P age B IO
A ugust 2 4 , 199 4 • T he P ortland O bserver
Protect Yourself Against Electrical Scams
If your home needs electrical done, a contract which clearly spells Manager o f NECA. "A s a m atter o f
work, be smart and cautious. There out everything is your best bet.” In fact, the largest contractor in the city
are a small number o f companies in addition, there is no need to pay a fee only has one num ber.” "Y ou may also
the Portland area who are engaging in for any estimate. "Very, very few
want to be cautious if the company
illegal practices, often overcharging professional contractors would ask a doesn’t list a street address," adds Jim
consumers by huge amounts. The fee for an estimate," comments Vicky Ferris, o f N ECA -m em ber o f Red’s
O regon-C olum bia C hapter o f the Bacon, Vice President o f Marketing Electric and Past President o f the O r­
National Electrical Contractors Asso­ for Christenson Electric. "All the con­ egon R em odeler's Association.
ciation (NECA) recently assisted the tractors I know o f Prov ide free esti­
4. Contact the Better Business
mates.”
Oregon Attorney G eneral’s office w ith
Bureau for a report on the contractor
2. if y ou’re calling an electri­ you're considering. For your conve­
their investigation o f these scams in
the electrical industry NECA pro­ cal contractor from a telephone direc­ nience. the BBB system is now auto­
vided information which the organi­ tory ad, check to see the Oregon Con­ mated. All you have to do to get a
zation had been compiling on the un­ struction Contractor’s Board (CCB) report is to enter the telephone num ­
number is in the ad. Legally, it should ber o f the business you wish to inquire
scrupulous practices to the Attorney
G eneral’s office, served as consult­ be. Then you can check with the O r­ about.
ants during the investigation, and pro- egon State Board o f Contractors to
5. Find out if the contractor is a
v ided a standard o f conduct against make sure the contractor is licensed to m ember o f a self-policing organiza­
which the attorney G eneral’s office do business in Oregon. If the num ber tion such as NECA and IBEW. That
w as able to measure the contractors is not listed in the ad, ask for it. you
information may be listed in their ad,
can also check the ad, or ask, to make or you can ask for it on the phone. Not
they were investigating.
To protect y o u rse lf fr o m such sure the contractor is licensed, bonded, only do these types o f organizations
illegal and unethical practices, here and insured.
hold their members to high standards
3. Be cautious when you see a o f ethical conduct and expertise, but a
are some tips fr o m the Oregon-Co­
lum bia Chapter o f S E C A a nd the large telephone director ad with many com pany’s m em bership in these or­
International Brotherhood o f Elec­ phone numbers listed. Listing mul­ ganizations provides you with another
trical Workers (IB E W ) Local 48P:
tiple numbers does not necessarily place to check credentials.
I. Always get at least two com ­ mean that contractor actually has a
6. Call the Oregon-Colum bia
prehensive bids on the work you need location in your area. The number chapter ofN EC A for a listing o f m em ­
done. "And be sure to get your quotes may all be directed to one central ber contractors in your area. NECA
in writing," advises G eoff Gotham. number. "You really can’t jude the will gladly provide you with the names
Vice President o f N ECA -m em ber size o f a company by the quantity o f o f professional m ember contractors
Rose City Electric. "T hen, when telephone numbers they list in an ad," in your area who do the type o f work
vou 'rereadv to actually have the work says Timothy G authier, Executive you need. You may contact NECA at
(503)233-5787.
7. You may also wish to get
references from the electrical con­
tractor yo u ’re considering Usually
references are selected that are similar
to the one a particular custom er needs
done.
8. You should never feel threat­
ened or uncom fortable for any rea­
son. If you do, call someone else.
Professional contractors, especially
contractors who do a lot o f residential
work, are very sensitive to the fact
that they are w orking in som eone’s
home. The want you to have a positive
experience and will work to accom ­
modate your needs.
9. Be wary o f false discounts.
And be especially wary o f discounts
offered to senior citizens. Remem­
ber... your best bet is to get two or
more com prehensive bids for the spe­
cific work you need done. When you
do, you may find that the so-called
discount was no discount at all.
10. D on’t let yourself be rushed.
Sometimes unscrupulous companies
pressure consum ers to agree to the
work immediately because“we might
not be available later.” The best ad­
vice? Take yo u r time. T here are
enough professional local contractors
and electricians in the area to do your
job on your schedule.
Therapy Group
To Address
Women’s Issues
2Í
igeria is in the news
again and in a mess
too.
And almost every time, 1 am
bombarded by hordes o f newsmen,
inquisitive Africa-Americans who
are concerned about their ancestral
motherland and others who just want
to be informed. I am often accused of
keeping too mute and that having
worked for the nation’s government
and the private media, I should talk
and tell the world, without fear, the
insight o f what is going on in my
native land. Yes, I will talk if only, I
am assured that the military juntas
will be purged. And I am safe even
within this society.
In the light o f the tem per and
pre-occupation ofN igeria right now
- the constitutional conference - it is
incumbent on me to take you back on
how constitutional writing slipped
into our own political lexicon and
the damage it has wrought ever since.
It is worth reminding you that tradi­
tional Africa or precisely Nigeria
societies, usually did not have a w rit­
ten constitution rather, what fulfilled
the functions of the constitution was
the culture o f the people - their
habits, their ethnic congregations and
ways of doing things. The need o f a
constitution becomes pertinent when
two or more cultures inhabit one
place. This was so in many Africa
states and o f many third world na­
tions, where extremely parallel cul­
tures were merged into an awkward
society. In Nigeria, the British used
the word [amalgamation] for this
cultural merge. The aims o f the con­
stitution, folks were told, was to pro­
mote peace.
In the late 1950s, Nigerians sent
their nationalists to the London con­
stitutional conference with the m an­
date to negotiate with the imperial
governm ent and bring back inde­
pendence. In that conference, the
British agreed to give Nigerians time
to rule themselves. Many sang and
danced 'A jasco’ music. Nigerians
rollicked in jubilations and celebra­
tions and embraced the Federal Re­
public o f Nigeria. N obody ques­
tioned the agenda o f the constitu­
tional conference. W hat did it m at­
ter if it was at all cost? A federal
constitution was foisted upon us. An
unbalanced and foreign policy hand­
cuffed to our hands. We woke up
after the fanfares and found that we
were given a m andate we did not ask
for - federal ism - al 1N igerians wanted
was freedom from British rule. I must
say that our political leaders thought
the agreement reached in London
would create room for adjustment.
They realized too late that the consti­
tution handed down by the United
Kingdom was like a straight jacket.
It gives little room for maneuvering.
N aturally, the first independence
constitution was patterned after the
colonial constitution - the Richard
the M acPherson Constitution. They
w ere in essence, a m aster servant
agreement. The independence con­
stitution was different only because
the master was represented by the
New & used books on
Business, Music, &
African-American Studies
v::x.
--¿i
POWELL’S
CITY OF BOOKS
ent - a trusted servant,
is fraudulent beginning
seem inglyktched into the national
psyche, b rtgeria, unfortunately has
not been able to evolve and produce
a constitution free from abuse. Ev­
ery military regim e has tinkered with
it and has prevented meaningful,
popular participation and ever since
the independenceofN igeriain 1960,
all crises in the country have sooner
all later led to w idespread demand
for a constitutional review.
T his is the re a so n fo r the
c u rre n t m ilita ry c a ll fo r a c o n s ti­
tu tio n a l c o n fe re n c e in th a t p o ­
litic a l e n c la v e . T he re s u lta n t e f­
fect o f all th e se in c o n g ru o u s c o n ­
stitu tio n a l ta v e rn s is th a t it has
g o tten p re v io u s and su c c e e d in g
m ilita ry re g im e s d ru n k in p o w er
and m ade so v e re ig n p e o p le o f
n ig eria unable to desig n for th em ­
se lv e s th e ir dream so c ie ty .
(Promise King was bom in Ni­
geria. He has worked for local and
foreign media and is a staff writer for
the Portland O bserver.)
A unique ongoing therapy group
focusing on women in m id-life tran­
sition is being offered to women
between the ages o f 35 and 60.
Sponsored by the Pacific Uni­
versity Psychological Service Cen­
ter, the group will meet on Tuesdays
beginning Septem ber 13 from 6 to
7:30pm at the Psychological Service
Center, 511 SW 10th Ave., Suite 400
in downtown Portland.
T he g ro u p is d e sig n e d for
women who are experiencing some
identifiable difficulties related to life
changes. Participants will explore
their own personal feelings and the
behavioral and interpersonal conse­
quences which result from issues
such as changed family relationships,
grief, independence, career changes,
and self-esteem.
G roup facilitator will be Lianne
R ic h la n d , M .A ., and ad v a n c e d
practicum student at the Psychologi­
cal Service Center who holds special
interest in the field o f women and life
transitions. The therapy group will
be supervised by Sandra Jenkins,
Ph.D., a licensed psychologist and
instructor at the Psychological Ser­
vice Center.
Fees for group participation are
based on income. For information
about fees and registration, please
call Psychological Service Center at
220-0390.
Si 111111111
9 AM - 9 PM Sundays
Used books bought every day till 8:30 PM
On the *20 Bus line • One hour free parking
1005 West Burnside Street
228-4651
•f <
*
Provide Travel Agency Services
Proposals to provide travel agency services for the organiza
tion will be received by the Contracts and Procurem ent Office,
15th floor, 700 N.E. M ultnomah Street, Portland, OR 97232
(mailing address: P.O. Box 3529, Portland, OR 97208) until
4 p.m „ Septem ber 2, 1994.
Scope:
To provide travel agency services for the organization
including preparation and delivery of air tickets, hotel
reservations and car rentals. The Port has particular
needs that can be best met by a travel agency that makes
service the most im portant aspect of handling a com m er­
cial account. Cost savings and value for the travel dollar
are also im portant and will be considered in the final
selection.
The contract is for a base term of one year, plus two one-year
options exercisable unilaterally by the Port.
All proposals must be on the regular proposal form which is
provided in the RFP contract manual, Section 5. RFP contract
m anuals are available at the above office of the Port.
Technical questions pertaining to this RFP should be directed
to Janet Hutchins at (503) 731-7550.
©
Port of Portland
Ronald Stempel, Manager
Contracts and Procurement
Sub-Bids Requested
For
Ambulatory Research & Education Center
Oregon Health Sciences University
Portland, Oregon
Bid Package 5 - Mechanical & Electrical
Bid Date: August 30,1994
Bid Time: 2:00 PM
Bid proposals must be delivered to Hoffman Construction Co.,
1300 SW Sixth Ave, 4th Floor, Portland Oregon. Bids may be
delivered via telephone at 503-221-8811 or Fax at 503-221-
8934.
All bid proposals must be in writing and be received prior to the
bid date and time listed above, at which time the bids will be
opened in the presence of an OHSU representative, there will
not be a public bid opening.
Construction M anager and General Contractor
Hoffman Construction Company of Oregon
1300 SW 6th Ave PO Box 1300
Portland O regon 97207
Oregon License #28417
Bid Phone: 503-221-8811
Fax Number: 503-221-8934
We are an eqaul opportunity employer and request sub-bids from disadvantaged,
minority, women, disabled veterans or emerging small business enterprises.
Request For Proposal • 95-04
Survey of Business Design, Implementation,
and Analysis
The Portland Development Commission is soliciting propos­
als for the design, im plem entation, and analysis of its bi­
annual Business Survey.
PDC seeks a consultant who can design a survey instrum ent
for use over time, and can be m odified to include supplem en­
tal questions. The consultant is expected to design the survey
instrument, mail survey forms printed by PDC using mailing
labels supplied by PDC, follow up with survey recipients if
necessary, and analyze survey results.
The scope of work and additional conditions are described in
greater detail in supporting docum ents available from C hris­
topher Juniper, Acting M anager of Business Development,
(503) 823-3328.
c fc r
Store
503-331-1718
cTdfurec/ 7/ í ( W
ie /t
3415 NE Broadway
Portland, OR 97212
BEST PRICE
COMPUTERS
Portland Developm ent Commission
1120 SW Fifth Avenue, Suite 1100
Portland, OR 97204
Proposals must be received by PDC
no later than 5:00 p.m. on Septem ber 2 ,1 9 9 4
The Portland Development Commission encourages partici­
pation of Minority, W omen and Emerging Small Business
Enterprises contractors in its projects.
The successful contractor must be certified by the City of
Portland as an Equal Em ploym ent Opportunity Employer and
be licensed to do business in the City of Portland.
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