Helen Lottridge leaves Phoenix Rising A particular coup was the acceptance o f Phoenix Rising as a United Way member agency BY A N N D E E H O C H M A N hen Helen Lottridge became executive director of Phoenix Rising in July 1984, the agency’s eight counselors saw about 30 clients a month; the budget was about $35,000. When she left the job a little more than a month ago, there were 20 counselors on staff seeing 200 clients a month; the budget had grown to $175,000. The agency’s path through those four years, from a small, low-visibility organization to a large one with a high public profile, was not always smooth. The most powerful lesson she learned as executive director, Lottridge says now, was how to take the risks that kept Phoenix Rising moving forward. “ I just had to take risks in order to keep it going,” she said. “ It was having the cheek to stay in business when it didn’t look like we’d be able to. It was maintaining confidence in myself and the staff when I wasn’t sure if we were going to make the next month’s rent.” Phoenix Rising Board of Directors president Steve Dotterer, a board member for three years, said Lottridge’s devotion to the agency was a particular strength. “ I think she’s a very good adminstrator. I think she’s very able, very competent at what she does,” he said. “ She put in a lot of extra time and did a lot of extra things for the agency.’ ’ W Siemens appointed to MHRC he formation of a true coalition of minorities will be one of the goals Cathy Siemens will work toward as a member of the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission. Siemens says she is is “ really excited by the opportunity to connect issues of discrimination” among all minorities as she takes a seat on the 15 member board. "All groups are vulnerable,” Siemens said. Another important goal of her term on the commission will be working to establish con- Behind the changes in budget and staffing that occurred under Lottridge’s leadership were more basic shifts in direction, she said. “ We started running the agency more like a business. We instituted more formal office policies and practices. We became much more visible. And that was all by design.” Phoenix Rising’s advertising increased; the agency began to sponsor more workshops and events. A particular coup was the acceptance of Phoenix Rising as a United Way member agency. This year marks the first time United Way has funded a gay and lesbian organization in Portland. That heightened profile had its price. “ The more visible we became, the more hate calls we began to get,” Lottridge said. After 20 years in management, Lottridge said, it was time for a career shift. She now attends Portland Community College full-time, studying computer systems analysis. She said she will miss the staff at Phoenix Rising more than anything else and remains most proud of leaving the agency on solid financial ground. “ I'm proud of insuring the continued existence of the agency. It required some care ful management to keep it from going under. We now have a secure financial base,’ ’ she said. Dotterer said the board is currently searching for a new executive director and hopes to interview candidates this month. • Crete policies of a mandate for hate crimes statistics. “ Victims of discrimination are frightened. I will act as a liaison” ’ in the documentation of crimes motivated by bigotry. “ The right wing is not interested in scientific, rational information, but with hate-crimes statistics we can wave the proof in their faces that discrimination does exist,” Siemens said. A longtime resident of Portland, Siemens is a veteran in the struggle for equal rights for lesbians and gays. She was the first executive director of the Lesbian Community Project and was the assistant campaign director of Oregonians for Fairness. W- can . ju a m rb a c t Cfow C raw ford share a (pecM t m ontant a lta r PSU'a 35-27 arm. Hypocrisy in action The photograph (by Ross Hamilton) appeared in the sports section o f The Oregonian on December 5. ¡988, with this caption ' ‘Tight end Barry Naone (left) and quarterback Chris Crawford share a special moment after PSU’s 35-27 win “ Maybe the models fo r the Cascade AIDS Project should have worn football jerseys? Lesbian Community Project conference slated for mid-February Among the workshops included at the con ference will be Lesbian Families and the Law; Thinking of Having Children?; Issues of Com ing Out to Biological Families; and a film and discussion group for teens of lesbians. The conference, sponsored by the Lesbian esbian Families: Affirming Our Community Project, will also feature a concert Choices,” a conference for and by by Bay Area jazz pianist, Mary Watkins, and a lesbians and their families will occur February slide presentation of the 1987 March on 17-19, 1989. The conference will examine the Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. For many different kinds of families of which les conference registration and information bians choose to be a part, as well as factors that contact, LCP, 233-9079, or write PO Box 5931, relate to lesbian families, legal issues, Portland, OR 97228. parenting, alcoholism, careers, and others. — K.C. de Gutes L Let your body speak its mind. • Massage Therapy • Body Awareness • Body-centered Counseling Gwenn Cody. B./ 2625 SE Hawtho — Jay Brown 232-20 MCC fire accidental evidence of arson from within or without.’ ’ The fire was caused by a candle which reignited itself, he said. he Christmas Eve fire at the Metropolitan The church has received offers of money and Community Church. Portland was caused by a “ real freak accident,” according to the offers of help with a replacement for the uninsured window. “ We think the community Rev. Gary Wilson, church pastor. The acciden will be pleased,” Wilson said two days after the tal fire caused major damage to a large stained accident. glass window on the west side of the building. Wilson said that he was “ happy to report no — Jay Brown T Operation Andrew approximately $3000, which single-mother Hyde doesn’t have right on hand. Hyde is asking for help from Oregon’s gay and lesbian ndrew Wiley is six and lives in Dallas, community so that she can fulfill her promise to Texas. In November, Andrew’s father died from complications due to AIDS. Before her friend. All contributions in excess of costs will be Bill Wiley succumbed, he asked Judith Hyde of donated to organizations combatting AIDS in Portland to take care of his son. Portland and Dallas. Contributions may be Judith Hyde must travel to Dallas for a mailed to Operation Andrew, PO Box 82153, custody hearing in early February. Court costs, Portland. OR 97282. # attorney fees and transportation add up to A Teddy Be Express Working Toward a Just Society EM ILY SIM O N SIMON, KRAMER G FITHIAN-BARRE7T Attorneys • • • • • • • • S e n d so m e o n e y o u lo v e a Te d d y B e a r to hug® Felony o n d M isd e m e a n o r Defense AIDS Issues C onsum er Problems W orkplace Concerns Disobiliry/Sociol Security A d o p tio n o n d Fam ily Low Sliding scale Evening a p p o in tm e n ts We deliver Teddy Bears locally and nationwide FREE B o a q a c t o f b a llo o n s w ith lo c a l d e liv e rie s O v e r 1 0 0 personalities to choose from . 506 SW 6rh. Suite 510 Ponlond. OP 97204 CALL 220-BEAR m 8 0 3 S.W . M orrison M orrison 8 t Park k . ( 5 0 3 ) 2 4 3 -2 7 3 3 ------------------- ----- 2 ^ Lower level. Blnyon Eye World Bidq : just out • 7 • January 19X9