April 1994
Philanthropy Journal of North Carolina • 5
Hotline
Continued from page 4
Classroom Calls illustrates how
the hotline is refocusing its efforts as
the number of calls continues to
grow. The hotline is also targeting
older adults, a population that has
tended to consider AIDS to he a dis
ease of younger people. An AIDS
Hotline representative recently
attended a conference of the Amer
ican Association of Retired Persons
to increase awareness about the hot
line.
Since 1987, when the Social
Health Association began operating
the AIDS Hotline, 7 million (Ms have
been answered, including $1.4 mil
lion in 1992.
Recently,
the hotline
was expanded
to handle
5,100 calls a
day. On some
days, that’s
not enou^.
For exam
ple, after ten
nis star Ar
thur Ashe an
nounced that
he had AIDS,
the hotline
logged 117,458 attempted calls.
Similarly, the airing of "Something to
Live For: The Alison Gertz Story,”
about a woman Mo contracted AIDS
from a sin^e, sexual encounter, was
followed by 189,251 calls, an all-time
record for a sin^e day.
The hotline also is working to
make the most of its tune on the tele
phone with callers, and to have the
greatest impact on changing behav
ior.
For example, says Herrell, how
do you convince someone in a brief
telephone conversation to talk to
their partner about condoms? Or, if
David Herrell
the person is already infected, how
do you help them tell their parents,
friends or sexual partner?
“We have a short time to do all
that,” he says.
Information specialists receive 45
hours of initial training on answering
questions on transmission, testing,
resources and other issues involving
HIV and AIDS.
“We’re not a crisis line,” says
Herrell. “We see mm most basic role
as prevention. We want to encourage
people to call before they’re infected.
We stop short of calling this coimsel-
ing.”
He says, however, that the hotline
is sometimes the first place a person
calls after testing positive for HIV.
' When he’s not at work, Herrell
says, he likes spending time with his
17 year-old adopted son from
Guatemala. ITie HerreUs have four
other adult children, including two
who are adopted — a Native Amer
ican and a Vietnamese native.
Herrell says he enjoys his new
position but sometimes misses hav
ing contact with the people he is try
ing to help. That’s not surprising,
considering that his training is in
social work and ministry.
It’s difficult to measure the suc
cess of the hotline, says Herrell, but
he and the information specialists
who answer the calls frequently are
encouraged by poignant stories from
callers.
“A female caller ... broke into
sobs and told me she had just tested
HIV positive, and that I was the first
person she W spoken to since get
ting test results over the phone,”
says one information specialist. “As
the call ended, the woman said how
^ad she was we had been there to
help because she felt totally lost. I
cannot imagine how horrible it must
be to be told over the phone you are
HIV positive and not ^ven any post
test counseling. The work we do real
ly does make a difference.”
Locke
Continued from page 4
idea that we are not bipartisan,” he
says. “Some people, rather than
debating us on the merit of our ideas,
are questioning the validity of the
Ixwke Foundation itself.”
Is the Locke Foundation compet
ing with liberal think-tanks in the
state?
“I don’t think so,” says Ran
Coble, director of the N.C. Center tor
Public Policy Research. “People who
are interested in funding public poh-
cy can’t fund all of us. Our number
includes groups like the Public
School Forum, N.C. Equity, the
Environmental Defense Fund. This
state is very rich in public policy
groups.”
Bob Hall, research director of the
Institute for Southern Studies — a
liberal think-tank that supports
grassroots organizing — doesn’t
believe the Locke Foundation has
broken new ground.
“There is such a strong, pro-busi
ness, anti-regulation climate inde
pendent of the foundation, that it’s
one of those cases where it provides
verifying information more than
stimidating any new discussion,” he
says.
Staff and supporters of the foun
dation insist the organization has
broad appeal.
“We’re not monolithic,” Rotter-
man says. “'There is a lot of internal
debate on issues.”
Says foundation board member
James Trotter, who was general
counsel to former Gov. Jim Martin:
“You don’t find a lot of members of
the power structure or the establish
ment at our luncheons. Mostly, it’s
lesser-known business people or pro
fessionals — people who are seeking
opportunities and believe in free
enterprise.”
In the coming weeks, the founda
tion will sponsor a Charlotte forum
on health-care reform; present a
headliner luncheon in Ralei^ with
former Dan Quayle staffer William
Kristol; and unveil plans for the con
ference it will host with Fetzer on
municipal reform later this month.
Research has been launched for
reports on the effect of tenure at
state universities, and the status of
ballot reforms in North Carolina.
Now that it has gained visibility
within policymaking circles in the
state, supporters hope the Locke
Fomulation will continue to expand
its reach beyond the Raleigh heltline.
“I don’t see why there can’t be
John Locke Foundation chapters
across the state, just like there are
rotary clubs,” says Trotter. “By
establishing chapters across the
state, you get the word out so much
more.”
For information, call (919) 847-
2690.
JOHN LOCKE FOUNDATION
■ . . , : ... ...
'
ADDRESS: P.O. Box 17822, Raleigh, NC 27619
HISTORY: Conservative nonprofit think-tank founded by former
Republican state representative Art Pope in 1990.
MISSION: To conduct research, disseminate information and advance
public understanding of the principles of "individual liberty, the volun
tary exchanges of a free market economy and limited government."
LEADERSHIP: Marc E. Rotterman, president; John Hood, vice president;
Art Pope, chairman, board of directors.
MAJOR PROGRAMS/PUBLICATIONS: "Carolina Journal" magazine;
"Carolina Beat," op-ed newsletter; working papers on term limits,
health care and other public policy issues; Monthly "Headliner
luncheons" and annual "Critical Issues" conference.
OPERATING BUDGET: $266,908 in 1992-92, up from $157,503 the
previous year. Major expenses include $46,548 in officers' salaries and
$12,640 for luncheon programs.
SUPPORT: Contributions in excess of $5,000 in 1992 came from John
William Pope Foundation, Raleigh ($137,500); Glaxo Inc., Research
Triangle Park ($9,000); and The Randolph Foundation, Greensboro
($20,000). Other contributors include Bruce Babcock, BB8(T, Carolina
Telephone & Telegraph, Cannon Foundation, Tom Kenan, Martin
Marietta, N.C; Retail Merchants Association, Nucor Corp.
SouRa: CouNOL on Foundations
Connection —
It’s our goal.
“Education is the key ingredient in the success of our
children,” says Ted R. Rogers Jr,, IBM network
analyst, volunteer tutor/mentor and semi-professional
football player. Whether it’s helping a local student
at Brogden Middle School achieve educational goals,
playing football or just being a friend, Ted’s energy
is hmitless when it comes to helping young people.
Ted joins hundreds of other Triangle Area IBMers
who volunteer in local schools. Encouraging
and supporting these volunteer efforts is only one
example of how IBM supports K-12 education
in our local communities.
We realize that improving education is fundamental
to maintaining competitiveness. Whether it’s School
Business Partnerships, equipment grants, model
schools or parenting seminars, IBM in the Triangle
Area is committed to making a difference. With
volunteers hke Ted, we know we’re making
our K-12 connection.
football
with his student friend Corey Wilkerson.