Positive Living Society of British Columbia (Formally BCPWA)

THE JOKE'S ON YOU! P24 ANTIGEN TESTING IN BC Differences in quantified and unquantified p24 antigen testing, call for Ministry of Health to fund quantified testing; WALK FOR LIFE '90 ONE OF SIX WALKS IN NORTH AMERICA SEPTEMBER 30TH Report on walkathons in North America; BOARD ACTIVE Report from the chair of the board on Walk for Life '90, the Evaluation project which is coming to a close, and national and international issues; AIDS TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS: FLUCONAZOLE NOW AVAILABLE FOR TREATMENT OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS. ddI WORKS. CANADIAN COMPANY TO MANUFACTURE SALK AIDS VACCINE. PNEUMONIA AND FLU VACCINATION--GET YOURS NOW!; WOMEN AT RISK A CONCERNED DOCTOR WRITES Open letter to physicians on the special and unique problems of women with HIV infection; QUANTIFIED P24 ANTIGEN, BETA2 MICROGLOBULIN AND NEOPTERIN TESTING Information packs and instructions on how to obtain testing; MOOOO! Performing group from Squares Across the Border forms and 'adopts' the PWA Society. The Cowbelles combine a love of performing with a penchant for outrageous costumes to raise money for the Society; CALENDAR; ONGOING EVENTS; FANTASTIC HEALTH Information on nutritional and other supplements; EFFORT Personal reflection; THOUGHTS ALONG THE WAY I Poetry; CARE FOR CAREGIVERS Support group forms for HIV staff members of St. Paul's Hospital; HOW TO STAY WELL (OR GET BETTER) Helpful hints from Steven James' Surviving and Thriving with AIDS; TO ARMS! The benefits of hugs; KUDOS OF THE MONTH; DAVID LEWIS 1951 - 1990; THOUGHTS ALONG THE WAY II Poetry; BRIAN Poetry; LIBRARY READY Reclassification project is completed; REGISTER NOW FOR CARE AT HOME Information on Home Support Services and Home Care Nursing; A PWA PROJECT BOOK Putting a human face on AIDS project seeks contributions of stories and photos; PEER COUNSELLORS ON DUTY! Volunteer PWA members living with HIV and AIDS available to talk about any concern; HELPLINE Volunteers needed; NOTICEBOARD;

WELCOME TO CANADA! PWAs GRANTED ENTRY FOR GAMES During Gay Games III, there will be a "window" period during which short term visitors with HIV/AIDS may enter Canada without hassle, PWA Society working to make this easing of travel restrictions permanent; BOARD SECRETARY'S REPORT Board considering ceding its Advocacy/Activism role to ACT UP Vancouver; A NEW VISION Report from the Chair of the Society clarifying its position on Euthanasia, discussing the ramifications of the formation of a Vancouver chapter of ACT UP, discussing the program review underway and the many changes in the organization. Call for input, volunteers; S.F. CONFERENCE An Activist Reports; PWA EVALUATION PROJECT continues. Call for focus group participation; ADVOCACY COMMITTEE The Board is considering changes to allow it to work with and adapt to the formation of ACT UP Vancouver. The Advocacy Committee is dealing with mounting complaints of discrimination but seeing little resolution, which a more aggressive ACT UP may be able to resolve; AIDS TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS RESEARCH NEWS. AZT EARLIER IS BETTER. PCP PROPHYLAXIS.EARLIER IS BETTER? HYPERTHERMIA. HOPE OR HYPE? ORAL ALPHA-INTERFERON UPDATE; KIND ENOUGH AND BRAVE ENOUGH Letter to the editor re assisted suicide; NEW PHONE LINE FOR WOMEN WITH AIDS/HIV The Vancouver Women and AIDS Network announce twice-monthly confidential drop-in and information phone line for HIV positive women; HAVE FREEDOM WILL TRAVEL Report from the International Conference for PWA/HIVs in Madrid, discussing human rights and HIV and travel in particular; ddI MEMBER QUESTIONNAIRE Members taking ddI are reminded that we are surveying the side effects of ddI and other issues related to ddI; FESTIVE! Fundraiser announcement; WRITE FOR THE NEWSLETTER Draft guidelines for submissions; EUTHANASIA FORUM Monthly Medical Forum; NATIONAL AIDS STRATEGY ANNOUNCED The Federal Minister of Health, Perrin Beatty, announced the much delayed national strategy on AIDS but no new money or programs; CALENDAR; ONGOING EVENTS; SUNLIGHT HARMFUL TO PWAs? Research report; TOSS 'EM What's Lurking in YOUR Medicine Cabinet? Move your medications from the bathroom to a dry, cool place; EAT WELL Food Remedies to Common Problems for PWAs; A LETTER FROM PAT Information on the Palliative Care Unit at St. Paul's Hospital; SUPPORT GROUP For Lesbians and Gays with a Disability. Call the BC Coalition of the Disabled for more information; INTERVIEWEE Call for study participants; JUST A REMINDER: Because That's What Friends are For! II Information and reflection on AIDS Vancouver's Buddy Program; FRIDAY AFTERNOON FESTS!! Good Times are Back!; THOUGHTS ALONG THE WAY Falling Out of Victim Consciousness. Personal reflection; LEATHER STAR grants realistic wishes of terminal PWAs; LONGTIME COMPANION Movie review; REMEMBRANCE OF VALENTINE'S DAY Poetry; THE LAST CANTO II Poetry; ROGER J. BOURQUE June 1945 - July 1990; COMPLEMENTARY TICKETS PROCEDURES; ATTENTION PWA ARTISTS! Walk for Life '90 committee is in dire need of graphic ideas, suggestions and submissions for posters and brochures; BAR-B-Q! Farwell to David Lewis who is retiring from the PWA Society to take up a position with ACT UP; HELPLINE; NOTICEBOARD; LET'S GO! MOVIE NIGHT FRIDAYS; WALK FOR LIFE '90 Fundraiser announcement, call for volunteers;

WE FINALLY DID IT! The Vancouver Persons with AIDS Society moves into its own offices at 1447 Hornby Street, Second Floor; BC AIDS STRATEGY ESSENTIAL The Vancouver Persons with AIDS Society welcomes the announcement today by the BC Minister of Health, John Jansen, initiating a consultation process to develop a Provincial AIDS Strategy; OFFICE WARMING You are invited to celebrate the Vancouver PWA Society's move to new premises! SMOOTH MOVE Thank You Volunteers Thanks to the volunteers who renovated and moved the Society into its new offices; ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING ELECTS NEW BOARD OF DIRETORS Report from the AGM; AIDS TREATMENT HIGHLIGHTS RESEARCH NEWS: PCP PROPHYLAXIS: Earlier is Better; AEROSOLIZED PENTAMIDINE Through the Emergency Drug Release Program; KS: TO WORRY OR NOT TO WORRY?; ELEVEN YEARS MEDIAN AIDS INCUBATION PERIOS; AZT RESISTANCE REAL OR UNREAL?; SALK HIV VACCINE TRIAL TO BEGIN SOON; ddI IN FOCUS: 290 DEATHS OF ddI USERS IN USA; ACCESS TO ddI SHOULD BE A CATASTROPHIC RIGHT; JOHN S. JAMES ON ddI; ddI: PROMISING BUT EXPERIMENTAL; SYSTEMIC CANDIDA AND ORAL THRUSH: LAYING THE FOUNDATIONS OF IMMUNE DYSFUNCTION; TESTS AVAILABLE THROUGH PWA Quantified p24, Beta 2 Microglobulin, Neopterin and T-cell testing; P24 ANTIGEN AND BETA 2 MICROGLOBULIN TESTS NOW AVAILABLE IN BC; MENTAL HEALTH AND AIDS The Federal Centre for AIDS working group on Mental Health has announced a series of public hearings; "DISRUPTING COMPLACENCY, THE CHALLENGE FOR THE 90s" AIDS education conference announcement; ONGOING EVENTS; GETTING INVOLVED ADVOCACY REPORT 12 new speakers for the Speaker's Bureau. Prisoner Outreach Coordinator sought. April Monthly Medical Forum with Dr Lindsay Lawson on lung issues is available on audio casesette, the May Forum will be on Nutrition, June on Legal/Medical issues. The Discrimination Documentation Project continues to college data on HIV/AIDS related discrimination. If you are taking ddI, please get one of our ddI questionnaires; "PLAGUE OF INNOCENCE" CONFRONTS PREJUDICE AT THE VANCOUVER CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL Performances and panel discussions on how controversial issues should be presented to children such as HIV; FOOD BANK HOME DELIVERIES Announcement and call for volunteers; PEER COUNSELLING Information and call for volunteer peer counsellors; POND SCUM SOCIAL Cooking with blue-green algae; PRIVATE THOUGHTS Poetry; BELIEVE ME, THERE IS HOPE Personal reflection; LAURIE VIRR 1949 - 1990; INTERNATIONAL AIDS CANDLE LIGHT VIGIL Event announcement; RAY HORTON 1943 - 1990; SELF EXPRESSION THROUGH ART Information about Art Therapy and a group facilitated by certified Art Therapist that meets weekly at the Society Offices; VISUALIZATION group meets weekly; A NIGHT OUT WITH THE MEN'S CHORUS "Love Broadway" concert with Marni Nixon. Complementary tickets available; NUTRITION FOR PWAs: TOPIC OF MAY MONTHLY FORUM; UNITED WAY FUND you can designate all or part of your donation directly to PWA; WRITE FOR THE NEWSLETTER! GUIDELINES PROPOSED Policies to guide contributors to the newsletter, call for discussion; BOOK REVIEWS WOMEN AND AIDS "AIDS: The Women" Inez Rider and Patricia Ruppelt, eds., Iris Press 1988; TEE SHIRT SALES BENEFITS PWA SOC.; HELP RAISE MONEY Call for volunteers; HELPLINE; COMING ATTRACTIONS Friday is Movie Night; NOTICE BOARD;

NO TO TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS Vancouver PWA Society resolution on VI International Conference on AIDS. The Society will not be officially represented at the VI International Conference on AIDS unless the [US] border crossing discrimination is ended; IV INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE FOR PEOPLE WITH HIV/AIDS Madrid, Spain, May 23-27, 1990 Event announcement; FREEDOM TO MOVE? Despite repeated protests, there has been no change in the US waiver policy which forces people to declare their HIV status in order to enter the country, growing number of groups withdraw their participation from the San Francisco Conference; CONFERENCE COMMITTEE MEETS Members who are interested in attending conferences should attend meetings; INTERNATIONAL BOYCOTT URGED Internationally, people with HIV/AIDS urge organizations to withdraw participation from the VI International Conference on AIDS; ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MARCH 25, 1990 Board Member Nominations Sought; NEW YEAR MESSAGE from the Chairperson; TRACKING THE VIRUS Tests for Monitoring HIV Disease Progression and the Effectiveness of Treatment(s) T4 or T-Helper Test, p24 Antigen Test, Beta 2 Microglobulin Test, Neopterin; CAUTION URGED IN ALTERNATIVE THERAPY Disclaimer; ANTI-AIDS CHEMICALS FOUND IN ALGAE? Research news article and testimonial on Super Blue Green Algae; ONGOING EVENTS; A NOTE FROM YOUR FRIENDLY FUNDRAISER Fundraiser announcements, call for volunteers; FUNDRAISING VOLUNTEERS NEEDED; THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! Thanks to all those who helped create Christmas gift baskets; MUNCHIES AND FINE FOOD OVER THE HOLIDAYS Thanks to businesses who provided food at special events ; EASTER SUNDAY AT CHRISTMAS EVE??? Thanks to Christmas Eve open house volunteers; UNDER THE MISTLETOE FOR THE PWA CHRISTMAS COMMITTEE thanks to the Committee volunteers; MORNING'S RIDE Poetry; PEER COUNSELLING AT THE PWA OFFICES Group of PWA members complete first part of a Peer Counselling Training Program. Call for information, sign up for training, or to make a referral or appointment; SURVIVING AND THRIVING WITH HIV/AIDS Personal reflection; AS I LOOK AT YOUR NOW In Memory of Colin: Colin Regan January 19, 1962 - September 17, 1989; HELP FOR STREET KIDS Thanks to the Society for donation to AIDS Counselling Services for Street Kids; DON CAIRNS February 10, 1960 - January 8, 1990; NEW BOOKS Recent Additions to Library Shelves; CATASTROPHIC RIGHTS TO BE SUBJECT OF FEBRUARY MONTHLY MEDICAL FORUM Event announcement; CAROL LOWEN JOINS PWA STAFF; STEVEN W. SCRIBAILO 1951 - 1990; GET INVOLVED! Advocacy Report; MEMBER "CAUCUS" TO BE HELD BI-WEEKLY All members are invited and encouraged to attend caucus meetings to express the directions and ideas for the Board to implement for PWA Society; NOTICE BOARD; FUN! GAMES! PARTY! Valentine's Potluck Dinner;