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Burlington Commission on Human Rights, 1964-1965

At Work in Industry Today Page 20

to overcome any temporary dips. It's an exciting business."
     He graduated from Dobbins Vocational School in Philadelphia with a diploma in technical electricity. He later served as a First Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps and was stationed in Japan and Korea.
     Mr. Sallard joined General Electric in 1956 as a development wireman. Since then, he has been promoted four times.
     In his present managerial job since late in 1961, he anticipates a lifetime career with General Electric, and a continuing pursuit of his favorite subject--education.
     During the past seven years he has continued his schooling at Drexel Institute of Technology and is an evening student in engineering and industrial administration. He will earn his bachelor's degree in two years and will "go immediately after that for M.S."
     In addition to attending college at night, Ben Sallard has also taken eight GE training courses.
     The public speaking course has been a definite asset since he talks to hundreds of Philadelphia area students each year.
     He lives with his wife, Catherine, in Philadelphia. They are parents of one girl and three boys. Mrs. Sallard, a former accountant, says, "I don't know if Ben will ever finish school. When the children are old enough to go, he will still be pursing some kind of education."

[photo to right]
Betty Jean Smith

Initiative an important asset for Chicago office worker

During the summer of 1964, work was backing up in the order service unit of General Electric's Hotpoint Division in Chicago. Mrs. Betty Jean  Smith, one of the billing clerks, mentioned the log-jam to her supervisor. Mrs. Smith had some experience as a key-punch operator, and she offered to put this experience to work to help solve the problem. Her supervisor agreed, and the work was soon back on schedule.
     Impressed with Mrs. Smith's initiative and the accuracy and volume of her work, her supervisor had offered her a full-time assignment as a key-punch operator. The new job would have been two grades higher than her present billing clerk assignment. But Mrs. Smith declined with thanks. Over the long run she feels she can develop faster by carrying on with her billing work. She's hopeful of moving ahead with her present work, and her supervisor feels that with her ability, background, and initiative, she'll be making the progress she hopes for.
     Initiative is nothing new to Mrs. Smith: After graduation from Parker High School in Chicago, Mrs. Smith aimed for a career in teaching. She enrolled at Chicago Teachers College, but then decided on a career in industry. She entered the Automation Institute in Chicago, where she completed a general business course in preparation for office administration.
     After graduation she gained experience on two office jobs before joining Hotpoint (the General Electric division which manufactures the Hotpoint line of major appliances). She has been a Hotpoint billing clerk since September of 1963, working on a clerical team with six other women. Now, she's looking forward to an early promotion. And beyond this she hopes to be able to return to college as soon as possible and complete work for a degree in business administration.

[photo to right]
Sarah Smith

One hundred GE speechmakers guided by Philadelphia woman

Sarah Smith directs the public speaking activities of nearly 100 members of the Speakers Bureau and the Career Guidance programs at the Re-entry Systems Department in Philadelphia.

     Under her guidance and leadership, speakers on topics that range from "How to Prepare Yourself for a Career in the Aerospace Industry" to "Techniques of Executive Development" have inspired students to stay in school and helped educate the public-at-large about the needs of modern industry.
     Born in Upland, Pa., she grew up in Chester. After marriage, and raising three children, Mrs. Smith wasn't content to remain a housewife. At a time when only domestic jobs were available to most Negro women in Chester, she decided to continue her education at Sleeper's Business College there, which she attended in the mornings. She worked in a cafeteria in the afternoons, to finance her education. After graduation, she found no secretarial opportunities in Chester, and headed for New York City.
     In New York she joined the secretarial staff of District 65, a labor union affiliated with the Retail and Wholesale Department Store Union, AFL-CIO. In 1952, she was selected to help set up the Union's Health and Welfare Plan in Suffolk, Virginia. While there she taught typing and bookkeeping to Union members, the first such classes available to Negro adults ever in Suf-

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to overcome any temporary dips. It's an exciting business." He graduated from Dobbins Vocational School in Philadelphia with a diploma in technical electricity. He later served as a First Lieutenant in the Army Signal Corps and was stationed in Japan and Korea. Mr. Sallard joined General Electric in 1956 as a development wireman. Since then, he has been promoted four times. In his present managerial job since late in 1961, he anticipates a lifetime career with General Electric, and a continuing pursuit of his favorite subject--education. During the past seven years he has continued his schooling at Drexel Institute of Technology and is an evening student in engineering and industrial administration. He will earn his bachelor's degree in two years and will "go immediately after that for M.S." In addition to attending college at night, Ben Sallard has also taken eight GE training courses. The public speaking course has been a definite asset since he talks to hundreds of Philadelphia area students each year. He lives with his wife, Catherine, in Philadelphia. They are parents of one girl and three boys. Mrs. Sallard, a former accountant, says, "I don't know if Ben will ever finish school. When the children are old enough to go, he will still be pursing some kind of education." [photo to right] Betty Jean Smith Initiative an important asset for Chicago office worker During the summer of 1964, work was backing up in the order service unit of General Electric's Hotpoint Division in Chicago. Mrs. Betty Jean Smith, one of the billing clerks, mentioned the log-jam to her supervisor. Mrs. Smith had some experience as a key-punch operator, and she offered to put this experience to work to help solve the problem. Her supervisor agreed, and the work was soon back on schedule. Impressed with Mrs. Smith's initiative and the accuracy and volume of her work, her supervisor had offered her a full-time assignment as a key-punch operator. The new job would have been two grades higher than her present billing clerk assignment. But Mrs. Smith declined with thanks. Over the long run she feels she can develop faster by carrying on with her billing work. She's hopeful of moving ahead with her present work, and her supervisor feels that with her ability, background, and initiative, she'll be making the progress she hopes for. Initiative is nothing new to Mrs. Smith: After graduation from Parker High School in Chicago, Mrs. Smith aimed for a career in teaching. She enrolled at Chicago Teachers College, but then decided on a career in industry. She entered the Automation Institute in Chicago, where she completed a general business course in preparation for office administration. After graduation she gained experience on two office jobs before joining Hotpoint (the General Electric division which manufactures the Hotpoint line of major appliances). She has been a Hotpoint billing clerk since September of 1963, working on a clerical team with six other women. Now, she's looking forward to an early promotion. And beyond this she hopes to be able to return to college as soon as possible and complete work for a degree in business administration. [photo to right] Sarah Smith One hundred GE speechmakers guided by Philadelphia woman Sarah Smith directs the public speaking activities of nearly 100 members of the Speakers Bureau and the Career Guidance programs at the Re-entry Systems Department in Philadelphia. Under her guidance and leadership, speakers on topics that range from "How to Prepare Yourself for a Career in the Aerospace Industry" to "Techniques of Executive Development" have inspired students to stay in school and helped educate the public-at-large about the needs of modern industry. Born in Upland, Pa., she grew up in Chester. After marriage, and raising three children, Mrs. Smith wasn't content to remain a housewife. At a time when only domestic jobs were available to most Negro women in Chester, she decided to continue her education at Sleeper's Business College there, which she attended in the mornings. She worked in a cafeteria in the afternoons, to finance her education. After graduation, she found no secretarial opportunities in Chester, and headed for New York City. In New York she joined the secretarial staff of District 65, a labor union affiliated with the Retail and Wholesale Department Store Union, AFL-CIO. In 1952, she was selected to help set up the Union's Health and Welfare Plan in Suffolk, Virginia. While there she taught typing and bookkeeping to Union members, the first such classes available to Negro adults ever in Suf- 20