Monday, May 18, 2009

18 MAY 09: Hobbs's Choice



The annual candlelight memorial for HIV/AIDS patients was held in Columbus Sunday evening. This used to be an outdoor event near the Riverwalk, but this year it was inside a hotel. This may prove HIV patients are smarter than the artists who love a rainy Lakebottom Park.



In the last year or so, one local HIV patient has emerged as a lead spokesman on the illness. Perhaps it's no surprise that Jeremy Hobbs is doing this. He already was speaking out on plenty of other things - and sadly, Columbus Mayor Jim Wetherington has yet to commit any of the 100 new police officers to direct traffic on 13th Street during afternoon rush hour.



Jeremy Hobbs shared his story of dealing with HIV on this blog almost a year ago [1 Jun 08]. Hobbs mentioned then he had a new nonprofit organization awaiting approval. The Better Way Foundation is now in operation, and hosted Sunday's memorial service. At this point, I don't think it's trying to compete with the United Way.



The Better Way Foundation isn't stopping with an annual memorial. Jeremy Hobbs is organizing an AIDS walk on the Riverwalk in September. Unlike AIDS walks in other cities, this one will include a 5,000-meter run. That's the "better way" to illustrate how to stay away from (ahem) unprotected love-making.



But did I hear Jeremy Hobbs right on WXTX "News at Ten," when he said anybody can develop the AIDS virus? I thought improved testing of blood for transfusions has made HIV almost completely preventable. You can even donate blood in advance for surgery - and I've yet to hear of blood banks needing federal bailouts.



Jeremy Hobbs is blogging about his AIDS activism, along with other projects. In one post from March, he writes about a petition drive for President Obama to "sign a Clean Needles Act." That had to be a bit challenging for Hobbs to do - since he's a Republican, and the President is a Democrat.



Jeremy Hobbs is still listed as Secretary of the Muscogee Young Republicans, on its web site. But it's clear Hobbs is one of those "big tent Republicans," to borrow from the Sunday TV talk shows -- so big that he actually hopes President Obama will agree with him on an issue.



And that's the amazing thing - Jeremy Hobbs also is Chair of the "Non Partisan Civic Alliance of Columbus." It's an activist group which apparently has no membership dues. I assume the preparation of the coffee pot for monthly meetings rotates, between the "old-grind" and the latte group.



If all that isn't enough, Jeremy Hobbs announced last week he's become a policy adviser on HIV/AIDS to John Oxendine's campaign for Georgia Governor. I didn't realize until Sunday night that Oxendine has argued for health insurance plans to cover HIV. He never seems to mention that when he's investigating church fires....



For someone who's had the AIDS virus for six years, Jeremy Hobbs is one busy man. Some people in his position might go into a shell of self-pity. Instead Hobbs keeps working on issues which matter to him - as long as he doesn't get his jobs confused, and try to persuade President Obama and John Oxendine to become independents.



E-MAIL UPDATE: Sometimes there's a fine line between news and self-promotion. The InBox offers an example of that....



Hi Richard,



I know you love covering news and events in Columbus and I wanted to let you know about a great event next week. The new Baskin-Robbins store at 2445 Airport Thruway is hosting a Grand Opening event on Tuesday, May 19 from 5 - 8 p.m. to celebrate the new store. To show their commitment to the community, franchisees Jason and Claire Elrod will be presenting a $500 donation to the Allen Elementary School during the event. Principal Ruthie Hamlin will be at the event to accept the donation on the school's behalf.



The Grand Opening will be full of fun events and specials to celebrate the new store:



Grand Opening event from 5 - 8 p.m.



Buy One, Get One Free waffle cones



Free topping....



We're cutting off the e-mail there, because the "news" value essentially has been told. There's money for a school, low-priced dessert for you - and no advertising revenue for me.



This ice cream shop is not the first in the area to do this sort of public relations stunt. Ask business owners and civic groups why their giving should receive news media attention, and they'll say something like, "We want people to know what we're doing." When a staff member is caught in some kind of scandal, suddenly that thinking changes....



I take a different approach to these events than Wane Hailes of "The Courier." He chided Piggly Wiggly recently, for not publicizing their good deeds in African-American areas of Columbus. Then again, Hailes won't stop chiding Piggly Wiggly until the stores have two-page advertisements in his newspaper every week.



My thinking is that businesses and civic groups should follow the teaching of a well-known book, and "not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing...." But there's one problem with this approach. Thieves might try to use it in court, as a defense.



Now as we promised, let's chew on other news of the weekend....


+ Weekend storms left a few small limbs down near the Government Center, and ripped the tops off a couple of trees on the Riverwalk near South Commons. At least I'm assuming lightning struck the trees - and the helicopters which dropped soldiers during the Best Ranger competition didn't hover too low.



+ The Alabama Legislature approved the bill allowing the Phenix City Council to vote itself and the mayor a raise. If Governor Bob Riley signs it into law, the city's elected officials could have more money to spend - well, at least on themselves.



+ A check of Tuesday's Columbus Council agenda found one topic will be the installation of a cell phone antenna on one of the light poles at Golden Park. Any player hitting a ball off the antenna will win a free year of service.



+ Two classic cars owned by former Carmike Cinemas Chairman Carl Patrick went up for auction. A Ferrari sold for a bit less than $30,000. But a Rolls-Royce was NOT sold, because the high bid was ONLY $18,000. Aw c'mon - Rivertown Ford would have sold that old car for half the price, and shown it with a dancing turkey.



+ WRBL showed video of an eight-foot-long alligator being subdued in Fort Mitchell. The people who rounded up the gator mockingly read it the "Miranda rules," about having the right to remain silent. Tie a rope around the gator's mouth, and it probably becomes a moot point.



+ Columbus State University held its spring commencement. What's the perfect gift for graduates from a Georgia state university? Maybe it's lottery tickets, so they learn to "pass on the gift" to the next generation.



+ Eufaula's Eric Betts finished second in the "Jeopardy!" game show college championships. The Emory University student might have won, but he missed a final-round question about the home Henry David Thoreau built on Walden Pond. Sadly, most young people today think Walden Pond is where the bookstore chain started.



(At least Eric Betts finished ahead of that young woman from the University of Missouri. She's cute and smart, but the Kansas graduate in me simply couldn't root for her.)



+ The Georgia Republican Party held its state convention in Savannah. Can you believe John Oxendine already has a radio commercial promoting himself for Governor -- 14 months before the primary? I really don't think "advance voting" is going to start that early....



+ Instant Message to the Columbus and Pacelli High School baseball teams: Which of you will be first to borrow from the world news headlines, and call your home ballpark "Swat Valley?"



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