I would like to bring out something here about housing, if I may, Mr. Chairman. It is very interesting. We have two types of filing on housing which were done in New Jersey, which is a community that is up before the HHFA and the FHA for possible acceptance. The interesting part was that the rentals that came in under 231 are higher than the rentals being presented by a private community in New York State that is privately financed and is housing senior citizens. The one in New York State is renting studio apartments at about $62 a month. The same type of apartment, on a 231-which, of course, is at a maximum; I will admit when a commitment is given to the Government, it is always at a maximum rate; when they are negotiable contracts, they may come in for less-the 202, which is nonprofit, fully sponsored, under HHFA, came in at $59. It seems that private industry, if it wants to, can do a great deal of the senior citizen housing without the necessary help of HHFA financing. I have no more, except that I would like to submit the report. Mr. ROBBINS. Well, I have only the filings, and I only have original copies here. Mr. ELLSWORTH. He has submitted for the record, here, some documents relating to housing, also; brochures and plans and so forth. Mr. BAILEY. Fine. Without objection, they will be included in the record. (The above-mentioned material follows:) SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL PRESENTED BY RICHARD S. ROBBINS GOVERNMENTAL LEGISLATION FOR (A) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND (B) PARACLETE OF LEADERSHIP (1) Fund to develop an experimental village as a research unit, to study housing, design, recreation, needs, vocations, supplementary income through industry support, cost of construction material needed, etc. (2) Counseling service to assist nonprofit organizations and senior citizens housing and community development coordinators in the numerous complexities of preparing and bringing to a conclusion the vital segments of the total program. (3) Setting up of organization between the Senior Citizen, industry and business to establish the "Youth Supervision Plan". (4) A Government sponsored conference to "spark" the program, in cooperation with community development leaders now operating (Sun City, Lehigh Acres, Palm City, etc.). These villages now have living there many retired individuals, and we feel that the firms from which they retired would give a good foundation to launch the program. (5) A senior citizen Washington conference for the development of senior citizen industry within the villages, to arouse the interest of business and industry in using the skills and talents of Senior Citizens on a part-time basis and establish useful work for these firms in the area being peopled by the elderly. BIOGRAPHY OF RICHARD S. ROBBINS Richard Robbins never walks up a flight of stairs, he runs up them. And when he talks his sentences have a kind of staccato effect. In short, Richard Spencer Robbins, Canadian-born president of Richard S. Robbins Co., Ltd., New York City, is definitely a man in a hurry. Drive coupled with an agile mind is the force that has enabled this sandyhaired, 49-year-old executive to rise to a position of prominence in the merchandising field. In 1945 Robbins formed his company to serve the numerous radio audience participation programs aired on all the national networks. With the advent of television, Richard Robbins moved into that field with his merchandise service. At one period the Robbins firm handled an even dozen of the top-rated TV audience participation shows. Today the organization handles two of the leading programs seen on the television screen, "The Price Is Right" with Bill Cullen and "Say When" with Art James. As a young man Richard Robbins became fascinated with model building and quickly became one of the leading experts in the model and hobby field. Model railroading was given its final impetus by Robbins in 1937. Later he became manager and merchandiser for Polks Modelcraft Hobbies, Inc., of New York City. He published and edited hobby magazines and papers and assembled a great many of the basic hobby catalogs. The lure of show business drew Richard Robbins into the NBC Air Youth of America program in 1941. He served as project adviser for this Rockefeller Foundation project. Air Youth of America later became a division of the National Aeronautics Association. The Boy Scouts of America called on "Dick" to advise them in their hobby and crafts program. With the beginning of World War II, Robbins who is a Canadian entered the RCAF to serve as an aircrew instructor and special lecturer on secret aircraft. Again, Robbins' hobby abilities came into play with the construction of all types of model aircraft for identification study. His programs were used throughout the RCAF. He was discharged in January of 1945 with the rank of flight sergeant. Robbins' interest in the hobby field led him into the general leisuretime field itself. Since 1948 he spent most of his time in the study of leisure and what Americans do with this free time away from work. With the growth of unionism and automation, Robbins moved into the fact developing leisure field in 1958 with the creation of the Boddington communities. The Boddington community plan, originated by Robbins, carried the vacation living theme to completion. A Boddington community is complete, a community designed solely for recreation and retirement. All facilities are made available from swmming pool to horseback riding, from clubhouse to cabana area. And of course, the kind of housing a family wants for vacation and retirement living. In his search for the proper vacation-retirement house for his Boddington communities, Robbins became acutely aware of the fact that the United States did not have a modern, completely equipped vacation-retirement shelter, a house that could be used for leisure on a year-around basis. His studies convinced him that the country was ready to buy such a second dwelling for vacations and subsequent retirement. It is typical of Richard Robbins that he decided to create his own 4-season vacation home. The "Hogans" became a reality in June 1959, "Hogan" being the Northwest Indian word for house. Working with Mr. Worley K. Wong, noted San Francisco architect, Robbins created a vacation-retirement house that is completely modern in construction, materials and equipment; and this shelter has unusual esthetic value. The vacation-retirement "Hogan" is the Nation's most advanced leisure-time dwelling. Richard Robbins' eye for beauty extends into his private life, and in 1942 he married the lovely and talented Rosa von Lima Prem. Known professionally as Ricky Prem, Mrs. Robbins was one of Austria's most famous fashion models. The Robbins family includes a son, Spencer age 9, and a daughter, Dawn Elizabeth age 11. The Robbins reside in Washington Square, New York City. Richard S. Robbins is a member of the famous Canadian Club of New York; and the British Schools and Universities of New York. He was educated in Canada, graduating from the University of Mount Tolmie in 1935 with a degree in marketing, merchandising, and salesmanship. THE SENIOR CITIZEN YOUTH SUPERVISION PLAN FOR TOMORROW'S LEADERS THE PLAN The senior citizen youth supervision plan is a talent hunt, a penetrating search for gifted young people of high school and/or college age who show those special skills and traits of leadership needed for our Nation's future survival. The plan's overall objective is to give these talented junior citizens guidance and inspiration by utilizing the time and abilities of those prominent men and women, the top leaders of business, government, industry, military, science, and education, who are being or are retired from active participation in their fields. Under such expert counsel and direction, these young men and women will receive a kind of leadership training that must fit them for the responsibilities of America's tomorrow. OPERATION Each year the country's professions and industries select from our educational institutions young men and women who are gifted in the requirements of the select professions and vocations. These young people are usually absorbed into the positions of their choice, without receiving further guidance or expert help to permit them and their new family responsibilities to fit the new complex society of our modern world, one which our schools and universities do not have time or personnel to adequately educate for. Each year an equal number of expert, fully trained and more than competent individuals are being "put out to pasture" by the firms they built and guided to success. The operation is to join youth with tempered, knowledgeable and trained, retired age, to help this youth take the places vacated by the talented retired. Industry will be asked to use their retired talent and assign it to guide their new recruits through the difficult years of learning how to live and progress in the complexities of the modern society. These young people need not only guidance in how to succeed in their daily vocation but guidance also in how to make a life in their world, not just a living. THE VITAL PLUS The senior citizen youth supervision plan permits youth to receive personal guidance, career direction and leadership training under the best tutors this Nation can provide, its retired leaders from all walks of life. This plan continues, year after year, as the youths come along, and the great leaders retire to join youth in its preparation for the future. It is a national program under the aegis of our senior citizens that continues to grow in scope and importance as the years pass. |