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DAPCAN
Desert AIDS Project Community Action Newsletter
October 18, 2012
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Don't forget...
You only have until Monday to
register for the November election!
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Editorial Staff
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David Brinkman
Chief Executive Officer
Barry Dayton
Director of Marketing and Communications
Alexis Ortega
Interactive Marketing
Specialist
Rick Vila
Volunteer Co-editor
John Lewis
Volunteer Co-editor
Steve Bolerjack
Volunteer Co-editor
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Election Reminder: Still Time to Register to Vote
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Down to the wire! Registering and voting is easier than ever before
 Registration and voting this year are easier than ever. If you're not registered, here's what you need to know: the deadline for voter registration is Monday, October 22. You can quickly register online and request a ballot to vote by mail. It's all quite simple. Click here for the official State of California Elections site that will provide you with all the information you'll need. Or click here for the Riverside County Registrar of Voters site. If you are confused about the ballot measures or who to vote for you might want to google your political party's website and look for a voter guide there. (sb)(jl) Back to top
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THIS Saturday, October 20, 2012, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Les Dames Du Soleil Lounge dedication and reception
See below for more information
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Sunday, October 21, 2012 at 6:00 PM
Les Dames Du Soleil - LAST DANCE: World Farewell Tour
Click here for more information. (jl)
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Friday, October 26, 12:30 PM - 1:30 PM
Meet the Providers Forum at D.A.P.
See below for more information. (jl)
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Saturday, November 3, 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM
9th Annual Food Drive
See below for more information. (jl)
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Tuesday, November 13, 6:00 - 9:00 PM - Positive Life Series
 Due to the elections on November 6, the November Positive Life program will be delayed one week to Tuesday, November 13. This will be a special town hall forum on the HIV cure, featuring "Berlin Patient" Timothy Brown, who is the only person who has been cured of HIV to date. Timothy will share his amazing story, followed by three leading HIV cure researchers talking about their work and upcoming clinical trials here in Southern California. This special program will be three hours, from 6:00 to 9:00 PM, to allow for all the presentations and a panel discussion. As always, a light supper is served at 6:00 PM and  the program begins at 6:30 PM. The location is the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center (corner of Tachevah and Via Miraleste in Palm Springs) and the event, sponsored by Jewish Family Service of the Desert, is always free. ASL translation is provided. Questions? Email positivelifeseries@gmail.com or call 760.566.6POZ (6769). Because of high expected attendance, we ask that you please RSVP for this program to guarantee that we have enough food for everyone. Plan to attend! Back to top
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Tuesday, November 16, 6:00 PM - at the Renaissance Palm Springs Hotel
 To purchase tickets, or for additional information, click here.
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D.A.P. Community Center Events
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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.
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Friday, October 19th, LUNCHEON! Noon - 1:00 PM - CANCELLED
NOTICE: THE PRESENTATION LUNCHEON FOR TOMORROW HAS BEEN CANCELLED! THE PRESENTER IS VERY ILL AND THERE IS NO ONE TO REPLACE HIM ON SUCH SHORT NOTICE. SORRY!
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 Thursday, October 25, 1:00 PM
Community Center Presents: MOVIE & PIZZA Absolutely Fabulous Absolutely Fabulous, also known as Ab Fab, is a British sitcom created by Jennifer Saunders, based on an original idea by her and Dawn French, and written by Saunders LET'S GET OUT TO A MOVIE!
Come out for a great film but please remember, doors don't open until 1:00 PM!
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Third Friday of Every Month, 1:00 - 4:00 PM
Community Center Presents: HAIRCUTS BY MITCH!
 The D.A.P. Community Center is pleased to announce free HAIRCUTS FOR CLIENTS, the third Friday of each month from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Sign up outside the Walgreen's room in the Community Center. Six slots are available--first come, first served. NO appointments or reservations taken by phone ahead of time. Please show up with clean hair.
Look your best with a clip 'n snip!
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Ongoing Client Community Center activities include:
- Support groups
- Hepatitis C therapy education
- Diabetes education
- Stitch in Time (needlecraft) - Third Wednesday of each month
- Community Center Computer Lab
- Lending Library
- Free films, Thursdays, 1:00 PM
- Afternoon tea, every Wednesday, 3:00 PM
Follow this link to see recurring activities on the Community Center Calendar.
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Les Dames Du Soleil Lounge dedication and reception
 Please join us THIS Saturday, October 20, 2012, 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM to see why clients will enjoy waiting for their appointments in the new Les Dames Du Soleil Lounge patient waiting room! The lounge, located across the hall from the medical clinic, is decorated with Les Dames portraits and memorabilia and is a testament to the always unique and understated elegance of Les Dames!(jl)
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D.A.P. to offer lunch-time Provider Forum for clients on Friday, October 26
 Desert AIDS Project and the Client Advocacy Committee invites all clients to join in a dialogue with its medical providers at its Palm Springs campus. While attendees enjoy lunch, Dr. Homayoon Khanlou, D.A.P.'s Medical Director, and others on his medical staff will speak briefly about their experience and expertise in treating HIV and AIDS. As they listen, clients will be able to anonymously write any questions or concerns they have on cards, creating discussion between clients and the panel of medical providers. Dr. Khanlou recently joined Desert AIDS Project as its new Medical Director, responsible for providing primary and HIV-specialty client care through the organization's various clinics. Dr. Khanlou comes to D.A.P. from the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) in Los Angeles where he had been employed since 1999, most recently as Medical Director and Principal Investigator. Please RSVP to Robin Johnson at 760.323.2118, ext. 229 or by email at rjohnson@desertaidsproject.org. (jl)
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Join us at Wang's in the Desert for the 9th Annual food Drive
 Join us on Saturday, November 3, (Pride weekend) from 3:00 PM - 8:00 PM at Wang's in the Desert for the 9th Annual Food Drive benefiting Desert AIDS Project. Bring your donations of non-perishable food items - canned vegetables and fruits, soups, tuna, beans, cereal, pasta, granola bars, pet food for client pets... OR, if you don't feel like shopping and schlepping groceries, just bring local grocery store gift cards and/or cash donations! Wang's will be offering $2.00 cocktail happy hour prices for the event and will be serving complimentary passed tray hors d'oeuvres! Contact Kandy Lee at 949.510.5894 with questions or for more information. (jl)
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New 100 Women Boutique to open at Revivals Palm Desert store
The "Find It Here" headline of the Revivals store advertising campaign will hold even greater hope for treasure-hunters on Thursday, November 15. That's when the Palm Desert Area  Chamber of Commerce cuts the ceremonial ribbon at 4:00 PM to mark the opening of the one-and-only 100 Women Boutique at the Revivals store in the Palm Desert Costco Center at 72750 Dinah Shore Drive. The Boutique, featuring designer women's and men's clothing, handbags, and accessories that has been either donated or consigned, is sponsored by the 100 Women giving program at Desert AIDS Project. (rv) (jl)
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St. Paul in the Desert shows support Palm Springs AIDS Walk 
On Saturday, November 3, the Church of St. Paul in the Desert is offering a worship service at 4:00 PM open to all, to honor those living with HIV or AIDS, as well as to remember all those who have died from the disease. The Rt. Rev. James Mathes, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego, will preside and preach. Members of St. Paul's congregation have walked every year since the first AIDS Walk. When they learned that the 2012 Palm Springs AIDS Walk had been moved from Saturday to Sunday, for this year only in honor of the Walk's 25th anniversary, the Rev. Andrew Green and leadership of St. Paul's decided to move the main Sunday service to Saturday. The regular Sunday worship service will still be held, but with different leaders. St. Paul is located at 125 W. El Alameda in Palm Springs. (jl)
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Men with undetectable HIV in blood may shed HIV in semen
 HIV-infected men on antiretroviral therapy sometimes still shed HIV RNA in their semen even if they have suppressed levels of HIV RNA in their blood plasma and no symptoms of other sexually transmitted diseases, according to the first-ever longitudinal study to examine the phenomenon in that population. Most of the previously available data on this topic are from cross-sectional studies with a small sample size, and concern only heterosexual men involved in medically assisted reproduction programs. Read more. (jl)
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Obesity linked to chronic non-AIDS health problems in HIV+ people
 Watching your weight may be even more important for HIV+ individuals. Many people living with HIV experience multiple health complications, or "multimorbidity," as they age, which appears to be partly driven by the rising incidence of obesity, according to a new study published online ahead of print by the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes (JAIDS). "We are in the midst of several demographic shifts among people living with HIV/AIDS, with [both] aging and obesity becoming more prevalent," David Kim, MD, of the University of Alabama (UAB) School of Medicine at Birmingham and his colleagues write. "In our analysis of HIV-infected patients, we determined both aging and obesity as risk factors for multimorbidity." Read more. (jl)
And now, some good news! Just minutes of hard exercise can lead to all-day calorie burn In a new study, researchers show that exercisers can burn as many as 200 extra calories in as little as 2.5 minutes of concentrated effort a day-as long as they intersperse longer periods of easy recovery in a practice known as sprint interval training. The finding could make exercise more manageable for would-be fitness buffs by cramming truly intense efforts into as little as 25 minutes. Read more. (jl)
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Topical version of CMV drug shows promise
 An experimental cream containing a drug used to treat a serious eye infection in people with AIDS has shown potential as a therapy for pre-cancerous genital lesions caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). The drug, Vistide (cidofovir), is approved an intravenous medication to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease of the retina, an infection that can lead to blindness and can occur in HIV-positive people with very low CD4 cell counts. Noting that Vistide is also active against HPV, which can cause pre-cancerous lesions both in and around male and female genitalia, researchers with the AIDS Malignancy Consortium (AMC) conducted a clinical trial involving 33 HIV-positive men and women with external genital lesions treated with a topical version of the drug. Read more (jl)
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CNS symptoms seen in people taking raltegravir (Isentress)
Approximately 10% of patients taking the antiretroviral drug raltegravir (Isentress) develop central nervous system (CNS) side-effects. The development of CNS side-effects was associated with the co-administration of tenofovir (Viread, also in Truvada, Atripla and Eviplera) and of proton pump inhibitors (drugs used to reduce gastric acid). The investigators believe these drugs interact with raltegravir, increasing its plasma concentrations. Raltegravir is the only integrase inhibitor so far approved for the treatment of HIV. Clinical trials conducted during the development of raltegravir showed that the drug had a good safety profile. However, some people developed CNS symptoms and there have been case reports of worsening depression and the development of insomnia in people initiating raltegravir therapy. Read more. (jl)
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It's flu shot season again
 Just a reminder that early October means it's time for your annual flu shot. Yes, it's one more thing, but there's no point in risking flu. Flu shots are available at pharmacies all over town, including Walgreens at D.A.P. and may be covered by Medicare. Click here to read more about flu and HIV. (sb) (jl)
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Palm Springs Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence 7th Annual Luminaria  Join the Palm Springs Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence on Tuesday, October 30th, 8:00 PM - midnight for an evening of remembrance for loved ones who have passed. Help them line the sidewalks of Arenas Road with luminarias of love and light. Follow this link for more information about the sisters and this link for more information on Luminaria events. (jl)
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Positive Pedalers - 2nd Annual PosPeds Phil Gondor Memorial Ride  Positive Pedalers is holding the 2nd Annual PosPeds Phil Gondor Memorial Ride on Pride Weekend here in Palm Springs. The ride is scheduled for Saturday, November 3, 2012 meeting at 7:00 AM at Koffi South, ride out at 7:30 AM. The ride will take the Whitewater Canyon route and will be about 40 miles. Contact Stefen Burchard at 760.702.0555 or at his website, http://www.stefenray.com for more information. (jl)
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POZ Life weekend seminar comes to Palm Springs November 17-18th!
The POZ Life FREE weekend seminar is a place where compassion, education, community and love is offered unconditionally. It's a place HIV+ men, women, youths and family members can come be themselves, feel comforted and supported in their effort to learn how to either live a long healthy productive POZitive lifestyle, or help someone they know and love overcome the fears associated with being HIV+. November's POZ Seminar brings Palm Springs a great line up of amazing presenters and topic's including: Drug Treatment Options, Disclosure, Sex and Intimacy, Art Therapy, "L.I.F.E.", Adherence, Complementary Therapy, Meditation for Wellness, Yoga, Communication Workshop, Support Groups, Experiential Exercises and much more! Pre-Registration is REQUIRED!! Please log onto www.TheLifeGroupLA.org for our online reservation form and we will contact you to complete your registration. Or call Sunnie Rose at 888.208.8081. Your editor has attended two POZ Life weekends and can confirm they are a re-affirming weekend seminar you will never forget! (jl)
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Take a stand against bullying: "Go purple" on October 19!
 October 19 is Spirit Day! Millions of Americans wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for LGBT youth and to speak out against bullying. Spirit Day was started in 2010 as a response to LGBT young people who had taken their own lives. Individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy--participants are asked to simply "go purple" on October 19 as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are. Click here to sign the pledge to "go purple" and for additional information. (rv)
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"Stand before the people you fear and speak your mind - even if your voice shakes."
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Ongoing Benefits & Resources
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Contact information for D.A.P.
 The Desert AIDS Project local phone number is 760.323.2118. The toll-free phone number is 866.331.3344 and the website can be found at desertaidsproject.org. (jl)
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Want your voice heard?
 Remember that the Client Advocacy Committee (C.A.C.) meets on the second Tuesday of every month and meetings are open to any D.A.P. client. The C.A.C. acts as liaison between D.A.P. and clients' interests and needs, giving them a voice in planning and provision of programs and services. For more information, email clientcom@desertaidsproject.org; or, to add your input on an issue, fill out the comment form on the D.A.P. website. (sb)
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Desert AIDS Project holiday closings for 2012/2013
 2012
November 22-23 - Thanksgiving
December 24-25 - Christmas
2013
January 1 - New Year's Day
January 21 - MLK Jr. Day
February 18 - Presidents' Day
April 1 - Cesar Chavez Day
May 27 - Memorial Day
July 4 - Independence Day
September 2 - Labor Day
October 14 - Columbus Day
November 11 - Veteran's Day
November 28-29 - Thanksgiving
December 25 - Christmas Day
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Help with Medicare
The State Health Insurance  Assistance Program (SHIP) offers one-on-one counseling and assistance to people with Medicare and their families. This includes information about original Medicare, Medicare Health Plans, Medicare Prescription Drug Plans, Medicare Supplemental policies and Long Term Care Insurance. The California Department of Aging (CDA) is responsible for statewide administration of SHIP, which is delivered through the Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program (HICAP). HICAP services can be accessed via a toll-free line at 800.434.0222. The local HICAP office is located in Riverside and the phone number is 951.241.8723. Follow this link for more information. (jl) (sb)
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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 www.needymeds.org, 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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DAPCAN archives always available online
 Need another look at something you read in DAPCAN? You can find past issues online by clicking this link. As always, you can also read the most current edition of DAPCAN on the D.A.P. website at www.desertaidsproject.org/newsletter. And we've recently updated these links to ensure that the very latest issues of DAPCAN are always available. (jl) |
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Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP)
AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP)
**Our quarterly reminder: remember that your annual meeting and paperwork to continue with ADAP is scheduled around the time of your birthday. Call for an appointment well in advance (we recommend six to eight weeks) to avoid long waits and gaps in drug coverage!
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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Riverside County Healthcare System (RCHC)
 If you are a member of RCHC, you know that D.A.P. recently negotiated a contract with it to become an in-network provider for medical care. Since then, D.A.P. Medical Case Managers have worked to reduce barriers transitioning to this health plan, in switching your provider assignment to D.A.P.'s HIV Health Center and linking you to RCHC benefits.
If you have questions or difficulties in linking to care at D.A.P. through RCHC, contact your Medical Case Manager, who may advise you on navigating the system. Be aware, however, that D.A.P. has no jurisdiction over RCHC operations and that you may need to deal with RCHC directly. If you continue to face barriers or have concerns about RCHC's service provisions, call the following numbers to file a grievance: 888-860-1303 or 1-888-860-1304 (TTY/TDD). You can also mail the grievance to:
Riverside County HealthCare
PO Box 8957
Moreno Valley CA 92555-8957
RCHC Website: http://riversidecountyhealthcare.org
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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)
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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)
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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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Additional Contacts/Social Networking
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