WRITER • EDITOR PUBLIC RELATIONS CONSUL TANT LOUISE L. WOOD Phone: (409) 833-1289 3720 Laurel, No. 10 • Beaumont, Texas 77707 f"-'- "1oh .;- '"?~W\..Q.-"" ~OJ ~l"'V LA\f-: ~ ( \..{_ (I) ~ lYD I ~~ N t\ ------ ~V\ ?~ 6ct~h"-­ \-hv Ll t ~ "' ' .s O{lj, '- , ~ µ .._d f- ~ THE AIDS/HIV LIFE CENTER 1675 California Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 phone 415-928-1498 fax 415-928-1446 April 12, 1994 Ms. Linda Alband Dear Linda, Thank you for speaking with me on the phone during the week before last. We spoke about the upcoming construction of the AIDS/IDV Life Center at the corner of Market, Noe and Sixteenth Streets. Someone, Allan Baird as you told me, had called our office to inquire as to whether or not there were naming opportunities at another of our projects, 400 Castro, the former B of A building. He was hoping that it could be named as a memorial to Randy Shilts. As I explained, the 400 Castro project is a temporary location for services which will move in 1996 to our new building at Market & Noe. Of course, we would be delighted if any of our projects, or any part of any of them, could become a memorial to Randy. We exist to create places where AIDS/IDV services can be delivered well at low cost to the service agencies and with high regard for the dignity of persons with AIDS and mv. You and I agreed that I would send you a package of materials on the Life Center project so that when Randy's estate is ready to consider effective memorial opportunities, you would be able to pass our project description on to whoever can best use them. I have assembled the enclosed materials for that purpose. Cleve Jones introduce Randy to U't and to me in particular in 1990. From that time onward, Randy asked about our progress from time to time. His interest and encouragement were always welcome and helpful. At this moment the public part of the city planning process is under way for the Life Center's Market & Noe facility. Our financing mechanisms are nearing completion as well as our agreements with potential building users. The new Life Center building will be a reality in 1996. I look forward to pursuing with you, and any who have decisions to make regarding Randy's estate, the possibility of ensuring a permanent memorial in a facility which serves people with AIDS. Sincerely, ~~l~ PaulDirdak Community Center Project S84 Castro Street #4SO • San Francisco, CA 94114 • (41S) 241-1S26 October 14, 1995 Board Of Directors Scott Shafer, Presi4ent Allen Carson, Dear Linda, Secretary Brenda F. Bamette, On behalf of the Board of Directors it is my pleasure to welcome you Tre111111r as a Charter Member of the Community Center Family and to Richard Ailman thank you for your very generous gift. lilda Blackmore Deirdre M. Dawson With your support, we will be able to build a Community Center that will provide a focal point for community activity that can build Bob Dadurka on our strengths. Deena Lahn Peggy Hughes In the coming months we will keep you informed about the progress we are making. And we invite you to join the efforts of V'ictor Marquez many of our brothers and sisters by volunteering, by attending our Michael Simmon• open board meetings, by planning a fund-raiser for the Community Center, by giving a gift membership to a friend or by telling a friend Fiscal Sponsor that you are excited about having a home of our own in San Francisco! Mittion Houting DMlopment Corp. Linda, naming the Community Center has not yet been discussed. After the contract for the property is finalized and the purchase is eminent, a capital campaign committee will form and naming opportunities will be identified. The committee may feel that honoring Randy Shilt is the right for the community without having the leading gift be from his friends. In any event, you and Randy's friends will have the opportunity to put forth your ideas and also to try to raise funds for the project in Randy's name. We need your help. Together we can build a stronger future for our entire community. Thank you again for your support! Sincerely, ~-:;)3w~ Brenda F. Barnette Treasurer PS Enclosed is your 1996 Charter Membership Card. LINDA ALBANO July 18, 1995 Community Center Project 584 Castro Street #450 San Francisco, CA 94114 Dear Center Organizers, What a good idea. ) Firstly, I wanted to tell you a bit about myself. I was Randy Shilts' friend for 25 years and his business associate/ assistant for the last five years of his life. I am currently working with Dr. Dee Mosbacher developing and promoting educational videos produced by her company Woman Vision. I am also working with the ad-hoc committee who is shepherding the Harvey Milk/Scott Smith Archives donation to the San Francisco Public Library, and have just joined the Board of Directors for the Restitution Project. Here's my request: I think this community ought to consider naming this Center for Randy Shilts. Something in this community ought to be named for Randy. I know that he is a controversial figure-anyone who does something significant or portentous becomes controversial and has detractors, and he was no saint [who is?]-but he is someone who gave a lot to the gay and lesbian community, particularly the gay and lesbian community here in San Francisco. Harvey Milk, our neighborhood icon, died virtually [less than] penniless, yet he is visibly honored many, many times in this community and this city. [That stupid, ill-conceived Bay Guardian article aside, Scott Smith's tireless and unselfish efforts need to be credited here.] Randy certainly deserves recognition for his pioneering work, and such recognition shouldn't be tangent on whether or not there is a million bucks to back up the request. (In Randy's case, his estate-which incidentally is valued at no where near a million-won't put up a penny. His heir/ executor doesn't give a shit. His true friends, colleagues and family, however, do care and would support any effort to effect a building campaign in his name.) Personally, I think that proposing to name the Center for Randy could also act as a vehicle to start really promoting the great service he did for the movements for civil rights in Conduct Unbecoming. With Conduct, Randy presented a rational, well-developed analysis of the interconnectedness between all the movements for civil rights in this county, in particular the strong connections between the women's movement and the movement for gay /lesbian rights-this is the first time such analysis has gotten into the mainstream. This analysis was largely overlooked. Few people got it. Torie Osborn, who described Conduct as a "radical feminist tome," was one of the few who understood that Randy's book transcended the hot­ button issue of Gays in the Military. This analysis is what the book will ultimately be remembered for, and this analysis is what we need to focus on in these divisive times. LINDA ALBANO Spotlighting Randy's message of interconnectedness and relatedness could truly be important in this Center's development as a place to build real leadership and provide meaningful help. If you have any questions about either Randy or this request, would like to discuss any problems you have with it, or would like to discuss possible fund raising strategies, please give me a call. [I have his rolodex, a valuable list of friendly people across the city and the country, many of whom, I believe, would contribute to an effort to name something for Randy. He had/has many friends and admirers.] Sincerely, Linda Alband Randy's friend The AIDS/HIV Life Center A safe place to start and a path through chaos. For all who struggle with the AIDS epidemic, The Life Center creates a caring and responsive environment. For all members of the community, The Life Center is committed to establish simple, cohesive and easy access to services and information. The Life Center fosters cooperation and collaboration among the resources that honor this fight and the hope for life. The AIDS/HIV Life Center In the 1980's, the collective spirit of San Franciscans fighting a raging epidemic began to forge a unique model of service. It blended public action, volunteer service and private support for people struggling with AIDS. The people in the community embarked on a crusade; its message of compassion and activism was carried around the world. The Life Center renews this San Francisco Model in the 1990's by becoming the practical gathering point for the AIDS community and the many who serve it. The Life Center assists individuals and service organizations to manage resources more productively by placing a multitude of services under one roof. The mission of The Life Center is to provide venues for testing, education and psycho/social services, to facilitate collaboration and consolidation, to incubate services for unmet needs and to ennoble the personal struggles of those faced with HIV and AIDS. A Place to Start, The Programs of ,, A Path Through Chaos The Life Center The Life Center is a central community facility As an adjunct to the building planning process, committed to the struggle against AIDS and HIV. The Life Center staff, along with volunteers, It is a clearinghouse for anyone needing have created programs that respond to needs information and assistance relative to the voiced in a 1991 survey of AIDS/HIV service disease and a "one-stop" entry point to service providers.