Switchboard unites callers, queries
By FRAN HANSON
Of ttm Emerald
Need a ride to San Francisco?
Or information about emergen
cies, food, jobs — even term
papers?
Switchboard, a non-profit in
formation and referral service
for Lane County may have the
answers.
Located downtown in a small
room on the second floor of the
old Tiffany building, Switch
board is a veritable information
bank. Community volunteers
and three staff members work
with an extensive file of com
munity organizations to connect
callers with community services
and resources.
"The whole idea is if you ask
us a question we ll find you an
answer. Occassionally we ll
even help with papers, but not
too much," says agency direc
tor Jay Stutz.
Switchboard connects peo
ple with mainstream or tradi
tional social service agencies
and alternative and special in
terest groups. It also offers
housing and job listings, lost
and found information on pets,
a free public message service,
community events information
and calendar and a 24-hour
rideline.
The ride-share program, a
kind of long-distance carpool, is
free for students. Switchboard
volunters connect people who
are offering rides with those
who need rides.
It takes only a phone call to
find out about available rides,
but signing up for a ride means
making a visit to the agency.
Switchboard likes to make eye
contact with people offering or
needing rides as a screening
process.
The agency also sponsors a
ride board in the EMU.
According to Stutz, Christmas
is the busiest time of year for
ride-sharing. Although most
rides are regional, the San
Francisco-Eugene route is the
most popular.
Another special Switchboard
service is a Human Services
State doctors prescribe
legal abortion support
i_cyaii4.cu auui uui i yan iou u it
support of the Oregon Medical
Association Sunday, but the
doctors wouldn't oppose Con
gress’ Human Rights Amend
ment.
An American Medical As
sociation resolution to "strongly
oppose” the amendment was
called redundant by OMA
members. Both the OMA and
the AMA have supported
legalized abortions since 1973.
But Lane County delegate
Munir Katul argued that no
action on the resolution would
be perceived as weakening the
association’s support of abor
tion.
"Timing is important,” Katul
said. “Reaffirming our position
does carry clout in Congress
and society."
Portland physician Russell
Sacco argued that bringing up
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rips apart our organization.”
“What’s the resolution going
to change?" Sacco asked. “The
AMA is committed to no
government interference with
abortion."
In other action the
association:
• Approved development of a
voluntary system to control im
proper prescribing of mood-al
tering drugs.
• Supported the concept of
hospice care for cancer pa
tients.
• Endorsed legislation that
would label raw milk with a
warning.
• Opposed House Bill 288,
which would prohibit the
regulation of fuel used in stoves
and fireplaces. Doctors argued
that air contamination from the
use of coal could cause com
munity health problems.
Law
School Graduate
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BOOKSTORE
13th & Kincaid
Mon-Fri 8:15-5:30
Sat 10:00-2:00
Textbooks 686-3520 • General Books 686-3510
• Supplies 686-4331
Directory and a Women’s Yel
low Pages. The directory lists
275 organizations in Lane
County and costs $20. A copy is
available for use at the agency.
Like many other service
agencies, Switchboard is facing
funding problems.
Because of CETA cutbacks,
the agency’s current paid staff
of three may be cut back to one
in July unless other funding is
found.
Currently, the agency is sup
ported by Joint City/County
Revenue Sharing funds, CETA,
private donations and fund
raising activities.
Switchboard began as a
grassroots organization in the
spring of 1969, in a small
Eugene coffeehouse. At the
time there was no central
information center in town.
Last year when the county
lost its information center, it
funded Switchboard, making it
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the county’s official information
center.
According to Stutz, that
meant releasing old values and
breaking into the straight
"mainstream” community. The
result was an agency that works
for both the traditional and al
ternative communities.
The University plays a large
part in Switchboard’s success,
Stutz says The organization’s
25 volunteers are University
students involved in ESCAPE or
the Community Service and
Public Affairs program
Switchboard’s hours are 8
a m. to 8 p.m., Monday through
Friday, and 9 a m to 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday. The main
phone number, 686-8453,
becomes a recorded message
after hours and their new
emergency number is
343-HELP The 24-hour rideline
number is 345-7600
G
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SPRING TERM
MEDITATION CLASSES
The SRI CHINMOY CENTRE of
Eugene will be offering a free 5
week class in meditation beginning
Monday, April 27th at 7:00 pm.
This term our first two classes will
be held in the EMU Forum Room.
There is no charge for any
meditation classes offered by the
SRI CHINMOY CENTRE.
For more information
call 683-6128 or 485-8050
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