Awareness Event

Ladies Night – All Male Revue Show

Friday, June 14, 2013

Best Western Lee Jackson Conference Room 711 Millwood Avenue, Winchester, Virginia 22601-5168
Phone: 540-662-4154

Doors Open at 6PM (Advance Ticket Sales Only)

At the door tickets will be offered starting at 7PM. (Limited Seating so we suggest purchasing your ticket in advance)

Tickets $25 (plus processing fee) and includes Hors D’Oeuvres – All ticket sales are final (no refunds)

Cash Bar and local Vendors on-site.

Please drink responsibly. Best Western is offering discounted room rates for this event.

Ladies Only

(you must be 18+ years of age with a valid photo ID to enter) 

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Winchester Little Theatre Presents a special performance of “You Know I can’t Hear You When The Water is Running!” They are graciously donating this performance to ARE so we receive all the proceeds. Please join us for this comedy act that makes fun of everyday life.

The performance will be held on Wednesday, May 8, 2013 at 8:00PM. The doors will open at 7:30PM and we suggest you arrive early for the best seating. You may purchase your tickets using the online form below or visit our office to pay with cash or check.

Below is a summary of the plot for the play and each of the four acts.

You know I can’t hear you when the water is running is a collection of four unrelated one-act comedy plays by Robert Anderson. In The Shock of Recognition, playwright Jack Barnstable auditions Richard Pawling for a role that requires nudity and discovers the overeager actor is more than willing to show his stuff. The Footsteps of Doves focuses on Harriet and George, a married couple shopping for twin beds after many years of marriage. George, who is opposed to the change, strikes up a conversation with Jill, a considerably younger fellow shopper who shares his view. In I’ll Be Home for Christmas, Chuck and Edith realize how empty their marriage has become as they await the arrival of their adult children. I’m Herbert is a scattered conversation between Herbert and Muriel, an elderly couple with memory problems who try in vain to recall their earlier relationships.

*This performance is for mature audiences

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The hot news of the day comes from Mississippi where a baby may have been cured of HIV. The baby was born two years ago and aggressively treated with antiretroviral drugs. Researchers are still uncertain if this is permanent but it does mark yet another milestone in the fight of HIV/AIDS.

We are encouraged by the findings and it further goes to support what we have been doing to educate our community. The faster the diagnosis and treatment the better for the patient. You can watch the news post below where they speak about the findings in this case.

If you don’t know your HIV status, we encourage you to get tested today.

Source: Washington Post

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Under the new program, HIV/AIDS patients’ insurance policies will no longer cover medications purchased at local pharmacies. These patients will instead be required to purchase their prescription drugs from a mail order pharmacy, while Blue Cross enrolled who do not suffer from one of the targeted health conditions under the same policies will continue to enjoy full access to the pharmacies of their choice. Mail order should be a choice and not required if the client prefers to pick up their medications in person.

The change is discriminatory under state civil rights law and potentially devastating for HIV/AIDS patients.  Blue Cross’s change will also cause consumers to lose access to drug discounts available only at retail pharmacies, which save patients thousands of dollars each year. Many rely on their local pharmacist who, working directly with the patients, can monitor potentially life-threatening adverse drug interactions. Pharmacists also provide essential advice and counseling that help HIV/AIDS patients and their families navigate the challenges of living with a chronic and often debilitating condition.  Additionally, the time lag associated with mail order medication could be life-threatening.

“Blue Cross should not be allowed to compromise the health and privacy of HIV/AIDS patients,” said Consumer Watchdog staff attorney Jerry Flanagan. “This poorly conceived plan to sever the relationship between patient and medical professional should be prohibited.” This early move by a major insurance company is troubling and hopefully not the ‘trend’ for the new upcoming Health Care Law. Otherwise this could be a huge gray area that would affect many across this country. Would you like any of your medications to come via the mail vs picking them up? Thoughts?

Tom Thayer

http://www.ibtimes.com/press-release/20130114/consumer-watchdog-blue-cross-sued-discriminating-against-hivaids-patients

The post Blue Cross of California to Force HIV Clients-Mail Scripts Only appeared first on AIDS Response Effort, Inc..

Back to the story. Lee said, “I knew it had been my boyfriend who infected me,” and also stated, “I later learned he had been HIV positive and was not taking medication and had not bothered to tell me about it.”  Thompson said he then reluctantly press charges against his ex, who is now serving a 5-year sentence in prison for not disclosing his HIV status. (each State has different laws regarding passing HIV without a partners consent)

“I would have been cool with his status if he had been honest,” he said. “I don’t have an issue with the disease. I would have known how to protect myself.”

Thompson said his nickname “Uncle Poodle” stems from his niece, Alana Thompson, otherwise known as Honey Boo Boo. He said she calls all gay men “my poodles.” Now, that statement is what we strive to fight everyday with our clients. The stigma that gay men carry. Shows like this make our job harder, because it continues to keep the stigma and discrimination with in the the viewers mind. Reality TV, just when I thought the producers have run out of bad show ideas.

Tom Thayer

http://www.hivplusmag.com/people/2013/01/15/honey-boo-boos-uncle-poodle-reveals-he-hiv-positive

The post Honey Boo Boo Show Has HIV Twist appeared first on AIDS Response Effort, Inc..

Our West Virginia neighbors are already starting to see a Federal funding cut backs that we’ve all feared would come. The Fed announced that funding for West Virginia’s HIV-AIDS program is dropping by more than $200,000 because of the state’s low infection rate. Well that ‘s a double edged sword. Good & bad news.. Great that new infections are going down, but bad for those still in need with rising costs.

In looking up the HIV/AIDS cases in the State of WV here, this is what I saw that prompted this move. I didn’t provide all the statistics but just the ones that led categories or stood out to me;  

• As of 12/31/2009. The total number of HIV/AIDS cases in WV were: 2,440
• The group most affected were Caucasians with HIV/AIDS: 1,737
• Infected males: 1,927
• Age groups: 25-34yrs of age- 832 infected. 35-44yrs of age- 805 infected.
• from 2008 WV State had 84 new infections and in 2009, the State had only 69 recorded new infections.

Now that all this with a grain of salt because as we know, there are a number of HIV infections that are never reported or the persons don’t know or care can never be known. Also, HIV+ persons that move into or out of the State.

The Department of Health and Human Resources said Monday that combined with last year’s reductions, the cuts total more than $617,000. The money is being redirected to states with higher incidence rates. Public Health Commissioner Marian Swinker says the state will have to eliminate a $20 reimbursement for HIV specimen collection and counseling services. Last year, that program gave 15 local health departments about $92,000. Two years ago, 49 health departments received the reimbursement.

Other federal funds will still cover the costs of lab testing by the Office of Laboratory Services. But HIV testing may not be available everywhere and on every day.

Any funding cuts is painful and very difficult to obtain once its been lost. We actually know and are able to serve some WV clients ourselves with our grant funding that is allowed. We hate to see our fellow AIDS Service Organizations get cut back, but it’s coming and we worry about our funding as well with the pending March ‘fiscal cliff’ talks again. Keep watching. Now you know.
Tom Thayer

http://www.wtov9.com/news/news/feds-cut-200k-wvas-hiv-aids-program/nTwW7/

http://www.dhhr.wv.gov/oeps/std-hiv-hep/HIV_AIDS/Documents/HIV%20Surveillance%20Summary%202009%20Update_10042010.pdf

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David Oliver

From 1983 to 1985, he played the role of Perry Hutchins on the daytime soap opera Another World. ANOTHER WORLD fans fell in love with the handsome young actor when he debuted the role of Perry in June 1983. Perry was Carl’s son and had a sweet romance with Nancy (Jane Cameron). His character, Perry died in May 1985 (a soap opera death which is always dramatic!) when he fell from the Love barn loft after seeing Marley’s identical twin, Victoria (Ellen Wheeler). Trivia: His final words were “You’re not getting away with this!” (Great line!)

In 1986 he played the role of Sam Gardner in the miniseries A Year in the Life. The miniseries then became a regular series in the fall of 1987 and ran on NBC for one season. Oliver’s wife in both the miniseries and regular series was played by a young Sarah Jessica Parker. He played in many roles from Star Trek: The Next Generation, Murder She Wrote, 21 Jump Street and many more.

Oliver died of complications due to AIDS on November 12, 1992. he was only 30 years old…His career might have been brief on the screen, but everyone leaves a mark behind in those lives they touch while alive.

Tom Thayer

http://www.welovesoaps.net/2011/11/davidoliver.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Oliver_(actor)

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Before everyone panics, hospital officials said that there is a ‘very small risk’ for more than 700+ patients exposed during tha time period. An insulin pen is used to inject insulin for the treatment of diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It is composed of an insulin cartridge (integrated or bought separately) and a dial to measure the dose, and is used with disposable or reusable pen needles to deliver the dose.

It seems the accidental re-usage was discovered in a routine pharmacy inspection last fall. In a statement, VA spokeswoman Evangeline Conley said the hospital “recently discovered that in some cases, insulin pens were not labeled for individual patients.” She added that “although the pen needles were always changed, an insulin pen may have been used on more than one patient.” Conley said that once this was discovered the hospital took “immediate action” to ensure the insulin pens were being used according to pharmaceutical guidelines.

After seeing the VA’s memo, Rep. Chris Collins, a Republican who represents the Buffalo area, said he spoke with Dr. Robert A. Petzel, undersecretary for health at the Department of Veterans Affairs. “His thought was that it’s a very, very low chance of passing infection,” Collins said. “But it’s not out of the realm of possibility, and that’s why they’re testing everyone,” Collins told the News. The VA Center is offering free blood tests to any possible patient to rule out any infections.

Blood exposure or needle re-usage is a way to become infected, so its wise for hospital officials to follow protocol. Patients should get checked out to be safe but shouldn’t panic. The chances are very slim but one should always be cautious and ‘not’ re-use pens used by others. That’s just not a wise practice we advise. One should always make sure if visiting a doctors office to ‘question’ and ask for sterile items if concerns you. Its your health, don’t be shy, so always ask to ensure you’re not accidentally exposed or have to worry. Accidents happen, but don’t let it happen to you.

Tom Thayer

http://news.yahoo.com/possible-hiv-exposure-buffalo-va-hospital-231237310.html

The post Insulin Pen Scare at New York Veterans Center appeared first on AIDS Response Effort, Inc..

Back then (in the stone-age when I grew up) we didn’t have instant technology, where you can chat, talk, send pics, flirt or see any image you want. Its too easy and too tempting. So how can pre-teens or teenagers make it through without heavy peer pressure? I couldn’t tell you..

We here at ARE know, Abstinence is the most effective way of fighting HIV/AIDS and unwanted pregnancies. We preach that in our HIV101 Classes and on the streets ’but’ people, in a real world the chances of that happening are very low. It takes a village to raise a family and it starts at home. If parent(s) don’t educate their kids, yes I went there so lets not tap dance around it. Teaching and talking to your children about the dangers of sex in the real world needs to happen as they enter school. Kids are having sex younger and younger. Don’t think your child is immune.
Our fine city of Winchester, Virginia held the sad honor for years of having the ‘highest’ pregnancy rate in the State of Virginia for a city our size. You never saw that in the Welcome Center. And yet, the schools here ‘believe’ still in the outdated, antiquated abstinence only policy which obviously failed. Most of the school systems here locally refuse to allow ARE in to teach HIV101 when the students need it.  Can people really abstain from sexual activities? Most can’t and need our education to make a informed decision if and when the opportunity could happen. Let’s break down abstinence more shall we: 

Abstinence is a self-enforced restraint from indulging in bodily activities that are widely experienced as giving pleasure. Most frequently, the term refers to sexual abstinence, or abstinence from alcohol or food. The practice can arise from religious prohibitions and practical considerations.

Not having sex may seem easy because it’s not doing anything. But peer pressure and things you see on TV and in the movies can make the decision to practice abstinence more difficult.

If it seems like everybody else is having sex, some people may feel they have to do it, too, just to be accepted. Don’t let kidding or pressure from friends, a girlfriend, a boyfriend, or even the media push you into something that’s not right for you.  A couple can still have a relationship without having sex. If you’ve made a decision not to have sex, it’s an important personal choice and the people who care about you should respect that. It’s your body and your health. It only takes one time to get an STI/STD or HIV infection. Life is about choices we make and consequences. Make the right ones. Call us if you need us.

Tom Thayer

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abstinence

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According to the report, which is dated up to June 30, 2012.

• There are 24,378 persons living with HIV/AIDS in Virginia
• 17,983 are males
• 6,395 are females

A quick look at the age groups shows the highest infection rates are:

• 40-44yr old (3,455)
• 45-49yr old (4,747)
• 50-54yr old (4,120)
• and other age brackets I didn’t list

To us that shows either an aging of the HIV/AIDS population who were infected earlier in life or newer infections. We’d have to look more closely at those numbers to see.

Then I looked at what groups were infected the the most:

• African American 10,400
• Caucausian  7,361
• Hispanic   1,715
• then other groups which i didn’t break down here.

Now remember, these numbers are ‘only’ what is reported to the Health Department. We know there are many HIV+ individuals living without letting others know their positive status, those falling out of care or just moved to the area without care. There could be some other reasons, but my point is: those numbers are high and growing.

The CDC says almost 25% of the Nations HIV infected persons don’t know they’re infected. That’s enough to make you think… Now you know.

Tom Thayer

info: http://www.vdh.state.va.us/epidemiology/DiseasePrevention/DAta/Quarterly/2nd%20Quarter%202012/Table2HIV_Q2.pdf

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