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Rollo Op
A fresh look at some of the stories we reported on in the past weeks.
Fund
Benefits
Patients
hree years ago, Linda
Hawkins was ap-
proached by a friend
with AIDS. He asked
her if she would be willing
to donate a portion of pro-
ceeds from one day of sales
at her store to Steppin Out
— a walk benefiting people
with AIDS.
Ms. Hawkins wanted to
do more. The owner of Lotus
Imports in Royal Oak
approached two other local
merchants, Gayle Harte,
owner of Gayle's Chocolates,
and Patti Smith, owner of
Patti Smith Collectibles.
They worked together with
Wellness House, a direct-
service care agency, to cre-
ate the most successful
AIDS walk in Michigan.
On Jan. 28, the three
merchants, along with the
owners of Royal Oak restau-
rant Pronto! 608, announced
the creation of the Steppin
Out Foundation.
The foundation will
assume full responsibility to
organize the annual 6.2
mile walk through Royal
Oak. The board of trustees
hopes to generate corporate
involvement for underwrit-
he Corporation for
Public Broadcasting
(CPB) last week
announced plans to
step up efforts guaranteeing
fairness and balance in con-
troversial programming.
The CPB approved an
"Open to the Public" cam-
paign, with an 800 number
to encourage public com-
ment, and the establish-
ment of a review system to
analyze the objectivity of
public broadcasting's treat-
ment of sensitive issues.
Board members from the
CPB, National Public Radio,
Public Broadcasting and
American Public Radio
already have met to discuss
implementation of the new
measures. They will include
regular CPB analysis of
fairness issues in public
broadcasting, as well as
CPB town meetings with
the public, to be held
throughout the country.
A number of Jewish
groups, including CAMERA
(Committee for Accuracy in
Middle East Reporting in
America), have charged that
NPR and PBS — both of
which are funded by U.S.
taxpayer dollars — consis-
tently present anti-Israel
programs.
The CPB's decision is
intended to help agencies
comply with the 1992 Public
Telecommunications Act, in
which Congress demanded
that controversial public
broadcasting programs
adhere to strict guidelines of
balance and objectivity.
The toll-free number for
public comment is 1-800-
356-2626, or write the CPB
at P.O. Box 50880,
Washington, D.C. 20091.
uper Weeks ended
Jan. 29 after boosting
Allied Jewish Cam-
paign coffers to $20.1
million in the Detroit area.
"It's absolutely fabulous
... But it ain't over yet,"
said Allan Gelfond, director
of the Campaign.
To reach the Campaign's
$27.5 million target by
mid-June, more than $1.5
million a month must be
pledged. Though many peo-
ple are increasing their
pledges over last year's,
Mr. Gelfond believes there
is no guarantee that the
Campaign will reach its
goal.
Super Weeks, which
began Jan. 19, involved
members of 20 organiza-
tions who volunteered for
the Campaign's nine-day
calling blitz.
"The morale (of staff and
volunteers) was high," Mr.
Gelfond said. "Some people
like doing this. Many don't.
But this year, it became
fun." For the first time,
the Campaign included a
Challenge Fund created by
major contributors. It is
intended to match every
dollar pledged above last
year's pledge. It also kicks
in $2 for each dollar
pledged by a new contribu-
tor.
The Challenge Fund cur-
rently stands at more than
$550,000.
of the Conservative congre-
gation in Southfield.
Since Ms. Strome's
arrival in October, member-
ship began climbing from
the 450 figure of last July.
"We want to maintain a
presence in Southfield and
better serve our members,"
she said.
Beth Achim, whose mem-
bership peaked at 750, has
faced mounting budget and
membership problems in
recent years.
But Ms. Strome expects
membership to continue to
rise because of a new inter-
congregational religious
school sponsored by Beth
Achim, B'nai David and
Beth Abraham Hillel
Moses.
Since the fall, 68 children
have signed up for religious
school at Beth Achim, she
said. "More young families
are becoming interested."
Ms. Strome came to Beth
Achim after working as a
computer systems trainer
for Michigan Bell. ❑
LESLEY PEARL STAFF WRITER
T
Broadcast
Fairness
Studied
ELIZABETH APPLEBAUM
ASSISTANT EDITOR
Allied
Jewish
Campaign'93
Super
Boost To
Campaign
RUTH LITTMANN
STAFF WRITER
Shul
Executive
Optimistic
KIMBERLY LIPTON
STAFF WRITER
P
hy llis Strome has
been hired as the new
executive director for
Congregation Beth
Achim.
Ms. Strome, who was
president of Temple Kol
Ami in 1989 when the con-
gregation did not have an
administrator, said she
hopes to boost membership
.
ing in the future.
"The foundation will act
as an anchor," said Bill
Thomas, co-owner of Pronto!
608. "It takes the burden off
the agencies, allowing them
to focus on direct care and
services for people living
with AIDS and HIV."
In 1992, the walk gener-
ated more than $100,000,
benefiting more than 16
AIDS service organizations
in Michigan. Sept. 19 is the
scheduled date of the 1993
walk.
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