From: M Petrelis Date: Wed, 10 Dec 1997 02:48:15 EST Subject: SFAF (NAPWA) to ACT UP/GG: Sunshine kills us, stay away [dear friends, the following form letter has been received by several act up/golden gate members. the letter is in response to their unsuccessful attempts to gain entry into the november 1997 s.f.a.f. board meeting. you can email your concerns directly to the head of s.f.a.f. at >>>pchriste@sfaf.mhs.compurserve.com<<< --mp] 1 December 1997 We have reviewed your request to be present and give public testimony at all upcoming San Francisco AIDS Foundation board of director's meetings. Currently, the board of directors has a written policy that it follows regarding public attendance and testimony at meetings. I have enclosed a copy of this policy for your information. The board asks that you follow this process for each meeting you would like to observe or present testimony. If you have any questions regarding this policy, please feel free to contact me or Joe Fera at (415) 487-3053. For your information, there are currently no further board meetings scheduled in 1997. The schedule for 1998 meetings will be set in January. As soon as the meeting schedule is determined, we will be glad to foward that information to you. The San Francisco AIDS Foundation is a private not for profit corporation. The foundation currently receives only 21.6% of its annual budget from government sources -- federal, state and city funds. For these, and other reasons, we have no obligation to comply with the San Francisco Sunshine Ordinance. The board of directors gathers information from the community in a variety of ways -- public testimony, presentation to the board at board meetings, formal research and one-to-one meetings with organizations and individuals. The latter method offers thoughtful discussions about issues of substance, including the work of the foundation. We certainly welcome attendance and testimony at board meeting; however, meeting time is limited and given the structure of the meeting itself, other venues might offer better opportunities for more thoughful and meaningful discourse. If you have further questions or would like to schedule a meeting with members of the board, please contact me. Sincerely, Paul Wisotzy, chair, board of directors, (415) 487-3000 [paul wisotzky is also on the board of directors of n.a.p.w.a., a group which does not endorse sunshine statutes at a.s.o.'s. in my opinion, n.a.p.w.a. does NOT represent the interests of aids victims because its board is riddle with profiteers who run a.s.o.'s. the e.d. of the s.f.a.f. also sits on the n.a.p.w.a. board. --mp]