DR. WALLACE: Our club is disbanding because most of our members are graduating and some are moving away. Our members thought it would be a great idea to donate our excess funds ($367.25) to a worthy charity instead of throwing a farewell party for ourselves. Our concern is that we don't want to get "ripped off" by donating it to a phony charity or one that spends a lot of the money given for overhead and expenses. Any help from you will be appreciated. — Lacey, Springfield, Mo.

LACEY: Congratulations to your group for thinking of others! If you would like to see some glorious results of your donation, why not throw a party at a nursing home, a children's hospital, or other such deserving group? This way your club will be in 100 percent control of the funds and will share in the excitement of the party. It will also be a great way to make new friends, and perhaps a pen pal or two.

MANY PEOPLE WITH SEXUAL DISEASE LOOK HEALTHY

DR. WALLACE: How can you tell if a guy has a sexually-transmitted disease? I'm a virgin and plan to stay that way, but I don't want to date or be around a guy who is infected with a sexually-transmitted disease. Are there any signs I should be aware of? - Nameless, Reno, Nev.

NAMELESS: Outward appearances are unlikely to give any indication that someone has an STD. Most infected people look healthy and many aren't even aware they're infected, increasing the chance that they'll spread their contagion to others.

Since you intend to remain a virgin, you needn't worry. Sexual abstinence is the one way to be 100 percent safe from sexually-transmitted diseases.

I'M OVERWEIGHT AND NEED HELP

DR. WALLACE: I'm 19 and overweight by almost 50 pounds and I'm very fat, to tell the truth. I've been told that I'm pretty, but much too heavy. The result is that I've never had a date, and I want to change this. I've tried several times to go on a diet, but after losing a few pounds I always wind up pigging out and gaining it back again.

I see a lot of people jogging and I notice that none of them look fat and many of them even look slender. Do you think jogging would be a good thing for me? I am really serious about losing weight and I want to end this way of life because it seems that my life revolves around food and I know this must stop. — Nameless, Reno, Nev.

NAMELESS: Jogging and brisk walking are excellent aerobic exercises and exercise is a prime requisite for a trim, healthy body. But before you start, visit your doctor for a thorough physical examination. I'm sure you will be advised to start very slowly and, in time, build up to a good pace. Then make an appointment with a licensed nutritionist, who will recommend a nutritious, healthful diet just for you.

You need to take a multifaceted, long-term approach to health and slimness — immediately!

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. E-mail him at [email protected]. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.