On the front lines in the fight against meth

By dan itel

The Lake Oswego Review, Nov 1, 2007, Updated Oct 30, 2009

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When Jim White stood in front of the West Linn Rotary Club last week, he didn’t mince words.

“I’ve got a problem, and the problem is money,” said the Lake Oswego CPA as he accepted the club’s Service Before Self award.

Several months ago, White was one of the most unlikely of folks to get involved in – no, lead the front line – in the fight against methamphetamine. Today, White can say he coordinated a successful campaign to get the documentary “Crystal Darkness” aired on all Portland-area news stations. He was there in the call center as every one of the 60 phone lines were busy in the minutes following the documentary, which was televised commercial-free Oct. 9 during an evening airtime “roadblock” donated by all of Portland’s, as well as Eugene’s and Medford’s, TV stations. The documentary provided a call line following the broadcast referring people to ways to get help.

“To see all 60 of the phones occupied for 20 minutes straight just confirms that there was a need out there,” White said.

Now White is on the line for around $100,000 for the printing of related booklets he’s hoping to distribute to schools statewide and other costs related to getting the documentary on the air.

You would think White has a dog in the fight, perhaps has been personally affected by meth. Not so. He’s never had a loved one addicted to the drug. He never even knew anyone who had taken meth.

But that was four months ago, when White was referred to similar efforts going on in Reno, Nev., through the organization Christ@Work, of which he is a member. Christ@Work is a faith-based organization that promotes evangelism at the workplace.

He and friend and fellow Christ@Work member Randy Glanz, a West Linn resident, had worked together before to help a neighbor rebuild their house after it was lost to a fire. And Glanz owns a video production company, making it a perfect fit.

Glanz declined the Rotary Club award, saying he refused to accept individual honors for his volunteerism.

So White and Glanz set off to Reno to see firsthand the impact the film would have there. And they were sold, White said. Over the course of the next few months, the two underwent a crusade of sorts to bring the film to Oregon.

And just by getting the message out at work, in their churches and meeting with representatives of local TV stations, they got the air time donated, the costs of printing flyers to promote the documentary covered and local publications (including the Pamplin Media Group, the parent company of the Lake Oswego Review and West Linn Tidings) on board in the promotion.

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