Agency joins parted
friends and relatives
By Lon Stcmhauer
Of the Kmerald
Occasionally a story appears
in the newspaper about two
siblings who meet after being
separated from each other since
birth, or about parents who are
tracked down by a child they
gave up for adoption many
years ago.
The search for a long-lost
friend or family member can
cost a great deal of money and
time, and nothing guarantees
the effort will prove fruitful.
In response to his own barren
search, Herb Farmer founded
Friend Finders International —;
“lost and found for friends” —
hoping to simplify matters for
others. •
For no charge, a person can
register his or her name on a
central worldwide data base
and be notified immediately of
yourself available and one place
to look. If people call in to
register, they’ll find out right
away if someone is looking for
them,” Pedersen says, adding
that the ones who register are
also usually searching for
someone.
However, he said the success
depends on the cooperation of
millions.
The business has already
yielded results for Parmer,
although he didn’t conduct his
search through the company'
computer.
White setting, up FFI, Farmer
located two. of the lost friends
he had vbeen seeking;, when an
advertiser he.was working.with
told him of a prisoner-of-war
convention that was to be held
in Seattle in.July. From a mail
ing list at the convention.
Farmer found the address of one
It’s one place to make yourself available
and one place to look. If people call in to
register, they'll find out right away if so
meone is looking for them. ’
—Larry Pedersen
where to reach anyone who con
tacts FFI in search of him or her.
For one request at $5. and addi
tional name requests at $2 each,
the FFI will check its computer
each week for a year to see if the
names being sought out have
been registered in their
computer.
Confidentiality is maintained
by giving a message to the per
son who is sought out, rather
than allowing the contact to be
made by the one who has re
quested the search. This
prevents someone from being
contacted by a person he or she
doesn’t w'ant to hear from.
“A system like this has never
before been available,” says
Larry Pedersen, president of
FFI. which opened last month
in Poulsbo, Wash., near Seattle.
“It’s one place to make
man he had spent more than a
year with in a German prison
camp during World War II.
Once the two hooked up, they
located a third man from the
camp.
FFI exposure in the media has
brought new members to the
organization, but the exact
number is confidential.
Pedersen says.
In addition, members have
been referred to FFI from the
Salvation Army Missing Per
sons Locater System, an inter
national service that helps fami
ly members locate each other.
The FFI toll-free numbers for
registration and search requests
are: 1-800-223-2761 from the
United States, Alaska, Hawaii
and Puerto Rico; and
1 -800-4 2 2-2 5 1 4 from
Washington state.
Classic Ibsen tale coming
tiedda Gabler, Henrik Ibsen's
classic drama, will open Thursday in the
University’s Robinson Theatre. The play,
written in 1890, is the tale of one
woman's struggle to control her destiny,
and is considered to be Ibsen's most
popular play.
“Hedda Gabler” is the second offer
ing in the University Theatre's '84-85
season. It will continue its run Friday,
Saturday. Nov. 29, 30, and Dec. I. Cur
tain time for all performances is 8 p.m.
Photo by Michael Clapp
Holiday-season jobs available
By Robin Joannides
Of the Emerald
They may be nice, but those gifts of money
under the Christmas tree probably won't last the
entire holiday season, much less the first week of
the break.
The Job Location and Development program
at the University may provide an alternative,
however.
There are approximately 1,500 to 2,000 jobs
available for students in the Eugene area during
the holiday season, says Emmett Williams, pro
gram director.
The program aids students in finding jobs
during the holiday break while helping local
businesses increase efficiency and accommodate
the sudden influx of shoppers.
“Students in the University’s professional
programs like business, computer science, jour
nalism and architecture can be terrific assets to
employers.” Williams says.
Employers are required to pay at least the
minimum wage of $3.35 an hour, but some jobs
pay as much as $5 an hour, Williams says.
Williams would not release specific names of
employers because it would defeat the purpose of
their program, which tries to match students with
a job relating to their interests and abilities.
The program screens and directs the student
to an employer rather than encouraging the job
seeker to go directly to the employer.
The University’s employment office, located
at 1511 Agate St., currently has about 100 possi
ble holiday jobs posted. The job applicant must
be a University student who has paid all registra
tion fees.
W'illiams conducts a preliminary screening
that includes the student’s qualifications, ap
pearance, availability and transportation.. The
student is then sent to an employer for a formal
interview.
The majority of the available jobs are in retail
sales, Williams says. He recommends that
students apply immediately as the holiday season
is rapidly approaching.
Institute to offer business internships
By Michael Hosrnar
Of Ihir Kmerald
A new international-business internship
program should be in full blossom this spring
at the University and other colleges
throughout the state, says Dr. James Manning,
director of the International Trade and Com
merce Institute at Portland State University.
The internships “will be a University pro
gram that we (the institute) are coordinating,”
Manning says. The University will select
students for the programs, and the institute
will design the program to fit each individual
school, he says, “That’s the only way we Can
do it. •
“It (the program) will be full-blown and
highly structured, with lectures and
research.” says Manning. The program is still
in the design stages and won’t be ready for ap
plicants until this spring.
The institute was developed to act as a
central, statewide organization to help Oregon
businesses develop effective international
business programs. Manning told the State
Board of Higher Education in its Oct. 26
meeting. The institute will do this, he says,
through programs designed to coordinate rela
tionships between Oregon businesses, local
government, and international business.
Manning says he is currently working
with interns who are doing a study to find out
why Oregon businesses aren’t more involved
in international business. He says the institute
now has four internships, including one at the
rv
Hailv Kmnralrl
U.S. Department of Commerce and Oregon
Bank in Portland. In addition to these current
internships, the institute wants a more com
prehensive program that would entail 10 full
weeks of work, he says. Manning envisions in
terns spending about two weeks at five dif
ferent international businesses and organiza
tions in Oregon.
"We (the University) are very supportive
of what they are trying to do, says Richard
Steers, associate dean of business administra
tion. "It will increase the number of intern
ships available to University students,” he
says.
"The institute will act as a clearinghouse
for internships,” Steers says. "They will take
the initiative to contact individual businesses
in Oregon and try to coordinate a program
with the University.
"I’m a strong believer in internships," he
says. “It helps students get jobs — it goes
beyond textbook learning."
Steers says the new program comes at a
good time because the business school at the
University is trying to enhance its interna
tional business curriculum. The school is try
ing to make students more aware of the impact
international business has on local govern
ment, he says. “It’s something we haven’t
done a lot of,” Steers adds.
The higher education board has already
approved a master’s degree program for inter
national business at the University. “That’s
step one,” he says. “Step two is getting money
from the Legislature.”
Disabled students discuss
future counseling services
Physically-disabled students
will meet today to discuss
future University counseling
services and international
education opportunities in
Room 164 Oregon Hall from 4-5
p.m., says Mitch Turbin, a
university counselor for dis
abled students.
Mobility International USA,
along with the University
Milch Turbin
Counseling Center, is sponsor
ing the meeting to discuss the
possibility of establishing self
help groups among physically
disabled University students.
The meeting will also inform
them of exchange programs to
international universities
specifically available to disabl
ed students.
Turbin hopes the meeting
will act as a springboard for
future meetings, activities and
organizations among those at
the University with physical
limitations.
Except for specially-marked
parking spaces and access
ramps, disabled students have
very few services available to
them here, says Turbin, who is
legally blind and has a hearing
impairment.
“Physical disabilities are ac
cidents of life, but if we choose
to, we can turn what seems to be
a liability into an asset. All it
takes is coming out, accepting
it, and working with what you
have,” Turbin says.