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Minutes from 2007 Annual General Meeting . Rotarians for Fighting AIDS, Inc.

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:57:51 -0700

June 20, 2007

Notice having been circulated, The Fourth Annual meeting of the Rotarians For Fighting AIDS, Inc. (RFFA) was held at the convention center in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA on Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 2 p.m. In attendance were approximately 50 Rotarians from all over the world as well as the following RFFA Board members:

June 2007 - Annual PEPFAR HIV Implementer's Meeting - Kigali, Rwanda June 2007

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:36:14 -0700

The Annual PEPFAR HIV Implementer's Meeting on "Scaling Up Through Partnerships" in Kigali, Rwanda in June 2007 was a great success for HOPE worldwide and the ANCHOR partners. Dr. Marc Aguirre and Dr. Mark Ottenweller of HOPE worldwide (HWW) attended the conference with over 1500 delegates from the US and sites across Africa. Leaders of the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator (OGAC), the Global AIDS Program of Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the Global Fund, the World Health Organization, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) also attended the meeting.

July 2007 - London Financial Times Honors Rotary and Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA)

Thu, 02 Aug 2007 16:33:24 -0700

The London Financial Times recently ranked the top Non Government Organizations (NGOs) for corporate partnerships in the world, and Rotary was ranked number five. In their report which analyzes Rotary and gives reasons why it was ranked so high, RFFA was stated to be one of RI's top (next to Polio) Corporate Partnership programs. The Times report said:

Marion Bunch and RFFA Recognized at Closing Plenary Session of RI Convention in Salt Lake City (video)

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 09:02:54 -0700

At the 2007 Rotary International Convention in Salt Lake City in June, RI President Bill Boyd recognized the work of Marion Bunch and Rotarians for Fighting AIDS -- RFFA. Click on the arrow below to view the video. (courtesy of YouTube.com)

NOTE, if you experience a jerky stop-and-go video, then the downloading speed is not matching your viewing speed. So do the following: On the bottom left of the video screen press the stop button (two parallel lines). The video will keep downloading. You can watch its progression by following the red bar move across on the bottom. When the red bar is most of the way across, hit the (now) arrow button, and the video will play smoothly. If you have a dial-up Internet connection, the download could take up to 20 minutes or longer.

Trek of a Lifetime: Ambassadorial Scholars Walk 1,250 Miles to Fight AIDS in Africa

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 20:01:50 -0700

• RI Interactive video and article, March 6, 2007.
• Read their blog as they hiked across Africa. December 20, 2006 to January 4, 2007.

Rotary AIDS Hike in South Africa
from Johannsburg to Cape Town

By 2010 it is estimated there will be more than 20 million AIDS orphans globally. Yet, less than 5% of orphans and vulnerable children in Africa are currently receiving assistance.

The 2006-2007 theme for Rotary International is "Lead the Way." In that spirit, five international students studying in South Africa will hike 2010 kilometres - from Johannesburg to Cape Town - to highlight the needs of AIDS orphans and raise critical funds for children left homeless and at risk by the pandemic.

Orphan Rescue Brings Hope to Young Lives in the Ivory Coast

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 19:30:37 -0700

The Ivory Coast of Africa has many impoverished communities and HOPE worldwide is actively helping orphans and vulnerable children thanks to Rotarians for Fighting AIDS and the ANCHOR program. In the closing months of 2006, 353 children were directly touched by the generosity of Rotarians. For 37 of these children, RFFA funds paid school fees or apprenticeship costs. Another 228 received school kits containing text books, supplies and bags. And 25 young girls (all under the age of 17) are studying dressmaking with the help of RFFA funded sewing kits and notebooks.

Dunwoody Rotary Honors Speakers by Donating to Orphan Rescue

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:58:40 -0700

The Rotary Club of Dunwoody, Georgia (District 6900), home club of RFFA Chair Marion Bunch, recently presented her with a $1,500(US) check for Orphan Rescue. The Club has honored each of its speakers this year with a donation to Orphan Rescue in their names. Dunwoody Rotary 2006-2007 President Anne Glenn also presented a check from the Harris County Rotary Club, Georgia (District 6900) in the amount of $200(US), representing the first international contribution by the Harris County Club which has 26 members.

Orphan Rescue Donations Making a Difference in Kenya

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:53:51 -0700

The Anchor and Kenya Kids program in Kenya was very pleased to receive Ksh 208,730 which was credited to the Orphan Rescue account. Six families with over 20 children had been identified as the pioneer beneficiaries of this fund in Kenya. The selected families have various material needs but it was decided that assistance with tuition fee would be of greatest immediate help to them all. The recipients of the funds will be able to attend uninterrupted schooling for at least one full year. The care givers with the assistance of the programs will be able to work out how to meet the other needs which are not as financially demanding. The tuition fees, meals and uniform needs total Ksh 222,000.

The Children of Nigeria Tell Their Stories ...

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 15:14:41 -0700

...of hope for the future thanks to RFFA and Orphan Rescue, Hope worldwide and the Rotarians in Nigeria. These are just a few of the stories we received directly from the children you are helping.

Zambia Orphan Rescue Report

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:34:04 -0700

In February, 2006, Rotarians for Fighting AIDS (RFFA) sent $4,500 to Hope worldwide Zambia to help orphans and vulnerable children. To put the amount in perspective, that is less than a family of four would spend on a 6 day vacation at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. But when invested with RFFA, that same $4,500 provided direct education support (uniforms, school fees, books) to 328 children and indirect support (primarily nutrition) to 488 orphans and vulnerable children.

South African Rotary Club Adopts ANCHOR Site

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 16:01:42 -0700

ANCHOR (Africa Network for Children Orphaned and at Risk) was officially launched at a two day workshop held in Johannesburg, South Africa in March 2006 for Rotarian leaders from six African countries. The seminar was aiming at individual Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to identify with the ANCHOR program and to get actively involved to support new ANCHOR sites.

AIDS Hike Inspires U.S. Walkers

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:29:08 -0700

By Vukoni Lupa-Lasaga, Rotary International News
 
University of Northern Iowa campus residents learned something new on 1 February: Rotary clubs are concerned about the global HIV/AIDS situation and are doing something to help those most affected by the pandemic.

KILI 28/8 Project

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 13:27:59 -0700

Join the Australian Coolamon Rotary Club
in Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to Raise Funds for AIDS Orphans in Africa
www.coolamonrotary.com/kili/

On 8 August 2007, a group of fun loving Rotarians and Friends will be climbing the breathtaking Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania in Africa. The climbers will be raising urgent monies ($100,000 is the target goal) to assist in the relief of some desperate situations there for orphans in Africa. We welcome any persons interested in climbing with us or who would like to sponsor us. Come aboard to the roof of Africa with us.

Message from Kofi Annan

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:01:44 -0700

In the 25 years since the first case was reported, AIDS has changed the world. It has killed 25 million people, and infected 40 million more. It has become the world’s leading cause of death among both women and men aged 15 to 59. It has inflicted the single greatest reversal in the history of human development. In other words, it has become the greatest challenge of our generation.

Kotulong Community Centre in South Africa for People with AIDS

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 11:21:33 -0700

by Deborah Schultz, RFFA Board member

"There are two kinds of people living in Africa-those living with HIV and those affected by it."
Metropolitan Insurance Company, South Africa
Brochure "Promotion for Positive Health"

Beth Thomas is a Past President of Three River Rotary Club, in Vereeniging, South Africa, a lawyer, a Toastmaster, a mother of four and a grandmother of eight. She is the founder of the ET Foundation which provides support for the disadvantaged and works with street children in several countries, With the Rotary Club and Rotary Anns of Three Rivers in South Africa’s RD 9300, Beth is also the notable driving force behind the development of the Kotulong Community Centre, a multiple purpose facility to assist people struggling with AIDS. The Centre houses a hospice unit, childrens'residential units and a resource centre and poverty alleviation programs. The idea for the center was conceived in 2001. The plans and project were approved in late 2002 and the centre opened in April of 2004.