April 24, 2008
In This Issue
Save the Dates
Thursday, May 1
Dining Out for Life – Tonight!
Bank of America returns for its third year as presenting sponsor of Dining Out for Life – that day of the year when making a donation to Desert AIDS Project is as effortless as having a meal at a variety of local restaurants. Participating Dining Out for Life restaurants are listed at the website. (ga) (jl)
Tuesday, May 6
A Positive Life – the series
“A Positive Life: the series” will be presented on the first Tuesday of every month for the remainder of 2008 in the Sinatra Auditorium of Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs. On Tuesday, May 6, the presentation will explore “Coverage & Access: making the most of eligibility.” Speakers will be Ray Lippmann from the Social Security Administration and David Maud from the Riverside Housing Authority. Dinner will be offered at 6:00 PM, followed by the presentation and discussion beginning at 6:30. (jl)
Sunday, May 11
Les Dames du Soleil Mother’s Day show
Les Dames du Soleil returns to the Wyndham Hotel this Mother’s Day. Ever-so-smart cocktails will be served at 6:00 PM, followed by a wickedly funny, razor-sharp performance at 7:00 PM. Tickets are $30 and sure to sell out fast – with standing room only offered at $20 – so call J.P. Allen at Desert AIDS Project at 760.323.2118, ext. 266. You also won’t want to miss the exciting live auction, which includes offerings such as a cocktail party for 40, courtesy of Carousel Catering; a six-day trip for two to Puerto Vallarta, airfare included; a four-day trip to Vancouver, airfare included; and a signed serilithograph, courtesy of Park West Gallery. D.A.P. volunteer group Stitch in Time will also be selling one-dollar raffle tickets during the cocktail hour for a beautiful quilt they have donated. (ga)(jl)
Wednesday, May 21
Farmer’s Market
Third Wednesday of each month from 9:00 AM to noon and 1:00 to 4:00 PM at D.A.P.’s Food Depot.
Every Tuesday at 10:30 AM and Thursday at 10:00 AM
Panirvana Yogaerobicise classes
Panirvana Yoga: a 2 hour, yoga-aerobic-exercise (Yogaerobicise) program that is very easy to do, gentle, easy to learn and practice. Classes will be held at D.A.P.’s Paul Shepard Meditation Room. These ongoing holistic class/workshops are limited to five Desert AIDS Project clients per class. So please sign-up as soon as possible. For more information please go to: http://www.sun-ergy.net (jl)(rv)
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D.A.P. News
Partners For Life/100 Women committee seeks client writers
The Partners for Life/100 Women steering committee is seeking clients who are interested in volunteering to write a short letter to members of the Partners for Life/100 Women program, thanking them for their financial support to D.A.P., and sharing their personal story about how D.A.P. programs affect their day to day lives. Partners for Life/100 Women is D.A.P.’s major donor program directly benefiting D.A.P. clients. For further information contact Rick Vila at 760.318.4949 or via email. (rv)
HEP-C support group at Desert AIDS Project is forming
A new group is forming for D.A.P. clients with HIV/Hepatitis C starting Tuesday, May 6 from 1:30 to 3:00 PM. The group will be co-facilitated by Melanie Wolfe, licensed psychotherapist, and Lance Bachis, RN, from the HIV Health Center. The group will provide a supportive environment where members can share experiences and provides an educational opportunity to learn about HEP-C and existing treatments. For an initial assessment, an appointment is necessary. Please contact Melanie Wolfe at 760.323.2118 ext 247 to schedule or for more information. (rv)
Food Voucher Program
The Food Voucher Program is available to clients living in Riverside County who are Ryan White-eligible and 150% of Federal Poverty level (less than $15,600 yearly income) beginning in May. The voucher distribution will be once a month (schedule available in Food Depot and at reception desk). Monthly vouchers will be $40. At this point, clients do not need to enroll….just show up and their eligibility will be verified at that time. This money is from Ryan White funding for grant year 2008/2009. (ga)
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Desert AIDS Project CareTeam – making a difference
Volunteer CareTeam coordinator Julian DiCiurcio and the dedicated CareTeam volunteers work with designated clients to improve quality of life through peer-counseling. They provide logistical, spiritual, practical and emotional support on a one-on-one basis to clients in need. They assist clients with activities of daily living such as shopping, picking up medications and food, etc. They also provide transportation to appointments and assist in keeping clients connected through telephone support, in-home visits and recreation. For further information or to volunteer please contact Hudson Alling, at 760.323.2118, ext. 244 or e-mail at halling@desertaidsproject.org. (jl)
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Human protein may offer new target for blocking HIV
According to an article in the Kaiser Network Daily Report, researchers have found that suppressing the human protein ITK in CD4+ T cells reduces HIV's ability to enter the cells and replicate, according to a National Institute of Health (NIH) study published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Reuters reports. NIH and the researchers have filed for a patent on suppressing ITK to treat HIV with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The protein also is being examined as a possible target to treat asthma and other illnesses involving the immune system. (jl)
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HIV Community Forum – people getting involved
During the last Ryan White Program authorization process, many members of Congress felt that they were not hearing from the “real people living with HIV/AIDS.” In order to bring those voices into the process, the Communities Advocating Emergency AIDS Relief (CAEAR) Coalition is reaching across the country to collect this input. This past Monday concerned community members took the opportunity to have their voices heard in D.C. without leaving the desert. The group worked to come up with a list of the most significant issues facing people living with HIV/AIDS today. The results of the meeting will go to the committee at Senator Ted Kennedy’s office which will be writing the new HIV funding bill. They will also go to the local offices of our elected officials. If you missed the meeting and still want to get involved, you can attend the Legislative Action Committee meetings every third Thursday of the month here at D.A.P. You can also contact the National Association of People with AIDS www.napwa.org and CAEAR www.caear.org/coalition. There will also be another local Community Forum later this year. (jl)
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Online intervention paramount in high-risk population
A recent article in Science Daily reports that young Internet-using men who have sex with men AND who meet their sexual partners both online and offline have greater numbers of partners, appear more likely to contract HIV. They also report higher substance use rates than those who meet their partners exclusively online or offline, according to new research at the University of Minnesota. Researchers stated that rather than focusing on the dangers of seeking sex online, Internet-based programs, similar to offline interventions, should encourage at-risk young men who have sex with men to decrease the frequency at which they engage in unprotected anal intercourse, reduce their numbers of sexual partners, avoid alcohol and other substance use in sexual situations, and seek HIV testing, (jl)
Romark Laboratories launches hepatitis C trial
Romark Laboratories has begun enrolling patients in a clinical trial to evaluate a potential treatment for chronic hepatitis C. The trial will study the effectiveness of nitazoxanide, a Romark drug that has been approved previously by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in treating certain types of diarrhea. The new study is a Phase II clinical trial that will enroll 60 patients at 15 centers in the United States. Preliminary data is expected in the second half of this year, according to a release from Romark. To learn more about Romark clinical trials currently under way, or to find out if a study is recruiting patients in your area, please visit www.romarktrials.com (jl)
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Initial HIV regimens often don't meet guidelines
According to Reuters Health, a review of antiretroviral treatment (ART) regimens initiated in HIV-infected women revealed that nearly half of the regimens were either not specifically recommended for initial ART or were in fact against US HIV treatment guidelines. University of California at San Francisco investigators, led by Dr. Jennifer Cocohoba, evaluated initial ART regimens given to 217 ART treatment-naïve women in the Women's Interagency HIV Study. Only 53% of the women reported use of ART consistent with the US HIV treatment guidelines, they report. Treatment that was counter to the guidelines was prescribed for 17% and another 30% of the women were on a treatment regimen that was not listed in the guidelines. See the full article for further information.
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Desert AIDS Project Support Groups
D.A.P. has several support groups available to clients. Topics vary and include Sexual Recovery, Co-Dependence, HIV/Hep C, Substance Abuse, and HIV Positive support groups. Contact Robin Johnson at 760.323.2118 for more information. (jl)
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"When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us." – Helen Keller
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To Contact State and Federal Officials Click On Name
President George W. Bush
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Congresswoman Mary Bono
Congressman Jerry Lewis
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
State Senator Jim Battin
State Senator Denise Ducheny
Assemblywoman Bonnie Garcia
Assemblyman John Benoit
Desert AIDS Project – CAN (DAPCAN) is an electronic weekly community action newsletter that presents published material, reprinted with permission, and information about community events related to Desert AIDS Project and/or HIV/AIDS. Desert AIDS Project neither endorses nor opposes the published material. All information contained in this newsletter, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professional. Always discuss treatment options with a physician who specializes in treating HIV. Publication of the name or likeness of any individual in articles in this newsletter is not to be construed as any indication of the HIV status of such individual. If you do not wish to receive this e-newsletter, please notify us by using the email address below.
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