June 20, 2005. McCormick Place, Chicago, IL
[ copies of presentations are available in our download library ]
Rotary International President Glenn Estess asked Marion Bunch (Chair, Rotarians For Fighting AIDS – “RFFA”) to put together a panel presentation on the challenges and consequences of AIDS, and how Rotarians can help – both in America and in the developing countries.
The panel of speakers presented to an audience of 1,400 Rotarians and guests and received a standing ovation. Their subject was: The Global AIDS Pandemic: The Impact on Chidren and How Rotarians Can Make A Difference.” The moderator of the symposium was Past RI Vice President, James Shamblin, M.D. He introduced the following four speakers:
• Marion Bunch, Chair, RFFA, who told her personal story of how she got involved in fighting HIV/AIDS through Rotary due to the loss of her son. and how her journey resulted in the creation of a significant sized partnership between Rotarians globally (RFFA), HOPE worldwide, Emory University, Coca Cola/Africa and the U.S. Government (USAID). This partnership was recently awarded an $8.1 million grant.
• Dr. Martha Rogers, a board-certified pediatrician, is the Director of the Center for Child Well-Being at the Task Force for Child Survival and Development. She is also a Clinical Professor at Emory University’s School of Nursing. Dr. Rogers became an expert known nationally and internationally in the field of HIV/AIDS in women and children. She spent over 20 years at the CDC, in work related to the control of HIV/AIDS worldwide. She spoke on the impact of HIV/AIDS on orphans and vulnerable children in Africa.
• Dr. Mark Ottenweller is Director, HOPE worldwide/Africa, a significant-sized NGO headquartred in Johannesburg, South Africa, with four regional centers of excellence in sub-Saharan Africa. Since Dr. Ottenweller has lived and worked on the continent for 15 years, he shared how he created a Best Practice Model in HIV/AIDS work that focuses on improving the well-being and protection of orphans and vulnerable children in multiple African countries by building the capacity of families and communities to cope and to respond.
• Kristi Matthews, a former Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar, and speaker on AIDS shared her moving and powerful personal story on her involvement with the disease. Kristi worked for several years with Marion Bunch and many local Rotary Clubs on an HIV/AIDS education program implemented in the schools of Georgia.
The speakers presented for about an hour; and then Marion Bunch announced the ORPHAN RESCUE program, newly developed by RFFA to help care and support orphans and vulnerable children in Africa. The last 45 minutes were spent on the panel answering many questions from the crowd.
