By A. David Dahmer

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold was the featured speaker at the AIDS Network's Red Ribbon Affair, where 133 items were available to bid on at the organization's major fund-raising event of the year.

This is the second year the event was held at the Monona Terrace Community and Convention Center. AIDS Network Executive Director Bob Power says the crowd has more than doubled. "We have 455 people registered to be here, and we're just thrilled about that," Power said. "We have had great support from the business community with the silent auction items. People are just raving about the unique and beautiful gifts, and that's a huge part in raising money."

AIDS Network provides critical AIDS care and prevention services to south-central Wisconsin, using the resources, expertise, and passion of hundreds of volunteers and donors. All assistance is provided free of charge. The Red Ribbon Affair has grown quite a bit over the years. Power swears he doesn't even know when the first one was.

"We keep looking at the historical records to find out, but it's probably the 14th or 15th event," Power says. "And we're only 21 years old. So it's been a long time." The value of the 133 items displayed at the event was over $20,000, according to Power, who added that he hoped to raise at least that amount with the bidding. Next to the 133-item display, the services provided by AIDS Network and their associated costs were outlined at an information table.

Power's favorite item was a lamp called the Madhatter, which had an Alice in Wonderland theme. Beautiful sculptures and paintings were available to bid on, along with sterling silver earrings and necklaces. Dancing, opera, and theater tickets got high bids; many were accompanied by a fancy hotel stay. The emcees of the event were NBC-15's Mike McKinney and Channel 3's Pam Tauscher. McKinney was noticeably excited to be co-hosting the event with his longtime partner at Channel 15.

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