My first attempt at being an activist....a frickin disaster

[woodshere]

A couple of weeks ago I ask for suggestions for a presentation I was to do at a health fair at the local university.  They asked me because they wanted someone positive to speak.  My title was HIV:  It's Better to Know.  I worked rather hard on my presentation.  I had a couple of practice sessions with someone from the HIV Speciality Clinic and my minister.  Both said it was articulate, well paced, a good mix of personal info and HIV facts.  I was really looking forward to it.

Well the presentation was today and it was an absolute frickin' disaster.  Not on my part, but due to the logistics.  I spoke from a stage to a room of people that were wandering from exhibit to exhibit and trying to find the free buffet line.  No chairs were set up for people to sit and listen.  If I had been in my diva mode I would have stormed off stage.  I felt like a carnie at the county fair shouting at the passer by's in tube tops with big hair to play my game and they won't stop because they need a funnel cake.

Personally it was a very good experience for me and continues to move me toward being more of an activist.

Woods

[allopathicholistic]

I felt like a carnie at the county fair shouting at the passer by's in tube tops with big hair to play my game and they won't stop because they need a funnel cake.

  And they asked you to speak too, how sloppy of them. What did they say to you after all your efforts?  Well, you can use the speech for the next go-round and it would be ready on short notice too. Mucho thanks to you for helping our cause. A university setting would have been ideal 

I went to a meeting (tried to) at the GMHC but either I was on the wrong floor or had the wrong date and no one seemed to know. It's a large ASO. 12 floors to be exact and a lot of the people there just know "their own little deal" and if you ask about something that's not in their department, you get shrugs and sorry's. Well, I'm gonna try again next month. Last time I was in a voting booth I simply voted all the Democrats

Better luck next time Woods!

[med forum]

I'm sorry to hear that it didn't work out in terms of logisitics.....you'd think that they would have had the setup right for cryin' out loud! I guess you can look at this as a test run for the future events that you will be a part of! Best of luck to you 

[poet]

Woods, if I took you out of the picture here and put in a British comedian, you might understand why your post made me laugh. NOT at you, but at the ridiculous situation which, of course, in the hands of a good comedian....  I hope that you will be able to 'use' the material in another situation and the format, which sounds solid, will work for you in the correct setting.  Win

[ACinKC]

I agree with Win on this one.  These types of things can be PRICELESS.  Just have to have the right analogy to tie them in.  Funny statement followed by a dramatic one to grab attention.

Anyway, sorry it was a mess.  Life is a journey, you just got yourself another story to tell.  Thats how i look at life.

[Ann]

Hi Woods,

I'm really sorry you had such a bad experience. It sounds to me like the university was merely playing lip service to hiv awareness.

Thank you for posting about this. For me, it's a heads-up to make sure beforehand exactly how the people responsible are handling the venue and what provisions they have in place. Chairs? Sound-system? Introduction? Room size?

I'm glad to hear this hasn't put you off doing similar in the future.

Consolatory hugs,
Ann
xxx

[woodshere]

Thanks all!!.  Definitely has not lessened my desire to do more.

It sounds to me like the university was merely playing lip service to hiv awareness.

As far as information goes they had a large amount regarding types of health related issues and were doing confidential testing.  The people in charge have a sincere interest, just not the organizational know how.

Thanks again,
Woods

[Andy Velez]

Woods, you have a good healthy attitude about that event.

Embarassment, fear, uncertainty and disappointment are regular cards in the activist deck. What you're doing is way more important than any of those totally understandable feelings, so just keep on. Everything you experience will be useful as you forward and will sharpen your ability to do the work more effectively and to know about organizing things better and better. And still there will always be times when blips happen anyway. That's just  a part of the deal.

That's when having others in your life who know and care about what you're doing. That will help you with getting through the (inevitable) flac.

It's great to know you're out there doing it.

Congrats and well done!

[Alain]

....Personally it was a very good experience for me and continues to move me toward being more of an activist....

Woods,

That is to me one of the most important thing, because you did it. However hard it was, you went through the whole thing and never give up.

I salute you my friend and cheers to many, many more opportunity for you to make a difference.

Be proud of you. Alain.

[bear60]

Woods...
You did great in my book too.  Keep doing what makes you happy.

[woodshere]

Ahhhhh shucks guys, you're too nice!!!!

Woods

[Rainbow1]

I'm really sorry you had such a bad experience. I'm glad to hear this hasn't stopped you from doing more in the future