Knowing Rain ... In 1973 E.F. Schumacher wrote Small Is Beautiful, describing a way of looking at the world in more simple, manageable and decentralized ways. A handful of people in the Northwest Maritime Region responded by starting RAIN Magazine, a medium for sharing ideas, books and activities that promoted ecological solutions to global problems. By the end of 1974 RAIN was reaching thousands of people in the region, the whole country, and around the world. In a period of energy shortages RAIN described locally adaptable alternatives like wind and solar. In a time of rising food costs it explored new ways for people to successfully grow their own, at home or in community gardens. In an era of increasing government control over local activities it described something called "community self-reliance." That last one-community self-re- liance-is what connects RAIN the magazine with this guide. After seven years of publishing to a national audience, we missed the intimate connection with the home base on whose behalf we had started all this. So in 1980 we began to work with an organization called the Portland Community Resource Center and eventually joined with it to form a new hybrid: the Rain Community Resource Center. This has given us an excellent opportunity to practice locally what we preach nationally. Through the Resource Center we can coordinate conferences and other events, and build coalitions to look creatively at the problems that confront our city. We can also package information, conduct research and provide technical assistance to other organizations in Portland. This work grounds us in our community: we are sharing our skills to build the kind of society we envision for the future. Rain Community Resource Center 2270 NW Irving Portland, OR 97210 503/224-6587 The Rain Community Resource Center develops programs, services and publications which help people work together to build self-reliant communities. • With our access to more than 100 computerized data bases (including those in the DIALOG system) and our own extensive library resources, we are able to tailor information services to meet your specific research needs. We compile background data for analyzing policy options, prepare summaries of developments in particular fields of interest, develop program and outreach planning strategies, and assist in locating funding sources. Our recent research projects have included development of a constituency profile for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a promotion plan for a recycling firm, and a nationwide inventory of community computer projects for Neighborhood Information Sharing Exchange, Washington, D.C. and Office of Neighborhood Associations, Portland, Oregon • We assist in the development of networks and coalitions such as the Portland-area Community Economic Development Task Force. • We conduct workshops in areas such as fundraising and program planning, citizen participation, renewable energy resources and conservation, access to media, and information management. • We are experienced in administering projects and programs through contracts from community organizations and government agencies. In 1981 the Rain Umbrella co-ad- ministered the U.S. Department of Energy's Appropriate Technology Small Grants Program for the state of Oregon. • We design, coordinate, and sponsor conferences and forums in such areas as community self-reliance, citizen involvement, appropriate technology, and renewable energy development. We have designed and organized an Oregonwide Women and Energy conference, a forum on coopera88 Rain staff, left to right: Mark Roseland, John Ferrell, Tanya Kucak, Carlotta Collette, Steve Johnson, Nancy Cosper, Laura Stuchinsky, Steve Rudman. Not shown: Scott Androes, Salena Baker. tives, and conferences on community energy planning. Rain Community Resource Center has been funded in part by grants from Northwest Area Foundation, Mervyn's/Day- ton Hudson Foundation, Rose E. Tucker Foundation, Collins Foundation and National Center for Appropriate TechnologyBoth the Resource Center Library, with its 3,500 volumes and computerized community information system, and the Resource Center Retail Bookshelf are open to the public. Call 503/224-6587 for further information. Ancil Nance
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