1158 Kensington St NW 433                                                                 South Paula Dr. #7
Grand Rapids, MI 49534                                                                         Dunedin, FL 34698
616-735-4109                                                                                         727-733-9694

Editor: Laura Salazar, Executive Director of FAF
Please use Florida address November through April

Fabulous African Fabrics is organized to support agencies working with AIDS widows and children affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya and other African countries, to inform United States citizens of the AIDS crisis in Africa, and to promote African textile arts.


Our beloved Dashabout Bear is winding up his year traveling around the USA, from Michigan to Florida and back, attending meetings and sales and parties. He has had a story written about him and one written for him. Many pictures and letters will accompany him to The Good Samaritan home in Nairobi. His final stop in the USA will be Blue Lake, California. Here he is seen at the Safety Harbor FL Farmer’s Market. To add your letter to the children, send it to our office before January 1.

Mercy Thuo reports, “We are proud of our 3rd Form Children in school at the Good Samaritan Home who placed first in their class this last school year.” When I reqested a list of needs from the GSH, Mercy Thuo listed the following:

• Dormitory and dining room
• computer rooms
• workshop building
• Tuition fees for orphans in secondary school
• Food for the 200 orphans living in the home and community
• Land for expansion of the orphanage and for agricultural skills training
• feeding the children in the home and people living with HIV/AIDS
• Transport vehicle for the children in school
• Livestock

Africa is Hot. This idea is the subject of a special feature in the New York Times August 13. Is it possible that we are at an intersection where we need Africa and Africa needs us? We all know about the number of celebrities who are found raising money for AIDS and dare we say, adopting AIDS orphans. Time will tell us if this is just the latest fad, or if at last our message has got through. In the mean time, we will make the most of Africa’s heat. FAF intends to stick it through to the end of the AIDS crisis, whether it is fashionable or not.

The International AIDS Conference in Toronto in August brought many new ideas on the crisis to light. Grandmothers who care for their orphaned grandchildren met and exchanged ideas. I know that many FAF members are grandmothers and only need to stop and think for a minuet to know how their life would change if they were suddenly responsible for one young life--to say nothing about caring for a large family of children. Alicia Mdaka, 66, cares for seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. She commented, “I was so angry feeling guilty, asking how can I live.” But when she met other grandmothers, she said, this “made things easier for me.” NYTimes 8-13
The general tone of the conference was guarded. Five million people are newly infected each year. A vaccine seems a long way off. Treatment, prevention and research was reviewed. The Grand Rapids Press (8-13-06) reported that a pill taken daily offers a possible way to avoid infection, as shown in early testing.
USA Today (8-16-06) listed treatments that seem to be working and may work. They are male circumcision--with 60 % lower risk of infection reported; Latex diaphragms--with results available next year; Preventative drugs--see above; Herpes treatment--A studying testing how drying herpes sores reduces HIV spread; Microbicides--gels that kill HIV at the time of sex; and Vaccines.
Finally, NYTimes (8-6-06) reported that buying school uniforms for Kenyan girls gave them the self assurance to attend school and avoid sugar daddies who often infect them with HIV/AIDS.
The study found that when girls in impoverished rural areas were given free school uniforms instead of having to pay $6 for them--the principal remaining barrier to education in Kenya--they were significantly less likely to drop out and become pregnant. Providing school uniforms is something FAF can do to change lives.

New FAF member, Walter Peterson, who owns the Modern African Art Gallery in Saugatuk, MI. travels to Africa he has made friends of a number of outstanding modern artists from several countries, including Kenya. The works at his gallery include sculpture, paintings, jewelry, and batiks. The FAF Board is looking forward to holding a membership meeting at the gallery in the spring of 2007. In the mean time, you are encouraged to stop in the shop and find out what is happening in art today in Africa.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY WOODY REGISTER--THE BIG 90, NOVEMBER 11, 2006

AMY TETZLAFF’s 6th grade class is knitting an afghan which will be sold at auction in 2007. The class will be the last Americans to have their pictures taken with Dashabout Bear. The children are looking forward to corresponding with the children at the Good Samaritan Home.

FAF now has 80 members and is growing.

THANKS FOR DONATIONS
Sally Banwart Jana Tolisano and William Cheney
Carl and Joni Kobernik Judy and Steve Rokus
Luis and Ruth Fernandez-Herlihy

COMING EVENTS

• November 24: Gift wrapping at Schuler Books and Music, 2660 28th Street, Grand Rapids, MI 2:00-6:00 P.M. Get your Christmas books, have them wrapped, help FAF.
• November 29: Laura talks about the AIDS crisis at the New Port Ritchey Rotary and tries out her skills with Power Point.
• November 30: sales of FAF items begins at the Safety Harbor Farmer’s Market.
• December 8: Fabulous African Fabrics will sell items in celebration of World
• AIDS Day at St. Mary’s Hospital Cancer Center, Grand Rapids, MI. Drop by the gift shop and buy some unique Christmas gifts.

RECENT FAF VENUES

Artists’ Attic, Dunedin, Florida United Methodist Church October 14. FAF made $124.00 in sales. Betsy Kenas wrote, “The day was beautiful and most of the venders were happy.”
This has been a particularly difficult summer for FAF sales because of Michigan’s economy. We are looking forward to sales in Florida, which should be up this winter. Special orders have been excellent all year
Pat Callan hosted an event at the Newton, MA United Methodist Church on October 28 showing the new items donated from Jana Tolisano and William Cheney.
 
In talking about the wonderful cards made for FAF by Gina May, FAF erred in publishing her former title. Gina was the Washington State Supervisor for Visual and Performing Arts in the office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Laura first met Gina through a mutual friend as they worked in the American Alliance for Theatre and Education.

FAF clarified its use of funds at its May annual meeting. The organization decided to formalize the following.
Funds collected from membership shall be used for general expenses, such as booth rental, public relations, and mailing.Funds collected from sales shall be used for expenses engendered making items for sale. Proceeds from these sales go to Women Fighting AIDS in Africa and The Good Samaritan Home’s general funds.As of January, 2007, 80% of Donations shall be sent to the above mentioned  agencies in Africa. 20% of general donations shall be kept in the Anthony Salazar Fund.

Donations to the Anthony Salazar Fund shall be used for special requests from the Good Samaritan Home or Women Fighting AIDS in Africa. One thousand dollars shall be kept in this fund for emergencies.

BECOME A MEMBER--INVITE A NEW MEMBER--
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP--GIVE A MEMBERSHIP AS A GIFT
Annual Membership: Individual--$20.00; Families--$30.00; Organizations--$50.00
Dues are used for our communication expenses. They help us educate others about the needs of AIDS widows and orphans in Africa and the beauty and versatility of African textiles.

With membership comes privileges:Quarterly newsletter mailed to you
Voting rights in this important work Breaking news about AIDS in Africa and African Textiles Fun and Friends at FAF events
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CUT OFF THIS FORM, FILL IT OUT AND SEND TO FAF

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MAIL TO: 1158 Kensington St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49535
E-mail--Lsalaate@aol.com