7/29 ~ Shana & The Elements

1995 USAIDS 5,000
(20th Anniversary Celebration of Life)
Post #46:
It was the "Concert to Benefit AIDS" sponsored by a rock group called The Elements, in support of Missoula AIDS Council, with guest speakers:Shana Humphrey, Jim Petretta, and the Mayor of Missoula. It was a night to remember, for sure, but it was Shana's Story that caught everyone by surprise. (Each picture has more story, attached.)

~~~

Picture #102

After a stop by the CBS News Studio to record an interview for a Sunday broadcast, next stop was the park called, Circle Square, where seemingly the entire town comes together, annually, in support of one cause.  Digging out my Red, White and Blue, I was honored to address the audience first. Thanking them for their support, and giving our typical corporate challenges, asking for $1 per mile, in support of Missoula AIDS Council, we made this event about good times, working together, help on the way, hope for the future and good, old-fashioned compassion for those who need it the most.   This event made bicycling all the way to Montana, worth every pedal pumped.  (Picture from July 28, 1995)

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Picture #103

Ken Highbrothan, Manager of a local rock group called The Elements, produced the featured entertainment, this evening. Yes, they did cover songs, but also an entire CD's worth of music on this, their farewell concert to benefit AIDS. The Elements were on their way to Seattle. with dreams of their own, to fulfill their first recording contract. City after city, we met really good, memorable people, all working for a better tomorrow, having lost friends and loved ones to AIDS. (Picture from July 28, 1995)
— with Ken Highbrothan

~~~

Picture #105

Selling tickets (a lot of tickets), were the Exec. Director of Missoula AIDS Council, Duane Gimbel, a volunteer, Arline, and my entire support staff, Carl Lebman. I can't tell from the second photo, if this was the group, The Elements, or an introductory group. However, this event was sponsored by The Elements, the featured group. Duane told me, before we left, that they had doubled last year's concert sales, giving USAIDS 5,000, and the media surrounding us, shared credit. It's exactly the kind of thing we hoped to hear, knowing we were making a financial difference, in addition to added hope. (Picture from July 28, 1995)
 — with The Elements, Duane Gimbel and Lebman Carl

~~~

Picture #106

Certainly, one of the sweetest girls I ever met, is Shana Humphry, a citizen of Missoula, Montana, and guest speaker at the Concert to Benefit AIDS. This was Shana's first public speaking engagement, and folks were glued to their chairs to hear this calm, brave, everyday woman tell how AIDS is everyone's disease. She comes from a conservative, loving family, and she was most selective in dating. He was a gorgeous, kind, and fun-loving gentleman, thought to be the kind of man Shana would one day want to marry. But he had AIDS, and knowingly concealed it from Shana. By the time we met her, the culprit had already passed; there was nobody left to blame. Her life was about maximizing each day, hoping for a cure, soon, and choosing this event to first tell her own story. I haven't been able to locate Shana, but we certainly hope her presence still graces us all, as it did that summer evening. (Picture from July 28, 1995)
— with Shana Humphry

~~~
Picture #100

This was a nice letter presented to me, but also mentioning Carl Lebman, on stage, by Mayor of Missoula, Daniel Kemmis. "You are demonstrating to yourself and the world that nothing is impossible." I cherish these words. (Document from July 28, 1995)