. ? ><%cc^z * ' j ^PUBLISHED EACH THURSDAY--^ \ f=fTHE CAROLINA INDIAN VOICET^ ^970 I I In Al Of Us I Dedicored To The Oesr In All Of Us s/wwwwv - ?*""? - - - - .?.?1,-1 J- -_ri_-.i--.-.-L---_-ir-u?tr-u-u-ij?u-u-Ln.-L-i--i-ru-i_n.?_-_r_n_n.-_-_n_-_TL-.-_-_-.-. ~ -.- -. .-_-_-_-_-L - j- _ L -j-.-.i.r__ VOLUME 5 NUMBER S3 PEMBROKE, N.C. THURSDAY, DECEMBER 2* 1977 151 PER COPY ? ?i? . ?-? , 1 , , Or. James B. Chavis THE PEOPLE'S MAN by Conner Bray boy Dr. Jhm B. Cfcrvta Some citizens of North Carolina believe that State Government has undergone such expansive growth that the complexity ofbeaurocratic red tape makes it almost impoxWMe for the average person to get any kind of response to his legitimate complaints. Dr. James B. Chavis recently stated that hS aspiration is to "refute the theory that state government is insensi tive to the average person's needs. Chavis, the Governor's Ombudsman, directs the Office of Citizen Help. He has served in that position since June 1, 1977, as a result of Governor James B. Hunt's appointment. And what, you might ask, is an Ombudsman? The American Heritage Dictionary, 1973, says that an Om budsman is : "A governmental official, especially in Scandinavian countries, who investigates citizens' complaints against the government or its func tionaries." Sweden established the first Office of the Ombudsman in 1809. The word itself has come to mean "the people's man." Chavis said that his office handles citizen information and referral ser vices. "Our office is non-political in that it deals not in issues and campaign^, but in helping people who have needk "We respond to complaints from, citizen* and requests to the Governor's Office. Not only do we respond, we resolve their particular prtftflem, if that problem Is within the jurisdiction of the Governor's Office. Many complaints are not within the Governor's jurisdiction. In that event, we refer the citizen to the appropriate person or agency which can best serve his or her needs," Chavis continued. The Ombudsman's Office consists of five staff members, including Chavis. Walt Williamson is the Deputy Om budsman. Pat Brock and Linda Norfolk serve as assistants and Jayne Felton aervds as secretary. Dr. Chavis praised his staff. Said he, "I can't say enough about my staff. They are just great. I couldn't ask for finer people to work with. Their assistance has been invaluable," This reporter can attest that his staff is genuinely pleasant. When a person walks into an office and IS greeted by a genuine smile of interest. It is easy to believe that someone oaas care. During my visit 1 witnessed a cttisen entering thme with a problem. I could almost hear him thinking, "Finally. I'm in the right pises." The Ombudsman's Office handles an approximate 4000 calls and 700 letters per month, in addition to the people who walk into the office with their various oomplaints. They man 4 watts lines sod 4 local lines. Said Cfcavta. "h Is not unusual far am to apsatSW tot hours a day eu the phone. ?ash sase Is resssisd and a emnputer print sat jamais euirteMy In ardar that at any ghm Mam the nmbaiimaa ar Ns staff sen let bow many eases ihsy'us bandied' ?hathar ths tdae baa been doted, whet county the cue U from, what department it concerns, etc. Caaet which require a quick telephone referral or which can be rapidly *oiv$<} over the telephone are not recorded. When queried ibout the validity of the vast amount of complaints, Chavis responded^ saying, "If a citizen feels strongly enough about a particular situation to write or call the Governor's Office, then that problem is valid. What I do is try and see that the citizen gets a fair shake." He continued, "The majority of cases 1 respond to are from people who are just like me--an average person. Therefore, it is relatively euy for me to respond to citizens with honesty and understanding. This job is not much different from my job at PeitdJroke State University. There I dealt with prcfclema people problems. The only difference is that now 1 deal with them on a much larger scale." "Actually, what I am is a go-between between the Governor and people who are having problems," Chavls conclu ded. Dr. Oiavis, a native of Penfbroke, is on a leave-of-absence from his jeft) at Pembroke State University where he served as Dean of Student Affairs. He worked his way through the chain of command at Pembroke State. Ha began his career there as the director of the Student Store. He then served for one year as financial aid officer; four years as administrative assistant to the President (Chancellor English E. Jones) one year as director of admissions and registration. And then he became Dean of StudMt Affairs. A Lumbee Indian, Chavis is the first Indian to ever serve in the Governor's Office, to our knowledge. He attended elementary school at Deep Branch Elememary School in Robeson County and is a graduate of Hargrave Military Academy, Chatham, Virginia. After graduation, he worked for a short period in the accounting division of Bethlehem Steel in Maryland prior to his return to Pembroke. He earned his B.S. Degree from Pembroke State University in 1963. He taught math at PendJroke High School for one year under the principalship of Mr. Elmer Lowry prior to accepting the position as director of ( the Student Stores at Peirtfroke State ( University. He earned his Master's Degree from East Carolina University and his Doctorate from Duke University while serving at PSU. And what dcxfs Chavis feel about his new position? "It has been a learning experience for me. I have tltjen able to learn first hand about state government and that is something I have always wanted to do. I am learning state government from' the inside out -and I'm still learning. My experiences in this office will be something I can use the rest of my life, no matter what I do in the future." The Ombudsman's Office is part of the Office of Citizen Affairs which was established during Governor Hunt's administration. The Office of Citizen Affairs includes: Volunteer Programs; developing a Resource Library; and the Office of Citizen Help (Ombudsman). The Office of the Ombudsman was established under the Hols ho user administration. Chavis stated that call ing his office the Office of Citispu Help was his idea. "Because, " he said, "we are the dtizfn's advocate. We handle people problems. That is, any kind of problem as H relates to state govern ment through North Carolina. I am dedicated to helping chiasm In any way that I can. I Intend to sea that the oitiseae get a fair shake. After all, that is what state government la all Shout, amuIWA A Ihm ? slim pwpw It is evident that Dr. Chavia enjoys hie work. ' He la amiable, handsome, humorous, eoneemsd and Inter?lag. { If you have a grievance with stale gave?near, doe7! I?bate to call U0HA1.TAM; write PrJamos I. ?ilalthalite Buttdtng. IIA W? Janes i ?treat, BeMgb. MCVilli ar waft , A , g into his office. If Dr. Chavix or his staff cannot resolve your problem, they will definitely explain why in a cordial response. And if they can help, they'll do so smilingly and unhesitatingly. For those of you who do not know Dr. James B. Chavis, you are in for a congenial acquaintance with a man who is definitely a "people's man." And for you who already know him, you'll find the same man in the governor's office that you knew at home. Mr. and Mr*. Murphy LocMmt grace he top of the Christmas Tree. The imaments below are their great grand chldren. The OirhtmM Tree waa especially decorated In their honor. I Bruce Barton Photo| A Holiday Visit with , Mr. & Mrs. Murphy Locklear & Family , bv Bruce Harlot* ?? ? re people say things are not like lev used to be. In the old days back in the 20s and 30s and 40s and 50s. families seemed sorr . how to be closer, to care more about on- another. Fathers and mothers devot'd life times to raising children. Nov a days families congregate around tf' television set as soon as the sun sets and seldom talk to one another. Dupe is 'he catharsi/er of the young. Joy is strained, frustrated, muted. Things just dor'i seem to be the same, like in the go. old davs. A reminder of how it used to be for all of us when we v ere young and television was still a figment of the inventor's imagination was nolstngically brought home to me when I recently visited Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Locklear. stalwart and long-time n embers of the Mt. Airy community. I was invited by one of their daughters, Mrs. Galloway Hunt. I remember picking cotton on Mr. and Mrs. Hunt's farm, $3.00 a hundred, if I remember correctly. But somehow those seem, in my memory anyway, to he pleasant days, working days, joy days. One worked hard all day in the fields and slept pekcefi lly afterw ards. Mrs. Hunt said that the great grandchildren had prepared a special Christmas Tree for their grand parents, Mr. and Mrs. Murphy Locklear. And she thought it might make a good little news item. And I went and took the picture. And it was a novel way to decorate a Christmas Tree. The tree, as shown with this story, was interlaced with ornaments containing pictures of the great-grandchildren and graced with a picture of Mr. and Mrs. Locklear on top. Hut the joy for me was talking to Mr. Locklear. Although infirm and unable to get up out of bed, he was in a talking mood. All his children had been home with him and his wife for Christmas. And his foster grandson, Johnson Lowcry, who he raised "just like one of I my own." And his children are his joy. They are Mrs. Addell Locklear, Lee Alford Locklear, Mrs. Ronte Lee Hunt, Mrs. Zelma Mae Lowery. Murphy Locklear, Jr.. Mrs. Fairella Locklear, Miss Lizzie Belle Locklear and her twin sister, PEMBROKE JAYCKES' ANNUAL NEW YEAR'S DANCE SAT. NIGHT The Pembroke Jaycees' annual Naur Year's Dinner and Daaee la scheduled for Saturday night. A few nurvartena are still available. Reearvaiwi.t can he 521-9317 or Henry W. Cla an dins at 321*907. No admiaeien without prior waa *? ii. ja :::: 1T?1 *5*'