The unique aspect was that it was the first local observance in the Greater Cincinnati/Tri-State area and that it was pulled off with about 4 weeks of planning...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE My name is Michael Connett, and , yes, I have AIDS… Have had, officially, since 1996; but I was diagnosed HIV POZ in October of 1991. I’ve signed up to coordinate the as yet only registered observance of this years International AIDS Candlelight Memorial. This will be the first time for this event to be observed in our area as far as I can recall. Since signing up last Thursday and touching base with my case managers, friends, etc., I have an update on our United States of AIDS. I refer to our “United States of AIDS” as it applies to our Tri-State Metropolitan area and the added burden it places on the delivery of services. As a result I have decided to use this current pop hit as our theme. I’ve also focused on a location: Spanning the Purple People Bridge anchored on each end by that states appropriate AIDS Case Management Agency/Provider. Between the two would be information booths, displays, artwork, etc. from all the Greater Cincinnati Community Based AIDS Service Organizations and Agencies. The main objections I’ve heard so far is, it’s so short notice and we have no money in our budgets… Seems to me then, that one of the things we could do that day is to raise some money. Specifically for testing programs! Clint at No. Ky. Health said they have no money to do testing that day and he is very concerned that they will not have money to do national testing day in June… I have no idea what the Ohio budget is like, but in any case, I’m sure they have needs as well. We have almost three weeks to pull this off… I look at what just happened in Batavia and I have no problem believing that on the night of May 16th, people flying over The South Bank will see it by CandleLight. To stay updated on our local plan, you can visit:

 http://www.mwcltonline.org/CandlelightMemorial.html

 http://www.southbankcares.net