Page 33 RAlN Dec. 821Jan. 83 The Labor Exchange presently has 300 members. And finally, to make use of usable recycled building materials, Rebou/ld collects donated materials and makes them available to low income residents and nonprofit organizations. For more information about the Inner City SelfHelp Program, write to 72218th Ave., Seattle, WA 98122 (202) 3240500. Tools for the Unemployed Facing up to some futurists' prediction that full-employment is only a dream, people have begun to organize around assisting the unemployed and underemployed with means to survive. Mt. Hood Community College, in Gresham, Oregon, recently sponsored a conference "Moving Ahead: Options for Unemployed Workers" with workshops on job training programs, coping with unemployment, and other career possibilities. Also, the Legal Services Corporation has been sponsoring conferences for lowincome individuals, aimed at providing information about selfreliance and other methods of economic survival. One conference took place in Albany in November, featuring workshops on skill and barter exchanges, small business possibilities, cooperatives, forming community economic development corporations, impact of plant closures, and creating neighborhood jobs. Shared Housing The Shared Housing Project of the Tri-County Community Council and the Center for Urban Education, inspired by thel Stevens Homesharing Program in Seattle, matches potential tenants and home owners. It facilitates the transaction between the two through matching needs and desires of the parties. Since May 1982, the program has received 350 applications, and 250 applicants have been provided with potential matches. The emphasis of the matches has been on senior-citizens. RAlN recently assisted the group in developing a computerized database to make the rather complex referrals easier. (Shared Housing Program, Tri-County Community Counci l, 718 W Burnside, Portland, OR 97209. Solar 82 Conference Solar 82, a regional conference on renewable energy, took on a monumental task-and succeeded. Organized by the RAIN Community Resource under contract with the Solar Energy Association of Oregon, it li t up Portland State University September 30 through October 2. Representatives from public and private utilities, the solar and renewable energy industryincluding manufacturers, designers, and builders gov~rnment, and renewable energy organizations participated in the event. The hottest topic centered around the implementation of the conservation and renewables portion of the Northwest Regional Power Act. Workshops covered state-ofthe-art in conservation, solar, and other renewables, such as wind, micro-hydro, geothermal, and biomass. Current utility programs and energy needs of industry were also evaluated. Here especially, a spirit of friendly discussion emerged among energy activists, decision makers, and energy professionals. At the First Annual Solar Awards Banquet, Joel Schatz, cultural repairman and former director of the Oregon Office of Energy Research and Planning, challenged the audience and awarded recipients with timely thoughts. He urged people to seize every opportunity to help others c:ee the contribution solar energy is making for a peaceful world . To obtain a copy of the Solar 82 Wo rks/lOp SlImmaries (112pp), send 52.50 to Solar 82 Summary, Rain Community Resource Center, 2270 NW Irving, Portland, OR 97210. Bicycling Resources Two small newsletters for bicycling activities in Oregon have recently come to our attention. Bicyclists Speak OuH is the newsletter of the Tri-County Bicyclists United, a group working to bring better bicycling conditions into the greater Portland area. The Cycling Alternative Network is working on bettering bicycling conditions in the Eugene area through bike pathway cleanups and other public educational events. (TriCounty Bicyclists United, PO Box 14075, Portland, OR 97214; Cycling Alternatives Network, PO Box 121, Eugene, OR Bicycling Encouragement Program, Portland The first phase of the Portland Bicycling Encouragement Program, a project funded by a $174,000 Federal grant, and administered by the Metropolitan Service District, will begin May 15th. The program has been controversial following an Oregonian editorial which challenged the wisdom of the use of these funds. In response to that, the program will be implemented in gradual stages. The first phase will be an extensive survey of Portland area residents about their attitudes toward bicycling as a transport lIinn option, followed by a pubb~ education campaign and an employer incentive prograrn More information is available from: Metropolitan Service District, 527 SW Hall, Portland, OR 97201.
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