Title: Wisconsin. Employment and Training Services Division: Wisconsin Balance of State CETA Oral History Project
Inclusive Dates: 1980-1983

Creator:

• Wisconsin. Employment and Training Services Division

Call Number: Series 2107; Tape 1059A

Quantity: 0.4 c.f. (1 archives box) and 60 tape recordings

Repository:

Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

Abstract:

Oral history interviews and related materials on the history of the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act in Wisconsin, 1973-1983. Included are recordings of two public hearings (1980 and 1982) and sixty-five interviews with staff, grantees, participants, employers, county board chairpersons, and others who administered or received CETA services in forty-nine Wisconsin counties known as the Balance of State (BOS). The interviews were conducted in 1983 by CETA staff who also prepared transcripts and abstracts for most of them. Topics discussed include CETA administration and programs, such as a drug rehabilitation program in River Falls and a women's employment project in Sturgeon Bay.

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-ser02107

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The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) was a large, federally-funded jobs and training program which existed from 1973 until October 1, 1983. See Appendix 2 for a fuller description of CETA's history.

As described and illustrated in Appendix 3, each state administered CETA through local “prime sponsors.” These local prime sponsors had to aggregate certain population totals. Those counties, which did not or could not affiliate with a local level prime sponsor, constituted the “Balance of State (BOS) “and were assigned to the Governor for administrative purposes. In Wisconsin forty-nine counties constituted the Balance of State and the Governor designated the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations, Division of Employment and Training Services, to administer Balance of State CETA programs.

When CETA was legislated out of existence, Balance of State staff, led by Kathleen McElroy, Program Manager for Planning and Evaluation, decided to preserve some of CETA's history by tape recording the recollections of staff, grantees, participants, employers, county board chairpersons, “and other interested old CETA hands.” Sixty-five oral history interviews, totaling approximately forty-five hours, were collected. Also included as part of the collection are two tapes of public hearings on the CETA program. The first of these, held in 1980 in Eau Claire, is mainly a series of people giving testimony about how they had been helped by CETA. The second, held in 1982 in La Crosse, consists of two parts: 1) staff explaining in a question and answer session how the La Crosse area Youth-in-School program was being cut, and 2) testimony from high school students and others about how the program had helped them and why it should not be cut.

State Historical Society staff provided an orientation at the launching of the Oral History Project on September 7, 1983. Facing an October 1, 1983, deadline, several CETA staff members proceeded to complete most of the interviews within the next three weeks. They worked from a set of general instructions and from several sets of general questions, geared to particular types of interviewees. The instructions and questions are included in the first folder of the finding aids.

The interviewers were generally inexperienced and untrained as oral historians. The interviewees ranged from local public figures familiar with public speaking to CETA clients who had never previously spoken “for the record.” Virtually everyone involved was pro-CETA, but interviewers were instructed to elicit critiques of the program.

The quality of the interviews varies greatly. The technical quality of the tapes is often poor, but the content is sometimes quite good. Some interviewers concentrated on the administration of CETA, while others provided a fairly thorough set of interviews on a particular CETA program (e.g., the drug rehabilitation program in River Falls [see Tape no. 5] and the Women's Employment Project in Sturgeon Bay [see Tape nos. 2 and 3].)

Some of the interviews were conducted with two or more people at the same time. Some tapes have two or more people interviewed in succession on the same cassette. Over two-thirds of the interviews have been transcribed albeit often quite roughly. All others have abstracts, keyed either to a recorder's counter or to time.

Acquisition Information

Presented by Wisconsin Balance of State CETA, 1984.

Processing Information

Processed by Jim Cavanaugh, 1984.

Series 2107 Box   1	Project instructions and proposed questions
Box   1	Transcripts and abstracts
Tape 1059A No.   1-58	Interviews Note: See Appendix 1, Index to Interviewees
	Public Hearings
	Western DETS hearing, La Crosse, May 26, 1982
No.   59 Side   1	Debbie Egan and Jerry Hanoski
No.   59 Side   2	Gordon Millsop, Chair, Al Casper, Patricia Anthony, Lisa Coreal, Tami Storey, John Aspellot, Carol Gretschel, Barb Aikens, Kathleen Sammartino
No.   60 Side   1-2	West Central District Public Testimony, Eau Claire, June 20, 1980: Michele Brewer, Barb Brogden, Carrie Gardner, Glen Grady, Colleen Hannah, Lynn Hood, Steve O'Malley, Paulette Ponick, Carol Richard Note: Transcript is in Box 1.

Interviewee	Tape/Side	Interviewer	Finding Aid
Albertson, Chuck (CAP Services; Stevens Point)	1/182	Roger Kautz	Transcript
Alligood, Polly (Staff, Women's Employment Project; Sturgeon Bay)	2/3	Rosemary Hinkfus	Transcript
Armitage, Neil (Program Director, Clark County Employment and Training Office)	4/1	Marge Martin	Transcript
Ator, Joanne (Director, Women's Employment Project; Sturgeon Bay)	2/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Transcript
Banks, J. C. (Director, Chetek Development Corporation)	4/2	Marge Martin	Transcript
Bay, William (President, Impact Seven; Turtle Lake)	5/2	Marge Martin	Transcript
Besse, Art (Director, Bureau of Grant Management and Assistance, GETO; Madison)	6/1	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Block, Bonnie (Citizen Member, Manpower Planning State Board; Madison)	7/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Burr, Gordon (Area Manpower Planning Bd.; Shawano County)	8/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Brown, Nancy (Participant, Women's Employment Project; Sturgeon Bay)	3/1	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Drury, Bill (Program Director, Southwestern CAP; Dodgeville)	9/1	George Salter	Transcript
Edelmann, Gary (Director, Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council; Whitehall)	10/1&2	Georgette Wondolkowski	Transcript
Feudner, George (Lake Winnebago District Employment and Training Service; Fond du Lac)	11/1&2	Tina Potter	Timed Abstract
Fitzgerald, Marianne (Participant and later Staff; Fond du Lac)	12/1	Roger Kautz	Transcript and Abstract
Gilbert, Sherry (Staff, Women's Employment Project; Sturgeon Bay)	3/1	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Glahn, Timothy (Participant, Kinnic Falls Alcohol and Drug Abuse Ctr., River Falls)	5/1	Marge Martin	Transcript
Green, Mary Jo Bauknecht (CETA Specialist, Mid-State Technical Institute; Wisconsin Rapids)	13/1	Gary Ferron	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Grenier, William (Administrative Officer, DIHLR; Madison)	14/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Grinhaug, Greg (Director of several CETA programs in North Central Wisconsin)	14/1&2	Gary Ferron	Transcript & Timed Abstract
Harmon, Dennis (Former Director, West Central District of the Division of Employment and Training Services)	16/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Harrill, Toni (Curative Workshop; Green Bay)	17/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Harvey, Jim (Curative Workshop; Green Bay)	17/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Hayes, Bob (Participant, Kinnic Falls Alcohol and Drug Abuse Ctr., River Falls)	5/1	Marge Martin	Transcript
Hoffman, Dolly (County CETA Coordinator; Waupaca County)	18/1	Tina Potter	Timed Abstract
Hovde, Tom (Coordinator, Kickapoo Community Development Corp.)	19/1&2	Georgette Wondolkowski	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Hunt, June (Former Participant and Staff)	20/1	Roger Kautz	Timed Abstract
Johnson, Nick (Associate Dean, UW-Platteville)	21/1	George Slater	Transcript
Jokela, Paul (North Central Technical Institute; Antigo campus)	22/1	Brenda Burke	Transcript
Jones, Bob (CAP Services [Portage County?])	23/1	Roger Kautz	Transcript
Kautz, Roger (Director, Lake Winnebago District of Division of Employment and Training Services)	24/1&2 & 25/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Kemp, Matt (Green Bay)	26/1	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Kennedy, Judy (Placement Specialist, Impact Seven; Wisconsin Rapids)	27/1	Gary Ferron	Transcript
Kolstad, Artyice (Participant, Women's Employment Project; Sturgeon Bay)	2/2 & 3/1	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
La Du, Irene (CETA Program Operator and Board member; teacher, Laona High School)	28/1	Brenda Burke	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Larson, Delores (Counselor, Kinnic Falls Alcohol and Drug Abuse Ctr., River Falls)	5/1	Marge Martin	Transcript
Larson, Joan (Former Director, Southern District of Division of Employment and Training; Madison)	29/1&2 & 30/1	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Larson, Robert (Director, Kinnic Falls Alcohol and Drug Abuse Ctr., River Falls)	5/1	Marge Martin	Transcript
Lavigne, Patty (Participant, Women's Employment Project; Sturgeon Bay)	2/2 & 3/1	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Lerman, Philip (Former Executive Director, Governor's Manpower Office; Milwaukee)	31/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Linde, Jerry (Research Analyst, Division of Employment and Training; Madison)	32/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Litzer, Lyle (Director, North Central Community Action Program; Wausau)	33/1	Brenda Burke	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Maier, Harry (Director, Co-Care Neighborhood Association; Green Bay)	34/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
McGeshick, Peter (District Director, Wisconsin Farmers Union; Rhinelander)	28/2	Brenda Burke	Transcript and Timed Abstract
McKnight, Richard (Chair, LaFayette County Board)	35/1	Himself	Transcript
McVay, Patricia (Member, State Private Industry Council Board and Brown County Board)	36/1	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Mick, Juanita (Field Worker, Southwest CAP; Dodgeville)	37/2	George Salter	Transcript
Miller, Mary (Rentmeester, Director, Joint City-County CETA Office; Green Bay)	40/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Millsop, Gordon (Chair, Western District Employment and Training Advisory Board; Tomah)	41/1	Georgette Wondolkowski	Transcript and Counter Abstract
Neuenfeldt, Debbie (Former Planning Analyst, Div. of Employment and Training; Madison)	42/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Nichols, Mary (Director, Job Training Program; LaCrosse)	43/1	Georgette Wondolkowski	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Nigbor, Ronald Program (Manager, Lake Winnebago District Farmers Union CETA Programs)	44/1&2	Roger Kautz	Timed Abstract
Pagel, David (Job Developer and Counselor, Clark County Employment and Training Office; Neillsville)	4/1	Marge Martin	Transcript
Paruleski, Bernard “Bud” (City/County CETA Planner; Green Bay)	45/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
Peckham, Carolyn (Acting Director, Southern Dist. DETS Office and former Participant; Madison)	46/1&2 & 47/1	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Pedro, David (Former Bureau Director of Bureau of Program Management, DETS; Madison)	48/1&2	Kathleen McElroy	Transcript
Purcell, John (Board Member, Western Dist. Employment and Training Board; LaCrosse)	49/1	Georgette Wondolkowski	Transcript
Rasmussen, Neil (Vice-President, Impact Seven)	5/2	Marge Martin	Transcript
Rodriguez, Pedro (Community Service Specialist, GETO; Madison)	37/1; 38/1&2 39/1&2	George Salter, Brad Holtman	Transcript
Schmitt, Joseph (Executive Director, Manitowoc/Two Rivers Chamber of Commerce; served on several CETA/PIC/JTPA boards)	50/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Transcript
Semman, Ron (Former Admin., DETS; Madison)	51/1	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Sierer, Grace (Director of Employment and Services, Coulee Region CAP; Westby)	43/2	Georgette Wondolkowski	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Sitenga, Charlene (Student Services Specialist, Indianhead Technical Inst., Rice Lake)	52/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript
Smith, Harriet (Administrative Assistant CESA #2; Minocqua)	22/2	Brenda Burke	Transcript
Strozinsky, Ruth Ann (Member, Western District Employment & Training Advisory Board; Tomah)	41/1	Georgette Wondolkowski	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Tyron, Rosalie (Former Exec. Director, Fond du Lac/Winnebago Counties CAP; Fond du Lac)	53/1&2	Roger Kautz	Transcript
Van Groll, Peter Program (Operator; Chair, Lake Winnebago District Advisory Board)	54/1&2 & 55/1	Roger Kautz	Timed Abstract
Wagner, Robert (Board member, Manpower Planning Board; Green Bay)	56/1&2	Rosemary Hinkfus	Counter Abstract
White, Gerald (Program operator, Impact Seven; Rhinelander)	57/1&2	Brenda Burke	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Woyach, Dixine (Private Sector Initiative Program, Stevens Point)	13/2	Gary Ferron	Transcript and Timed Abstract
Woychik, Edmund (Executive Director, Wisconsin Farmers Union; Chippewa Falls)	58/1&2	Brad Holtman	Transcript

The Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA) was originally enacted in 1973. CETA was a culmination of previous legislative efforts to decentralize and decategorize employment and training programs. A major departure from previous programs was in the administration of CETA, which was delegated to elected officials of cities, counties, and states throughout the nation. These chief elected officials, called “prime sponsors”, were considered to be most attuned and responsive to the needs of their local communities, and thus best able to plan and operate employment and training programs designed specifically for their local areas.

CETA was amended in 1977 to add the Youth Employment Demonstration Programs, and reauthorized in 1978. The Amendments of 1978 added the Private Sector Initiatives Programs, tightened the eligibility criteria for CETA participation, and added several new administrative provisions to guard against fraud and abuse.

The purpose of CETA has stayed essentially the same - it is to provide employment and training opportunities leading to permanent employment for economically disadvantaged unemployed or underemployed persons to enhance their self-sufficiency and to increase their earned income - and it is still administered by prime sponsors. However, the focus of CETA has changed considerably - from a loosely regulated decentralized program in 1973, to the use of Public Service Employment as a major anti-recessionary tool in the late 1970's, and now toward training programs that focus on the private sector. It is expected that this shift in focus will continue as employment and training programs move through the 1980's.

CETA's authorization expires at the end of Fiscal Year 1982, so its future remains uncertain at this time. The prime sponsor administrative structure may be modified, or abandoned altogether. Increased linkages with vocational education, the employment service, and private industry seem likely. Whether or not CETA continues to exist, the demonstrated need for and effectiveness of employment and training programs mandate their continuation in one form or another.

Note

From Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations, Division of Employment and Training Services, Balance of State Annual Report, 1983, p. 8.

Wisconsin Balance of State is prime sponsor for 49 Wisconsin counties covering 35,923 square miles that are primarily rural or consist of small urban-rural complexes. It is one of ten Wisconsin prime sponsors. Local prime sponsors are those counties and cities having over 100,000 population who apply to the Department of Labor for prime sponsorship, or multi-counties and cities, one of which has a population of over 100,000, who join together to form a consortium. After all local prime sponsors have been designated, the remaining counties, the “Balance of State,” are assigned to the Governor, the chief elected official of the state. The Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations, Division of Employment and Training Services has been appointed by the Governor to administer the CETA programs in Wisconsin Balance of State.

Balance of State is divided into six administrative districts - Southern, Lake Winnebago, Lake Michigan, Western, West Central and North Central. Each district is responsible for planning, administering, monitoring and evaluating the CETA programs in its area, with policy initiatives, general direction, and technical services provided by the central administrative staff. Beginning in Fiscal Year 1982, District staffs will also be responsible for providing Intake services to CETA applicants. Each district has a District Employment and Training Advisory Board (DETAB) that advises the district staff on employment and training needs, goals, objectives to be provided, service delivery systems, and plans for services. Membership of the DETABs consists of four sectors: service delivery agents, business and labor representatives, public and consumer representatives, and elected county officials and local government representatives.

The Balance of State has an advisory council to advise the prime sponsor on broad policy direction for Balance of State as a whole, program purpose, long-term goals, and program priorities. The Balance of State Employment and Training Advisory Council (BOSETAC) is representative of the Balance of State population, and consists of representatives from state agencies and local and county governments, District Employment and Training Advisory Boards, and public and consumer groups.

A Private Industry Council (PIC) has been established to plan, in conjunction with the prime sponsor, the Private Sector Initiatives Program under Title VII. The majority of Private Industry Council members are representatives of industry and business, including small and minority business enterprises. The PIC also includes members representing organized labor, community-based organizations, and educational agencies and institutions. Program administration, as well as the direct provision of some services, has been granted to the Wisconsin Private Sector Initiatives Program, Inc., a non-profit organization which also provides staffing to the Private Industry Council.

Note

From Wisconsin Department of Industry, Labor, and Human Relations, Division of Employment and Training Services, Balance of State Annual Report, 1983, pp. 13-14.