Ways To Help

* Staying educated. Do periodic internet searches on TCE and see what comes up. Print out any new information and keep it in a binder or file box. If you see anything that you haven't seen on the VOTE page give us a heads up and send us the link

* Educate your doctor. Begin by letting your doctor know that you have been informed by your employer that you have been exposed to TCE. Expect your doctor to say "Don't worry about it" or act defensive and not want to discuss the issue further. This is understandable, at this point you know more about TCE than your doctor and he/she is only doing what we all do when we are faced with the unknown. To ease your doctor's apprehension I would suggest they contact VOTE or our website link page so they can better understand how to treat you and what disease processes or syptoms to look for.

*Find ways to go on the public record regarding your concerns about TCE exposure. Congress people and Scientists (for a list of congress people and scientists contact info link should be included here.)who know about a problem but seldom hear the personal tragedies or fears individuals face will often concentrate on the technical remedies rather than the human needs. If you send a letter to these decision makers you go on record. I would keep a standard letter that could be modified for a specific part of the TCE issue (Site clean up, health study, site redevelopment, concerns about Powell's Bookstore employees exposure.) Whenever there arises an opportunity or a newsbreak I would send this letter to every elected official that makes decisions on how to act on this particular issue. By making your voice heard along with other concerned citizens you are putting the official on notice that you mean business.

*Donate to VOTE. VOTE is in desperate need of general support for administrative costs (copying, postage, telephone bills, etc.) we would like to have one paid employee to answer phones and keep up with information requests and manage e-mail but so far this has been impossible because of lack of support. If you would like to help we would gladly accept any donation. We are recognized by the IRS as a tax exempt organization under definition of the 501(c)3 tax code. We would be happy to furnish anyone interested with a copy of our IRS letter of determination.

Donations may be sent to: V.O.T.E
Attn: Shirley Barley, Treasurer
1615 NW Cavens Lane
Hillsboro, OR. 97124

*Limit your exposure to other chemicals. The more you know, the less chance a corporation can harm you by selling you toxic chemicals. Reading the labels under your kitchen sink. Anything that "Takes Grease Out of Your Way" is suspect. Don't buy or purchase cleaning products that don't list the ingredients and research the ingredients that are listed.For example the ingredient "Triclosan" found in most anti-bacterial soaps. If you do an internet search you find that this chemical is not only killing bacteria but it may eventually kill you.

*Question weed killers and other fertilizers that you use around the yard - if you use well water these chemicals and fertilizers may end up in your well causing you and your family harm down the road.

* If you are an investor or hold credit cards try not to hold stock in chemical companies nor should you have credit cards from credit companies that support chemical companies. There are books in bookstores that talk about which credit companies to avoid. The less money we as a community put into the hands of the chemical companies the more likely they will understand that we don't appreciate paying them to be slowly poisoned. A way to identify chemical companies and other companies that are usually up to no good are those strange TV ads that say things like "We don't just make snowboards, we make them stronger." or that TV ad where the mother is speaking to someone at the front door and the baby knocks the juice bottle off of the kitchen table? The Plastics Council is running a PR campaign because science has just identified that plastic when it begins to degrade releases toxic gasses that may cause a variety of diseases.