GRAY – Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have proven the value of statewide 2-1-1 telephone help lines in Louisiana and Texas, where thousands of callers every day have asked questions to find resources or to obtain crisis counseling.

Maine is about to begin operating a 2-1-1 line. In a role-reversal, Maine 2-1-1 will also be the place to call if people want to volunteer time to help others during a disaster in Maine.

The Gray Region Citizen Corps volunteers will host a free seminar on the program at the monthly educational meeting on Friday, Nov. 11. Maine 2-1-1 Program Manager Robbie Lipsman will present an overview of the system beginning at 6:30 p.m. in Stimson Hall next to the monument in the center of Gray Village.

The seminar will be valuable to municipal or public safety officials, who can supply lists of areas in which they need volunteers, who wish to cut down on unnecessary use of 9-1-1, or who wish to use the service for rumor management during a disaster.

It should be of interest to organizations or agencies that provide volunteers to others, including church outreach or missions committees.

The group publishes a periodic electronic newsletter. E-mail may be sent to [email protected]. Phone messages may be left with Gray Public Safety at 657-3931.