Issue Number 30
a 501 (c) (3) organization
1158 Kensington St. NW Grand Rapids, MI 49534
433 South Paula Dr. #7 Dunedin, FL 34698
www.fabulousafricanfabrics.org
616-735-4109 Michigan and 727-733-9694 Florida
Editor, Laura Salazar, FAF Executive Director
Fabulous African Fabrics is organized to support agencies working with AIDS widows and chldren affected by HIV/AIDS in Kenya and other African countries, to inform United States citizens of the AIDS crisis in Kenya and to promote African textile arts
NEW PRESIDENT ELECTED
At its annual meeting FAF elected Christine Coggins as the third President of the FAF Board of Directors. Christine has been a member of FAF for four years, and has served as Membership Chair for 1 year. Christine will also serve in this capacity as well as President. To read a bio of Christine, check our website.
Congratulations to Margaret Carlson for serving 2 terms as President of FAF. Without her willingness to take on this responsibility, FAF would never have been founded, nor would it have continued during the past three years. Margaret will stay on our board, contributing as usual in research. and hospitality. Thank you from all of us.
NEWS FROM AFRICA AND AIDS
Mercy Thuo, Directo of the Good Samaritan Home reported last week that everything is going well with the orphans and the orphanage.
Foreign Policy magazine reports that Kenya remains in the category of "in danger" as a failed state. Despite this, the June issue of "Vanity Fair" reports many advances being made in the country. The UN announced that child mortality rates have fallen only marginally in sub Sarahan Africa. , however, has increased primany school enrollment.
Across Africa new cases of AIDS are outpacing treatment gains. Twenty-Eight percent of people with AIDS now receive drug treatment. For each person getting the drugs, five more are infected. In Kenya the rate has been dropping--with about a 6% infection rate now.
There is hope that the United States will be allowing Food for Peace to buy food from local farmers or nearby countries. Now most US food aid requires purchase of US products. The use of corn for fuel may help this process, as there may be fewer surplusses of corn as ethanyl is used for fuel.
On April 9, the Clinton Foundation announced that it has brokered a deep price reduction in generic AIDS drugs. The cost of original drugs has been lowered, but when those drugs are no longer effective, higher cost second-line drugs must be used. This lower price will help many AIDS patients. Source--The New York Times
THE CLOTH
Walter Pimpong, who works with the Trokosi fetish slave women of Ghana announced the marriage of his daughter, Ewurama. In a picture sent in his latest letter, the bride with groom, Robert, are seen in a gown and cape of matching textiles in light and dark blue shimmering cotton. The Trokosi women made some of the most beautiful textiles FAF has used, and we couldn't help but wonder if this textile was made by some of those master dyers.
FAF MEMBER NEWS
AUGUST MARKS THE ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP DUES DATE. IF YOU HAVE NOT PAID YOUR DUES, WE NEED THEM NOW. PLEASE USE THE FORM ON THE BOTTOM OF THIS NEWSLETTER.
FAF IS HOLDING A CONTEST FOR THE MEMBER WHO BRINGS IN THE MOST NEW MEMBERS BY THE NEXT ANNUAL MEETING, MAY 18, 2008. THE PRIZE WILL BE A WALL HANGING MADE BY LAURA SALAZAR.
Members can help the organization use its money wisely by receiving this newsletter by e-mail. If all members did this, we could send one more orphaned teens to high school! Notify FAF if you would like only e-mailed newsletters.
WHAT'S NEW WITH FAF
The pen pal project is going well. Amy Tetzlaf has promised that we will have some exerpts in the next newsletter and on the website. Be looking for them soon.
The banner project for Convergence 2008 in Tampa is under way. The Surface Design Guild of Tampa Bay has supported the project by donating $100.00 to FAF. Sixty dollars has been sent to the Good Samaritan Home for supplies and postage. The children will make self portraits, and send them to Florida. Sarah Butts and Laura Salazar will arrange them and fix them onto banners that will be shown somewhere in the Tampa Bay area during June of 2008.
Randy Bell's video "Journey to Mathare" features the Good Samaritan Home. You may view it on www.floatingfilms.org
Lucy Ramshaw and Laura Salazar continue to make inexpensive grocery bags for sale with proceeds going to FAF. To date, they have made 40 bags and sold 19. Bags are available form FAF sales wherever you may find them and from the United Methodist Women of Dunedin, FL.
SENT TO AFRICA THIS QUARTER: $560
SPECIAL THANKS
The Surface Design Guild of Tampa Bay has provided friendship and support to Fabulous African Fabrics for many years. Now they have donated $100 to FAF for its banner project. SDGT is one of the active organizations working on Convergence 2008, and will hold an exhibit of their members' work at the Dunedin Fine Arts Center during Convergence. The Good Samaritan Home Banners be an important part of the conference and exhibits. FAF hopes that this will bring more attention to the continuing issue of orphans in Africa, the work of FAF and the importance of the Good Samaritan Home.
MARKETS FOR FAF ITEMS
Sundays 11:00 to 3:00 through September, FAF will be at the Fulton Street Farmer's Market. See our website for details.
July 28, Village Square Farmer's Market, Saugatuck, MI
A GOOD READ
Once again Alexander McCall Smith presents a No. 1 Ladies's Detective Agency book that gives us a look into life on the contenent of Africa and into the life of the beloved Precious Ramotswe. His latest book, The Good Husband of Zebra Drive matches the best.
Vanity Fair's June issue on Africa is a don't miss. Kenya is placed prominently in the issue.
Stephanie Nolen's 28 Stories of AIDS in Africa is full of courage and sorrow and hope. I found myself only able to absorb one story a day and even now go back to read each of them again and again. There is the pain of death and of dying, and of loss, but perhaps the most painful is the reaction of friends and communities--the mistrust of spouses--the loss of homes. Unless the shame and fear of AIDS this is conquered, Africans will not be able to stop the epidemic.
MEMBERSHIP
Please print this form and return it to FAF to join or renew your membership.
INDIVIDUAL MEMBER: $20.00
FAMILY MEMBER: $30.00
Mail to Fabulous African Fabrics, 1158 Kensington St NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49534
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