RAINbow_vol6no2.pdf
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- RAINbow_vol6no2.pdf
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TheRAINbow
Volume 6, Number 2
May, 1995
The DIRECTOR'S DESK
Has it only been such a short
time since our world exploded
around us, since Oklahoma City
became headline news around the
world, since America's belief in
, the safety of the "heartland" was
shattered? So many things have
happened. Things that were
precipitated by the, still incompre
hensible to me, ability of people to
harm other people. What is it that
makes it possible for a human
being to have such a lack of care
for others? What is it that feeds
such hate? We have pondered that
question in the face of wars and
other disasters and no easy an
swers will be found now.
For Oklahoma City the
bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building signified a coming
of age, though we may not have
realized it at first. The acts of
heroism and compassion which
began even as the smoke and
debris still choked the area signi-
2
Gift bell available at RAIN office
RAIN and AIDS National
Interfaith Network (ANIN) are
offering "AIDS Ribbon Bells"
designed by True Kol or Acces
sories, Inc. The bells are silver
plated and are engraved with the
image of the words "Until It's
Over."
The bells are 3 and one-half
inches high by 2 and one-quarter
inches in diameter at the base, and
come in a red gift box suitablefor
shipping.
The bells make a wonderful
gift throughout the yearfor birth
days, anniversaries, etc., and are
available at the Oklahoma City
RAIN officefor$10.00each.
Pick one up or add $2.00 for
shipping costs.
"What the heart has once owned and had,
it shall never lose. "
fied the best that people can
be in the face of the worst that
people can be. The swift, capable
response of our local police, fire,
ambulance crew·s, and area
medical facilities showed us all
how well prepared they were to
deal with disaster. And then the
help began to arrive from all over
Oklahoma, the country, and the
world.
Here at the Oklahoma City
RAIN office the dangling grids and
ceiling tiles bear mute testimony to
the force felt nearly four blocks
north of the explosion site. The
boarded window downstairs in one
of the Episcopal offices reminds us
how lucky we were that it fell out
rather than in on the two people in
that office. The National Guard
tents across the street make us
Henry Ward Beecher
quoted in the No. OKC Chapter
Compassionate Friends newsletter.
�-----------------------Yes, I want to be a RAIN supporter. Enclosed is my contribution:
$___ My gift is in memory of __________. Please
notify the family: __________________
My gift is in honor of _ __________ Please notify
the honoree, whose address is: ______________
I understand RAIN Oklahoma is a non-profit organization and my
contribution is tax-deductible. My cancelled check will serve as my receipt.
(Please check here __ if you prefer to remain anonymous and do not want
to receive RAIN newsletters and mailings.)
Name ______________
Address _____________
City, State, Zip __ _______
Phone ______________
Please make check payable to:
RAIN Oklahoma
924 N. Robinson
Oklahoma City OK 73102-5814
11
·�
OKc.HOMA
/
Regional
-I
AIDS
�
Interfaith
Network
Dear Friend of RAIN,
Executive Director
Have you heard about the AIDS garden? Please consider this request and lend
the support of your name to this project. We need your help to pull this off.
Mory Catherine Smotherman
Coordinator,
Western Oklahoma
Joan R. Foreman
Episcopal Church Center
924 North Robinson
Oklahoma City. OK 73102-5814
(405) 232-4372
FAX (405) 232-4912
1-800-324-RAIN (7246)
Coordinator,
Eastern Oklahoma
Purpose:
AIDS MEMORIAL GARDEN
• To facilitate holistic healing, grieving, and care-giving by creating a beautiful, set
apart space to remember those whom we have lost.
• To build community among all of us affected by HIV/AIDS by working side by side
gardening.
• To feed our souls by reflecting on the miracle of life, the beauty of creation, and
the wonder of the changing seasons, thus sustaining caregivers and survivors for the
Journey.
• To increase public awareness through the garden as a sign of hope, commitment,
and support.
Plan:
Sheryl A. Dagong
HIVRC
4154 S. Harvard. Suite H-1
Tulsa. OK 74135-2602
(918) 749-4195
FAX (918) 749-4213
To plant a memorial garden and organize systems to permanently maintain it. All
workers will be volunteers. Persons living with HIV/ AIDS, their families, friends,
RAIN Teams, other community organizations, and everyone willing to take part will
be welcome to work together to make this happen. RAIN is the first sponsoring
organization, but we are anxious to get every organization possible to be sponsors of
the garden. A committee has been meeting to do basic organization and development
of the plan. Anyone wishing to serve on this committee is not only welcome, but
desired_ An ongoing committee will carry out the recruitment and organization of
volunteers and funds for the future expansion and care of the garden. This will be a
place where memorial services could be held and people could purchase and plant
trees, flowers, or shrubs in memory of a loved one. Some method of recognizing
names of the deceased, such as flagstones, will be provided.
Location:
Our first choice for a location would be some place in Memorial Park at 36th and
Classen. Will Rogers or Edgemere parks are second choices. In order to secure
permission from the city we need sponsors and endorsement.
What you can do:
I. We need names of people who support this idea. We need signatures of hundreds of people,
especially influential people, who will say, "Yes! I am behind this project."
2. We need organizations to be sponsors of the garden. Businesses, non-profits, civic organizations,
anyone who will work on making it happen. We need volunteer workers, but first we need the clout to
get permission from the city to build the garden.
3. We need funds. An account has been set up through RAIN for the garden. Contributions can be
made payable to "RAIN Garden." All funds received will be used only for the garden and are tax
deductible.
<:
M.C. Smothemion
Executive Director
Stephen Hardway
Memorial Garden Committee
rtd.;11( (�
Reverend Kathy Mccallie
Memorial Garden Committee
---------------------------------------------------------------------Please sign and return to the RAIN office:
YES! I want Oklahoma City to allow the AIDS Memorial Garden to he established at Memorial Park.
I grant permission to present my name, along with other supporters, to city officials who will he
considering the project.
Name
Address
Phone________ Work phone________
Signature------------------Please indicate below what else you would he willing to do to help create the garden. For example:
serve on the garden committee, volunteer to do actual gardening, donate funds, work on publicity, fund
raising, recruit other supporters.
RAIN Donations
Edmond First Presbyterian
Church has once again made RAIN a
budget item for the year. What a won
derful gesture from a church which
has always supported our program,
both through the members of its RAIN
Team and the commitment of finan
cial resources!
Larry Crosby started the Have
A Heart Auction several years ago. It
has become a yearly event which
always provides a wonderful evening
of entertainment as well as raising
money for AIDS. Larry and John
• Eckert, co-owners ofTramps in Okla
homa City, tum the club over to the
event around Valentine's Day each
year. Entertainers from the commu
nity donate their time and tips to the
effort, many businesses donate auc
tion items, and people are extremely
generous as they bid throughout the
evening (Larry and his sister donate
many items AND bid vigorously,
we've noticed).The proceeds this year
went to Western Oklahoma RAIN and
Loaves and Fishes, two of the finest
organizations in this area.Thanks to
all who make February extra-special
through this wonderful event!
Red Tie Night, sponsored by
the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund
(OACF) in OKC each year has become
an annual favorite place to be - won
derful food and ambiance, plus a fun
evening. But, most important of all,
RedTie Night raises lots of money for
AIDS-related services in Western
Oklahoma. We appreciate the fact
that a large portion of that money
went to RAIN for our Southwest and
Northwest Oklahoma programs.
Donors
l..eonardN.Slater, MD ...Keike GQdfrey
...Mr. and Mrs Grady McCullough ..
.Mr. and Mrs Roy Brown .. .Mr.Peter
G.Pierce Ill .. . Ors. Robert & Joy
Beckerley ...Carol M. Woods .. .Billie
Hurst Gasaway ... Melissa Miracle ...
Mr.and Mrs.Jim Kirkpatrick ...Linda
K. Speer ...Connie L Webber...Winston Grocott ...Skip & Donna Ambler
...Jeffrey Gaughan ...Jared Bruce ...
Gary Barton
Memorials
MARTIN RYAN by Linda A.
Semelbaugh; LACEY LITTRELL
by Dr. Philip J. Rettig; RICHARD
MONROE by James E. Bussell;
JOHN HOCKING by Terry Knapp;
PAUL KIRK by Timothy W.
Kubiak and Ken Spittler; MARK
TAYLOR by Roy and Aline Brown;
JIMMY HOUSERMANby Charles
and Verna Lee Falk; TOMMY
ARGO by Virginia Martindale,
Guardian Health Systems;
MICHEAL PENDLEY by Mike
Blalock, Ponca City Security Title
Services, Pat Schweinsberg.
In Honor of
ST.PATRICK'S CATHOLIC
CHURCH RAIN TEAM by Roy
and Aline Brown; EASTERN
OKLAHOMA FUND by Kandie
Fairchild;
Churches & Qmanjzatjons
Edmond First Presbyterian
Church; Tulsa John Knox Presbyte
rian Church
feel as if we are in the midst of a
war zone, as did the military trucks
and police barricades which
surrounded our block until they
were pulled back a couple of days
ago.
Things are getting back to
normal, but our emotions are still
tender. I'm over the urge to get out
of the building and run, but I still
jump at loud noises. Sometimes we
find ourselves just sitting and
staring at each other, our private
thoughts far away from the
business at hand. The funerals
have begun and there are some we
will attend because of a personal
or RAIN connection. It's still hard
to look out my window. What I
saw on April 19th overrides the
peaceful scene of today.
You've seen and heard
about the tremendous outpouring of
support coming from all over the
world, as well as Oklahoma. Here
at RAIN we were so touched as
the calls came in expressing
concern_ for us. They came from
other RAIN programs as far away
as New York, from London, from
Geneva, from friends some of us
had not seen for years, from other
care providers in the Oklahoma
City area who knew our office
was in the blast area. A beautiful
floral arrangement arrived from the
AIDS National Interfaith Network
staff in Washington, D.C. The card
read, "Just because we love you!"
I know that many, many
more of you have prayed for us as
you have for others affected by the
blast. I know that your thoughts
are with all the people of Okla
homa City nearly every day. Thank
you for your care. The lesson the
terrorists wanted us to learn was
how vulnerable we were. They
wanted us to know that no place
was safe if someone was intent on
destruction. We learned that, but
more importantly we learned how
much we all care about each other.
We learned that there is more good
than there is evil. The sorrow of
our tragedy will always be there,
but the presence of love and care
for each other has been and will
continue to be the strongest lesson
we are learning from April 19,
1995. I can celebrate that, even
though the tears still come and the
pain is still fresh.
In Love and Faith,
"Lord, teach me how to laugh again, but don't let me forget
that I have cried. It's through my crying I may learn how to be
happy and free inside so I can help others find happiness. Thank
you."
This prayer was written by Frenchy, a friend of RAIN, when he faced a
crisis in his life. We share it with you because it fits so well today.
10
3
Calendar
May
04 - RAIN Director, West OKC
Rotary Club
05 - Tulsa Candlelight Tour of Homes
Patron Party
6/7 - Hope Candlelight Tour of Homes
07 - Enid RAIN Training
9/10/11 - Tulsa RAIN Training
11 - RAIN Director, AIDS Education,
Monroney Junior High,
Midwest City
12/13 - Stillwater RAIN Training
13 - OKC Metro Men's Chorus
Spring Concert
16 - RAIN Board of Directors
Meeting, OKC
20 - RAIN Director, Episcopal AIDS
Commission, McAlester
June
13/14/15 - Oklahoma State AIDS
Conference, Tulsa
25 - Pride Parade;
Team, Client & Family Picnic at the
Smothermans
July
18 - RAIN Board of Directors
Meeting, Tulsa
28/29 - Tulsa RAIN Training
• •
EDUCATIONALACTIVTIY
6 presentations to 507 people.
Total 2/90-03/95 - 675 programs to 24,454 people.
These include faith congregations, community groups, work place
settings, and school systems.
RAINTEAMACTIVTIY
Seventy-four (45 Western OK, 29 Eastern OK) RAIN Teams consisting of
nearly 1,000 people are operating in Oklahoma. Congregations represented
include: African Methodist Episcopal, Assembly of God, Baptist, Catholic,
Christian (Disciples of Christ), Congregational, Episcopal, Jewish, Metropolitan
Community Church, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Quaker (Society of Friends),
Religious Science, Unitarian, and United Methodist.
These teams have served more than 275 HIV-infected individuals, their
families and care givers. 58 clients are being served currently. A team serves a
client for the duration of the illness and is not assigned again until the team has
gone through a RAINbow Retreat followed by a period of time to process and
deal with what it has experienced.
RAIN Team training sessions are being attended by members of the
medical and mental health community, volunteers for community-based
organizations, family members living with HIV, and church members who want
the education but are not serving on a RAIN Team.
RAIN Volunteers logged 1,440 hours in March.
4
Have you sent mail to the Oklahoma City
office that hasn't been answered yet?
You need to know that each
morning our mail was sorted in the
Murrah Building by our mailman,
Jim, who then began his route about
9:15 a.m. He had just finished sorting
the mail on the first floor when the
bomb exploded.
Amazingly, Jim was able to
walk out of the crumbling building
and is back delivering mail now. Even
more amazing is the fact that we have
received a batch of mail that appar
ently was in the building.
It was spattered, gritty, and the
envelopes had many marks on them,
but they were delivered a few days
later. How any mail could have been
recovered is just astounding! But - if
you sent us a check or a letter and
have not received a response, please
let us know. Yours may have been one
of the pieces of mail which was lost.
There are new faces in the RAIN office
Some changes and additions have
been made recently which will make
RAIN even more efficient and visible
throughout Oklahoma. In the Oklahoma
City office Larry McGhghy has been
hired to work mornings to balance Larry
Hamilton's afternoons. He's already been
a tremendous help handling the increas
ing amount of phone calls and other
office duties.
Thanks to a grant from the Okla
homa AIDS Care Fund, Saundra Powell is
now the full-time Southwest Oklahoma
Associate Coordinator. Saundra has been
working part-time in the Lawton area, but
will now be able to expand throughout
the southwest quadrant assisting the
Western Coordinator,Joan Foreman. The
same grant applies to the Northwest Okla
homa quadrant and we will be hiring in
that area soon.
Dannette Geren has begun work in
the Sapulpa office where space is pro
vided by Tom, Sam, and Yvonne Allen in
their suite of law offices. The Bartlett
Foundation provided the grant which
will enable Dannette to develop a com
prehensive education program for the
youth of Sapulpa and Creek County.
Dannette, a sister-in-law to Truman
Geren, is extremely well-suited for this
position, having been involved in HIV/
AIDS education and prevention since
1990. She is a certified HIV/AIDS instruc
tor and has worked with the Red Cross in
the development and writing of a manual
for the "American Indians Decision to
Survive" (AIDS) program. She also has a
background in marketing and public re
lations and has produced videos and bro
chures for HIV/AIDS education.
Stephen Davis has joined the
Tulsa office as our new secretary. He got
off to a quick start assisting the computer
installer as our new equipment and soft
ware, provided by a grant from Sarkeys
Foundation, was brought on line.
Welcome to each of our new folks
and an extra welcome to Saundra as she
begins full-time work for RAIN!
9
Smotherman named Truman Scholar
Resigns from RAIN to pursue public health degree
RAIN began inOklahoma
literally in the back seat and trunk
of MC Smothermon's car. Before
long we were offered office space
in the Episcopal Church Center
and the Episcopal Diocese gave
us our first grant in Oklahoma.
Since then RAIN has grown by
leaps and bounds ( as you can see
by the Update numbers elsewhere
in this issue).
MC has been RAINmom
and our first Executive Director,
but she has also been a part-time
gtudent at Oklahoma City Univer
sity. In December of 1993 OCU
recommended her for a Truman
Scholarship, one of the top three
scholarship programs in the United
States.
Following a long period of
the application process, a day of
interviews in Dallas after she was
announced as a finalist, followed
by a wait for the official decision
of the interview board, MC was
notified that she has been named
one of about 89 students across
the United States to be named
1995 Truman Scholars! She is the
oldest person to be awarded the
scholarship since it was first
awarded in 1977.
This wonderful opportu
nity is a good news, bad news
item. We are thrilled for MC, but
also must accept the fact that she
will now become a full-time
student this fall.
The scholarship provides
some support for her senior year
atOCU, then pays full tuition for
graduate school where MC hopes
to earn a Master's in Public
Health. She will be resigning as
Executive Director in August, but
we don't lose her entirely as she
will continue to work with RAIN
as a consultant.
All of you should have
received a letter with our press
release and job search informa
tion. If you or someone you know
qualifies for this position, we want
to hear from you. It is hoped that
the new director can be in place
by August 1st to have some time
with MC before she becomes
embroiled in school books. If you
need another copy of the qualifi
cations for the position, please call
the OKC office.
�
8
Compassionate Friends offer support
for bereaved parents and siblings
People are able to relate to
others who have experienced
similar experiences. Sometimes
those who have been through
what we are going through are the
only ones we can open to, the
only ones who really understand.
That is what The Compassionate
Friends (TCF) is all about. They
are a "nationwide support group
for bereaved parents and siblings
offering friendship and under
standing."
Not long ago MC
Smothermon was asked to speak
to the NorthOklahoma City
chapter of TCF about how that
group can reach out to families
who have lost a child to AIDS.
They want very much to be there
for AIDS-related deaths just as
they are for other types of loss,
but parents of PLW As have not
responded. MC was able to tell
them that isolation, fear, and
shame are still factors with which
familiesdeal inOklahoma. They
often don't feel they will be
accepted and may be afraid to try.
Both the North Oklahoma
City and Norman chapters of
TCF want to be there for you if
you are a parent or sibling of a
deceased PLWA. MC was
touched by the concern these
people felt each other and the
desire they had to reach many of
our PLWA families. Please call
them and/or attend a meeting if
you have lost a child at anytime in
the past. Linna Robinson is a
RAIN volunteer as well as being a
member of the No. OKC chapte�.
Please feel free to call her at 524-'
3919 or the OKC 24 hour line
which is (506) 789-8840. The
Norman chapter has a 24 hour
line which is (405) 360-4287. For
those of you outside the OKC
metro area, TCF National Office
number is (708) 990-0010. They
can give you information on local
chapters in your area.
Another parents support
group in the OKC area which
meets weekly is "Through the
Storm." For information contact
Warren at Agape Recovery
Services at (405) 631-5100. Or
you can talk to Linna Robinson as
she is a member of it also. Both of
these groups are free and we can
attest to the caring you will find
there.
5
RAINbows and RAINdrops
Kathy McCallie, W. Ok. Volunteer Coordinator as well as pastor and member
of the Clark Memorial United Methodist Church RAIN Team, was featured in a
recent Oklahoma City Gazette article as a woman who has made a difference in the
lives of others...That RAINbow Power Team has been at work again folding, stapling,
labeling for the newsletter as well as other mailouts the past few months .. .Joan
Foreman, Western Ok. Coordinator, returned from her time off for surgery invigorated
and raring to go. Many thanks to all those volunteers as well as staff who gave extra
time and effort while she was recuperating ... Our Eastern Ok. Coordinator success
fully defended her doctoral dissertation and is now Sheryl Dagang, Ph.D. Congratula
tions, Sheryl !...Sheryl also came to Oklahoma City as a member of a critical incident
counseling team and spent 2 days working with families of those people missing in
the explosion...
Jane Berryman, DHS HIV/AIDS Case Manager in OKC, is recovering well
from a broken ankle suffered in March...Eileen DeBell, Bethany Nazarene RAIN
Team, had surgery herself in January and then was in California for some time taking
care of her daughter who was gravely ill...Mary Harris, OKC United Methodist
S::hurch of the Servant RAIN Team A, was critically ill, but is now back to her perky
self...Tommy Chesbro, RAIN Board member and AIDS Coordinator at Indian Health
Care Resource Center in Tulsa, has been asked to serve on the National AIDS Fund
J3oard of Directors ...Marilyn Staats, RAIN Board of Directors and member of United
Methodist Church of the Servant RAIN Team, is recovering from surgery in
April...Congratulations to MC Smothermon on being names a 1995 Truman Scholar.
She is one of just over 80 people throughout the United States who received the
prestigious scholarship this year...
RAIN continues to grow in other states and countries. London RAIN has
begun, the first one outside the United States. In Arizona, the second RAIN training
has been held in Phoenix. Interfaith AIDS Network sent a representative to one of
Oklahoma's RAIN training events when they were getting their program started. MC
then talked with them by conference call several times and they now have a success
ful program going. Interfaith AIDS Network sponsors a number of services for
PL W As in addition to RAIN Teams...
Our prayers and sympathy go out to David Sapper, OKC St. Paul's Cathedral
RAIN Team, at the death of his father in February...Reverend Kathy Bird, Duncan
First UMC RAIN Team, at the death of her grandfather in March... JeffZielny and
Rick Landtroop at the death of Jeff's grandfather in April (Rick and Jeffmade our
wonderful RAIN panel for the NAMES Project Memorial Quilt in 1993)...Sapulpa
Upper Room House of Prayer RAIN Team at the death of team member Barbara
Lewis.
Congratulations are in order for two United Methodist ministers with RAIN
connections. Reverend Bill Moorer, director of the Oklahoma Conference of
Churches, has been named Lawton District Superintendent and Reverend Diane
Kovacs, Lawton St. Paul's United Methodist Church, is the new Clinton District
Superintendent. Bill was the first RAIN Board Presidentand Diane brought RAIN
Training to St. Paul's...
6
In Memoriam
OKC United Life Church of
Religious Science
OKC Wesley United Methodist Church
Mitch
OKC Village United Methodist Church Team A
Bobby
OKC Lighthouse Metropolitan Commu
nity Church - Team B
John
OKC Christ the King Catholic Church
Scott
OKC United Methodist Church
of the Servant - Team B
Frank
Norman St. Thomas More Catholic Churct
Tomme
Edmond First United Methodist Church
Keven
OKC Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Pat
Chickasha St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Tim
Bethany First Church of the Nazarene
David
Norman First Presbyterian Church
Frank
Lawton Barnett Chapel AME Church
Eugene
OKC Lighthouse Metropolitan
Community Church - Team C
Alan
Midwest City Wickline United
Methodist Church
Jesse
Tulsa St. John's Episcopal Church
Doug
OKC St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Mark
Tulsa Christ the King Catholic Church
Stephen
Edmond First United Methodist Church
Mike
University of Tulsa Canterbury Center
and Sharp Chapel
Dale
Norman St. Thomas More
Catholic Church
Mike
OKC Grace United Methodist Church
Paul
Tulsa All Souls Unitarian Church
Alvin
Tulsa Community of Hope UMC Church
Michael
7
RAINbows and RAINdrops
Kathy McCallie, W. Ok. Volunteer Coordinator as well as pastor and member
of the Clark Memorial United Methodist Church RAIN Team, was featured in a
recent Oklahoma City Gazette article as a woman who has made a difference in the
lives of others...That RAINbow Power Team has been at work again folding, stapling,
labeling for the newsletter as well as other mailouts the past few months .. .Joan
Foreman, Western Ok. Coordinator, returned from her time off for surgery invigorated
and raring to go. Many thanks to all those volunteers as well as staff who gave extra
time and effort while she was recuperating ... Our Eastern Ok. Coordinator success
fully defended her doctoral dissertation and is now Sheryl Dagang, Ph.D. Congratula
tions, Sheryl !...Sheryl also came to Oklahoma City as a member of a critical incident
counseling team and spent 2 days working with families of those people missing in
the explosion...
Jane Berryman, DHS HIV/AIDS Case Manager in OKC, is recovering well
from a broken ankle suffered in March...Eileen DeBell, Bethany Nazarene RAIN
Team, had surgery herself in January and then was in California for some time taking
care of her daughter who was gravely ill...Mary Harris, OKC United Methodist
S::hurch of the Servant RAIN Team A, was critically ill, but is now back to her perky
self...Tommy Chesbro, RAIN Board member and AIDS Coordinator at Indian Health
Care Resource Center in Tulsa, has been asked to serve on the National AIDS Fund
J3oard of Directors ...Marilyn Staats, RAIN Board of Directors and member of United
Methodist Church of the Servant RAIN Team, is recovering from surgery in
April...Congratulations to MC Smothermon on being names a 1995 Truman Scholar.
She is one of just over 80 people throughout the United States who received the
prestigious scholarship this year...
RAIN continues to grow in other states and countries. London RAIN has
begun, the first one outside the United States. In Arizona, the second RAIN training
has been held in Phoenix. Interfaith AIDS Network sent a representative to one of
Oklahoma's RAIN training events when they were getting their program started. MC
then talked with them by conference call several times and they now have a success
ful program going. Interfaith AIDS Network sponsors a number of services for
PL W As in addition to RAIN Teams...
Our prayers and sympathy go out to David Sapper, OKC St. Paul's Cathedral
RAIN Team, at the death of his father in February...Reverend Kathy Bird, Duncan
First UMC RAIN Team, at the death of her grandfather in March... JeffZielny and
Rick Landtroop at the death of Jeff's grandfather in April (Rick and Jeffmade our
wonderful RAIN panel for the NAMES Project Memorial Quilt in 1993)...Sapulpa
Upper Room House of Prayer RAIN Team at the death of team member Barbara
Lewis.
Congratulations are in order for two United Methodist ministers with RAIN
connections. Reverend Bill Moorer, director of the Oklahoma Conference of
Churches, has been named Lawton District Superintendent and Reverend Diane
Kovacs, Lawton St. Paul's United Methodist Church, is the new Clinton District
Superintendent. Bill was the first RAIN Board Presidentand Diane brought RAIN
Training to St. Paul's...
6
In Memoriam
OKC United Life Church of
Religious Science
OKC Wesley United Methodist Church
Mitch
OKC Village United Methodist Church Team A
Bobby
OKC Lighthouse Metropolitan Commu
nity Church - Team B
John
OKC Christ the King Catholic Church
Scott
OKC United Methodist Church
of the Servant - Team B
Frank
Norman St. Thomas More Catholic Churct
Tomme
Edmond First United Methodist Church
Keven
OKC Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Pat
Chickasha St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Tim
Bethany First Church of the Nazarene
David
Norman First Presbyterian Church
Frank
Lawton Barnett Chapel AME Church
Eugene
OKC Lighthouse Metropolitan
Community Church - Team C
Alan
Midwest City Wickline United
Methodist Church
Jesse
Tulsa St. John's Episcopal Church
Doug
OKC St. Patrick's Catholic Church
Mark
Tulsa Christ the King Catholic Church
Stephen
Edmond First United Methodist Church
Mike
University of Tulsa Canterbury Center
and Sharp Chapel
Dale
Norman St. Thomas More
Catholic Church
Mike
OKC Grace United Methodist Church
Paul
Tulsa All Souls Unitarian Church
Alvin
Tulsa Community of Hope UMC Church
Michael
7
Smotherman named Truman Scholar
Resigns from RAIN to pursue public health degree
RAIN began inOklahoma
literally in the back seat and trunk
of MC Smothermon's car. Before
long we were offered office space
in the Episcopal Church Center
and the Episcopal Diocese gave
us our first grant in Oklahoma.
Since then RAIN has grown by
leaps and bounds ( as you can see
by the Update numbers elsewhere
in this issue).
MC has been RAINmom
and our first Executive Director,
but she has also been a part-time
gtudent at Oklahoma City Univer
sity. In December of 1993 OCU
recommended her for a Truman
Scholarship, one of the top three
scholarship programs in the United
States.
Following a long period of
the application process, a day of
interviews in Dallas after she was
announced as a finalist, followed
by a wait for the official decision
of the interview board, MC was
notified that she has been named
one of about 89 students across
the United States to be named
1995 Truman Scholars! She is the
oldest person to be awarded the
scholarship since it was first
awarded in 1977.
This wonderful opportu
nity is a good news, bad news
item. We are thrilled for MC, but
also must accept the fact that she
will now become a full-time
student this fall.
The scholarship provides
some support for her senior year
atOCU, then pays full tuition for
graduate school where MC hopes
to earn a Master's in Public
Health. She will be resigning as
Executive Director in August, but
we don't lose her entirely as she
will continue to work with RAIN
as a consultant.
All of you should have
received a letter with our press
release and job search informa
tion. If you or someone you know
qualifies for this position, we want
to hear from you. It is hoped that
the new director can be in place
by August 1st to have some time
with MC before she becomes
embroiled in school books. If you
need another copy of the qualifi
cations for the position, please call
the OKC office.
�
8
Compassionate Friends offer support
for bereaved parents and siblings
People are able to relate to
others who have experienced
similar experiences. Sometimes
those who have been through
what we are going through are the
only ones we can open to, the
only ones who really understand.
That is what The Compassionate
Friends (TCF) is all about. They
are a "nationwide support group
for bereaved parents and siblings
offering friendship and under
standing."
Not long ago MC
Smothermon was asked to speak
to the NorthOklahoma City
chapter of TCF about how that
group can reach out to families
who have lost a child to AIDS.
They want very much to be there
for AIDS-related deaths just as
they are for other types of loss,
but parents of PLW As have not
responded. MC was able to tell
them that isolation, fear, and
shame are still factors with which
familiesdeal inOklahoma. They
often don't feel they will be
accepted and may be afraid to try.
Both the North Oklahoma
City and Norman chapters of
TCF want to be there for you if
you are a parent or sibling of a
deceased PLWA. MC was
touched by the concern these
people felt each other and the
desire they had to reach many of
our PLWA families. Please call
them and/or attend a meeting if
you have lost a child at anytime in
the past. Linna Robinson is a
RAIN volunteer as well as being a
member of the No. OKC chapte�.
Please feel free to call her at 524-'
3919 or the OKC 24 hour line
which is (506) 789-8840. The
Norman chapter has a 24 hour
line which is (405) 360-4287. For
those of you outside the OKC
metro area, TCF National Office
number is (708) 990-0010. They
can give you information on local
chapters in your area.
Another parents support
group in the OKC area which
meets weekly is "Through the
Storm." For information contact
Warren at Agape Recovery
Services at (405) 631-5100. Or
you can talk to Linna Robinson as
she is a member of it also. Both of
these groups are free and we can
attest to the caring you will find
there.
5
Calendar
May
04 - RAIN Director, West OKC
Rotary Club
05 - Tulsa Candlelight Tour of Homes
Patron Party
6/7 - Hope Candlelight Tour of Homes
07 - Enid RAIN Training
9/10/11 - Tulsa RAIN Training
11 - RAIN Director, AIDS Education,
Monroney Junior High,
Midwest City
12/13 - Stillwater RAIN Training
13 - OKC Metro Men's Chorus
Spring Concert
16 - RAIN Board of Directors
Meeting, OKC
20 - RAIN Director, Episcopal AIDS
Commission, McAlester
June
13/14/15 - Oklahoma State AIDS
Conference, Tulsa
25 - Pride Parade;
Team, Client & Family Picnic at the
Smothermans
July
18 - RAIN Board of Directors
Meeting, Tulsa
28/29 - Tulsa RAIN Training
• •
EDUCATIONALACTIVTIY
6 presentations to 507 people.
Total 2/90-03/95 - 675 programs to 24,454 people.
These include faith congregations, community groups, work place
settings, and school systems.
RAINTEAMACTIVTIY
Seventy-four (45 Western OK, 29 Eastern OK) RAIN Teams consisting of
nearly 1,000 people are operating in Oklahoma. Congregations represented
include: African Methodist Episcopal, Assembly of God, Baptist, Catholic,
Christian (Disciples of Christ), Congregational, Episcopal, Jewish, Metropolitan
Community Church, Nazarene, Presbyterian, Quaker (Society of Friends),
Religious Science, Unitarian, and United Methodist.
These teams have served more than 275 HIV-infected individuals, their
families and care givers. 58 clients are being served currently. A team serves a
client for the duration of the illness and is not assigned again until the team has
gone through a RAINbow Retreat followed by a period of time to process and
deal with what it has experienced.
RAIN Team training sessions are being attended by members of the
medical and mental health community, volunteers for community-based
organizations, family members living with HIV, and church members who want
the education but are not serving on a RAIN Team.
RAIN Volunteers logged 1,440 hours in March.
4
Have you sent mail to the Oklahoma City
office that hasn't been answered yet?
You need to know that each
morning our mail was sorted in the
Murrah Building by our mailman,
Jim, who then began his route about
9:15 a.m. He had just finished sorting
the mail on the first floor when the
bomb exploded.
Amazingly, Jim was able to
walk out of the crumbling building
and is back delivering mail now. Even
more amazing is the fact that we have
received a batch of mail that appar
ently was in the building.
It was spattered, gritty, and the
envelopes had many marks on them,
but they were delivered a few days
later. How any mail could have been
recovered is just astounding! But - if
you sent us a check or a letter and
have not received a response, please
let us know. Yours may have been one
of the pieces of mail which was lost.
There are new faces in the RAIN office
Some changes and additions have
been made recently which will make
RAIN even more efficient and visible
throughout Oklahoma. In the Oklahoma
City office Larry McGhghy has been
hired to work mornings to balance Larry
Hamilton's afternoons. He's already been
a tremendous help handling the increas
ing amount of phone calls and other
office duties.
Thanks to a grant from the Okla
homa AIDS Care Fund, Saundra Powell is
now the full-time Southwest Oklahoma
Associate Coordinator. Saundra has been
working part-time in the Lawton area, but
will now be able to expand throughout
the southwest quadrant assisting the
Western Coordinator,Joan Foreman. The
same grant applies to the Northwest Okla
homa quadrant and we will be hiring in
that area soon.
Dannette Geren has begun work in
the Sapulpa office where space is pro
vided by Tom, Sam, and Yvonne Allen in
their suite of law offices. The Bartlett
Foundation provided the grant which
will enable Dannette to develop a com
prehensive education program for the
youth of Sapulpa and Creek County.
Dannette, a sister-in-law to Truman
Geren, is extremely well-suited for this
position, having been involved in HIV/
AIDS education and prevention since
1990. She is a certified HIV/AIDS instruc
tor and has worked with the Red Cross in
the development and writing of a manual
for the "American Indians Decision to
Survive" (AIDS) program. She also has a
background in marketing and public re
lations and has produced videos and bro
chures for HIV/AIDS education.
Stephen Davis has joined the
Tulsa office as our new secretary. He got
off to a quick start assisting the computer
installer as our new equipment and soft
ware, provided by a grant from Sarkeys
Foundation, was brought on line.
Welcome to each of our new folks
and an extra welcome to Saundra as she
begins full-time work for RAIN!
9
RAIN Donations
Edmond First Presbyterian
Church has once again made RAIN a
budget item for the year. What a won
derful gesture from a church which
has always supported our program,
both through the members of its RAIN
Team and the commitment of finan
cial resources!
Larry Crosby started the Have
A Heart Auction several years ago. It
has become a yearly event which
always provides a wonderful evening
of entertainment as well as raising
money for AIDS. Larry and John
• Eckert, co-owners ofTramps in Okla
homa City, tum the club over to the
event around Valentine's Day each
year. Entertainers from the commu
nity donate their time and tips to the
effort, many businesses donate auc
tion items, and people are extremely
generous as they bid throughout the
evening (Larry and his sister donate
many items AND bid vigorously,
we've noticed).The proceeds this year
went to Western Oklahoma RAIN and
Loaves and Fishes, two of the finest
organizations in this area.Thanks to
all who make February extra-special
through this wonderful event!
Red Tie Night, sponsored by
the Oklahoma AIDS Care Fund
(OACF) in OKC each year has become
an annual favorite place to be - won
derful food and ambiance, plus a fun
evening. But, most important of all,
RedTie Night raises lots of money for
AIDS-related services in Western
Oklahoma. We appreciate the fact
that a large portion of that money
went to RAIN for our Southwest and
Northwest Oklahoma programs.
Donors
l..eonardN.Slater, MD ...Keike GQdfrey
...Mr. and Mrs Grady McCullough ..
.Mr. and Mrs Roy Brown .. .Mr.Peter
G.Pierce Ill .. . Ors. Robert & Joy
Beckerley ...Carol M. Woods .. .Billie
Hurst Gasaway ... Melissa Miracle ...
Mr.and Mrs.Jim Kirkpatrick ...Linda
K. Speer ...Connie L Webber...Winston Grocott ...Skip & Donna Ambler
...Jeffrey Gaughan ...Jared Bruce ...
Gary Barton
Memorials
MARTIN RYAN by Linda A.
Semelbaugh; LACEY LITTRELL
by Dr. Philip J. Rettig; RICHARD
MONROE by James E. Bussell;
JOHN HOCKING by Terry Knapp;
PAUL KIRK by Timothy W.
Kubiak and Ken Spittler; MARK
TAYLOR by Roy and Aline Brown;
JIMMY HOUSERMANby Charles
and Verna Lee Falk; TOMMY
ARGO by Virginia Martindale,
Guardian Health Systems;
MICHEAL PENDLEY by Mike
Blalock, Ponca City Security Title
Services, Pat Schweinsberg.
In Honor of
ST.PATRICK'S CATHOLIC
CHURCH RAIN TEAM by Roy
and Aline Brown; EASTERN
OKLAHOMA FUND by Kandie
Fairchild;
Churches & Qmanjzatjons
Edmond First Presbyterian
Church; Tulsa John Knox Presbyte
rian Church
feel as if we are in the midst of a
war zone, as did the military trucks
and police barricades which
surrounded our block until they
were pulled back a couple of days
ago.
Things are getting back to
normal, but our emotions are still
tender. I'm over the urge to get out
of the building and run, but I still
jump at loud noises. Sometimes we
find ourselves just sitting and
staring at each other, our private
thoughts far away from the
business at hand. The funerals
have begun and there are some we
will attend because of a personal
or RAIN connection. It's still hard
to look out my window. What I
saw on April 19th overrides the
peaceful scene of today.
You've seen and heard
about the tremendous outpouring of
support coming from all over the
world, as well as Oklahoma. Here
at RAIN we were so touched as
the calls came in expressing
concern_ for us. They came from
other RAIN programs as far away
as New York, from London, from
Geneva, from friends some of us
had not seen for years, from other
care providers in the Oklahoma
City area who knew our office
was in the blast area. A beautiful
floral arrangement arrived from the
AIDS National Interfaith Network
staff in Washington, D.C. The card
read, "Just because we love you!"
I know that many, many
more of you have prayed for us as
you have for others affected by the
blast. I know that your thoughts
are with all the people of Okla
homa City nearly every day. Thank
you for your care. The lesson the
terrorists wanted us to learn was
how vulnerable we were. They
wanted us to know that no place
was safe if someone was intent on
destruction. We learned that, but
more importantly we learned how
much we all care about each other.
We learned that there is more good
than there is evil. The sorrow of
our tragedy will always be there,
but the presence of love and care
for each other has been and will
continue to be the strongest lesson
we are learning from April 19,
1995. I can celebrate that, even
though the tears still come and the
pain is still fresh.
In Love and Faith,
"Lord, teach me how to laugh again, but don't let me forget
that I have cried. It's through my crying I may learn how to be
happy and free inside so I can help others find happiness. Thank
you."
This prayer was written by Frenchy, a friend of RAIN, when he faced a
crisis in his life. We share it with you because it fits so well today.
10
3
TheRAINbow
Volume 6, Number 2
May, 1995
The DIRECTOR'S DESK
Has it only been such a short
time since our world exploded
around us, since Oklahoma City
became headline news around the
world, since America's belief in
, the safety of the "heartland" was
shattered? So many things have
happened. Things that were
precipitated by the, still incompre
hensible to me, ability of people to
harm other people. What is it that
makes it possible for a human
being to have such a lack of care
for others? What is it that feeds
such hate? We have pondered that
question in the face of wars and
other disasters and no easy an
swers will be found now.
For Oklahoma City the
bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah
Federal Building signified a coming
of age, though we may not have
realized it at first. The acts of
heroism and compassion which
began even as the smoke and
debris still choked the area signi-
2
Gift bell available at RAIN office
RAIN and AIDS National
Interfaith Network (ANIN) are
offering "AIDS Ribbon Bells"
designed by True Kol or Acces
sories, Inc. The bells are silver
plated and are engraved with the
image of the words "Until It's
Over."
The bells are 3 and one-half
inches high by 2 and one-quarter
inches in diameter at the base, and
come in a red gift box suitablefor
shipping.
The bells make a wonderful
gift throughout the yearfor birth
days, anniversaries, etc., and are
available at the Oklahoma City
RAIN officefor$10.00each.
Pick one up or add $2.00 for
shipping costs.
"What the heart has once owned and had,
it shall never lose. "
fied the best that people can
be in the face of the worst that
people can be. The swift, capable
response of our local police, fire,
ambulance crew·s, and area
medical facilities showed us all
how well prepared they were to
deal with disaster. And then the
help began to arrive from all over
Oklahoma, the country, and the
world.
Here at the Oklahoma City
RAIN office the dangling grids and
ceiling tiles bear mute testimony to
the force felt nearly four blocks
north of the explosion site. The
boarded window downstairs in one
of the Episcopal offices reminds us
how lucky we were that it fell out
rather than in on the two people in
that office. The National Guard
tents across the street make us
Henry Ward Beecher
quoted in the No. OKC Chapter
Compassionate Friends newsletter.
�-----------------------Yes, I want to be a RAIN supporter. Enclosed is my contribution:
$___ My gift is in memory of __________. Please
notify the family: __________________
My gift is in honor of _ __________ Please notify
the honoree, whose address is: ______________
I understand RAIN Oklahoma is a non-profit organization and my
contribution is tax-deductible. My cancelled check will serve as my receipt.
(Please check here __ if you prefer to remain anonymous and do not want
to receive RAIN newsletters and mailings.)
Name ______________
Address _____________
City, State, Zip __ _______
Phone ______________
Please make check payable to:
RAIN Oklahoma
924 N. Robinson
Oklahoma City OK 73102-5814
11
TheRAINbow
A Publication of RAIN Oklahoma
Volume 6, Number 2
Mary Catherine Smotherman
Executive Director
Oklahoma City Office;
Tulsa Office:
Joan R. Foreman
Sheryl Dagang
Western Oklahoma Coordinator
Eastern Oklahoma Coordinator
Wesley T. Wise
Executive Secretary
Larry McGhghy
Stephen Davis
Secretary
HIV Resource Consortium
Clerical Assistant
4154S. Harvard,Suite H-1
Tufsa,OK74135-2602
(918)749-4195
Volunteer Coordinator
Saundra Powell
Secretary
Larry Hamilton
Rev. Kathy McCallle
Lawton Office:
Episcopal Church Center
SW OK Associate Coordinator
OklahomaClty,OK73102-5814
Sapulpa Office:
924 N. Robinson
(405) 232-4372
May, 1995
Board of Directors
Rev. Melvin Balley
Ms. Gloria Bellymule
Mr. Tommy Chesbro
Mr. Stephen Daniels
Rev. Jim Eller
Mr. Charles Faudree
Mr. Jeff Hamilton
Mr. Luis Lopez
Ms. Saundra Lucas
Rev. John Nicholas
Mr. Peter G. Pierce Ill
Ms. Janice Piggee
Ms. Joyce Schreiber
Leonard N. Slater, M.D.
Ms. Marilyn Staats
Mr. Mark Vickers
(405) 535-3663
Dannette Geren
Education Coordinator
221E.Dewey
Sapulpa, OK74067
(918) 224-4433
�lheOKCme!roareacall:
1-800-324-RAIN
BIii Guy, Editor
"Member AIDS National Interfaith Network"
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Part of The RAINbow : v.6:no.2(1995:May)