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Power of One

RADAR’s THE POWER OF ONE   became a significant and powerful message on HIV-AIDS as delivered by RADAR 7070 at the District Conference on Sunday, October 21, 2007.

Sunday, at District Conference, is traditionally not well attended. But something different happened this year when DG Lynda Ryder put a challenge to RADAR, (well, to the Director), to pull off the impossible. “Fill the hall and deliver a message of how we can all make a difference in the world of HIV-AIDS”.

Our RADAR Team began plans for The Power of One in the late Fall of 2006 . . .  Informal, thoughtful, and sometimes feeling we had been handed a virtual ‘Sunday swamp land’, we determined our presentation had to have something different. Something that would appeal to all . . . Interactors, Rotoractors, Exchange Students, Club Presidents, District Governors past and future, spouses and guests. Most of all, we intended to be true to who we are as your District RADAR Team and to our basic mission to educate about the most preventable disease we know; yet that same disease kills more people in a day than any other disease known.

We decided to have a panel. But not just a panel to talk only statistics. A panel with heart, with people who could give four different perspectives of the world of HIV-AIDS.

The panel selection was the most important phase as it was to showcase the Local, National, International and Corporate responses to HIV-AIDS. The panelists in order of appearance were:

Ø     David Gilmer, Chief Development Officer of Casey House, Toronto.

Ø     James Fraser, Co-founder of Dignitas International, stepping in for Dr, James Orbinski.

Ø     Sister Christa Mary Jones of the Mariannhill Mission, South Africa.

Ø     Charles Richards, Treas./Board of Directors, MAC AIDS FUND.

Left to Right: James Fraser, Joanne Ashley, Sister Christa Mary Jones, Marlene Trotter, Charles Richards, David Gilmer, Glenn Marais
Photo courtesy Bob Leahy

Our Moderator was chosen with equal care. As a CTV W-5 producer, Marleen Trotter had seen the needs at the Howard Hospital, Zimbabwe. Her personal Power of One is a story in itself.

We provided our personal RADAR member and professional photographer Bob Leahy.

Setting the tone for this 2-hour plenary was an easy task. Glenn Marais, singer/ songwriter and Juno nominee, had composed Like A Child for Paige Pedlar’s book, Who Will Cuddle Them When They Sleep? Glenn has written motivational and educational songs as well as his own powerful production of The Power of One as filmed in Africa. He exuded power as he set the stage and engaged the audience in the magic of his song.

Glenn Marais inspiring the audience Photo courtesy Bob Leahy

As the panel host, I watched the audience, who were keenly watching and listening intently to the panelists’ heart-wrenching stories complete with video. There were three things I saw, felt and knew:

Ø     I saw tears.

Ø     I felt the Power of One transcend to the Power of Many.

Ø     I knew our message was clear, based on truth, fact, humility and passion, and that those in the audience felt the Power of One can Make a Difference in a world of HIV-AIDS.

The question and answer period moderated by Marleen was thought provoking and at the same time filled with hope and a need to make a difference.

Photo courtesy Bob Leahy

Following the presentation, the RADAR Avenue of Service finally got an opportunity to tell you their story and how one person can affect change. All too soon it was over and the props came down. . . . but the power remained.

The alleged swampland on Sunday turned out to be powerful gold-plated real estate. Thank you, Lynda Ryder.