A Welcomed--and Welcome--Addition

After living in Orange County 16 years, enjoying the lifestyle but feeling a strong sense of racial isolation, Xerox executive Betty Arnold, an African American, has found a sense of community.

As the new president of the Orange County chapter of the National Conference--formerly called the National Conference of Christians and Jews--Arnold has found people who share her commitment to diversity, if not her culture and color.

A colleague invited Arnold to a National Conference dinner two years ago, and she was struck by the group’s strong awareness of social issues.

“To be in Orange County, you feel like you’re so isolated from other blacks that to find myself in a room of 500 or 600 people who are concerned about diversity was just overwhelming,” she said.

Within weeks after the dinner, she was on the board of the National Conference, and three or four months after that, she was on the executive board. Last September, she became the local chapter president.

Her quick ascent in the organization happened because once Arnold had joined the board, “she instantly became a vital part of the organization, assumed a leadership role, and it was a very logical step for her to assume the presidency,” said National Conference Executive Director William Shane.

Promoting acceptance of religious, ethnic and cultural diversity is the organization’s mission, Shane said, and it tends to attract people like Arnold, who are optimistic about improving human relations.

“I believe with all of my heart that virtually all people do believe in certain universal truths, including that we are all just people,” Shane said. “While there are occasional individuals who might think and act differently, the vast majority of us value diversity and want to work together.”

For the National Conference, Arnold’s race is neither something to ignore nor to dwell on. The organization celebrates diversity, and as one of two African Americans on the board, Arnold adds a valued point view.

“Of course her background makes it possible for her to recognize rejection and bigotry and the biases that people have,” said National Conference Vice President Tom Thorkelson. “I think for that reason she just shined quickly.

“But Betty’s a very competent person and I would have a lot of confidence in her running any organization, whether business or whatever,” Thorkelson said.

Arnold, who is in her early 50s, lives in Dana Point with her husband. Their three adult children also live in Orange County. Sharply dressed and looking 10 years younger than her age, Arnold exudes determination and confidence.

Born in a small blue-collar town outside Pittsburgh, she was married with two children before beginning her career in business.

Arnold likes Orange County, the high quality of life, the community she lives in and her job. But fewer than 2% of county residents are African American, and at times she feels the lack.

“Outside the workplace there are some challenges--people staring at you and following you around in stores,” she said.

“With other black people you can relate to one another, you have common experiences and you can let your guard down,” she said. “In business you’re assimilating to white culture and not just being yourself.”

A self-described workaholic, Arnold is vice president, controller for western customer operations at Xerox, with 14 states under her office. Organized and efficient, she brings strong business skills to the National Conference, other board members said.

“She’s a very good administrator, but she’s also a visionary,” said board member Keith Plant. “Betty’s a very productive person and works very hard for the organization because she really believes in the cause of the National Conference.”

One of the beliefs underlying National Conference activities and events is that Orange County already is a diverse community but does not thoroughly recognize itself as such, Plant said.

“One of the charts Betty uses when talking about the organization shows it’s a big myth that Orange County is made up of one type of person,” Plant said. “I think that’s the real issue here; the chapter here has a lot of work to do.”

The chapter sponsors several major events each year, including its popular House of Worship tour, which takes visitors to a variety of religious services.

New this year is its ethnic celebrations tour, which kicks off today with attendance at the Black History Parade and Cultural Fair in Santa Ana and will include a celebration of Israel’s 50th anniversary in April, the Highland Games and Scottish Heritage Festival in May and a Day of the Dead festival in May.

One of the chapter’s major events is its annual Knowledge and Social Responsibility summer program for high school juniors. Since 1985, in partnership with UC Irvine, the National Conference has selected 40 to 50 students to attend a two-week intensive course on diversity.

If Arnold had her way, the National Conference would also do KSR courses for adults.

“But that will have to come later; right now we need to stay focused on doing a few things well,” she said.