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OVERCAST Temp: 38 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Wednesday, December 4, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend November 18, 2002 Chamber addresses Latino services gap The local office creates an educational network By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune The loss of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the temporary closure of a Hispanic translation and referral office have created a vacuum in services offered to the Latino community in Jackson County. In response, The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County is exploring the creation of a new Latino network that could provide educational services to business people, explaining such things as retirement planning, business loans and ideas about human resources. Also, Centro Hispano, which provides interpreter and translation services, is regrouping and hopes to reopen its doors by the end of December if it can resolve a legal dispute. Valerie Root, chairwoman-elect for the chamber, said the chamber is looking at an idea developed by the chamber of commerce in Salem, which created a Latino Network. The chamber plans to hold a meeting later this month — the time and date haven’t been firmly set — to discuss with Hispanic business leaders what they would expect out of the network. "This would be another group under the umbrella of the chamber," said Root. The Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, a small organization with little funding, dropped out of the picture after the county decided in 2001 not to renew funding, in part because requested reports were not filed. But, Root said, the idea for the network didn’t develop because of the demise of the Hispanic chamber. "We’re doing something that has been thought about in the community for the past 10 years," she said. There has been some discussion about patterning the network after the chamber’s greeter program, where about 100 volunteers go out into the business community to make people aware of events and programs affecting them. Root said the Hispanic business community also might take part in weekly legislative action committee meetings that involve a phone conference with Oregon lawmakers. Connie Salda�a, an adviser to the Centro Hispano board, said the organization closed down after a legal dispute stemming from a housing cooperative that dated back to a time when the group had migrant housing. "The board members experienced burnout and decided the organization needed to rejuvenate," she said. Previously known as El Convenio De Raices Mexicanas (the gathering of people of Mexican descent), the organization evolved into Centro Hispano. But a title dispute arose over two properties owned under the El Convenio name. "The title needs to be put into the people who now own the land, said Salda�a. Centro Hispano hopes to work with a local attorney on a pro bono basis to clear up the dispute, she said. Jackson County had established a contract with Centro Hispano for interpretive and translation services, but backed out when the organization closed. Salda�a, who plans to be part of the newly constituted board, said the group will reapply to the county for a new contract. Interpreter and translation services are still being provided by members who had worked under Centro Hispano, she said. The group also will provide information and referral services to the Hispanic community. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S