Volunteerism

* Re “Former Foes Bush, Clinton Unite to Make Community Service Push,” Jan. 25: Bill Clinton, George Bush, Jerry Ford, Jimmy Carter, Colin Powell, Nancy Reagan, Lady Bird Johnson and God knows who else all combine to work for volunteerism, one of the important parts of Newt Gingrich’s “To Renew America” college course and book, and a basic part of many other plans that have been proposed to make our country great once again.

This combined effort will succeed where many others have failed if all of the above women and men push it constantly and if all of us take part.

PHIL ARNOLD

Costa Mesa

* With all the rhetoric of where Republicans and Democrats stand on current issues, it was a blessing to discover coverage of Bush’s and Clinton’s push for volunteers across the nation. This summit on volunteerism symbolizes that our leaders are serious about the future of our country.

Los Angeles communities and corporations have a lot to gain from a mentor volunteer program. A good example is the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Over 200 MTA employees and business partners volunteer their time and resources to high school students and teachers participating in school-to-career programs. Volunteers like these guarantee a win-win relationship with our future work force.

ART GOMEZ, Program Manager

MTA Transportation Teaching Institute