SEPTEMBER 3, 1993 GAY PEOPLE'S CHRONICLE 23

COMMUNITY GROUPS

Good news and bad: A first appraisal of the Center

by Judy Rainbrook Center Executive Director First, the bad news:

The staff of the Center is about to be overwhelmed by the demands. The telephones (both Hotline and business office) begin ringing at 9:30 in the morning and don't quit. During many parts of the day, there is only one staff person present, and he or she must continually choose between carrying out the administrative tasks that need doing, or answering the phone.

By noon, the Center really begins to hum. Volunteers drop by. Clients stop by. And the phones are still ringing. Answering the phone and responding to walk-ins can easily consume all the available time of the Center's minimal staff (one director, one administrative assistant, two half-time program people).

The space and equipment are impossible. Renovation of the Center is incomplete. There are no sound barriers between offices or the meeting room. Lighting and wiring is inadequate and there is no air conditioning. The computer hardware and software is old and slow.

The volunteers are neglected. The Center's work is carried out by committees of volunteers. Program planning and implementation of volunteer intake, the Hotline, the Living Room, the Maryann Finegan anti-gay violence project, the PRYSM youth group, Men-in-Touch groups, the Resource Center, the Speaker's Bureau, Basic Membership, Supporting Membership, Special Events and the Board of Trustees-all are being done by volunteers.

There are literally 150 to 200 people who should receive guidance; who need to receive information, materials, and updates; and who should be rewarded for their efforts. That's more than 50 people making demands on every staff member. Every one of these volunteers is doing work vital to our community and would like, and deserves, our undivided attention when they interface with the Center. They aren't getting it. It's humanly impossible.

The community is up in arms. It was clear during the community interview for the executive director candidates that the Center is perceived in the wider community as insensitive to the needs of women, peoples of color, and the physically challenged. Many also harbor the viewpoint that the Center is fiscally inept. There is tremendous anger because people feel they have not been heard.

The good news:

Positive energy. Despite all the problems, there is a tremendous positive energy in the community. People want to do something to help. We are receiving two to five calls a week from new people who want to volunteer.

Racism will be addressed. The Center's board, staff, and a significant number of volunteer program managers will attend a ground-breaking meeting September 10, at the invitation of gay and lesbian peoples of color, to begin a positive, non-confrontational process to address racism at the Center.

Hotline improvements. A significant number of board members attended a hotline workers' picnic and heard first-hand about

LESBIAN GAY

OF GREATER CLEVELAND

Community Service Center

the Center's failure to support this key service by providing a budget, training, and up-to-date resources. This meeting has already resulted in the donation of a voicemail system, to be used to augment the hotline service, as well as other needed equipment.

Meetings with lesbian community. I have had one meeting with East Side lesbians and will be setting up another with West Side lesbians to hear feedback about the Center's response to lesbian concerns. Again, the message of not being heard and the need to show real commitment (hiring and dollars) to women's programming was loud and clear. But so was the willingness to continue the dialogue and lend a hand.

Next steps:

The Center will be hiring a full-time Hotline Manager and a full-time Living Room Program Manager. We will also be seeking funding to add as many as four or five more positions at the Center over the next four months to a year to provide adequate staff support for the programs already in existence. These positions will be advertised widely and will be filled with competent individuals who reflect the full diversity of our community.

We will be strengthening services to our volunteers, including training and recognition.

We will be temporarily reducing some services. The Center will be open for walkin information only from 1:00-5:00 pm during the week. Messages will be taken by answering machine so staff can have significant chunks of uninterrupted time in which to carry out their administrative tasks.

You can help:

The Center needs money-to finish electrical work, contract for database and other clerical support, provide hotline and

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group facilitator training, and to upgrade its computers. My goal is to raise $10,000 by the end of September to provide for these basic needs.

The Center needs A-team volunteers. These volunteers need to be available during the day (one 4-hour shift per week) to answer phones, handle walk-in traffic, and provide some clerical assistance when possible.

The Center needs hotline volunteers. These volunteers need to be available during the evening from 7:00-11:00 pm (one 4hour shift per week) to provide crisis counseling, information, and referral services. We especially need women, people of color and Spanish-speaking volunteers to be able to match our hotline workers more closely to our callers' needs.

The Center needs additional board members. Potential board members should have fund-raising skills and a commitment to diversity. A board member should be willing to commit five to ten hours a week

to committee work and some type of fundraising activity.

The Center needs some key equipment, including several locking 2-drawer file cabinets, a TTY machine, a 386 or 486 IBMcompatible computer and high speed laser printer, two or three heavy duty window air conditioners, a sturdy electric typewriter, and some quality secretarial chairs.

Good changes are in the wind. I feel very optimistic. Gays and lesbians in Cleveland are ready to come out, to confront our own prejudices and stereotypes, to stand up and demand our right to be treated as the decent, creative, and courageous people that we are. The level of community enthusiasm and energy is very high. Bridges to people of color, women, and the physically challenged are starting to be built. I believe that now is the time we will make a difference. I hope you agree.

This space has been provided to the Center by the Chronicle. Views expressed here are not necessarily those of the Chronicle staff or management.

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