June 7, 2012 - DAPCAN

Drop by the D.A.P. Library on Tuesday, June 19, between 1:00 and 4:00 PM to say farewell to our resident dental health provider Dr. Christina Chung, and to greet her successor, Dr. Margaret Soh. Both doctors will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Free refreshments for everyone!

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Wednesday, June 27, 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM
Pathways to Health and Well-Being HIV Conference

Pathways The Pathways to Health and Well-Being HIV Conference is a collaboration between the County of Riverside Department of Public Health and Mental Health, Desert AIDS Project and Bienestar. It will be held at the Palm Springs Convention Center and will provide the latest information on Treatment as Prevention, Hepatitis and HIV Coinfections, HIV & Holistic Health, HIV & Aging and much more. Dr. Neva Chauppette will be the keynote speaker. The conference will feature nine dynamic breakout sessions on these various topics with a chance to win fabulous door prizes. FREE CONTINENTAL BREAKFAST & LUNCH will be provided by the organizers. The goal of the conference is to empower those living with HIV to become better advocates for their own health, stay connected with care and optimize their health and well-being. Attendance is free and registration opens at 8:00 AM but it's helpful to have head counts, so please register here. Conference will begin at 9:00 AM on June 27. There is plenty of free, nearby street parking around the Convention Center. For more information, visit pathwayshiv.org or email info@pathwayshiv.org. (rv) (sb)

Friday, July 13, 8:00 PM - Midnight

Fifth Annual Mid-Summer Dance Party

Do Ask, Do Tell everyone you know that D.A.P.'s Mid-Summer Dance Party V will be better than ever! The party will feature DJ Michael Antonio, dancers from SHARE Nightclub in Las Vegas and a performance by dance music icon Kristine W whose long list of #1 hits include "Feel What You Want," "One More Try," "Land of the Living," "Save My Soul" and many more. More information and tickets here. (ji)(rv)

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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 be found on the main D.A.P. website. Click here for the complete list of upcoming special events.

Every Wednesday, 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Community Center Presents: PATHWAYS TO HOPE - Depression and Anxiety Support Group

This group will discuss ways to deal with anxiety and depression. You will learn coping skills and ways of experiencing a better quality of life! Group will meet in the Walgreens Room in the Community Center. For questions or more information contact: Melanie Wolfe, Ph.D, LMFT at 760.323.2118, ext. 247. Co- Facilitator: Ray Robertson.

You don't have to do it alone!

Every Thursday, 1:00 PM

Community Center Presents: MOVIE & PIZZA
Thursday, June 14 - Barbershop 2: Back in Business (2004)

Why not spend another day with the crew at Calvin's shop on the South Side of Chicago? Directed by Kevin Rodney Sullivan. Let's all go to the movies!

Ongoing Client Community Center activities include:

Support groups
Hepatitis C therapy education
Diabetes education
Stitch in Time (needlecraft)
Community Center Computer Lab
Lending Library
Free films, Thursdays, 1:00 PM

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

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D.A.P. News

Desert AIDS Project accepts unusued medications

Desert AIDS Project accepts unused medications through partner programs. These programs accept expired HIV medications as well as non-HIV medications, but they will not take narcotics. Simply drop off any unused medication at the HIV Health Center front desk, at Desert AIDS Project, Palm Springs, and we will take care of it from there. Many of these medications go to persons with HIV/AIDS in disadvantaged countries such as Guatemala. (rv)

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Today and every 1st Thursday!

Desert AIDS Project is going tobacco-free

Effective September 1, 2012, the use of all tobacco products will be banned from Desert AIDS Project. This will include ALL areas, without exception, including the Serenity Garden, all pathways and walkways leading to the designated smoking area, grassy areas and parking lots. The only designated smoking area will be outdoors, on the west end of the building, in the bench area. (jl)

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HIV & Other Health News

Gonorrhea could join herpes and HIV/AIDS as an "uncurable" STD

The World Health Organization (WHO) has joined the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in warning that gonorrhea could join herpes and HIV/AIDS as an "uncurable" sexually-transmitted disease (STD). Gonorrhea is estimated to infect more than 100 million people worldwide each year and can cause infertility, ectopic pregnancy, painful urination, and severe eye infections to babies born to women infected with the disease. "We're sitting on the edge of a worldwide crisis," says Manjula Lusti-Narasimhan, of WHO's department of reproductive health and research. So far, drug-resistant strains of gonorrhea have shown up in the United States, Norway, Sweden, Austria, the United Kingdom and other countries. Most cases have been cured with cephalosporins, an antibiotic that doctors say is the "last line of defense" against gonorreah, before moving to injectable antibiotics. The bacteria's penchant for building up resistance has put drug companies in a tough place - developing a new antibiotic is expensive and unlikely to be profitable, and within a few years, gonorrhea would likely develop a resistance to any new drugs used on it. Read the full story here. (rv)

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AIDS Memorial Quilt to be displayed (partially) again

Some of us contributed to it and most of us know too many names on it, but we haven't seen the whole thing in its astounding entirety since 1996. However, the famous NAMES PROJECT AIDS Memorial Quilt will be displayed (partially) on the Mall in Washington, DC in July to coincide with the AIDS 2012 International clevejones

Conference. Cleve Jones (pictured), longtime AIDS activist and part-time desert resident, is the founder of the Quilt. In 1996, he received the Arts and Activism Award at D.A.P.'s Steve Chase Humanitarian gala. (Click here for a recent interview of Jones on LGBT politics and other current issues). The Quilt itself is warehoused in Atlanta when not being displayed. And it continues to grow. Currently, it includes more than 47,000 individual panels and weighs an estimated 54 tons, which makes it increasingly unlikely that the entire quilt will ever again be fully deployed in one place. Approximately 8,000 panels will be displayed this summer. Click here and here for information about the summer display, and here for the NAMES PROJECT AIDS Quilt official website. (sb)

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Community

World Gym Palm Springs offers discounts to D.A.P. clients

World Gym Palm Springs is offering summer specials. Join now and get the second year at 1/2 price, when you pay in full. Discounts are also available to D.A.P. clients and staff. Visit World Gym on the web at www.worldgympalmsprings.com. Or stop by World Gym, across the street from Desert AIDS Project at 1751 N. Sunrise Way, for more information. (rv)

This & That

Free summer films begin at Palm Springs Art Museum/Annenberg Theater

The summer free film program begins today at the Palm Springs Art Museum in its Annenberg Theater. Movies will roll every Thursday at 6:00 PM from May 31 through September 6. The first ten films will be from 2012 Global Lens series, organized by the Global Film Initiative. The series showcases filmwork from countries not typically associated with movie making, and features young, upcoming directors from nations such as Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Columbia, Iran, Iraq, Morocco, Turkey, and Rwanda. This will be the fourth of year of the Global Lens series. In a few weeks, following the foreign films, the museum teams with the Palm Springs International Film Society to offer several classic comedies. All films are free and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. The entire museum is open on Thursday nights with free admission between 4:00 to 8:00 PM and is always a comfortable 75 degrees! For more information, call 760.322.4800 or visit psmuseum.org. (sb)

Editor's Corner

HIV and traveling

by Rick Vila

I just returned from a 10-day trip to the Midwest, with my two favorite people in the world. We flew to Chicago for a fix of city life, and to see friends and family in the area. After the long weekend, we drove to Milwaukee to visit the Calatrava wing of the Milwaukee Art Museum, which is a sight to behold. From Milwaukee we took a car ferry to Muskegon, Michigan, and visited friends and family there and in Canadian Lakes, and Grand Rapids, before driving back to Chicago for a couple nights before our flight home. The trip was near-perfect, with excellent weather, beautiful sights, wonderful inter-personal time with friends and family, and a good intake of culture, food, and architecture, all which we love. For people living with HIV/AIDS like myself, these good times are a blessing, a time that at one time I would not have foreseen. Travel, I believe, opens up your mind and lights up your soul. Travel takes us from the mundane grind of our home life to witness and experience other ways of life, with the often outcome of being able to more fully appreciate our own circumstances. I think that traveling is good for our minds and our health but there are pitfalls. Dealing with changing time zones, new foods, a different routine, unfamiliar beds, etc., can cause havoc with our bodies, especially for those of us that are immune-compromised. How can we protect ourselves from the potential calamities of travel, and minimize risk, while still enjoying seeing the marvelous world around us? Below are some things I've learned and adopted that helps mitigate the burdens of travel.

I always purchase travel insurance, especially when traveling outside of the U.S.A. The peace of mind it provides is well-worth its relatively low cost. Check out: www.travelguard.com
I always carry a binder with all my legal documents, i.e. will/trust/health care power of attorney/list of credit card numbers/copies of everything in my wallet/copies of my passport, etc.
I always notify my closest friends and family of our intended travel plans via a quick email before departure.
I always count out my medications to make sure I have an ample supply, including ancillary medications for diarrhea, sleep, pain, etc., and over-the-counter creams and ointments.
I always book hotels that are 3 stars or better. If I can't afford good hotels, I stay home. I've had bad experiences (and restless sleep nights) at "cheap" hotels because of uncomfortable beds or bedding or excessive street noise.
I always request "quiet" rooms at hotels and motels so that I can sleep without interruption at night.
On the plane, I always dress comfortably with loose-fitting clothes, and I drink tons of water (no alcohol), and make sure I have my medications with me in the cabin. I also carry a small pillow and try to snooze as much as possible in-flight. I reserve the aisle seat for quick access to the bathrooms, and during flight, I take periodic walking breaks to keep my blood flowing.
When visiting museums, parks, beaches, etc., I take frequent breaks to sit and breathe and meditate. This helps fighting off fatigue, which is a frequent symptom in my life, even when I am at home.
I try to listen to my body each day during my vacation, and if I need rest, I rest....even if it means I miss seeing something or someone.
When traveling internationally I research HIV/AIDS for the specific country - there are still a few in the world that won't let us in. Visit www.hivrestrictions.org/ for more information.

Our next summer trip is to Spain, a country we dearly love. Have you planned your summer travel? Whatever you do, wherever you go, I hope you have a wonderful summer. (rv)

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Quote of the Week

"The first to apologize is the bravest; the first to forgive is the strongest; the first to forget is the happiest."
--- Unknown
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Ongoing Benefits & Resources

More help paying for prescription medications

We recently reported on the City of Palm Springs Prescription Card that offers savings on prescription drugs to residents without health insurance, traditional benefits plan or need prescriptions not covered by insurance. Another resource to help pay for prescription medications is NeedyMeds. The mission of NeedyMeds is to make information about assistance programs available to low-income patients and their advocates at no cost. Go to the website, look up the medications you need and you'll be directed to the patient assistance program website for that manufacturer. The site also offers a free drug discount card that is accepted at more than 62,000 pharmacies. If you are having trouble paying for your medications this site is worth a look! (jl) (sb)

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Sunline Transit encourages using new Bus Tracker service

Many D.A.P. clients rely on Sunline Transit to get around town and the bus company has just made that a bit easier with a new feature on its website (click here) called Bus Tracker. Scroll down to the lower left side of the page under "public messages" and you'll see a constant update of traffic status; any delays, detours, route changes, etc. will be posted for you to check on before you head to the bus stop. Bus Tracker is an enhanced addition to the Sunline Rider's Guide (click here) which also includes a link to the Google Trip Planner tool. It's a good way to save time and avoid frustration so check it out and bookmark. Incidentally, congratulations to Sunline for its clean vehicles, for having a bike rack on every SunBus and on celebrating its 35th anniversary! (sb)

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Desert Samaritans and The Center offer social work services for seniors

The Center has partnered with Desert Samaritans to provide social work services to seniors aged 60 and over. Each Monday between 1:00 and 3:00 PM, a social worker from Desert Samaritans will be on hand at The Center. The mission is to ensure the financial, physical and psychological well-being of seniors in the Coachella Valley through effective social service programs. Those services include:

Advocacy on immediate challenges.
Financial aid program assistance related to healthcare, utility bills, rent, food and emergency needs.
Grocery relief for people unable to shop for themselves or pay for groceries.
Transportation for medical appointments.
Information and referrals to match requests to available community organizations and providers. (jl)

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Your local libraries

Want to catch up on all the latest magazines? Looking for some good Bogart, Hitchcock or Clooney films? Got a roommate whose company is wearing thin? Get out to your local library for awhile! It's a great place to read, write, think and escape the summer heat. Most of our local libraries have huge numbers of books, periodicals, CDs, and DVDs--all for free. Palm Springs Library is at Sunrise and Baristo. Click here for its website and hours. Click here for other Riverside County libraries (although you should call to confirm their summer hours). Many of them allow you to search and reserve books, music and videos online. It's a welcome step away from card catalog days. And remember the lending library here at D.A.P. and the inexpensive used books at Revivals. (sb)

Discounts at Revivals!

clothesale Revivals stores continue to offer 10% discounts for "seniors"--anyone over 55--every Tuesday. In addition, 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)

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

The Desert AIDS Project toll-free phone number is always available at 866.331.3344, as is the website at www.desertaidsproject.org. (jl) dogcomputer2

DAPCAN archives always available online
archive5

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? 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)

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 across the driveway, south of Desert AIDS Project, at the Palm Springs Family Care Center. 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