Self-join two way portal problem

This is probably simple for old hands, but the problem is this - 1 table with 3 fields: Member (repeating text field), Department (text field), and Item (calculation).

Item = if ( Member ≠ ""; Member ; Department ).

Each Department includes multiple members. (separate records)

Each Member belongs to a variety of departments.

I want ONE portal to show:

Members if Item = Department (taking values from a relationship) and ...

Departments if Item = member (taking values from the CURRENT record)

I have no trouble making Members show in the portal when Item = Department with a self-join relationship ... but can't figure out how ALSO to make the Departments show in the portal when Item = Member (WITHOUT entering the names of every Member to each Department record )!

In other words, I want the portal to show related records when Item = Department, BUT to show values from the SAME record when Item = Member)

Any clues welcome.

Edited December 24, 200718 yr by Guest