You know to call 911 when you need police or firefighters. And to call 311 if your emergency isn't immediately life-threatening. Now, the plan is to set up a number -- 211 -- for people to call if they wish to give or get help for a personal crisis, including intervention services, drug rehabilitation, referrals to food banks and homeless shelters and the like. The problem is that there's no three-digit number to call for help in making 211 a reality.

``The trick is getting public and private agencies to work together,'' says Nona Tobin of United Way Silicon Valley, which is spearheading the effort locally. ``We have no existing service capable of just switching from an 800 number to a three-digit one, so we are working to build a public-private partnership.''

United Way and the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors have set a Jan. 16 forum for elected officials, foundations, non-profits and business leaders to get that ball rolling. The ball already is well on its way in Los Angeles, Orange County and Sacramento, where 211 service is expected to be operative within a half-year after the state Public Utilities Commission gives its OK, expected in January. San Francisco and Alameda County could follow shortly thereafter, Tobin says.

The problem here, as usual, is money. Setting up and running an around-the-clock 211 call center to cover all of Santa Clara County -- from scratch -- would cost about $1.7 million annually, Tobin says. That's roughly $1 a resident a year, which sounds like a bargain. ``But it's a rough economy in which to ask for new money,'' she points out.

Maybe costs can be cut. Maybe services can be shared. Innovative minds can find ways, especially since this is earthquake country and 211 service has proven to be immensely helpful in post-disaster situations elsewhere. It's considered to be the missing link in our own disaster-preparedness plan.

``Our goal is to have 211 service here by January 2004,'' Tobin says. ``We don't want Silicon Valley to be left in the dust.''

That would be a disaster.

KID STUFF: Buchser Middle School's jazz band has a top gig Thursday, headlining the entertainment at the California School Boards Association's annual convention at Moscone Center in San Francisco. The Buchser band finished first in statewide auditions for middle school and high school bands, not too surprising for a band that already has two CDs released. Details are on bandleader David Ladd Anderson's Internet site: www.DavidLadd Music.com.

Presentation High School, meanwhile, will launch what it hopes will be an annual Christmas extravaganza Thursday through Saturday nights. The show, in the school's Valenzuela Theater on campus, will support Presentation's already highly ranked music department -- and you know how I feel about keeping music in our schools. Ticket information: (408) 264-1664, extension 31.

EVERYBODY HUM: But hey, music must be important to everyone around here, as demonstrated especially at this time of year. As reader Curt Gowan points out, ``You know you're in Silicon Valley when you always misread it as `Amdahl and the Night Visitors.' ''