AIDS Walk San Francisco, the 10k (6.2 mile) walk that benefits the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and more than 50 HIV/AIDS organizations serving the six Bay Area counties, takes place Sunday, July 20 in Golden Gate Park.

Unlike SFAF's AIDS LifeCycle bike ride, the AIDS Walk requires no minimum amount of money raised, though the agency encourages participants to set their own fundraising goal and try to meet it. SFAF also has several incentives for specific dollar amounts raised, like a T-shirt for donations of $150 or more, or a cap and T-shirt for donations of $250 or more. Additionally, those interested in participating can register the day of the event.

Last year's event saw more than 25,000 people raise over $4.5 million, which was a record. Organizers are hoping to top that this year, as cuts in AIDS services have hit most nonprofits.

Sign-in starts at 9 a.m. in Mother's Meadow. That's followed by an aerobic warm-up at 9:30 and the opening ceremonies at 9:45 in Sharon Meadow. The walk begins at 10:30 and typically takes two to three hours to complete. There will be a post-walk concert and family entertainment in Sharon Meadow after the walk at 12:30 p.m.

The AIDS Walk is produced by Craig Miller and MZA Events. The production fee SFAF paid to MZA Events this year is $185,000, said foundation spokesman Peter Taback. That's an increase over last year's fee of $170,000.

For more information, including a list of benefiting agencies, visit http://www.aidswalk.net/sanfran/

Organizing meeting on JROTC measure

Interested LGBT people and allies are invited to attend a citywide planning meeting for the campaign to defeat the pro-JROTC ballot initiative that's expected to be on the November ballot in San Francisco. The San Francisco school board previously voted to end Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps programs in the district's high schools, in part because of the discriminatory "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy that prevents gays and lesbians from serving openly in the armed forces. The school board had initially sought to end the program this year, but later moved up the date to next year so that an alternative program could be implemented. Those supportive of JROTC are expected to gather enough signatures to place a measure on the ballot to keep the program.

Next week's meeting takes place Tuesday, July 22 at 7 p.m. at the Friends Center, 65 9th Street, between Market and Mission.

Vets seek socks

The Bob Basker Post 315 of the American Legion and Veterans for Peace are seeking socks to give to homeless and impoverished veterans in San Francisco during next week's Veterans Connect event in the War Memorial Building.

Post Commander and Veterans Commissioner John Caldera said that while the idea initially was to seek single socks and try to match them up, some local veterans have also purchased new socks for the giveaway. All socks will be distributed on a first come, first serve basis.

The Veterans Connect program takes place Wednesday, July 23 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 401 Van Ness Avenue. The second floor of the building will include various veterans' groups and organizations, including the Department of California American Legion headquarters, the San Francisco Veterans Affairs Commission, the San Francisco County Veterans office, San Francisco Homeless Connect, Swords to Plowshares, and the U.S. Veterans Administration.

To donate socks, stop by the American Legion headquarters, 401 Van Ness Avenue, room 117; the office is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about the sock drive, contact Caldera at mailto:SFCommishcaldera@aol.com or (415) 255-7331.

New taxi panel seeks members

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency, with support from the Taxi Commission, has invited members of the taxi industry and other stakeholders to apply to join a new body called the Taxi Advisory Group. The TAG will provide input to the SFMTA as the agency works to develop a taxi merger business plan in anticipation of the future transfer of the duties of the commission to SFMTA.

Individuals interested in serving on the TAG should complete a Taxi Advisory Group Statement of Interest form available at http://www.sfmta.com/taxi and submit it by Monday, July 21. TAG appointments are expected to be made by August 1. The nine-member TAG will include one representative each from six taxi stakeholder groups described on the form as well as three members of the general public.