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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 23, 1981)
Rent-a-spouse pairs people exploring human interaction By TAMYE RIGGS Ot th« Emarald Seems like you can rent |ust about anything these days, from bicycles to clothes to records One of the more unu sual rental services is Rent-a Spouse Now it isn't likely that O J Simpson will hurdle your shrubs and beat a path to your door, but the service may provide something that a single person may need on ‘We wouldn7 send a 16 year-old to mow a single parent’s lawn.’ occasion another someone Shirley Whitehead, the owner and operator, admits the name Rent-A-Spouse has raised a few eyebrows, but it catches the attention, which is the intent of most businesses From Whitehead's point of view, the firm is aptly named As the name suggests, the firm explores avenues of human interaction other than just business relations A member can call for someone to chop wood or darn socks, and may end up with a meaningful relationship in the bargain. Whitehead says However, Whitehead says, matches will be arranged between members of compa tible emotional maturity We wouldn't send a 16-year-old out to mow the lawn for a young single parent,'' Whitehead notes She stresses, however, that everyone who needs help will get it The aim of Rent-A-Spouse. according to Earnie Amabisca. public relations mananger is to pair job seekers with those who need a specific service, such as lawn mowing, woodcutting, or babysitting Members either pay cash or barter Although this service is not specifically geared toward students, Whitehead and Amabisca hope to aim the bu siness a little more toward the younger crowd We re pretty much playing it by ear,'' Amabisca says "Hopefully, we can eventually cater to everyone "Our heritage is based on people helping one another " Whitehead says I think we ll see more of that in the future " Services available since the company's start in September include hostessing, entertain ing construction, woodcut ting, counseling, accounting, grocery shopping, tennis lessons and political counse ling friendship is an added bon us to these services To become listed on the Rent-A-Spouse service ros ter," applicants schedule an appointment with Whitehead and make a list of qualities they are seeking in a compa nion Whitehead, who says she is "a good judge of character," scrutinizes each applicant, questioning them about employment records, work qualifications and emotional stability Whitehead also runs a credit check on each prospective member it me inquiry goes wen, tne applicant is granted admis sion Despite Whitehead s efforts to keep any questionable persons out, Rent-A-Spouse will not take responsibility for any mishaps between members But then, there are exceptions. Whitehead says “If someone cancels a date, we ll find someone else to take their place Whitehead says Members must pay a $50 membership fee After that ini tial investment, affiliates must shell out $10 per month in dues According to Whitehead, all the fees go back into the organization and are used to fund the applicant checking system, matching services, and paperwork involved in the program Whitehead s rationalization for the high fees is to insure only exclusive clientele will patronize Rent-A Spouse, she says Whitehead says she believes only those seriously interested in long-term memberships will pay the prices Ambiasca and Whitehead have differing views on what types of people wi!! become the “average member" of Rent-a-Spouse From Amabisca's point of view, Rent-A-Spouse is for everybody — students, the unemployed, and the average odd-jobber. Whitehead says membership will consist main ly of single parents, although there will be a "wide cross range of people involved ’ “We re looking for reputable people, serious about the long-term aspects of Rent-A Spouse," Whitehead says The concept of Rent-A Spouse began when Whitehead owned Cedar Mills Construction and had a lot of contact with single people, she says She acted as a go between for personal acquaintances who were loo king for certain services from her “contacts ‘Rent-a~spouse is for everybody — students, odd-jobbers and the unemployed. Whitehead rounded up 10 close friends and formed the business As of yet, the "team” receives no financial compensation for their efforts Whitehead claims the opera tion is a non-profit social organization Rent-A-Spouse is a worth while social organization," she says " I d like to expand the idea as much as I can" Will Whitehead take advantage of some of the services Rent-A-Spouse has to offer? "It's not really my desire at this time,” she notes, but adds, "I am single, and I do have free time, so it's a possibility That's not my main goal, though ” Limit on oil tanker size lifted SEATTLE (AP) - Officials of Washington state's four largest oil refineries say lifting the oil tanker size limit on Puget Sound and its inland waters will have little practical effect on their operations We have no plans to bring in anything over 125.000 tons, said Fielding Formway, manager of the Atlantic Richfield refinery at Cherry Point It is the only refinery in the state with the capacity to handle fully loaded tankers over 125,000 tons, the current size limit “I think the 125,000-ton limit was a stupid regulation based on emotion, not fact," said Bill Malseed. manager of the Shell refinery at Anacortes But if the limit is raised, it won't have much meaning for Shell " Shell, the Texaco refinery at Anacortes, and the Mobil refinery at Ferndale can't accommodate oil supertankers with full loads because dockside water depth is too shallow CASH For Textbooks Mon.-Fri. Smith Family Bookstore 768 E 13th 1 Bl From Campus P*1 34S-16S1 Fitness Fashions Come see our complete selection of X Danskin *leg warmers ’Mights ’'‘sport bras ■warmups Now at 5th Street Public Market 342-6501 Windmills working again GOLDENDALE, Wash (AP) - Two of the three giant wind tur bines near Goldendale are again producing electricity after being shut down since early June when the third unit was damaged during tests, officials said Thursday The third unit, which suffered damage to its generator and drive train during a high-speed shutdown test June 8, is expected to be operating early next year, said John Lowe, director of wind energy programs for the Boeing Co., which built the turbines Boeing completed installation of the machines last May, a year after breaking ground for con struction Each unit is rated at 2 5 megawatts, or 2,500 li kilowatts, and together they produce enough electricity to service about 2,000 average Northwest homes All three machines were kept out of operation while a team of Boeing engineers diagnosed the cause of the damage Then a series of modifications were made to the hydraulic and electrical systems and to the operating procedures “We made about a dozen changes, none of them very significant in itself,” said Lowe ‘ But we are certain that they add up to better, more truly redundant systems than before It is part of the development process which is an objective of the test program This Friday at the SUD S FACTORY ARM WRESTLING TOURNAMENT sponsored ^&J,STER Weigh-In times between 6 & 8 PM Men’s & Women’s Divisions Entry Fee - $5.00 amssmxsBBaassBS Seafood Buffet Sunday, 4 to 10 OREGON ELECTRIC OCTOBERFEAST REGULAR MENU ALSO AVAILABLE OREGON ELECTRIC STATION 5th & Willamette • Downtown Eugene —emu Cultural Forum Presents The return of Northumbrian Folk Musician ALISTAIR ANDERSON Traditional music from Northumberland, Scotland and Ireland Sunday, Oct. 25 8 p.m. Beall Hall Tickets: *3.50 UO Students *4.30 General Public Available at • I 'M 11 Main Desk • Lights for Musk in Springfield • Mr. Mike ’s Really Reusable Records
