MEMORANDUM 

Date: April 25, 1994
To: Senator Dole
From: Alec Vachon (initialed)
Re: 1994 Int'l Very Special Arts Festival 

* I have been invited to the 1994 International Very special Art Festival in Brussels next week (invitation attached). The purpose of the festival is to provide a showcase for artists with mental or physical disabilities. The artwork, performances, choral groups, plays and readings will be 
presented by artists from many countries. 

* Very Special Arts was founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith (Senator Kennedy's sister), who had a vision of including people with disabilities in the arts. 

* In addition to observing, I will be speaking on a panel regarding the Americans with Disabilities Act and the work of your office. 

* I would be out Wednesday through Friday. No floor action on my issues is scheduled, and all other matters are in good shape. 

* If there are any matters I should be aware of, please let me know. I have checked this matter with Senate Ethics and the invitation comports with their rules. Thanks.

(hand written) Dan has approved

(page 2) 
(letterhead)
Very Special Arts
 
BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Ernest L. Boyer, Chair 
President The Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching

Jean Kennedy Smith 
Founder, Very Special Arts

Walter Anderson 
Editor PARADE

John Avradinis 
Chairman of hte Board
National Housing Bank 

Joao Clemente Baena Soares 
Secretary General
Organization of American States

William G. Barry 
President Barry Associates

Jason S. Berman 
President Recording Industry
Association of America

Henry B. Betts
Medical Director and 
Chief Executive Officer
Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago

Jonn Brademas 
President Emeritus
New York University

Henry G. Cisneros 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Cisneros Asset Management Company

Ida Dark
Music Teacher Therapist
 
Joel Katz
Attorney
Katz Smith and Cohen

Edward M. Kennedy, Jr. 
Advocate for Disability Rights
 
Wilbert J. LeMelle 
President The Phelps-Stokes Fund

Earl T. Leonard, Jr. 
(illegible) President
(illegible) Cola Company

Michael T. Martin 
(illegible)

William F. McSweeny 
(illegible)

Michael O'Neill 
(illegible)

Itzhak Perlman
(illegible)

Howie Seago
(illegible)

William K Smith 
(illegible) Disability

Randy Souders
(illegible)
 
Annette Strauss 
(illegible) City of Dallas Texas

Laureen Summers 
Program Associate Project on Science
Technology and Disability
American Association for the Advancement of Science

Victor Temkin 
Consultant

A. Robert Towbin 
Managing Director
Shearson Lehman Hutton Inc.

Raymond G. Viault 
Chief Executive Officer
(illegible) Ltd
Vice President
Kraft General Foods International

George F. Will
Author Syndicated Columnist

Vincent A. Wolfington
Chairmand of the Board
(illegible) International, Inc.

Hiro Yamagata
Visual Artist

Eugene C. Maillard 
Chief Executive Officer

Very Special Arts 
Education Office 
The John F. Kennedy Center 
for the Performing Arts 
Washington, DC 20566 
(202)628-2800 
(202)737-0645 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) 
(202)737-0725 (FAX) 

(end of letterhead)

February 25, 1994 

Mr. Alexander Vachon 
Office of the Honorable Dole 
141 Senate Hart Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Alex: 

In 1994 Very Special Arts celebrates its 20th year of programming in arts and education. Part of that celebration will take place in Brussels, Belgium from May 4-8th at the third International Very Special Arts Festival. On behalf of the Board of Directors of Very Special Arts I would like to invite you to join over 750 state and international directors and delegate participants at this exciting four day event. 

The IVSAF is an opportunity to view the diversity and the talent that encompasses Very Special Arts across the nation and throughout the world. Performances, participatory experiences, exhibits and seminars in the disciplines of dance, drama, visual arts and music will take place throughout the week in a variety of venues. In particular, we invite you to observe the festival days activities and to take part as a discussant in the open forums on issues of relevance to arts and education, emphasizing the full participation of individuals of all ages with disabilities in mainstream settings. Other discussants include program directors, professional artists, educators and Very Special Arts participants from around the globe. 

Very Special Arts has received corporate support for the IVSAF which allows us to offer to pay for your travel and accommodations in Brussels if appropriate. As an organization which has benefitted from federal funding we believe that your participation would assist in informing Congress about the accomplishments of Very Special Arts. The state director, a board member and a delegation of Very Special Arts participants from the state of Kansas will also be attending the IVSAF. 

I have included with this invitation a preliminary schedule of events and other description information about the IVSAF. Please let me know if you have further questions or need additional materials. I will look forward to your response and certainly hope you will be able to join us in Brussels. 

Sincerely, 

(signature)
Ellin J. Nolan
Government Relations


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