This Week's Program: 
Tony Zingale  --  Mercury Interactive
 

Upcoming Events:

DISTRICT CONFERENCE
April 20, 21 and 22nd - Monterey CA

Register ON-Line.

WHY?

• Why is there an AIDS epidemic in the world today?
• Why does the African American community have an infection rate 10 times that of white Americans?
• Why, during our meeting, will 875 people become infected with the HIV virus, and 500 people die from AIDS?
• Why are DUDE and Barbara ANGIUS involved with a solution to the AIDS epidemic?
• Why did Los Altos Rotary hold a symposium today on this very subject?

Over three fourths of our club membership today was not part of the membership in July of 1989.  So let’s begin at (our) beginning of being involved with helping to find a solution to AIDS, and the spread of the HIV virus.  While most of us have heard Dude speak to our club about the Rotary AIDS Project (RAP), it is worth repeating a few things here. 

Since its founding in 1948, every year a new person becomes President of Los Altos Rotary.  Each new president has a theme or project.  Recent themes in past years have been: “Gratitude” – Pesner, “Exploring Other Cultures” – Cowan, “Your Year – Celebrate Rotary” – Luedtke, and of course, “Vintage Year” – Traficanti and the beat goes on.

But back in 1989 when Dude stood up at the podium and took the gavel for the first time as President, he announced his year to (and I don’t remember the exact words, but I do remember his emotion) be the year to bring awareness to the world on the issue of AIDS and the HIV virus. 

Some of us were, (you pick it): unaware of an “epidemic,” not concerned about a “gay man’s decease,” disturbed that Rotarians were about to become involved in a political hot potato, and so on.  

As Dude’s Rotary year progressed, it all started to make sense.  Dude’s goal was to create AIDS awareness in the world through Rotary.   A new committee was created:  Ten individuals stepped forward to form the Rotary Aids Project Committee, which eventually evolved into The Rotary AIDS Project.  You will recognize most of the names, even today:

It was the committee’s goal to create a program to spread the news about AIDS and the HIV virus to the world.  They eventually chose to distribute VHS tapes to every Rotary club in the United States and Canada and every District Governor in the world in order to educate people about the causes of AIDS and the spread of the HIV virus. 

There was an outpouring of love and appreciation over the next few months, with the discovery that WALT SINGER, a very active member of our club, had contracted AIDS, and for the loss that Dude and Barbara had experienced by the death of their son, Steve.  Additionally, other individuals from other clubs came forth, each with their own story of AIDS and its affect to their lives.

Members of our club created a video tape called “The Los Altos Story”.  A copy of that presentation, now in DVD form, was handed out to every member and visitor attending today.  If you haven’t seen it, please do so.  Also, when you are through with it, please pass it on, to a friend, your church or synagogue so they may see this incredible story of love, and feel the compassion that was present in the making of this film.

So that’s how it began at Los Altos Rotary; Because of one man, one loss, one mission.  This is a perfect example of the phrase “One person CAN make a difference.”  As a P.S. to this story, today, through their initial efforts, and the efforts of concerned clubs and governments around the world there exist over 25,000 copies of “The Los Altos Story.”

I am sure many initially threw their copy away back then, either because they felt it “wasn’t their problem”, “they were embarrassed about the topic”, or they had their focus on “more important projects.”  But most have since written to us or met Dude at the Rotary Aids Project table at every International Convention since, to have a new one sent because of the growth of awareness of AIDS today.  Many of us who travel and visit Rotary clubs around the world will often hear: “Oh, yeah, you are the people who sent us the tape on AIDS.”  I have heard that more than once.

Why the Why?  Why is it still a problem today?  Why haven’t people learned from the lessons of 20 years?  Back in 1989 Dude wanted to get the word out.  He did.  But today, most if not all of the people getting AIDS today were not born in 1989, or if they were, they were too little to understand the problem.  AIDS education is a continuing challenge. 

Our youth today (black, white, or otherwise) almost to a man, believe they are immortal, indestructible.  I mean, look at the “Jack Ass” movie craze.  It is not an accident that those are all young men.  But not knowing (or, more likely in America, just not caring) can be deadly. 

Today, both speakers put out a lot of statistics at us.  I couldn’t keep up, but I truly was alarmed at the scope of the problem.  Debra Gould, MD spoke on “AIDS in Black America.”  She was introduced by long time member, and personal friend DWIGHT MATTHEWS.

Dr. Gould is the Assistant Physician in Chief at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in Oakland.  It didn’t take the 30 minutes of her talk to understand that there is a problem in Black America with AIDS and the HIV virus.  Perhaps an equally important question is why?

Red Badger, RICH CASEY introduced his friend, Dr Arthur Ammann. who spoke on the transfer of HIV virus from mother to child during the birthing process. 

Arthur Ammann, MD is the President of Global Strategies for HIV Prevention and is a Clinical Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.  His 501(c)(3) organization is dedicated to providing information and medication for the prevention of the spread of the virus.  I strongly suggest you check out his website above, and act accordingly. 

So we are back to the question of why.  Why is there an epidemic today, some 20 years after the virus was detected?  Why do kids today not see AIDS as a problem?  Why are more than 700,000 children born infected with the HIV virus every year?

A partial answer is political.  This disease has been politicized, meaning that solutions to the problem (if any) are political solutions instead of medical solutions.  There has been a stigma attached to AIDS.  People felt that it “wasn’t their problem.”  With 700,000 newborns being infected with AIDS every year, its hard to imagine it is ‘the baby’s fault.” 

Perhaps a more complete answer to the question of why lies in education, or more clearly, the lack of education about the problem.  The main thrust of the RAP committee is educating people about the causes of the spread of AIDS and the HIV virus.  One of the components of Global Strategies is educating women in the prevention of the spread of the disease. 

I think as bleak and dark as the statistics are about this disease, educating individuals about how to prevent the spread is paramount.  And it is our problem.  With 25% of any nation contracting AIDS, no matter where we live, that becomes our problem as well.  With young black men and women contracting AIDS in America at 10 times the rate of non-blacks, it becomes our problem. 

Distinguished Guests.  We had a full house today to attend the symposium.  There were at least 6 visiting Rotarians (including our District Governor, Russ Hobbs) .  Additionally, we had about 25 visitors.  Quite a turnout. 

Art show update
With April right around the corner, it’s full-speed-ahead time for everyone involved in the art show.  Here’s what you need to know;

The next art show chairs meeting is Tuesday, April 3 at 8 a.m. (sigh).  It’s at the usual place – the Moisons’ place of business, 350 Second Street, downtown.  While we sit around the table and report on progress, we’ll also be stuffing envelopes.  Poobah SAM PESNER is sending personal invitation letters to folks who spent big bucks last year, and we think that in an hour-long meeting, we can get this job done.  (If not, KATIE NUTTER has to do it.  Phooey.)

Art show staffing will begin next week.  If you’re not going to be available over the show weekend and you haven’t yet told Michael Stadlen, staffing chair, PLEASE SEND HIM AN E-MAIL right away.  He’s at mstadlen@usa.net.  We do have jobs that need doing either before or after the show.  When we open up staffing for Friday May 18 through Sunday May 20, people will be put in slots based on a first-come, first-served basis.  MICHAEL STADLEN will explain how things will work at next week’s meeting. 

Also at next week’s meeting, you will have a chance to take some posters to hang in your own office, and some postcards you might want to send to friends and neighbors.  We’ll also have an e-mail available for you to send. 

So now all that’s left is to get the checks and paperwork from our food vendors. - apply for permits,  - finalize site layout and rental requirements  - sort out our parking and shuttle service  -.  You get the idea.  The beat goes on.   - KATIE NUTTER

AN ENCHANTED EVENING

ROTARY NIGHT AT THE THEATER

Wednesday, April 25

Back by popular demand! Dinner at Maltby’s at 5:30, followed at 7:30 by a performance at the Bus Barn Theater, of Enchanted April, a romantic comedy by Matthew Barber.

Sign up on the clipboard circulating.  Space is limited, so hurry up and join the fun. First 40 on the list are guaranteed a seat. Beyond that, we’ll have to check.