President’s Message for April

$$WE BROKE THE RECORD!!$$

Thank you to everyone that contributed to our annual auction and all of you that spent the big bucks. We made a record breaking 900 bucks! It only goes to show you that one man’s junk is another man's treasure. Not that we had any junk!!

This is always helpful at this time of the year as our cash flow gets pretty low after we start making the cruise payments. So, thanks again to all who contributed and participated.

Once again we have had some great programs for the past month. I am wondering how many people were as shocked as I was over the State of the Epidemic in Maine and New Hampshire as reported by Jay Semprebon and Mike Amichetti during the two workshops they presented for ARS.

It is inconceivable to me that in this day and age people are still get infected in alarming numbers. The highest population of sero-conversion is in men who have sex with men in the age range of 14-24!

What the hell is going on? And why isn't this information out there in the media? Perhaps it's the current administration’s "Abstinence Only" policy and the old ostrich syndrome. Stick your head in the sand and hang a sign on your ass that says we have it under control!

While the abstinence only and faith-based initiatives are being well funded, HIV/AIDS prevention programs (particularly those aimed at MSM’s) are being under-funded and in some cases NOT FUNDED AT ALL.

I don't have the answer on how we turn this trend around but I put it out there to us all to think about. Maybe someone needs to resurrect ACT UP. Maybe we all need to act up in or own ways.

I would be very interested in hearing what you all think of this state of affairs. Please feel free to write something for the newsletter with your ideas or comments. Maybe we should have a forum on this for one of our meetings.

If you have any ideas, email me, stop me at a meeting and let’s talk.

On a brighter note...we’ve had some warmer weather and maybe spring will come to New England before July this year.

Until next month, be well, be happy and be good to yourselves.

Joe