Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / March 31, 2001, edition 1 / Page 8
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PAGES ▼ Q-Notes ▼ March 31, 2001 Faceless voices, healing words: & Lesbian Switchboard of Charlotte marks twentieth anniversary by Lainey Millen Q-Notes Staff [Ed. Note: The author was one of the early founders of the G&L Switchboard. She shares her remembrances, as well as the current services provided by the organization.] >ack in April of 1981, at a meeting of Acceptance (which was formed in the early 80s as a co-educational support group out of a Catholic Dignity chapter), a member stood up and made a motion that a peer support orga nization be formed to offer counseling and lo cal information. Little did this lone individual know that for two decades to come, that mo tion would bear fruit in offering a caring ear to callers’ issues, as well as providing informa tion on support groups, social establishments, etc., for the GLBT community. It was not easy in those early years. No one had ever facilitated a training for such a spe cialized peer counseling phone line. Resources were scarce and funding was a big obstacle. However, the two-dozen or so pioneers who blazed the trail to bring Charlotte its first Gay and Lesbian Switchboard would not be stopped. From the time the motion was made and approved, word spread fast to enlist the first recruits. Consisting of both men and women from a variety of lifestyles, a frame work began to take shape. Several meetings were held over the spring and summer. One evening a group of seven sat on a member’s deck and outlined the key objectives of the switchboard. Included in the discussions were leadership, staffing, training, location, funding, and assuring the security of each worker during his or her shift. By late summer, a location and trainer had been secured. Some of the participants had staffed crisis lines in Charlotte ahd other cities. Others had no formalized training. It became imperative that there was consistency in work shop participation. During these day-long ses sions, role play, psychological profiling. phamaceutical education and team support were key training areas. Since there was no how to manual for telephone support, one had to be created. Handouts were crucial in providing needed source materials for these beginners. In early winter, the location was secured and a telephone line was installed. Schedules were Gay & Lesbian prepared and, though SwitcHboard the Starr was too small to \y‘'’ "— fill all the time slots, ev- eryone volunteered as much time as possible. The Gay and Lesbian Switch- □□□ board of Charlotte had become a reality and was finally “born” in borrowed space with a phone and answering machine, locked and hid- Con'S den in a filing cabinet during non- staffed hours. The organization was incor porated in 1987 as a 501(c)(3) charitable or ganization under the name of Metrolina Community Service Project. The name of the corporation was amended in 1993 to the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Charlotte, in part to provide a positive role model to the gay community at-large, and in particular for those clients who turn to the switchboard for support and guidance in dealing with the ago nizing deliberations of coming out, question ing their own sexuality, and the repercussions from loved ones, employers, friends, and neighbors. The line was originally open from 7:00- 11:00 pm daily, equipped with a notebook which included information on GLBT-sensi- tive counselors and facilities for those who needed therapeutical support, meeting notices, bar information, along with addresses and tele phone numbers on reaching these resources. Additionally, afew churches welcomed GLBT members, so these were included as well. In those days, there were only a dozen plus re broad variety. The staff had to be sure to keep good notes on changes in events, because this was the only information callers would receive. In order to qualify for some early funding, caller logs had to be kept so that statistical data could be used for determining the quality of the line, as well as knowing which areas of the switchboard needed ex- \of Charlotte support. As in any volunteer service organization, staff ing was a problem in the early days. As time passed, the number of volunteers and the qual- ity of training improved. For a time, the Switch- 0°'' board was staffed every single night of the week, f Today, the organization supports a staff of 50, reaching a geographical area from metropolitan Charlotte and surround ing areas to South Carolina. The organization’s key focus areas are: • Locating community resources • Providing help • Creating volunteerism • Gaining information • Fostering a listening ear for those in need The mission of The Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Charlotte today is to be a “ser vice organization dedicated to providing af firmation, information, support, and refer ral to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender individuals and other interested people in the community.” Further, it seeks to serve the community and other organizations as a part ner and catalyst. Its objectives are to: • Provide free, anonymous, telephone peer counseling to all callers. • Collect and distribute accessible and reli able information. • Make helpful referrals. • Partner with other organizations sources to provide callers, contrasted to todays strengthen the community. to The Switchboard encourages business own ers and providers to list their services that would benefit the .GLBT community in Charlotte. Those who wish to be added to the database for referral to callers may email the Switchboard at switchboard@gaycharlotte.com. As with any service group, ongoing fund ing is always needed. Contributions are always appreciated and are tax deductible. Visitors and newcomers are invited to email the Switchboard to request information. In cluded in this free packet (which is mailed in a discreet, plain envelope) are GLBT resources, both social and organizational. Send your name via email for the Newcomers Guide, or to be added to the confidential email list, to the email address above. Whether a newcomer to Charlotte or a “na tive,” the Switchboard of Charlotte is always seeking dedicated volunteers who are diverse in gender, heritage and culture. A monthly two-hour session provides the necessary train ing for volunteers to staff phone linesw. Each new volunteer works directly with a board member for one’s first three evenings to con tinue necessary training and get pointers on proper call-handling techniques, as well as valuable coaching. A commitment of one, four-hour evening per month is requested for each volunteer to make sure that the phone lines are staffed. Volunteers should contact the Switchboard via email. The Gay and Lesbian Switchboard of Charlotte is the oldest continuously oper ated program of its kind in the southeast, providing peer counseling, anti-gay violence and discrimination documentation, and re ferral services five nights a week. Two phone lines are staffed from 6:30 pm to 10:30 pm, Sunday through Thursday, and a voice mail system is available to callers during non- staffed hours at 704-535-6277. To send a contribution or provide the or ganization with pertinent information write to the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard, P.O. Box 11144, Charlotte, NC 28220-1144. 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Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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March 31, 2001, edition 1
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