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Gay Peoples Chronicle

July 1986

HEALTHWISE:

By ZAK HALEY

On Sunday morning, June 22, over breakfast just one month before the 2nd annual "Dancin in the Streets" Summerfest '86, sponsored by the Health Issues Taskforce Zak Haley interviewed Jeff Swindler, Chairman of the Taskforce, about this year's Street Fair.

Why don't you start by telling everyone your title?

I am chairperson of the Health Issues Taskforce.

What does that have to do with the Street Fair?

The Street Fair is the main fundraising event that the Taskforce uses to raise money within the community for support and education programs.

When did you get and how long have with it?

involved you been

I started with the Taskforce in 1982, just after it started. I worked on various things, and then became chairman of the fundraising committee in 1984. In 1986 I was elected Chairman of the Tskforce.

How did the whole idea of the Street Fair come about?

It was a discussion that originated between Tom Phillips and Buck Ryder. They wanted to have a nawala Luau in my backyard to raise money for several friends who had AIDS. Then David Bickoff mentioned that Water Street Dans and Traxx wanted to have some kind of fair on West 9th, so we talked to them and we worked out an agreement that we would do a Street Fair.

Tell me what last year was like for you.

The first meeting was May 31. It was a get-together a brainstorming session with 8 to 10 people. Later more people became involved. At the day of the event we had hundreds of people. What was the day like?

It was one of the highlights of my entire life. Things were crazy and things were coming together at the very end. I remember when I saw the portable toilets finally get there I was so relieved. They were very late! Then when I saw the scaffolding, the sign and the balloons I thought we were coming along. People started showing up two hours early! Then at 4:30 I got up and saw more people than I expected, I thouht OK, OK, we are doing it.

I remember about 8:30 p.m. getting up on stage looking out and seeing these people dancing

and

all

and

SUMMERFEST 86

naving a good time....well, that really was a rush!

What happens at the Street Fair, for people who didn't attend last year?

Primary emphasis is on dancing and fellowship, there is lots of information on AIDS and AIDS awareness. I think having it outside is very important. We may lose some people because it's outside and they are afraid; but for the most part think it's important that we are out there letting people know who we are and why

we're there. As it turned out I think we had 2400 people at day. some point in the

How much money did you raise?

We cleared right around $8,000 after our expenses. What happens to that money?

The Taskforce spends its money in primarily two areas: one is doing educational programs like speakers bureaus, brochures, news articles, various educational programs that are held in different places, like health fairs."

The other area is support, that is, money goes to people with AIDS or people who are affected--for example, parents of people with AIDS. We may help à sick person with their rent or electic bills. I remember last summer paying for a sick guy's mom to fly in from Boston.

Of course like any organization we have regular expenses for mailing, printing, etc. These expenses keep the organization going. We do not spend money on ourselves, even our meetings are pot luck--I don't think the general gay public realizes how organizations like HIT need lots of volunteers just to keep their heads above water.

Can you tell me about some of he 1985-86 fundraisers and how much HIT raised?

The Trocadero Ballet raised a little under $1,000; Buddies, the movie, raised about $900; and the Bike-A-Thon raised around $1,000 but we split that with the bicyclists so we cleared around $500. Buddies was a fundraising event as well as an educational event because it was about AIDS, the baller was a pure fundraiser (but it helped reach people who are outside the bar community) and the BikeA-Thon monies are earmarked for Street Fair raffle priz-

es.

The reason we chose to support the bicyclists as well as the runner was that we see these as educational

events that raise the public awareness on AIDS.

Who's running the Street Fair this year?

We have three people who are Tri-chairing it. It's David Bickoff, Kim Roach and Larry Deck. Each of these people is responsible for certain facets of the Street Fair, for example, David is responsible for the raffle, entertainment and general finances; Kim covers Beer Food and Facilities and Larry is in charge of booths, volunteers and setup and tear down.

What would you like to see different this year?

More information on AIDS and also more information on other groups in Cleveland, more community information on groups that aren't directly related to AIDS and the Taskforce. Also we are going to have more food and more entertainment. I think this year things will go smoother because we have a year under our belt.

What's the entertainment look like?

Well, we have local pop singers lisa Rainsong and Laurel McDargh, we have a gay comedian named iris Bishop, we have the very famous Drag King Review these acts are in the 3:30-5 p.m. time slot. A little later we have several female impersonators: we've invited Melissa Ross to represent Cleveland, Twila Starr from Toledo, and Sonya Ross from Columbus. Also this year we have Miss Gay_US.A., Michael Andrews, who I understand is extraordinarily talented, so we have something for those people who don't want to just dance.

Will thee be a raffle this year?

Yes, we are working on several "big" prizes, we have two 10-speed bikes, lots of dinners at good restaurants, various gifts-let's just say there are lots of great raffle prizes. I also understand that the best raffle prize will be a "dream getaway package." How many people are you looking for this year?

I hope 3500 to 4000 to be there at some time during the day.

What's the Public Relations like?

We are looking at a wider audience, we want to draw from Columbus, Pittsburgh, Toledo and Youngstown. We hope everyone in Cleveland comes. Our T-shirs will be great P.R. and we have post-

ers as well as flyers. As for the straight media, we want to let them know that this is an AIDS fundraiser not just a party, we need a of cooperation and support from the entire dommunity. How can people who want to help get involved?

They can talk it up among their friends and make sure West 9th, they can buy Teveryone is coming down to shirts and raffle tickets, they can volunteer to work the door taking tickets (contact Scott Corrigan),

sell raffle tickets (contact Tim Yanko). We will need lots of help on the day of the event to set up. I suggest anyone wanting to help on July 20th to show up at 10a.m. on West 9th Street at Dan's. Anyone who's interested in volunteering can call Lary Deck, Lary Deck, he's in the book.

Everyone loved the T-shirts last year, are you doing them this year?

Yes, we are, and we're doing tanks too! The Tshirts are designed by a very talented artist. They will be for sale soon at local bars for $7 each and they go fast.

What are you going to use this year's money for?

Well, local projects, all our money stays in the community, primarily AIDS education and support. The raffle money has been specifically earmarked to be used for financial support of AIDS victims. The rest of the money will be used for education. We feel education is vital because only through education are we going to slow this disease. None of our monies goes to research.

What are your hopes for '87 and the Street Fair?

I want to move it to West 112th--West 117th and Clifton. I want it to be a weekend event like in other cities. In Atlanta it's a twoday carnival with education, entertainment, seeral diffeent events with the fair as a culminating celebration.

Whatever the Street Fair is, we all have to remember that the Street Fair has two important purposes, the first is to raise money but secondly and as important. it's to come together to affirm a chance for the community themselves, and especially with AIDS being what it is, this is more important than

ever.

For information on the Street Fair call 281-6030 after 7 p.m.

For volunteers call Larry Deck or sign up at Over the Rainbow with Kim or Jimmy.