RAINbow_vol9no2.pdf

RAINbow_vol9no2.pdf
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RAINbow_vol9no2.pdf
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THE RAINBOW
A Publication of RegionalAIDSInterfaith Network Oklahoma
Vol. 9 No. 2
July 1998

Trends Present Challenges to RAIN
The Director's Desk
Pamela S. Cross, MPH
Executive Director
OKLAHOMA CITY OFFICE:
Joan R. Foreman,
Western OK Coordinator
Wesley T. Wise,
Executive Assistant
Jean Felix,
Program Assistant
Rachel Morse, BA,
Volunteer Coordinator
1601 N. Drexel Blvd
Okla.City OK 73107-4728
405.947.3434 fax 405.947.6868
e-mail: rainokla@ionet.net
Outside the Metro area:
1.800.324.RAIN (7246)
EASTERN OK OFFICE:
Kathleen R. Bird,
Eastern OK Coordinator
Stephen Davis,
Administrative Assistant
Cora Westman,
Volunteer Coordinator
4CE S. Pittsburg
Tulsa OK 74112
918.834.4195
fax 918.834.4213
e-mail: rainokla@juno.com
SOUTHWEST OK OFFICE:
Victor Cutnose,
SW OK Associate Coordinator
Centenary United MethodistChurch
704 SW "D" Avenue
Lawton OK 73501
405.351.AIDS (2437)
SOUTH CENTRAL OFFICE:
Debi K.C. Morris,
Associate Coordinator
PO Box5294
Ardmore OK 73403-5294
580.657.3778
COMMUNITY EDUCATION
OFFICE:
Education Coordinator
Loeffler-Allen Building
221 E. Dewey
Sapulpa OK 74:Xj7
918.224.4433
fax 918.224.0670
Home Page:
oklahoman.neUconneclions/rain
RAIN Oklahoma is a Member of
AIDS National Interfaith Network(ANIN)
&
National Minority AIDS Council(NMAC)
Wesley T. Wise, Editor

Through December 1997,
641,086 persons with AIDS have
been reported to the CDC. From
1995 to 1996, for the first time in the
epidemic, the occurrence of AIDSdefining opportunistic illnesses
decreased 7% and deaths among
persons with AIDS decreased 25%.
These declines were largely due to
combination antiretroviral therapy,
including protease inhibitors.
Prenatal HIV testing and use of AZT
reduced perinatal transmission.
These treatment advances have
altered the natural history of HIV
infection and contributed to an
increase in the number of persons
living with HIV/AIDS. (Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report, 1997;
9(No.2).
In 1995, for the first time the
number of Blacks living with AIDS
equaled the number of Whites living
with AIDS, despite their smaller
proportion of the US population. In
1996, Blacks diagnosed with AIDS
surpassed Whites. They died with
AIDS at higher rates also. These
trends I already knew; what I did not
know was the huge disparity
between Whites and Blacks under
the age of five who are HIV positive.
My concern over the adult trends
turned to a feeling of near despair
when I saw the table on HIV
infection cases by age and
race/ethnicity reported by states with
confidential HIV infection reporting.
Cases in Whites under age five
number 283; cases in
Blacks under age five number 866.
My heart aches and I believe God
weeps.

Funding for treatment and care
of PLWAs has increased and that is
vitally important. Funding for HIV
prevention has increased little and
we are seeing the results - the faces
of AIDS change but there continue
to be new faces every day. Political,
religious and economic pressures
enter the debate and those who
ultimately suffer are those whose
voices are not heard and who must
feel their lives are expendable.
RAIN is three meetings into a
nine meeting strategic planning
process that includes volunteers,
clients, staff, board and resource
people. We've looked at program
strengths and weaknesses,
changing client needs, volunteer
skills, communication challenges,
staff, board, and funding strengths
and weaknesses. Please keep RAIN
in your thoughts and prayers as we
strive to live out our vision: "To
expand services geographically,
increase diversity throughout the
organization, explore flexible models
of service, continue to increase
community awareness of HIV/AIDS,
and develop effective educational
processes for RAIN clients,
volunteers, staff and board."

Pamela S. Cross,
Executive Director

Regional AIDSInterfaithNetwork

Ol<LAHOMA

2 TheRAINbow

July 1998

News From Around the State
NEWS FROM THE WEST
RAIN welcomes Debi
Morris, who joined our staff on
June 1O as South Central
Associate Coordinator. Debi's
office is in Ardmore. She will
work with RAIN Teams and
clients in an eight-county area.
Thanks go to Rev. Cynthia
Johnson, Pastor, First Unitarian
Church in OKC for hosting RAIN
Volunteer Training in June, and
to members of the Varsity RAIN
Team who provided meals and
hospitality; Team Rep Chris
George, and Nathaniel
Batchelder, Richard Cates, Scot
Harvey, Devin McAnally, and
Jerome Simpson.
We have scheduled
Volunteer Training for August 14
& 15 at Wesley United Methodist
Church in Shawnee, and October
2 & 3 at St. Monica Catholic
Church in Edmond. Interested
persons can call the OKC RAIN
office.
- Joan R. Foreman
NEWS FROM SOUTHWEST
OKLAHOMA
There are some exciting
things going on here. I love
working with kids and I'm getting
the opportunity to do that this
summer. The Comanche Tribe
substance abuse program is
holding a six-week day camp in
June and July and they've asked
me to do several sessions on
HIV prevention and self-esteem
building. The kids are 8 - 13
years old and full of energy.
RAIN has also been asked
to help in planning and
implementing a Native American
HIV/AIDS conference to be held
September 14, 15 and 16 at
Cameron University in Lawton.
Health professionals from the
AIDS Training Center

in Houston will be doing several
workshops on treatment and
care. There will also be
workshops targeting the
community in prevention, care
and traditional treatments.
Although it's being sponsored by
the Lawton Indian Hospital,
everyone is welcome to attend.
It's going to be a great project for
RAIN to be associated with.
- Victor Cutnose
NEWS FROM SOUTH
CENTRAL OKLAHOMA
RAIN's newest office
opened June 10 in Ardmore. I
attended RAIN Training at the
Unitarian Church in June. What a
wonderful, giving group of people
there!
The Statewide HIV
Conference was a knowledgefilled experience. Thanks to all
who made me feel so wel-come.
I am looking forward to meeting
current RAIN Team members as
well as developing RAIN's
presence in South Central
Oklahoma.
My top priority will be
locating PLWAs who want our
assistance. I'm also hoping to
schedule a meeting soon for our
currently active teams in
Ardmore and Calera-Colbert. Be
watching for many new and
exiting things to begin happening
in this region. Please call with
any ideas you may have
regarding RAIN.
Until There's a Cure,
- Debi K.C. Morris
v .......

0::

WISH LIST
Tulsa Office: Two small
trash cans, paper shredder,
paper cutter. OKC Office: Paper
shredder. Ardmore Office:
Computer, printer, fax/copier,
filing cabinets. All Offices: Small
set of tools.

POSITIONS OPEN
Two part-time Associate
Coordinator positions are now
open in Eastern Oklahoma, one
based in Sapulpa, and the other
based in Tulsa.
Major responsibilities of these
positions
include
volunteer
recruitment & training, client
intakes, on-going support of RAIN
teams,
and
community
educational
programs.
Both
positions will work with RAIN Staff
in Tulsa to meet the needs for
HIV/AIDS education and care in a
multiple-county area.
The successful candidates
will be highly motivated and
sensitive to the needs of
individuals and families affected
by HIV/AIDS. Knowledge and
experience in HIV/AIDS education,
working with volunteers, and
working within faith communities
is
preferred.
Dependable
transportation is essential.
Other needed skills include public
speaking ability, good written/oral
communication
skills,
and
self-direction.
Certification or
willingness to seek certification as
an HIV educator is required.
Interested persons should
send a resume and cover letter to:
RAIN Oklahoma, 409 S. Pittsburg,
Tulsa, OK 74112.

AIDS WALK DATES SET
AIDS Walk '98 in
Oklahoma City has been
slated for Sunday, October
25. The annual Tulsa event
has been scheduled for
Saturday, September 12.
For more information, call
the respective RAIN office.

3 The RAINbow

DONATIONS

INDIVIDUALS
Mr. & Mrs. A L Atkinson, Jr•
Phil & Lois Ball• Gina L
Bradford• Nettie Caldwell•
Patricia Capra• Karen Lynne &
Gerald Carson • Carolyn Craven
• James & Virginia Griffin •
Devin McAnally • Thomas &
. Joyce Mccollom • Nick &
Connie Miller • Cindy & Jerry
Paradise • Melinda Johnson
Ryan • Emily Alexander Shurley
• Nancy Swab Vaughan •
Garline Wheatley • Robert &
Patricia Wright •
MONTHLY SUPPORTERS
Bert Wendel Ballou •
Robert & Dolores Browning • 1st
Presbyterian Church of Edmond
• Billie Hurst Gasaway • Warren
& Margaret May • Carol Woods
• Jeffrey Gaughan.
MEMORIALS
William Souter Allen by
Jeanne DeVilliers; John & Sally
Bingman • Elisha Anderson by
Jody Casey Martin • Johnny
Anderson by Susan Ross •
Stephen Hardway by Polly
Houston; John Doneti & Terry
Dennison; Kenneth & Nancy
Malone; Sebra Lukenbaugh Quality Pets, Inc; Nancy S
Murray; Twyla Connelly &
Deeann Blackwell; Roy & Myrna
Scott; Pat & Wayne Meeks •
Randy Hurst & JB Chenoweth
by Billie Hurst Gasaway• Paul
Kirk by Bob Hill • Lacy Litrell by
Brenda & Michael Dougan •
Wade Massenburg by Brenda &
Michael Dougan • Michael May
by Warren & Margaret May •
John Oldham by Donald & Eris
Oldham • Nick Porter by
Garline Wheatley • Bob Rowe
on his Birthday 6/17 by Jean

July 1998

Rowe • Edward Wilkonson by
Yvonne Allen • James Michael
Wilson by Betty C Wilson • Lee
Wise by Vivian Hall; Betty Mann;
Steve Daniels.
HONORARIUMS
Charles Faudree on his
60th Birthday by Barbara & Dave
Sylvan • Terry Knapp, MEd, on
his graduation from UCO by MC
Smothermon.
ORGANIZATIONS
Broadway Cares/Equity
Fights AIDS, Inc, NYC •
Episcopal Church Women
Diocese of Oklahoma • James N
McCoy Foundation, Wichita Falls
TX • Mayflower Congregational
Church, OKC • Oklahoma
Conference of The United
Methodist Church • Security
National Bank, Sapulpa • Video
Industry AIDS Action Committee,
Inc, Los Angeles.
FUND RAISERS
OKClassic Mardi Gras Party
• OKClassic Bowling
Toumament • Polo Grill
Academy Awards Dinner
Fundraiser, Tulsa.
HIV/AIDS ACTION INITIATIVE
OKC Community Foundation
IN-KIND DONATIONS
Public Service
Announcements by KCCU Cameron University, Lawton•
Ads by Tom Neill-Tulsa Family
News • 12' x 9' Carpet Remnant
by Susan Kennedy, MD •
Window unit air conditioner,
Framed Posters, Potted Plant,
Microwave, Name Tag Holders
by Kathy Bird • Office supplies
by Jeannine lies, ONEOK-Tulsa
• Office Furniture by L & M
Office Furniture • Educational
Video by Robert Wagner • File
cabinet, bookshelf & chairs by
TanData Corp.

CONNECTING
HEARTS and HANDS
INDIVIDUALS
Rosa Harris Pollock •
Kersey Winfree, MD•
GR Kravis II.
MEMORIALS
William Allen by Tadaaki &
Susan Hatta • Paul Bradhorst
by Theresa London •Craig
Draper by Ellsworth Draper •
Charles Ellis by Anne Kozak •
Stephen Hardway by Eursey
Lenoir • Ken Miller by Rob
Riggs.
HONORARIUMS
Warren & Eddie Jones by
Lucalia Hinson • Eursey Lenoir
by Terry Dennison & John
Doneti.

8TH!
Have you ever wanted to do
something philanthropic and
have fun at the same time? RAIN
is putting together the first ever
RAIN Party with a Purpose.
This is designed as a series of
fund raising parties to be held
simultaneously in the 405 and
580 area code regions of
Oklahoma on Sat. Aug. 8 at 8:00
m. -"-----------Just decide what kind of
party to have and we'll provide
you with invitations and party
planning assistance. Then just
have fun! There's no minimum
donation requirement so your
guests can contribute whatever
they'd like.
At the end of the evening
Party Central (OKC Office) will
add up the party donations and
call you back with the grand
total! This event is held not only
to raise money to support our
RAIN Teams, but to also bring
greater awareness of the need
for compassionate response to
HIV/AIDS.
If you're interested in having
a Party with a Purpose or would
like more information, call the
OKC RAIN Office at (405) 947-

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I understand RAIN Oklahoma is a non-profit
organization and my contribution is tax
deductible. My canceled 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.)

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Please make checks payable to:
RAIN Oklahoma, 1601 N. Drexel Blvd,
Oklahoma City, OK 73107
VISA & MasterCard accepted!

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Part of The RAINbow : v.9:no.2(1998:Jul.)