Porter Warren has distinguished herself throughout communities on the East and West Coasts of the United States. Her dedication to nursing, and particularly to persons with AIDS and ARC, set Porter in a classification reserved for Grand Champions.
Porter was educated in Switzerland. She received her nursing education at the School of Nursing, Montreal General Hospital, Montreal, Canada. She then attended California State University at Long Beach, California.
In October of 1984, realizing the need for a special type of nursing care for AIDS and ARC patients, Porter organized the Florence Nighingale Nursing Service. It was the first nursing agency in the United States to specialize exclusively in professional care for persons diagnosed with Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. She has since moved on to open services in Fort Lauderdale and Palm Beach, Florida; Greenwich Village, New York; and Jersey City, New Jersey.
Along with administering Florence Nightingale Nursing Service, in 1985, Porter served as a board member of Aid for AIDS in Los Angeles, giving of her time and organizational skills.
Early in 1987, Porter organized Florence Nightingale AIDS Care, Inc., a non-profit organization raising funds to provide nursing care for those who have become medically impoverished due to the virus. When donated funds were not available, she herself privately funded nursing services in excess of $300,000.
Her life is presently dedicated to AIDS issues, patients and their families. All work comes to a halt when calls come from throughout the country requesting her advise, opinions and emotional support. Porter's philosophy is that one can live well with AIDS. (The quality of life need not be compromised by the diagnosis of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.) With the urging of her staff to create a hospice, she is currently considering an extended facility.
Her love of horses and horsemanship has been with her since early childhood. During the early 1960's, Porter rode with the Olympic Equestrian Team at Gladstone, New Jersey. She presently reigns as Ms. Golden State Gay Rodeo 1988. She travels the rodeo circuit as her schedule permits. And, like many great ladies, perhaps her first love is still her thoroughbred horses.
AI Bell was born in San Antonio, Texas and spent his early years growing up in West Texas. In his early twenties AI relocated to Southern California. Except for a year spent in Hawaii, he has lived in the Golden State and for the past 25 years he has been a major part of the Long Beach Community.
Al was instrumental in the formation of the Golden State Gay Rodeo Association as well as the lnternational Gay Rodeo Association. He is very active in Gay Rodeo and in the County Western Community.
He is the owner of both FLOYDS COUNTRY BAR in Long Beach, which will celebarte its 16th anniversary this year, and FLOYDS COUNTRY BAR in Reno, Nevada.
