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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (May 24, 1979)
Page 4 Portland Observer Thuradey. May 24. 1979 Portland Profile by Linda Thompson How many times per day do you lift the receiver o f your telephone to dial a number or to answer it when it rings? A routine part o f our busy day for most o f us. For our Black role model this week, the assurance that the telephone w ill ring or that you may dial a number properly is her prime responsibility. A twenty-four year old beautiful Southern belle, Janet Bett, is a native o f Pascagoula, Mississippi. She at tended Pascagoula High School and G u lf Coast Ju n io r College w ith major emphasis on Business Adm ini stration. In 1973, Janet completed junior college and moved to P ortland, Oregon where she attended Portland State University night school with her m ajor emphasis the same as above. A “ single” C apricorn she is one that has turned the American Dream into a reality. She started her ¡.-ate : career at the bottom and worked her way up and in to a well paying position. While attending PSU night school, Janet started her career with Pacific Northwest Bell in 1973 as an office clerk with the Engineering Depart ment. She was transferred to Atlan ta, Georgia as a personnel clerk. From A tla n ta back to P ortland where she was promoted to a staff clerk for the same department. From sta ff clerk to engineer aide; from engineer aide to her present position, “ Staff Specialist for the Engineer ing Department.” As a Staff Specialist, she super vises a team o f three. Their depart ment is responsible for the accuracy o f all central plug-in equipment for the Slate o f Oregon within the data base. The old m yth that beauty and brains d on’ t mix is tru ly that, a myth that has been disproven by Ms. Bett. She was a member o f the Portland Bell’s court for the 1976 Rose Festival Pari.de. Janet was Princess o f the Engineering Depart ment and second runner-up fo r “ Miss Portland Bell." A member of the Church o f the Living God, her hobbies include horse back rid in g , jogging , dancing, swimming, foosball, pool and she likes to spend as much spare time as possible doing volunteer work for agencies dealing with children. Janet is very proud o f her Southern heritage. She attributes much o f her success to this heritage and to the independence and stamina o f her parents who were both self- employed. Aside from providing for Janet’s seven sisters and brothers, they still managed to instill this sense o f independence in Ms. Bett. Janet states: “ In order to be successful in any profession, one must set priori ties. You have to have self awareness Be aware o f your capabilities and your lim itations and thus set your goals. It is important to remember that nothing is given to you. You must work diligently and hard for everytlsing The worst thing that cun happen to a young person is to feel that he/she can get something for nothing and give up i f things don’ t fall in their laps." C L IP « THIS A O H Q u o d io, J ? « ,1 m ,«„o n , J tw a in and qua« I :l As my interview with the very in telligent, warm Ms. Bett ended, I felt I had known her for some time. I also felt a surge o f hope for the young and gifted Blacks o f Portland. For at the tender age o f 24, Janet has reached a milestone that many Blacks reach much later in life. o nly I THRUj 1 AUG.I8TH I PO STITM el B AT7 3 0 PM! i (Mui.tionert Club SKyvwwl It is my desire that Janet Bett be aware and be able to deal with the many pressures and difficulties that she w ill encounter and not become discouraged but continue upward. Until next week remember: "One of the most difficult things to do is to forgive your enemies and those who are constantly trying to find fault in you and your lifestyle.” I I ,i -a"»miti quoti »! Air FO iM U Q N O M A H l JANET BETT IFs. Nate Jones joins Court In a surprise announcement. Presi dent Jim m y C arter has named NAACP General Counsel, Nathaniel R. Jones, to fill a vacancy on the U.S. Court o f Appeals, 6th Circuit. The announcement, which came during the National Association for the Advancem ent o f C olored People’ s quarterly Board meeting in C olu m b ia , South C a ro lin a , was greeted by NAACP officials, officers and members. “ N athaniel Jones,” said one National Board member, “ is the best civil rights attorney in the country — Black or white. We may have lost a general counsel, but we’ ve gained an im portant ally in our judicial sy stems.” The announcement came on the 25th Anniversary o f the Brown vs. Board o f Education (Topeka case). Jones, who had joined the civil rights organization in 1969 became identi fied with the role that his predeces sors such as Thurgood Marshall, and Robert Carter had played, now will join them in the Federal judiciary. Benjamin L. Hooks, Executive Di rector o f the NAACP also expressed delight with the selection, but voiced a concern over who w ould take Jones’ place. “ I don’ t think there are that many civil rights lawyers who can come into our organization and immediately fill the shoes o f a person like Nate. In a very special way, he was particularly suited to be general counsel o f the NAAC P and was a logical successor to those who preceeded him .” Jones is a native o f Youngstown, Ohio, attended Youngstown Univer sity and received his Bachelors o f Arts in 1951. Later, he received his LLB from Youngstown U n ive rsity in 1956 He has been Executive Director o f the Youngstown F a ir Employee Practices Com m ission, Assistant U.S. A tto rn e y fo r the N orthern District o f Ohio and Deputy General Counsel for the President’ s Com mission on Civil Disorder. Interested in current books about African Liberation? Visit: JOHN REED BOOK STORE In the Dekum Building S19 S W 3rd Avenue Sixth Floor “ I f” we get enough rainfall and snowpack... "If ” all generating plants stay on-line with out breakdown... " I f” we're able to buy power when we need it from California. Canada or elsewhere... " I f” growth in elec tric use doesn’t surprise us.. Then, we might be able to avert an electrical energy crisis. But the chances of critical Northwest electric shortages grow every day. The " if”s of today can too easily become the "can ’t ’s of tomorrow. And that prospect has us worried. the kilowatts needed to meet the region’s growth. Some new genera tion of electrical energy is required. It cannot come from our rivers; they’re already strapped to capacity. Needed new gener ating plants are lagging al least three to six years be hind schedule. Why? Conflicting environmental reports. Layers upon lay ers of red tape. The list goes on andon. The result? Your electric supply is in jeopar dy and vour electric costs are going to skyrocket. Delays are adding tens of thousands of dollars each day to the cost of building new plants. Last Winter You Almost Ran Out of Electricity. We Need Your Help. Last w inter’s ex treme cold spell put un The indecision and precedented demands on hesitancy about building the region’s electrical gen needed electricity generat erating system. ing facilities cannot con At the height of the tinue without serious con- cold snap, the added elec sequences, tricity demand was like H lll you be able Io heat your home the next few winters' Keep school« and Jobs running through he You can help. next five years ' Right now. I l depends on " IF "s. The weather. Population growth And on whether i suddenly having to serve '•’•I Our decision makers have be allowed io build needed generating facilities before It ’s too late. 16,000 more families. tough jobs sorting through We just barely met the of meeting not only peak Pacific Power's system. the many difficult energy peak requirement. power requirements, but day- FACT: Pacific Power’s issues. We had to buy costly in, dav-out electrical needs. 10% share (248,000 kilowatts) You depend on electric power from California and of the Washington Public- ity for your economic security, Canada. Power Supply System ’s gen You’re Outgrowing and comfort. We had to borrow heav erating units is less capacity Your Electric Supply. Write to your elected ily on stored hydro energy. than our annual residential and appointed officials urging Then, to refill depleted reser FACT: Over 90% of the heating demand. positive action for the electric voirs, we had to gamble on newly-buill homes in Pacific That kind of growth ity you need. Participate in precipitation that might not Power’s Northwest service says loud and clear that the energy decisions. Learn more have come. area are using electricity for region's present supply of about electricity supply and But last w inter’s scare space and water heating. electricity can ’t keep up with demand. w-as just the prologue to an Heretofore, that percentage your demand. After all, you're the even greater problem facing was slight I v over 40%. one footing the bill...a bill that the Northwest: the difficulty FACT: In 1978, new res Conservation is Critical, grows larger with every delay. idential connected load was But It’s Not Enough. more than our 80% capacity share of the 330,000 kilowatt It is simply not possi WYODAK plant inWvoming... ble, however urgent the need the newest coal fired plant in for conservation, to “ save” al The People at Pacific Power Or Cell 227 2902 Si b Children unde» I? not adm itted■ ReetnQ Monday Ih ro u fh Saturday J WHETHER OR NOT YOUR LIGHTS GO ON SHOULDN’T DEPEND ON NATHANIEL JONES I •n P o M M n d l NF ?? Jr <1 and Ha.
