Wednesday, August 22, 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM    
D.A.P. Anniversary Open House and luncheon 

Wednesday, August 22, breakfast, lunch and dinner! 
Lulu 1-year anniversary celebration benefiting D.A.P. and the Art Museum!  

Lulu California Bistro has the same anniversary date as D.A.P. -  August 22!  To celebrate their first anniversary as one of Palm Springs' most vibrant new hot spots, they will donate 50% of the day's receipts to Desert AIDS Project and the Palm Springs Art Museum! D.A.P. hopes that their supporters - and those of the Palm Springs Art Museum - will visit Lulu on Wednesday, August 22 for breakfast, lunch or dinner. (jl)   

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Tuesday, September 4, 6:00 - 8:00 PM

Positive Life Series returns!   

Positive Life is on summer hiatus with no programs in July or August. The next seminar will be Tuesday, September 4, and features Dr. Jorge Rodriguez discussing the latest  in HIV treatments  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 October Positive Life Series seminar will be on Tuesday, October 2 and will feature LA physician Dr. Alex Del Rosario speaking about treatments for HIV lipodystrophy. (jl)

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Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 6:00 PM     

Les Dames Du Soleil - LAST DANCE: World Farewell Tour  

Sunday, November 4, 7:30 AM - 12:30 PM   

25th Anniversary Palm Springs AIDS Walk  

Friday, November 16, 6:00 PM    

Dancing with the Desert Stars returns!    

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.

Next HIV & Cancer Support Group meeting is Monday, August 27 at 3:30 PM   

The new peer-led HIV & Cancer Support Group will meet again on Monday, August 13, at 3:30 PM.  The group is facilitated by D.A.P. client and cancer survivor Mike Wayne.  Regular meetings are second and fourth Mondays from 3:30 to 5:00 PM, and are open to non-D.A.P. clients as well, provided they are HIV-positive. (jl)

Friday, August 24, Noon - 1:00 PM 

Community Center Presents:  

HIV & HEART DISEASE  ViiV Healthcare Luncheon

Speaker Dr. Pounders, provided by Jeff and Becky of ViiV, will discuss HIV and Heart Disease.  Lunch starts at 11:45 AM.  You can RSVP to Ray Robertson at 760.323.2118, ext. 295  or by email. (jl) 

Improve your quality of life through education!  

D.A.P. is now an approved RCHC provider!

As we reported in the March 1, 2012 issue of DAPCAN, conflicting information about Riverside County's new Low Income Health Plan (LIHP), called Riverside County Healthcare (RCHC), was causing confusion for both D.A.P. clients and staff members.  Now that D.A.P. is an approved RCHC provider:  

Palm Springs AIDS Walk and Palm Springs Pride are marching together! 

For 25 years, our supporters have been "showing the love" by joining the Palm Springs AIDS Walk, to raise much-needed funds for client services at Desert AIDS Project. In our first 24 years, the Palm Springs AIDS Walk has netted nearly $6.25 million through individual walkers who secure donation pledges from friends and family, as well as through significant sponsorships from community partnerships. This year we will make history as we walk together with Greater Palm Springs Pride along Palm Canyon honoring the AIDS Walk legacy and all of our community supporters. Palm Springs Walk is also honored to be selected to receive the inaugural 2012 Spirit of Stonewall Advocate of the Year Award from the Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade. You can register for Palm Springs AIDS Walk here. (jl)

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Who will win the mirror ball trophy at the 2nd Annual Dancing with the Desert Stars at the Renaissance Palm Springs? Come for cocktails at 6:00 PM and maybe some of the eight contestants, paired for the evening with professional dance partners, will give you a preview of their best moves before the competition begins at 7:30. With general admission seating available at only $40, tickets are sure to go fast.  VIP seating, including appetizers, is also available for $100. To buy tickets, or tables, please call 760.969.5743 or follow this link. (jl)

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Is the "Berlin Patient" no longer alone?

Two HIV-infected men are showing no traces of HIV in their blood after going through stem cell transplants similar to the one "Berlin Patient" Timothy Brown received, according to a study presented at the XIX International AIDS Conference. The study results, discussed by Daniel Kuritzkes, M.D., from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, showed a promising method of targeting the latent or hidden HIV reservoir. Read more here. (jl) 

Why your dentist needs to know about your facial fillers  

Because we don't already have enough to worry about... A Canadian study has found that the use of Bio-Alcamid as a facial filler can be associated with complications over the long term. After an average of three years following injection, about one in four people had a confirmed or suspected infection in the face. Since many of those with infections had recently had dental work, which included routine dental cleaning, researchers suspect the dental work may have damaged or contaminated the Bio-Alcamid implants with bacteria, leading to infections.  Read more here. (jl)    

Treatment-as-Prevention study demonstrates additional health benefits 

Further analyses of the landmark NIH-funded treatment-as-prevention study have found that providing antiretroviral treatment to HIV-infected individuals earlier, when their immune systems are healthier, delays AIDS-related health events, such as chronic herpes simplex virus and tuberculosis, as well as death. Additionally, researchers found that earlier HIV treatment is also cost-effective because it increases survival, prevents costly opportunistic infections and averts transmission of the virus to uninfected individuals. Read more here. (jl)   

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People with HIV fear unfair treatment in courts

Following the piece in our August 2 issue about the Iowa man initially sentenced to 25 years in prison under misguided laws created  to criminalize HIV it probably should come as no surprise that nearly half of HIV-positive respondents to a recently released survey on HIV criminalization say they believe they will not receive a fair hearing in the criminal justice system if they ever face charges for failing to disclose their status to sexual partners. The findings come from the preliminary results of a study released at the International AIDS Conference in Washington DC in late July. The results, researchers say, show HIV criminal laws have created a hostile legal environment for those living with HIV. Read more about the findings here. (jl) 

Do you have a "living with HIV" story you think the world should hear?

While D.A.P. is encouraged by all of the hopeful news about a possible vaccine for HIV or even a cure for AIDS, they know that lots of people continue to struggle on a daily basis and have personal stories worth hearing. That's why they are interested in hearing YOUR unique story ... they know that it may help other people living with HIV or AIDS. It may also help persuade others that HIV/AIDS care and support services are still worth funding.  So, consider: 

• Have you been fighting HIV or AIDS for a number of years?
• Were you told that "AIDS is a death sentence," which may have contributed to lost opportunities because living with HIV has become more manageable in recent years?
• Do you have a support group outside of D.A.P., such as family and friends that are a big part of your continued success?
• Do you have a life partner, spouse, or significant other that has stood by your side through it all?
• Do you participate in the many client services of D.A.P., including medical and dental care, food and housing assistance, counseling, support groups, the Community Center, etc.?
• What else would you like the world to know about living with HIV or AIDS?

If you feel comfortable being "out" about living with HIV ... and telling your story in front of a video camera, D.A.P. would like to hear from you! This is NOT about being an actor ... it's simply an opportunity to tell your unique story. Some of these stories would be used as video testimonials on D.A.P.'s website and YouTube channel ... or even in an upcoming public service announcement campaign. YOUR story could be the one to be featured on local TV stations! Let D.A.P. know by sending a brief email to Tellmystory@desertaidsproject.org. Please make sure to include a phone number, if you'd rather be contacted that way. Join "The Heart of D.A.P."  Tell us your story from diagnosis to today. Become an AIDS advocate and help D.A.P. continue to save lives! (jl)

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Become an AIDS advocate and take action - enlist today in POZ Army!  

For the past 30 years, AIDS advocacy has focused on the development of life-sustaining treatment. As a result, we now have more than 30 drugs to treat people living with the virus. When taken correctly, the drugs can reduce the risk of sexual transmission by up to 96%. Treatment is prevention. But of the 34 million people living with HIV worldwide, only six million currently receive treatment. The POZ Army is a global, grassroots collective of people fighting for the cure for AIDS-and treatment for all until a cure is found. The POZ Army connects you to the tools, initiatives, organizations and information you need to help end AIDS. Its aim? To finish the work started by many brave, legendary, effective activists who came before our time. Visit POZ Army and  enlist today! (jl)

More help paying for prescription medications 

Among the resources available to HIV-positive people 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)

Medically Indigent Services Program  (MISP) 

AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)

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)

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:

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