March 15, 2012

Celebrity Doodles has become an annual opportunity to mingle among some of your favorite stars in an evening of fun, food and festivities. Afterward, the proceeds of both silent and live auctions of art by some of these celebrities will be donated to Desert AIDS Project. This year will feature performances by Suzanne Somers, Lorna Luft and Meredith Patterson. Click here for the event website, a list of celebrities expected to attend and more information. (sb)

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Tuesday, April 3, 6:00 PM

A Positive Life - The Series: What's New in HIV? - An Update from the 2012 Retrovirus Conference

The next seminar in the Positive Life Series will bring the latest information from CROI 2012, the 19th Annual Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections being held this week in Seattle, Washington. Drs. John Stansell and Clayton Barbour will be the featured speakers. A light supper will be served at 6:00 PM, and the program will begin at 6:30 PM. The location is the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center (at the corner of Tachevah and Via Miraleste in Palm Springs), and the event, sponsored by Jewish Family Services of the Desert, is always free. ASL translation will be provided. Questions? Email

positivelifeseries@gmail.com, or call 760.566.6POZ (6769). However, YOU DO NOT NEED TO RSVP! The following Positive Life Series seminar will be on Tuesday, May 1 on the topic of HIV and Cardiovascular Health, featuring speaker Ruben Gamundi.

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Thursday, April 19, 7:00 PM

"Woven Voices"

Share the life experience of four long-time survivors of HIV/AIDS at a reading of their collective work, entitled "Woven Voices," in the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs on Thursday, April 19 at 7:00 PM. The one-hour reading will be followed by a Q&A session. Those considering attending should be aware that some "adult language" will be used throughout the reading. (rv)

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Thursday, April 26, breakfast, lunch & dinner

Dining Out for Life

You can support HIV/AIDS services at Desert AIDS Project simply by dining at any of the Dining Out for Life participating restaurants throughout the Coachella Valley on Thursday, April 26! Follow this link for more information and a list of participating restaurants. (jl)

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D.A.P. Community Center Events

The D.A.P. Client Community Center hosts regular activities and events every week (listed below). Community Center special events and other activities can now be found on the main D.A.P. website. Click here for the complete list of upcoming special events.

Tuesday, March 20, Noon - 1:00 PM

Community Center and Gilead Sciences, Inc. Present:

HIV AND YOUR HEART

Mike Roy will discuss the effects of HIV on your heart and cardiovascular health. Lunch will start at 11:45 AM. RSVP to Ray at 760.323.2118, ext. 295 or at rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org.

Improve your health through education!

Starting Wednesday March 21, 10:00 - 11:30 AM in the Computer Lab

Community Center Presents: COMPUTER COACHING CLASSES - LEARN BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS!

computerlessons Need to learn or brush up on your computer skills? Come to our three-lesson course. You MUST sign up for all three consecutive Wednesdays from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM, beginning March 21, concluding April 4. Topics will include introductions to Windows, the Internet and email. Computer availability is limited so please contact Ray at 760.323.2118, ext. 295 or at rrobertson@desertaidsproject.org.

Improve your quality of life through education!

Fridays through April, 2:30 - 4:00 PM

Community Center Presents: Theater Improvisational Group for the Creative Writing Project for "The Poz Effect," directed by Skip Warren

Creators of the "The Poz Effect" (formerly titled "Tell Your Story") presentation are adding an improvisational component to their program. They are looking for a few committed people to join this group. Participants need to be able to walk without assistance and project their voices. Anyone who is a D.A.P. client or is living with HIV is welcome. The new members will add their own creative talents to this program, which has performed to two standing ovation previews for D.A.P. Future plans include performing for other community groups and a fully realized evening at a theater next fall (after a summer hiatus the program resumes in September). And watch for details on the group's upcoming reading at the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center on Thursday, April 19 at 7:00 PM. For more information contact Skip at 760.835.2492 or by email at Cletus.warren@yahoo.com.

Every Thursday, 1:00 PM - Movie & Pizza

Community Center Presents: LET'S GO TO THE MOVIES

March 22

Mamma Mia (2008)

Starring Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan

The story of a bride-to-be trying to find her real father told using hit songs by the popular '70s group ABBA.

Come out for a good flick!

Ongoing Client Community Center activities include:

Support groups
Spiritual Living 101
Hepatitis C Therapy Education
Diabetes Education
Stitch in Time (needlecraft), Wednesdays, 10:00 AM
Community Center Computer Lab
Lending Library
Free films, Thursdays, 1:00 PM

Follow this link to see the recurring activities on the Community Center Calendar.

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D.A.P. & Community News

D.A.P. now on Facebook Timeline!

When was D.A.P. founded?

What year was our first AIDS Walk?

When did we move to our current location?

Find out the answers to these questions on Facebook Timeline! (rv)

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Riverside County and D.A.P. donors keep HIV testing free and confidential

Even though the $80 million-plus in cuts statewide to AIDS programs by the 2009 California budget forced Desert AIDS Project to severely curtail its HIV prevention education efforts to some community organizations, D.A.P. has never missed a single day of providing free and confidential HIV testing. "With a local infection rate that averages three times the national rate, we knew that we had to find a way to continue offering this essential service," said David Brinkman, CEO of Desert AIDS Project. "Partners like the Riverside County HIV/STD Program and donors through our Red Band program have been invaluable to us in keeping that commitment." The county program recently gave D.A.P. an additional $15,000 - supplementing the $25,000 they've already awarded for the current fiscal year. Red Band donors make a contribution of $45 or more annually to a program that funds the purchase of at least three rapid-result HIV test kits. "It's this kind of support that's helped us to expand our HIV testing venues to 27 testing venues throughout Riverside County," continued Brinkman. "We test from Hemet to Banning to Blythe, as well as in multiple locations right here in the Palm Springs area." (rv)

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HIV Wisdom for older women

100 WOMEN, a major donor group at Desert AIDS Project dedicated to helping those affected by or at-risk for HIV/AIDS, invites women - and men - of any age to join them for wine and hors d'oeuvres on Thursday, April 12 from 4:00 - 6:00 PM at the Viceroy Hotel at 415 S. Bellardo Road in Palm Springs. Attendees will meet Jane Pecinovsky Fowler and hear how her HIV infection in later life has led to her work to serve the under-represented community of older women with HIV. Fowler, retired from more than 30 years as a career journalist, is helping to raise public awareness that HIV infection can and does impact mid-life and older women. Following her HIV diagnosis in 1991, Fowler became an activist and public speaker in 1995. She was a co-founder of the National Association on HIV Over Fifty (NAHOF) and went on to found an organization called HIV Wisdom for Older Women, dedicated to HIV prevention and care, in 2002 that she continues to lead today. Those interested in attending on April 12, are asked to RSVP to Sue Knollenberg by calling 760-323-9641 or emailing her at sknollenberg@desertaidsproject.org. (rv)

Discounts at Revivals!

sale Did you know that Revivals stores offers 10% discounts for "seniors" every Tuesday? That's right, 10% off at the "Best of the Valley Thrift Stores" for everyone 55 and over! Additionally, Revivals offers 50% off men's clothing the first Thursday of each month and 50% off women's clothing on the first Friday of each month. Discounts are available on all donated items but does not include consignment or "new" items. Visit Revivals' website for store locations, hours and other information. (jl)

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Benefits

Positively Aware on paying for your medications; you don't have to go broke

Keeping the lines of communication open between you and your health care provider, pharmacist, and case manager is essential when managing your health. Most of us would benefit from reading this article about the various programs available to help pay for our medications.. In some cases your health care provider. (rv)

Jeff Taylor on the "Berlin patient"

"Berlin patient" Timothy Brown, cured of HIV, speaks in Palm Springs

by guest writer Jeff Taylor

Many have heard about the so-called "Berlin patient", the only person who has ever been successfully cured of HIV. Timothy Ray Brown was an American living in Berlin and developed leukemia that didn't respond to standard chemotherapy. He needed a bone timbrown marrow transplant to save his life. His German doctor had the foresight to use a donor who had the rare genetic mutation that made him resistant to HIV. Five years later Timothy is cured of both his cancer and his HIV, and has made medical history. This past weekend he came to our desert to participate in the annual HIV Provider Network conference on the campus of Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, along with cure researchers Paula Cannon from the University of Southern California, and John Rossi from City of Hope. Mr. Brown also participated in the UC Palm Springs Symposium on Retroviruses, a scientific research meeting that takes place twice a year in Palm Springs where much of the research that made Timothy's cure possible has been presented. For more info on Timothy's visit click on this Desert Sun article. Or if you wish to read about Timothy's amazing story, visit his website with his story and a great video on cure research: http://www.timothyrbrown.com/ (rv)

Advocacy

IAC 2012 speakers announced

iac2012 The International AIDS Conference (IAC) of 2012 is expected to be one of the most significant gatherings of HIV/AIDS researchers, activists, healthcare providers and public policy advocates in recent memory. Leading the group are long-time AIDS researcher Anthony S. Fauci, of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), Phill Wilson of the Black AIDS Institute and Sheila Tlou of the United Nations HIV/AIDS program, UNAIDS. IAC is always one of the highest-profile AIDS-related event in the world. This year, it will be held in July in Washington, DC. Click here for IAC's press release and lineup of speakers and topics, and here for the federal government summary. (sb)

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This & That

St. Patrick

Little is known of St. Patrick's early life. However, we know he was born in Roman Britain in the fourth century, into a wealthy Romano-British family. His father and grandfather were deacons in the Christian church in Ireland. At the age of sixteen, he was kidnapped by Irish raiders and taken captive to Ireland as a slave. According to his Confession, he was told by God in a dream to flee from captivity to the coast, where he would board a ship and return to Britain. Upon returning, he quickly joined the Church in Auxerre in Gaul and studied to be a priest. In 432, he was called to Ireland, to free the Irish from their native polytheism. Irish folklore explains that one of his teaching methods was to use a shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity. He died in 461, after 30 years of evangelism. (rv)

Make it for St. Patrick's

Beef and Irish Stout Stew

Ingredients

2 pounds lean beef stew meat, cut into 1-inch cubes
3 tablespoons vegetable oil, divided
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 pinch salt and ground black pepper to taste
1 pinch cayenne pepper
2 large onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, crushed
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 1/2 cups Irish stout beer (such as Guinness®)
2 cups chopped carrot
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley for garnish

Directions

1. Toss the beef cubes with 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil. In a separate bowl, stir together the flour, salt, pepper, and cayenne peppers. Dredge the beef to coat it.

2. Heat the remaining oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the beef, and brown on all sides. Add the onions,and garlic. Stir the tomato paste into a small amount of water to dilute; pour into the pan and stir to blend. Reduce the heat to medium, cover, and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Pour 1/2 cup of the beer into the pan, and as it begins to boil, scrape any bits of food from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. This adds a lot of flavor to the broth. Pour in the rest of the beer, and add the carrots and thyme. Cover, reduce heat to low, and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. Garnish with chopped parsley. (rv)

Editor's Corner

Connecting to deaf culture

by Rick Vila

My husband and I love a young man from Girona, Spain. His name is Jose Luis, and he was born deaf to hearing parents some 32 years ago. His sister is also deaf from birth, though no other of his family members are known to be deaf or hearing impaired. Our journey of love and friendship with Jose Luis has been one of discovery. Though we each have deafness in our family (grandfather and cousin respectively), neither of us had previously thought much about the challenges facing deaf individuals, or how they navigate in a predominately hearing world.

Being around Jose Luis for extended periods of time, including extensive traveling, has changed our perceptions and enriched our sensitivities to this sub-group, which as it turns out has an impressive presence within our gay and HIV communities. To be in the presence of Jose Luis is a noticeably peaceful experience. When Jose Luis is with us silence reigns, and in silence there is enormous opportunities for communication to occur at deeper, richer, and more connected levels. Jose Luis is proud to be deaf, and rejects any attempt to correct his natural condition. His mind is free of the much polluting verbal chatter that intoxicates most hearing persons lives: gossip, news, the "bla bla bla" of life. Instead, Jose Luis, like most other deaf persons, has more acutely developed his other senses: sight, taste, smell, etc. For example, we discovered that Jose Luis is an excellent driver. Observing him one afternoon, we noticed how he uses sight to replace hearing by constantly moving his eyes and head to detect driving hazards. Jose Luis is extremely intelligent and understands the machinations of life and societies much like a highly educated person would with one distinctive difference. His understanding is borne of intuition, not learned, and his approach to life is curious and exuberant, almost with child-like innocence.

Most people mistakenly think that Jose Luis speaks Spanish because he is from Spain. In truth, his native and natural language is Spanish Sign Language, which is derived from French Sign Language, as is American Sign Language (ASL), and is about 50-60% intelligible with ASL. Jose Luis can also lip read Spanish (and a little bit of English), and can also feel vocal vibrations by placing 2 fingers on a persons vocal cords to "read" what they are saying. But his native language is not Spanish! His oral abilities are limited to what he has painstakingly learned in school, but he has never heard any sound at all, including the sounds that he articulates. We are learning sign language from him, he is learning English from us, and ASL to further develop himself. And in all the time we've spent with him, we haven't missed a beat with respect to communication. Even dancing is as enjoyable for him as it is for us because he feels the vibration of the music on the floor, and connects to the energy of the dance, though he doesn't hear the music. It's actually fascinating to think that we are able to convey deep emotions without oral English, all because the three of us have been open to using multiple senses to convey feeling, and not just rely on words.

Through Jose Luis we are learning about deaf culture, and the rich and wonderful deaf community that lives in the Coachella Valley. And our experience serves as a humbling reminder of how each person is uniquely blessed, and that differences amongst us don't really matter in making connections when ones' hearts are fully open. ASL classes are regularly taught at The Center - Palm Springs by D.A.P. volunteer Paul Yinger. There is also a gay deaf group in Palm Springs that meets regularly for socials: email psgaydeaf@aol.com. Or learn more about deaf culture by visiting Deaf Culture Online, which has links to multiple websites and interesting articles and information about deaf persons. (rv)

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Song of the Week

McNamara's Band

Oh!, me name is McNamara, I'm the Leader of the Band,

And tho' we're few in numbers we're the finest in the land.

We play at wakes and weddings, and at every fancy ball,

And when we play at funerals we play the march from Saul.

(Chorus)

Oh! the drums go bang, and the cymbals clang, and the horns they blaze away,

McCarthy pumps the old bazoon while I the pipes do play;

And, Hennessey Tennessey tootles the flute, and the music 'tis somethin' grand,

A credit to old Ireland is McNamara's Band!

Right now we are rehearsin' for a very swell affair,

The annual celebration, all the gentry will be there.

When General Grant to Ireland came, he took me by the hand,

Says he, "I never saw the likes of McNamara's Band."

(Chorus)

Resources

The NestEggg Group offers free tax preparation for D.A.P. clients

The NestEggg Group is offering free filings for 2011 IRS and California taxes for clients of D.A.P. The free service does not include research or amended returns, past years returns, or other complex tax matters. Processing fees apply for electronic filings and appointments are required. Please call NestEgg at 760.322.4622, ext. 205, or email them at accounting@nesteggg.com. (Be sure to reference D.A.P. taxes in the subject line). (jl)

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D.A.P. Resources: website and toll-free number

Remember that the Desert AIDS Project toll-free phone number is always available at 866.331.3344, as is the website at www.desertaidsproject.org. (jl) birdonline

DAPCAN archives now available online
archives2

Do you need to take another look at something you read in DAPCAN somewhere only to find that it's long gone from your inbox? Now you can find past DAPCAN issues online by clicking this link. As always, you can also read the most current edition of DAPCAN on the D.A.P. website by visiting www.desertaidsproject.org/newsletter. (jl)

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Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP)

AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)

For those who qualify, medical care and help paying for your medications are available through the MISP and ADAP programs. You can find out if you qualify by scheduling an appointment by calling the numbers below. You can schedule your MISP and ADAP appointments together for Moreno Valley office ONLY. If you qualify for ADAP only, there is a local ADAP office right here at Desert AIDS Project. Specify the Palm Springs office when you call to make your appointment. Here are the numbers:

877.501.5085 - toll free

951.486.5375 - English

951.486.5400 - Spanish

951.486.4635 - fax

NOTICE: Faxed MISP applications can get lost in the process. Most persons who have faxed their application have had to re-apply later. It's best to apply in person in Moreno Valley, and get a "receipt of application", and use that as proof that you applied to avoid any uninterrupted services with your DAP medical doctor visits. (rv) (jl)

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ADAP may pay Medicare Part D premium

ADAP-eligible clients who have to purchase Part D prescription drug coverage may qualify to have their Part D premium paid by the State of California. Follow this link to the Part D Premium Payment Program Application. You can also call the State of California at 916.449.5900 for more information. (jl)

Call 211 for essential human services in Riverside County

2-1-1 is a toll-free service for residents looking for information about essential human services such as affordable housing, food pantries, help for an aging parent, free or low cost health services, addiction prevention programs, employment, support groups, volunteer opportunities, and 1,700 additional services! (jl)

To contact state and federal officials click on name:

President Barack Obama
Senator Diane Feinstein
Senator Barbara Boxer
Congresswoman Mary Bono Mack
Congressman Jerry Lewis
Governor Jerry Brown
State Senator Bill Emmerson
State Senator Juan Vargas
Assembly member Brian Nestande
Assembly member Manual Perez

Desert AIDS Project - Community Action Newsletter (DAPCAN) presents published material, reprinted with permission, and neither endorses or opposes any 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:

For questions, comments, or unsubscribe contact us at: DAPCAN@DesertAIDSProject.org

Additional Contacts/Social Networking