. Assistance in case of illness in the family.
7. Organization of seminars, discussion groups and social activities to encourage understanding of and acquaintance with Bank purposes and a closer relationship with Bank families in general.
8. Cooperation with other hospitality organizations in Washington.
9. An information center available for all families.

These services need to be developed in more depth and in more detail than those normally provided by large organizations. Under your leadership, the World Bank is recruiting in remote parts of the World and bringing to Washington families of diverse cultures, languages, colors and religions. These families need systematically organized support such as the organization THIS does for diplomatic families in Washington and as the State Department has for its employees.

We look forward to hearing from you or your representative. Our next step, after recognition, would be to draw up specific guidelines for WIVES and then proceed, through personnel, with the hiring of an Executive Secretary.

We would be happy to consult with you at any time.