These are from Survivorfever. Boy I wish I had gone, it looked like a lot of fun. http://www.survivorfever.net/omaha-benefit.html
Survivor Marquesas Benefit Reunion Weekend
Report by Michele Carroll
6/19/02
The cast was pure game and their plates were loaded. They were on John's time and energy which can wear out any poor soul. Their itineraries were so chunked full of activities that they were glad to see Sunday roll around.
Maraamu beat Rotu's pants off of them in the Softball game. One cute moment happened when Rob Mariano got a hit and rounded second. John was on second waiting for Rob. They got into a friendly scuffle whereby Rob's breakaway sports pants broke away. The crowd roared in laughter and Rob took a bow. When the ole yeller school bus pulled into the ballpark it stopped to pick up fans on the way. Lots of fun for them to be on the bus.
Tate, a young man who had been in a devastating accident last fall where the band bus he was riding rolled over a bridge into water. Several were killed and many children seriously hurt. Tate has been in the hospital since. He was a HUGE Survivor fan. John along with Gabe have visited Tate several times. John told Tate if he was out of the hospital in time, Tate could throw out the first ball. He was there and he threw out the first ball. The Survivors had signed all kinds of sports equipment and apparel for him. Tate also stayed to watch the whole game.
The game was so slanted we sent in our grandchildren to assist Rotu along with my granddaughter's long time friend (since they've been toddlers). Thank goodness they assisted in a few hits or the score might have been worse. Even my grandbaby had to get into the act. She's very shy but seems to have an overwhelming sense of urgency to speak to her grampy, who was the pitcher for Rotu. The game was stopped so the little coach could run out onto the mound to give her grampy a few pointers.
The Survivors visited Children's Hospital so the staff and kids could meet them. From there they ambushed several spots around Omaha where the Survivors would jump out, roam about and then back into ole' yeller.
That evening there was an auction held at a local dance club (Omaha doesn't have "clubs"). The Max is a gay bar that's hetero friendly. The tallest drag queen you can possibly imagine was the hostess. The bidding did well and the item that went for the highest amount was John's T-shirt that went for $400.00.
The cast spent the rest of the night dancing.
The next morning they were up and running. Spent a good part of the morning at Crossroads Mall. Tracey and Richard, native Marquesans, flew in to speak about the Marquesan culture and Richard demonstrated some of the native dances. The crowds drew long lines and a great deal of Survivor: Marquesas Reunion T-shirts were autographed and more pictures taken. Both of the troops were up to it, smiling, hand shaking and autographing.
The evening event was held at Harrah's Casino. Harrah's held an invitation only party for the Survivors. It was a sell-out! Again more T-shirts followed by smiling, hand shaking and autographing.
Zoe announced her Lobster Fest fundraiser to be held in August and everyone donned "lobster hats". We will have a great image of the cast wearing the hats. They were adorable.
The cast stayed and gambled ... some left with a few more coins than they started with.
Early Sunday morning, they had yet another fundraiser at Nebraska Furniture Mart in the "bath" department. I don't know if it had anything to do with the "smelly cast" as we remember them in their latter days on the island. NFM had tubs lined up like a little train and took shots of them sitting in the tubs. Then another T-Shirt autographing session took place.
For lunch they went to the Garden Cafe and there our Mayor Mike Fahey gave a proclamation claiming the month of June as Survivor: Marquesas reunion month.
Survivor: Marquesas Month Proclamation
WHEREAS Omaha John Carroll has contributed positively to the promotion of our city through his participation in Survivor IV: Marquesas and subsequent media and fundraising activities;
WHEREAS John Carroll and his fellow Survivors have demonstrated a commitment to supporting communities in need, especially among the real survivors of the deadly AIDS epidemic;
WHEREAS Nebraska AIDS Project reports ongoing increases in numbers of people needing services, with a caseload of more than 700 men, women, and children living with HIV/AIDS in the state of Nebraska;
WHEREAS this reunion provides an opportunity to focus local and national attention on HIV/AIDS,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that I, Mike Fahey, Mayor of Omaha, do hereby declare that Omaha will observe Survivor Marquesas Month during June 2002; I encourage citizens to take part in the Reunion activities during the June 14th through the 16th, 2002, and to promote HIV awareness and compassion for HIV survivors throughout the year.
In Witness Thereof, I have set my hand and caused the Official Seal of the City of Omaha to be affixed this Fourteenth day of June, Two Thousand and Two.
____________________________
Mike Fahey, Mayor
City of Omaha
The mayor gave each of the Survivor's a copy of the proclamation.
Then it was off to the airport for most of the cast. Zoe, Neleh, Gabe, Hunter and John had one more event, the announcement of the Grand Marshall for Gay Pride Week. John did not win but the position was given to a most deserving candidate, The Max. The dance club ... John's trying to figure out how The Max is going to get into the float.
Gabe judged a Drag Queen competition and took it most seriously. We all had great fun and three of John's fan's had traveled to be in Omaha for the weekend. They had a wonderful time and the cast made them feel quite comfortable. They attended the competition with us.
When we arrived back at my home the remaining cast: John, Gabe, Neleh and Hunter decided to camp out in my front yard. Zoe the smart one slept inside as she was the first to leave in the wee hours of the morning.
They are counting the proceeds, it looks like a major success for Nebraska's Aids Project and they desperately needed the funds.
attending Florida State, another unfortunate side effect of hunger
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