RECIPE FOR SUCCESS:

Last year I started a fundraising guild, Friends of Dorothy, supporting AIDS Services Foundation Orange County (ASF).

Some whispered I should consider raising money for a charity that was more “socially acceptable.” That’s exactly the mindset that needs changing.

Orange County is known as a conservative stronghold, but is our socially conservative mind-set actually killing some of us?

One in five newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases in Orange County are men and women older than 50. Costa Mesa and Huntington Beach are among the top five county cities with growing infection rates.

Why haven’t we found a recipe for success in educating our over-50 population?

Part of our problem is our socially conservative mindset. How can we educate if we’re not willing to talk openly about sex and needle-drug use?

“Sixty is the new 40,” and these young, attractive senior citizens have discovered Viagra. The single young senior citizen is dating and experimenting in a dangerous new reality for which they’re unprepared.

For this age group, getting an HIV test isn’t even on the radar. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many young senior citizens are misdiagnosed because the symptoms for HIV/AIDS are mistaken for old age.

Women are especially at risk. Gals older than 50 are less likely to ask questions regarding their partner’s sexual history or use condoms because child-bearing years are behind them. Gals older than 60 and 70 are even more uncomfortable with the subject.

My mom’s 70-year-old neighbor married a widower, and a few years into the marriage discovered she had AIDS. Her husband had a bisexual past of which she had no knowledge.

Ask questions. Use condoms. Don’t be embarrassed to talk about this with your friends and never let anyone intimidate you into not practicing safe sex. Your life depends on it.

“Our county has funds they grant to nonprofits through a competitive solicitation process,” said Alan Witchey, director of ASF.

“The funds for HIV are federal or state funds funneled through the county. Unlike other counties [such as Los Angeles] Orange County doesn’t contribute some of its local county funding to support prevention or services to people with HIV. It’s not clear why they don’t.

“They have a responsibility to help with the public health crisis.”

We need to get active, educate and remove the stigma from talking about HIV/AIDS at any age. Knowledge is power and could save your life.

2008 promises to be an exciting year for my Friends of Dorothy Guild benefiting ASF. Last year we raised $80,000. This year’s goal is $100,000.

Become a munchkin member before Feb 12. and you could win a $10,000 trip to Hawaii.

Upcoming events include Bloomingdales Haute Men’s Spring Fashion Show in May and look for The Vineyard Halloween Costume Party II event this October. Learn more at www.hotrange.com.

I continually invite council members and our supervisor to fundraisers; they decline ever so politely. 1978 records the first AIDS cases, and 30 years later there’s still no cure.

More than 40 million people worldwide are infected, 50% are women. About 19% of all people with HIV/AIDS in this country are age 50 and older, the numbers continue to rise.

BARBARA VENEZIA is the chairman of the Santa Ana Hts. Redevelopment Project Advisor Committee and was the co-creator of the cooking show “At Home on the Range” with John Crean.