.
ActionLink
an interactive source for social change
September 2004/Issue 2
action for social change through public policy research, advocacy and community education
In This Issue
 Online with the ED
 HIV/AIDS in an
Election Year –
AIDSVote.org
 Department Updates
 Public Policy Research &
Advocacy
 Community Education
 Volunteer Opportunities
 Current Activities
 Paradise is Calling
 News, Events &
Happenings
Online with the ED
~ by Dr. Gene Copello, Executive Director, The AIDS Institute
This is an important time for AIDS advocacy. Election season is upon us.
Local, state and national elections will be taking place that will impact
healthcare policy. The AIDS Institute believes it is critical that all candidates
understand the seriousness of the AIDS pandemic – in their communities, the
nation and the world. The role government plays in AIDS prevention,
treatment and research is central to our ability to address this public health
crisis. To that end, we encourage ActionLink readers to inform all candidates
of the need for increased government funding for, and coordination of, AIDS
programs and services. Those aspiring to elected offices need to hear from all
of us about the impact of AIDS.
Likewise, the federal appropriations season is upon us. Another reason why
this is an important time for AIDS advocacy. Congress will be returning from
its summer recess after Labor Day. The new federal fiscal year will begin on
October 1st. Thus, September is a crucial time to contact your two federal
Senators and your member of the House of Representatives. Explain to
them how AIDS has impacted your local community and how
important federally funded AIDS programs are to your area. Also, remind
them of the importance of funding from the United States for global AIDS
programs. We need to encourage members of Congress to fund all AIDS
programs at the highest possible levels. If you need to identify your members
of Congress or need their contact information, go to Congress.org.
The AIDS Institute is here to assist you with questions you may have about
talking with congressional offices. Write us at info@theaidsinstitute.org.
Link-up to Learn
More about TAI
Current Issues
History & Programs
Become Involved
Support Our Work
Volunteer
Events
I hope you find this issue of ActionLink informative and helpful. Thank you for
being part of our readership and part of our mission to promote social change
through public policy research, advocacy, and community education.
HIV/AIDS in an Election Year – AIDSVote.org
Wondering how to vote in the upcoming November elections? Confused about
what your non-profit can legally due to educate communities during an
election year without crossing “the line”?
Then you need to visit AIDSVote.org. Part of an extensive voter education
and issue advocacy campaign endorsed by more than 200 of the nation’s
leading HIV/AIDS organizations, AIDSVote.org features breaking news,
information on the candidates, as well as tips on non-profit advocacy.
The site provides detailed profiles describing President George W. Bush's and
Senator John Kerry's public records on HIV/AIDS issues, including their
actions and positions on global AIDS, Medicaid, the Ryan White CARE Act, HIV
The AIDS Institute is a
national nonprofit
organization affiliated
with the Division of
Infectious Diseases,
University of South
Florida, College of
Medicine.
prevention and education, research, housing, public benefits, immigration and
the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
These profiles, which you can read online by clicking “The Candidates” in the
navigation bar at the top of the AIDSVote.org home page, are part of a
campaign to make AIDS a defining issue in
this year’s upcoming November election.
Moreover, AIDSVote.org has teamed up
with the Alliance for Justice to help you
and your non-profit organization make the
most of your advocacy efforts. According
to Dr. Copello, “We all know that nonprofits play key roles in educating both
elected officials and voters on vital issues, so it’s crucial that we all
understand how to carry out safe and legal advocacy during an election year.”
As noted on the AIDSVote.org website, federal law allows all tax-exempt,
501(c)(3) organizations to engage in election-related activities
including voter education, voter registration, get-out-the-vote, and
candidate education.
TAI’s HOT Link
However, these activities must be nonpartisan and directed to all
candidates from all parties. Tax-exempt organizations may not link
their efforts to a specific party nor endorse candidates.
(this issue’s website/page to
visit):
For more information on allowable non-profit advocacy, you can visit the
Alliance for Justice website. Or, visit the AIDSVote.org website and
download materials.
Gill Foundation & the
Democracy Project
To become involved in AIDS advocacy work, please contact The AIDS
Institute at Info@theaidsinstitute.org, or call 813-974-2598.
Public Policy Research & Advocacy
Global News…
Politics vs. Humanity – The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and
Malaria is at risk of not receiving $120 million in matching US funds due to a
US law requiring our nation’s contributions not exceed more than 1/3rd of the
Fund’s total budget. The Administration has granted a six week extension to
the Global Fund in an effort to help them secure pledged monies from other
contributor nations.
"There is no such thing as
absolute value in this
world. You can only
estimate what a thing is
worth to you." ~Charles
Dudley Warner
The Administration has said that funds not committed to the Global Fund by
the new September 31 deadline would still be used for global HIV purposes.
However, activists are concerned about this because the Global Fund's
guidelines for use of the money by Fund recipients allow for greater local
control while current US global policies are more limiting.
Congress has allocated $547 million for the Global Fund this year, dependent
upon $1.11 billion in contributions from other countries. According the Global
Fund’s website:
Since 2001, the Global Fund has attracted $4.7 billion in financing
through 2008. In its first two rounds of grant-making, it has committed
$1.5 billion in funding to support 154 programs in 93 countries worldwide.
Additionally, Drew McCarthy, Director of Global Affairs, has held recent
meetings with the Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS, Global
Health Council, the Global AIDS Alliance and the National Alliance of State
and Territorial AIDS Directors (NASTAD), among other non-governmental
KEEP ADVOCACY ALIVE –
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organizations (NGOs), working on the global HIV epidemic. These meetings
have focused on potential ways that The AIDS Institute and the other NGOs
can work on increasing local community involvement in the global battle
against HIV. Additionally, TAI has met with officials from the government of
Mexico's AIDS programs, USAID, as well as several private organizations that
are interested in advancing public-private partnerships in the battle against
HIV/AIDS in the developing world.
National News…
Board Bio…
This month we focus on
TAI Board Member
Deloris Dockrey
Deloris Dockrey joined the
Board of Directors of The AIDS
Institute this year. Deloris
serves as the Executive
Director of the Ryan White
CARE Act Title I EMA Health
Services Planning Council in
Newark, New Jersey. A native
of Jamaica, Deloris holds a
Masters of Public Health
degree and has been active in
national and global HIV
advocacy efforts. She has
served as an officer on the
CAEAR Coalition Board of
Directors and currently serves
as an officer on the Board of
Directors of the Global
Network of People Living with
HIV/AIDS North America
(GNP+NA).
Join Our Grassroots
Advocacy Program!
Statement of Principles – On August 10, 2004, The AIDS Institute made
public its Statement of Principles in anticipation of the 2005
reauthorization of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency
(CARE) Act. This document is the result of dedicated work by TAI’s Board and
staff and outlines the philosophy by which The AIDS Institute believes the
CARE Act should be reauthorized. The document states that: “Until there is a
cure, we must ensure that no person infected with HIV/AIDS suffers
needlessly. We must strive to create and maintain a government response to
this disease that is competent, consistent, and fair. Human dignity deserves
no less.”
The Statement of Principles overwhelmingly supports recommendations
proposed by the Institute of Medicine (IOM)’s report entitled “Public Financing
and Delivery of HIV Care, Securing the Legacy of Ryan White”. The IOM
report recommends, among other things, an entitlement program specifically
designed to address the needs of individuals living with HIV and AIDS. A
more detailed paper based on these principles is anticipated to be completed
in the fall.
Ryan White CARE Act Reauthorization Meeting – The AIDS Institute and
American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM) hosted the Ryan White
Reauthorization Workgroup meeting of the Federal AIDS Policy Partnership on
August 11, 2004, in Washington, DC. A number of national and local groups
attended to discuss reauthorization. The meeting was held to enable national
AIDS organizations to find common working ground for the upcoming
reauthorization process. There were discussions on strategy and
communications, and individual organizations presented for the first time
their guiding principles for the 2005 reauthorization bill. Amanda Shall,
Assistant Director of Policy Research, and Director of Federal Affairs Carl
Schmid presented TAI’s “Statement of Principles” at this meeting. The
Workgroup will continue to meet via conference call on a monthly basis.
Housing Cuts – The House Appropriations Sub Committee approved the FY
2005 VA-HUD funding bill on July 22, 2004. This bill represents a $1.5 billion
dollar increase over the President's request for HUD's Section 8 program. This
increase comes at a tremendous price. The revenue to fund this bill will come
from other HUD programs rather than new dollars injected into an already
burdened system. The following are the cuts to HUD's FY 2005 budget below
the FY 2004 levels*:
 Housing Opportunities for persons with AIDS, cut by $13 million
 Public Housing Operating Fund, cut by $154 million
 HOME Program, cut by $86 million
 Homeless Assistance Grants, cut by $54 million
 Housing for the elderly, cut by over $32 million
 Housing for persons with disabilities, cut by $11 million
*(Figures provided by the National Policy and Advocacy Council on
Homelessness)
The recommended cut of $13 million for the Housing Opportunities for
Persons with AIDS program (HOPWA) represents the first cut in the program's
Meet the TAI Team
Dr. Gene Copello, Executive
Director, 813-974-2598
Markus Bell, Public Policy
Associate, 850-656-2437, ext. 300
Jesse Fry, Director of
Government Affairs and
Advocacy, 850-222-9580
Mary Ann T. Green, Director of
Communications, 813-974-4892
Drew McCarthy, Director of
Global Affairs, 202-746-5221
Denise Ruppal, Director of
Finance, 813-974-2598
Michael Ruppal, Associate
Executive Director, 813-974-2598
Michelle Scavnicky, Director of
Community Education, 813-9747958
Amanda Diers Schall, Assistant
Director of Policy Research, 813974-2838
Carl Schmid, Director of Federal
Affairs, 202-299-9430
Frederick Wright, Volunteer
Coordinator, 813-974-5592
For more information,
visit us online at
theaidsinstitute.org
history. This is not simply an issue of federal budget constraints and
economic forces. The recommended cuts will put the health and lives of
thousands of people with HIV/AIDS at great risk by preventing them from
attaining stable, affordable and lifesaving housing. People living with
HIV/AIDS have an increased risk of homelessness due to increased housing
costs, high cost of medical care and complex employment issues.
Action Needed! Call your members of Congress and Senators. Tell them to
oppose any funding cuts to HOPWA and other critical, low income housing
programs. Please remind them that for people living with HIV/AIDS, access to
safe, affordable housing is a matter of life and death.
House Appropriation Increases Fall Short on Domestic AIDS Front –
The House Appropriations Committee has proposed minimal increases for
most domestic AIDS programs for FY2005. In fact, all Ryan White CARE Act
programs, except for ADAP, were flat funded yet again. Under the House bill,
ADAP would receive an increase of $55 million over last year’s Congressional
allocation and although much needed and appreciated, even that dollar
amount falls well below the $217 million needed level. Total Ryan White CARE
Act funding would be nearly $2.1 billion in FY2005.
Over at the CDC, HIV, STD, and TB programs would see an increase of $7
million, for a total of $1.15 billion, a number much less than the community’s
request of $1.7 billion. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) received a
substantial increase of $500 million, for a total of $28.5 billion. Also receiving
an increase – abstinence only programs. While the $35 million increase was
much less than the President requested, TAI joins other AIDS advocates
believing that the money could have been more wisely spent on scientificallybased prevention programs.
The full House of Representatives is slated to take up the Labor, HHS, and
Education appropriation bill sometime in September. The Senate has not yet
marked up their version of the bill in Subcommittee. With only a couple of
weeks left in September before Congress is scheduled to recess, it’s
questionable when a final appropriation bill will be attained.
Advocates Unite in Support of IOM Recommendations for AIDS –
Nearly 30 national and regional AIDS organizations signed a joint letter in
support of the recommendations of the Institute of Medicine’s report, Public
Financing and Delivery of HIV Care, Securing the Legacy of Ryan White,
which determined that a new federal entitlement is required to adequately
address the complex, ever-evolving health care crisis caused by HIV/AIDS.
The letter read, in part, “A population-wide HIV health care delivery system
for low-income Americans… will be comprehensive, dependable, and flexible.
It will ensure early and comprehensive access to the range of essential care
and treatment services necessary to maintain health for people with
HIV/AIDS. It will include access to medical, mental health and substance
abuse services, a comprehensive formulary of HIV medications, and
coordinated case management. It will guarantee that once treatment is
started, it will be available as long as a patient requires it. It will be able to
respond rapidly to the evolving epidemiology of HIV disease, clinical
challenges and treatment advances.”
Implementation of Medicare Modernization Act Has Great Impact on
Delivery of AIDS Drugs – As CMS works on implementation of the Medicare
Modernization Act, AIDS advocates, including The AIDS Institute, are
weighing in with decision makers to ensure that those living with AIDS who
will depend on Medicare to pay for their medications will have access to these
medicines. On August 3rd, CMS published its draft regulations for
implementation and while we were pleased that some of our concerns were
addressed, we regret that many others were not.
Of utmost concern is the development of the drug formularies and our desire
that each plan incorporate all medically necessary medications to treat HIV,
as outlined in the federal Public Health Service guidelines. The AIDS Institute
participated in an August 27th public meeting on the development of the
guidelines for drug categories and classes in Baltimore, MD. Additionally, The
AIDS Institute will submit written comments on the proposed Medicare
regulations, which are due October 4th.
“If you ask me what I
came to do in this world…
I am here to live out
loud.” ~ Emile Zola
Additional concerns may require legislative changes, such as how those
currently eligible for both Medicaid and Medicare would be forced to drop their
Medicaid coverage and the role of ADAPs in filling in the so called “doughnut
hole”.
TAI Urges Both Party Platforms to Address HIV/AIDS – The AIDS
Institute submitted comments to both Party Platform Committees and asked
them to include language in their platforms to address both the global and
domestic AIDS epidemic.
REGISTER TO VOTE:
www.beavoter.org
Rock The Vote
TurnOut Florida
Your Vote Matters
Learn more about where
Presidential candidates
stand on HIV/AIDS related
issues by visiting:
www.aidsvote.org
AIDS Institute Director of Federal Affairs Carl Schmid met with the Platform
Committee’s Executive Director Ann Phelps to discuss HIV/AIDS issues and
attended the Republican Platform proceedings in New York City.
Additionally, our Tallahassee staff, Markus and Jesse, attended the DNC
Platform Committee Meetings in Hollywood, FL, and discussed our platform
committee recommendations with committee members on-site.
Speaking of the election, to learn more about voter registration deadlines in
your state, and to register to vote, visit Your Vote Matters, or Be A Voter.
TAI Urges CDC Not to Curtail HIV Prevention Content – TAI recently
submitted comments to the CDC on its proposed HIV content guidelines for
both the community and school-based settings. In our comments, TAI noted
that the agency supports the CDC’s goal to evaluate and update the HIV
prevention education materials review process, but we’re concerned that
“some of the proposed changes would be detrimental and counterproductive
to the goals and objectives of a comprehensive prevention initiative.”
For example, the CDC is now asking that website materials related to HIV
prevention under go a review. It’s unclear if the new guidelines would apply
to all of the HIV prevention related content on a website or just those funded
by the CDC. While TAI supports the inclusion of website materials in the CDC
review process, we do not support the restrictions and oversight of prevention
materials that are not CDC funded.
Also, the agency took exception to the creation of a new layer of review by
the State Health Departments that we feel “would create additional,
duplicative and unnecessary steps.... adding layers of additional responsibility
that may be beyond the capacity of current systems...”
Regional Roundup…
The AIDS Institute
raising awareness
removing barriers
www.theaidsinstitute.org
Pfizer Foundation Supports the South – The Pfizer Foundation has
committed three million dollars over three years, beginning in 2003, to
support a highly targeted domestic HIV/AIDS grant making initiative called
the Southern HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative. The initiative will support
culturally appropriate prevention programs targeting multicultural
communities in the following nine Southern states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia,
Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
The initiative is designed to respond to the changing HIV/AIDS epidemic in
the United States, which is disproportionately affecting the Southern region.
Only 36% of the U.S. population lives in the South, but 40% of all people
living with AIDS live in the region and 46% of newly identified cases are from
the South. While the incidence of AIDS has increased in the South in recent
years, in other regions of the country it has either remained constant or
decreased.
ActionLink
Editor:
Mary Ann T. Green
mgreen@theaidsinstitute.org
813-974-4892
Contributors:
Dr. Gene Copello
Paul Feldman
Jesse Fry
Drew McCarthy
Michael Ruppal
Michelle Scavnicky
Amanda Schall
Program Priorities are:
· Grantees have a primary mission to provide HIV/AIDS services (prevention,
treatment or support services).
· Priority was given to small to mid-size organizations that have a
demonstrated track record of demonstrating culturally appropriate
approaches to prevent HIV/AIDS in underserved communities that are
disproportionately vulnerable to HIV/AIDS.
· Additional priority was given to programs that focus on HIV/AIDS education
and prevention, either primary (among non-HIV positive individuals) or
secondary (from HIV positive individuals to others).
More than 400 organizations submitted letters of interest for the Southern
HIV/AIDS Prevention Initiative.
Sixty-three organizations submitted full proposals and were invited to
participate in the annual conference and networking opportunity for the
initiative held the first week of June in Atlanta. Pfizer provided a tremendous
opportunity for dialog among all of the applicants, guest speakers and Pfizer
representatives. The forward thinking of the foundation went well beyond the
constraints of an average conference and brought together all the
organizations that submitted full proposals, not just those that were chosen
to be funded.
Florida Update…
Carl Schmid
Frederick Wright
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sponsorship opportunities,
please call 813-974-4892,
or email:
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Fighting Medicaid Cuts – The AIDS Institute is co-sponsoring a session
entitled “Fighting Medicaid Cuts: A Strategic Planning and Advocacy Training,”
with The Treatment Access Expansion Project (TAEP) and the National Mental
Health Association (NMHA), on September 28-29, 2004, at the Rosen Plaza
Hotel in Orlando, Florida. This invitation-only training session will bring
together leading AIDS advocates and Mental Health advocates from across
the State of Florida to discuss the current and future status of Florida’s
Medicaid program as it impacts those suffering from AIDS and those with
mental health illnesses.
Election Year Opportunities - Over 100 of the 160 state legislators are in
their home districts now, campaigning for reelection, running for a different
chamber seat, or running for Congress. This is a great time to call or visit
with members or their staff, right in your hometown. If you need assistance
locating a state legislator’s district office closest to you, have your 9-digit ZIP
Code handy and go to www.vote-smart.org. If you need help with
supportive information on issues, please contact Jesse at
jfry@theaidsinstitute.org, or call (850) 222-9580.
Talk to all of your state legislators at once! – Sounds too good to be
true, doesn’t it? But it’s easy and The AIDS Institute is making it even easier.
This Fall and in early 2005, your legislators meet by county and it’s one of the
best ways for Floridians to educate legislators about HIV/AIDS and impact the
legislative and budget making processes. TAI’s Tallahassee staff (Jesse Fry
and Markus Bell) stand at the ready to assist you with fact gathering, framing
testimony, securing a place on the public hearing agenda and providing
details about meeting places, dates and times. If you’d like to speak at one of
your county’s upcoming Legislative Delegation meetings, please contact
Markus at mbell@theaidsinstitute.org or call (850) 646-2437, ext. 300.
Volunteer Spotlight
Youth Advocacy – Planning continues for TAI’s youth advocacy program for
high school and college-age advocates organizing efforts around prevention
As Volunteer Coordinator for
The AIDS Institute, I would
like to spotlight two of our
long time volunteers.
First, a registered nurse/
clinical nurse specialist that
has found time to donate
numerous hours of volunteer
time to The AIDS Institute
during the last two years.
JoAnn Green, who has a
Masters of Science in Nursing,
is one of our most beloved
volunteers at TAI.
Likewise, we’d like to
recognize Marion J. Riggs, a
graduate student in
Biomathematics at the
University of South Florida
(USF) who has also donated
numerous hours of volunteer
time to The AIDS Institute and
has become a very effective
AIDS advocate helping in the
Global AIDS arena.
On behalf of The AIDS
Institute, I like would like to
thank both of these
outstanding community
leaders for the selfless giving
of their time and talent to our
community and The AIDS
Institute.
To learn more about
volunteering with The AIDS
Institute, contact Frederick
Wright at 813-334-6959.
and treatment education. If you know a community oriented young person or
youth group that wants to join in, contact Markus at
mbell@theaidsinstitute.org, or call (850) 646-2437, ext. 300.
Public Policy Research & Ethics…
The Center staff is busy gearing up for the next exciting months! We are
proud to announce that Ms. Jeanne Piard will be joining our staff in
September 2004 as a Research Associate. Piard comes to us with both a
professional and personal commitment to HIV/AIDS issues. Piard is a
graduate student in Public Health with the University of South Florida. Please
join us in welcoming Jeanne to the TAI team!
The Center is currently working on a case management study focused on the
Ryan White CARE system as well as AIDS specific Medicaid case
management. TAI staff are currently forming advisory bodies and beginning
the formative stages of the data gathering tools.
The Center staff has recently been accepted as presenters at the 2004 United
States Conference on AIDS in Philadelphia, PA, to be held in October. The
session, entitled, “Cost Containment Methods in Ryan White Title II Care
Systems”, is based on our study completed in early 2004. Staff will be
presenting during Session 6: Sunday, October 24, 9:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Community Education
Staff recently assisted the Florida Department of Health with conducting two
statewide meetings. The ADAP statewide conference, held in Fort Lauderdale,
Florida, on August 4 & 5, 2004, brought together 150 people while the
Prevention Planning Group Meeting, held in Orlando, Florida, on August 12 &
13, 2004, featured forty-five attendees.
TAI will sponsor the Substance Abuse Consultation follow-up meeting, which
will take place on September 30 & October 1, 2004. This by-invitation-only
meeting will be held at the Hilton Tampa Westshore Hotel, Florida. Due to the
invitation-only nature of this consultation, please contact
Mscavnicky@theaidsinstitute.org for more information.
Several TAI staff attended the Ryan White CARE Act 2004 Grantee
Conference in Washington, DC, in the month of August. The agency was
represented in the exhibit hall and distributed agency brochures as well as
technical assistance materials to attendees of the conference.
TAI, in partnership with Gilead Sciences, Inc., co-sponsored a PLWH
Community Education Dinner Program on August 18, 2004, in Tampa, Florida.
The dinner was held at Landry’s Seafood and twenty-two people were in
attendance, including consumers, case managers, providers and other
community representatives. Presentations included “Improving Antiretroviral
Adherence” and “HIV/AIDS Public Policy & Advocacy Issues Today”.
Additionally, The AIDS Institute has recently been awarded a two-year
grant by a consortium of private foundations: The National AIDS Fund, Levi
Strauss Foundation and TIDES Foundation. TAI will be evaluating current
barriers to syringe access in Florida, coordinating a series of statewide
community forums, measuring the current knowledge and attitudes around
syringe access programs and educating the policy makers on the public health
benefits of syringe access programs.
Moreover, The Department of Community Education is collaborating with
Peter Ralin of Denver, Colorado, in hosting several consumer focus groups.
The intent of the focus groups is to provide consumer input into the 2005
Ryan White Care Act Reauthorization process.
TAI will also be providing Physician Advocacy Education programs in
Washington, DC, in the fall of 2004. Additionally, staff is working with area
sponsors to provide Physician Advocacy Education programs in California.
The AIDS Institute
For more information on Community Education programs, please contact TAI
at 813-974-7958, or Mscavnicky@theaidsinstitute.org.
action for social change
800 779 4898
theaidsinstitute.org
Volunteer Opportunities
TAI has numerous exciting opportunities for volunteers throughout Florida
and across the nation! Contact our Volunteer Coordinator at
Fwright@theaidsinstitute.org, or by phone at 813-334-6959, for details on
the following volunteer opportunities:
~ Administrative tasks at our various locations
~ Advocacy on behalf of persons living with HIV/AIDS
~ Community Education outreach and preparing for various meetings
~ Events from fundraisers to TAI forums
Current Activities
TAI joins national election efforts through the agency’s 4x4 Initiative. A
volunteer-based effort designed to compliment the national voter campaigns.
Packets, including voter registration forms, are available. Download a 4x4
flyer today!
Don’t forget, you can shape the future on local, state, national and global
levels – register to vote today: Your Vote Matters!
Pardise is Calling
SPACE IS LIMITED – send in your deposit today to enjoy a 7-day West
Caribbean Cruise May 22–29, 2005. Ports of call include: Georgetown, Grand
Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; and Belize City, Belize.
Carnival has agreed to hold reservations for a deposit of $50.00 per person.
Rates* for this exotic excursion are:
Inside $699/person (with taxes & contribution: $791.90/person)
Ocean view $849/person (with taxes & contribution: $941.90/person)
Balcony $999/person (with taxes & contribution: $1091.90/person)
* Prices per person based on double occupancy and include port charges.
Government taxes and a tax-deductible $40 contribution to The AIDS
Institute, which the Carnival cruise line will match, are additional.
Reserve your cabin today: call 1-800-237-4070 or email
travel@travelbeyond.net. Please be sure to mention that you want to
participate in The AIDS Institute’s cruise!
News, Events & Happenings
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Dine Out to Make a Difference! The AIDS Institute (TAI) and Metropolitan
Charities, Inc. (MCI) are pleased to announce a joint fundraiser set for
Thursday, November 4, 2004, at venues throughout Tampa Bay: Feast for
Life – Dine Out to Make a Difference.
This simply delicious concept features TAI and Metro partnering with cafes,
bagel shops, independent food establishments, restaurants, restaurant chains
and media outlets across Tampa Bay as part of a fundraising event on
Thursday, November 4. On this day, patrons dine at participating/sponsoring
restaurants knowing proceeds from their meals will benefit the two AIDS
organizations, helping provide programs, services and advocacy for some
100,000 Floridians living with HIV/AIDS.
TAI is partnering with MCI, a Tampa Bay nonprofit AIDS service organization,
in an effort to raise both HIV/AIDS awareness and funds. To learn more about
becoming a participating Feast for Life restaurant and for additional
sponsorship opportunities, please contact The AIDS Institute at 813-9744892, or via email at Mgreen@theaidsinstitute.org
Staying Alive! September 10-12, 2004, Atlanta, GA. The National
Positive Leadership Summit and Survival Training for People Living with HIV
and AIDS. Staying Alive is the only national leadership summit organized
specifically by and for people living with HIV and AIDS. For more information,
contact the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA).
National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, Friday, October 15th. TAI is
pleased to join dedicated organizations across the United States in
encouraging Latinos to learn more about HIV/AIDS, treatment and care
options. To learn more about National Latino AIDS Awareness Day: El
VIH No Tiene Fronteras/HIV Has No Borders visit NLAAD online at:
www.latinoaids.org/nlaad
8th Annual United States Conference on AIDS (USCA) October 21- 24,
2004, Philadelphia, PA. Join more than 3,000 service providers, people
living with HIV/AIDS, policymakers, public officials, funders and other leaders
for the largest AIDS-related gathering in the United States and explore the
latest tools and solutions for the challenges posed by HIV/AIDS. For more
information contact the National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC).
NEWS FLASH…
In early August, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
announced the agency’s approval of two new combination HIV medications:
~ Truvada – a one-tablet, once-a-day fixed dosed co-formulation of Viread
and Emtriva approved as part of HIV combination therapy. For more
information, please contact Gilead Sciences, Inc. at www.gilead.com.
~ Epzicom – combines Epivir and Ziagen in a once-a-day, one tablet dose
medication for use in combination with other antiretroviral medications. For
more information, contact GlaxoSmithKline at www.treathiv.com.