Diversity was the action word for the three-day National Guard Conference held in Savannah in November, which brought together more than 300 Guardsmen from across the nation for intensive discussion and instruction. Georgia was selected to host his national gathering of diversity managers due in part because of its pioneering efforts in the area of human relations.

Brig. Gen.. Julia Cleckley, special assistant for human resources to the Director of the Army National Guard, and the Army Guard’s first Afro-American brigadier general, opened the conference with an assessment of the state of diversity in the National Guard. She applauded the conscientious efforts being made throughout the Guard to enhance diversity training and awareness.

Col. Jimmy Davis, the event’s coordinator and human resources officer for the Georgia Department of Defense, said this was a facilitator’s conference where diversity managers were instructed on the techniques of implementing a highly effective diversity program.

Dr. Samuel Betances, recognized expert and lecturer on diversity in the military, provided attendees with an overall look at the status of diversity in the National Guard. During much of the three-day conference, attendees were exposed to a variety of topics by Betances. Conference participants later split into groups to work with trained facilitators to gain valuable pointers on instructing others on diversity topics and in the design of a comprehensive diversity programs.

Georgia, under the direction of Maj. Gen. David B. Poythress, The Adjutant General, has moved aggressively regarding diversity training, and the state has submitted one of the nation’s first diversity plans, which is often used as a model for the diversity programs of other states. About 20 Georgia Guardsmen were among those attending the conference. In 2000, Davis organized the Georgia Department of Defense Human Relations Team with the mandate of expanding diversity training throughout the Georgia National Guard.