www.hivcruise.com

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Statement by Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius on the Repeal of
the HIV Entry Ban.htm
Date: Tue, November 03, 2009 8:53 am
To:

News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Monday, November 2, 2009 Contact: HHS Press Office (202) 690-6343 Statement by Secretary Kathleen G. Sebelius on the Repeal of the HIV Entry Ban Today, we will publish a rule in the Federal Register announcing that the United States will drop HIV from the list of diseases barring visitors from entering this country, effective Jan. 1, 2010. Though the United States has been a leader worldwide when it comes to ending the stigma of HIV/AIDS, we've been one of only 12 countries who, by their policies, still enable the myth that HIV/AIDS is a threat.  Lifting the HIV "entry ban" represents the same blow against stigma that Ryan White himself fought for from the time he was 13 years old and contracted HIV/AIDS.  It's appropriate that the nation is taking the final step to lift the entry ban as President Obama signs the fourth reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act.  The ability to travel freely and have access to affordable health care should be available to everyone.  This change has been a long time coming, and I am pleased it is happening now. ### Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are available at http://www.hhs.gov/news. Last revised: November 02, 2009

HHS Home | Questions? | Contacting HHS | Accessibility | Privacy Policy | FOIA | Disclaimers | Inspector General | No FEAR Act
The White House | USA.gov | HHS Archive | Flu.gov

U.S. Department of Health & Human Services - 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. - Washington, D.C. 20201

 

 

---

Important Notice

We are changing the dates for the SIN Cruise 2010 that was originally planned for May 2010.  We chose the 1st week of May 2010 since that is the same timing I had for the SIN Cruise that I organized this last May before it was diverted by the swine flu crisis.  The previous travel agent, Paul Stalbaum, that I used for that SIN Cruise also has planned his own poz cruise trip for the 1^st week of May 2010 on the same ship.  Having two separate poz groups on the same sailing has caused confusion and conflict within some of the HIV community.

I assume responsibility for the misunderstanding, particularly any insult to or bad feelings within the community of poz cruisers that Paul has developed during his October HIV cruises.  Our goal was never to cause confusion or to disrupt Paul's efforts to establish his own West Coast cruise each Spring.  My sole intent was to plan a trip for poz guys just for the fun of it as I personally was not making any profit off the SIN Cruises.  My mission has always been to bring poz gay men together for their own empowerment and social networking to combat isolation and stigma that can be caused by HIV rather than cause ill will or gossip, and I have failed at that recently.  Over the summer I did have some personal concerns and didn't express them properly.

To heal this "rift", we are assessing if and when we will re-schedule the SIN Cruise for next year but it will certainly not be during the 1^st week of May as booked by Paul's group.  We will provide you with any updates as soon as we have confirmed those.  For more information about the existing poz cruise being organized for May 2010 by Paul Stalbaum, visit his website at:  www.hivcruise.com

If you had made reservations for the SIN Cruise, please contact our travel agent, Jonathan Klein, at (800) 255-6951 or jk@...

Again, I apologize for any confusion or hurt feelings that my actions have caused.  I know that guys had a great time on the recent HIV cruise to the Caribbean and bringing together poz guys anytime we can should be our collectively focus.

Sincerely,
Bryan Levinson

Founder, SIN

Find Your Strength in Sunny Mexico! SIN Cruise May 2010

Cruise Retreat & Adventure for HIV+ Gay Men

NOW, VOYAGER TRAVEL

(415) 626-1169 or (800) 255-6951

jk@...

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Report: Schwarzenegger signs Harvey Milk Day bil
From: "R. Lee Jewell" <rljinsf@...>
Date: Mon, October 12, 2009 8:28 am

OCTOBER 12, 2009

Report: Schwarzenegger signs Harvey Milk Day bill

May 22nd will now be known as Harvey Milk Day in California.  Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger last night apparently signed a second bill passed by the state legislature to recognize the slain San Francisco Supervisor.

The first attempt to establish the day of significance was vetoed by Schwarzenegger, who at the time said it was more appropriate to honor Milk locally where he had the most impact.  Since then the Oscar-winning movie “Milk,” a posthumous Presidential Medal of Freedom and his induction into the California Hall of Fame has elevated Harvey Milk’s status as a civil rights icon.

Milk became the fifth openly LGBT person elected to public office in the United States when he was elected to the city’s Board of Supervisors in 1977.  He was assassinated in his office in 1978 along with the city’s mayor, George Moscone.

GAY?  POZ?  BORED?

Strength In Numbers (SIN)

Dating, Info & Global Events

4 HIV+ Gay Men

www.SINMen.net

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: RE: National Gay Men's HIV Testing & Awareness Day
From: "Majeski, Cara"
Date: Thu, September 24, 2009 3:07 pm
To: "bryan@..." bryan@...

Bryan:

 

I wanted to let you know that our Facebook site is now up!  I wanted to ask if you could become a fan and try to encourage your network to become fans as well – we’re working to get the word out and every little bit helps!  Thanks for all your help on this – I’m reaching out to the contacts we got from you in order to start up our discussion board.

 

http://www.facebook.com/pages/National-Gay-Mens-HIV-Awareness-Day/137782773226?v=wall

 

Best,

Cara

 

Cara Majeski

Project Manager, US HIV Initiative

Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria

 

 

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Updated: SIN Cruise 2010 Officially Launches! (Mexico, May 2
to May 9)
From: <bryan@...>
Date: Thu, September 17, 2009 4:21 pm
To:
Cc: jk@...

   

 

SIN Cruise to Mexican Riviera

May 2 to May 9, 2010 (7 days/7 nights)

 

Updated information on our 1st cruise for poz gay men and their friends.  First of all, the entire goal of this trip is to help poz guys meet each other and have a blast in the tropical sun for as affordable a price as possible.  This is a fellowship retreat that focuses on active excursions like snorkeling or jet skiing followed by festive group dinners and singles mixers.  And of course quieter moods can be found lounging by the pool or taking a stroll with a special guy along the deck at night.

 

We've already set up a web group on SINMen.net specifically for guys who register and paid their deposit/full fare so you can see who is going and start contacting guys directly to help you select a roommate.  Or you can grab a friend or 2 or 8 to join you on the cruise, because it's always nice to have some buddies to give you courage when you ask out that studly guy in the speedo...  But in case you come by yourself, you'll have a dedicated group of SIN volunteers there to make sure you are never alone and always are part of the fun!

 

Our ship, the Carnival Splendor, is brand new, and I saw it last May here in SF so I know firsthand who beautiful it is.  Guys of all types are already signing up, from their early 20s to their 60s, and from all over the country and beyond.  There are also Friends of Dorothy and Friends of Bill W gatherings offered each day by the Carnival crew.

 

Book your reservation today with:

 

Jonathan Klein

NOW, VOYAGER TRAVEL (San Francsico)

(415) 626-1169 or (800) 255-6951

jk@...

 

Visit our website and fill out the Registration page then click on "Send":

 

www.sincruise.com

 

Pricing* (per person based on double occupancy)

• Inside cabin:  $330
• Outside cabin:  $430 (features fixed window)
• Balcony:  $610

*All prices do not include taxes and other fees currently totalling $229.  Also you can reserve the entire room for yourself, just double the price above.  Pricing includes 24 hour food servicing and $50 credit to spend on the ship.  Beverages and onboard services like spa treatments or massages are extra.  Please note that you will have to sign up with our Group through Jonathan in order to participate in our group activities.  You will not be able to book your passage directly with Carnival.

 

 

Ports of Call

• Cabo San Lucas
• Puerto Vallarta
• Mazatlan
• Departing from Long Beach, California (book your flight directly here, not included in pricing above)

Thanks for all the interest so far, we're very excited about building our crew.  I will try to keep these email blasts to a minimum over the coming months. 

 

Have a great weekend everyone!

Bryan

Founder, SIN

Cell: (323) 356-8872

San Francisco

 

Join http://www.sinmen.net/ today for free! For guys in the Bay, check out http://www.sinsf.net/

 

   

Jonathan Klein

NOW, VOYAGER TRAVEL (San Francsico)

(415) 626-1169 or (800) 255-6951

jk@...

• Inside cabin:  $330
• Outside cabin:  $430 (features fixed window)
• Balcony:  $610

• Cabo San Lucas
• Puerto Vallarta
• Mazatlan
• Departing from Long Beach, California (book your flight directly here, not included in pricing above)

   

• Inside cabin:  $330
• Outside cabin:  $430 (features fixed window)
• Balcony:  $610

• Cabo San Lucas
• Puerto Vallarta
• Mazatlan
• Departing from Long Beach, California (book your flight directly here, not included in pricing above)

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Notice Seeking Applicants for an AIDS Malignancy Consortium
Community Representation
From: Jonathan Goldman <jonagold4@...>
Date: Fri, September 11, 2009 1:50 pm
To: Jonathan Goldman <jonagold4@...>

They are specifically seeking people of color....

Dear AMC Investigators and Coordinators,

Attached please find a notice seeking applicants for an AMC Community Representative.  All applications are due by Wednesday, September 30th.  We strongly encourage all AMC sites to share this information with their local Community Advisory Boards.

Best regards,

AMC Operations & Data Management Center
The EMMES Corporation
401 N. Washington Street, Suite 700
Rockville, MD 20850
Phone: 301-251-1161
Fax: 240-238-2842
Email: amcpm@...

To download a free version of Adobe Reader 9 from the Adobe website, please click on the following link:http://get.adobe.com/reader/

--
Healthfully & Electronically,

Jonathan Goldman
San Francisco

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Gardasil For Boys Hearing in Atlanta NEED PUBLIC COMMENT
From: Matt Sharp <mattsharpster@...>
Date: Thu, September 03, 2009 2:40 pm
To: SINSanFrancisco@yahoogroups.com, thriving@yahoogroups.com, Bryan
Levinson <bryan@...>

FDA is considering expanding the indication for Merck's Gardasil HPV vaccine to young boys in addtion to girls & young women.  The rationale for doing so will be that it can prevent death from penile & anal cancers, as well as morbidity from venereal warts, and that immunizing boys will also protect their partners (female and male) and further reduce the burden of HPV disease in the general population (aka "herd immunity").  While it may be too late for adults like us to avoid HPV infection, this could save future generations from needless suffering from cancers & veneral warts.
 
The FDA is expected to approve this indication for boys, and that approval will be followed by hearings at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta for recommendations for the government to pay for this vaccine for those covered by govt funded health programs.  These hearings will take place Oct 21 & 22.  There is a public comment section for people to testify as to the importance of these vaccine, and as an anal cancer survivor I plan to attend.  At a similar hearing regarding recommendations for the same vaccine when the indication was expanded to young women instead of just girls, the public testimony and comments received helped convince the committee to recommend coverage of Gardasil for that use. 

 

Therefore I am trying to get as many men as possible who've experienced, or lost partners to, anal or penile cancers to consider testifying as to the importance of this vaccine for boys & men.  Individuals desiring to send in public comments may do so at this email address: acip@....  
 
Please forward this to friends & colleagues whom you think might be interested in assisting in this effort.  If you are able to attend the hearing on Oct 21, please contact me directly at this e-mail address.  More information on the vaccine and the CDC hearing process can be found at http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/recs/acip/meetings.htm#register 
  
Thank you.
 
Jeff Taylor
Palm Springs

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: SIN mountain weekend in Colorado
From: orbit38@...
Date: Wed, August 26, 2009 2:50 pm
To: bryan@...

Bryan, could you cut and paste below and send to all the SIN chapters ASAP.  This event is 2 weeks from tomorrow, but guys from out of town can still make this happen.  It is already posted on the new site, but many many guys are still only getting stuff from their yahoogroups.

Thanks,

Rod Rushing & Michael Dorosh

 

Hey Guys,
There are still some spots left for the SIN mountain weekend at Shadowcliff Lodge in Grand Lake, Colorado.  If you want to do this, now is the time to sign up.

We head up there on Thursday September 10th and come back on Sunday the 13th.
You can fly to Denver on Thursday morning (or Wednesday afternoon/evening) and still make it to the lodge.  We are organizing a carpool if you don't want to rent a car.  Grand Lake is a 2-hour drive from Denver.

Cost for the weekend (rooms and meals) is $149.
Much more detailed information (and the link to sign up) is available at:

www.mounTEN-SIN.blogspot.com

Note:  There are some really cheap air fares to Denver right now.  Check Frontier, Southwest, United and American.

 

Cheers,

Rod and Michael

SIN Colorado 

 
 
 
 
 
 
.

____________________________________________________________
Save Your Loved One
Drug-free rehab. High success rate. Insurance/finance help

Join www.SINMen.net today for free!

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Online Support Group Study - Request for help
From: "Bartlett Yvonne" <lwxykb@...>
Date: Fri, July 17, 2009 4:37 am
To: <SINLosAngeles-owner@yahoogroups.com>

Dear Sir,

I am contacting you in your capacity as the owner of the Strength in Numbers Los Angeles group. I am currently undertaking research as part of an MSc degree within the Institute of Work, Health & Organisations (I-WHO), which is a postgraduate institute of applied psychology at the University of Nottingham, UK.

The overall purpose of the project is to investigate how the use of online support groups affects users’ feelings about themselves and their illness, and how this impacts on the doctor/patient relationship. More specifically it is concerned with if and how users become empowered, whether users feel comfortable using online information in consultations with healthcare professionals and whether using a support group has had any effect on the doctor - patient relationship.

I have designed a questionnaire to investigate this based on previous research findings in this area. I am contacting you to ask if you would be willing to post a link to the questionnaire on he forum for users to complete?

The link is:

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=IRVMEmNUS4rAoUN_2b6QxcXg_3d_3d

It is mainly tick boxes with a few longer answer questions and it should take around 15 minutes to complete.

Participation in any stage of this research is completely voluntary for both moderators and users. All sites that post the link will be acknowledged in any publications and reports written. This study has received ethical approval from the I-WHO Ethics Committee.

If you have any questions regarding this research please either reply to this email or my address is lwxykb@....

Many thanks,

Kiera Bartlett

This message has been checked for viruses but the contents of an attachment may still contain software viruses, which could damage your computer system: you are advised to perform your own checks. Email communications with the University of Nottingham may be monitored as permitted by UK legislation.

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Last-minute poz retreat special offer!
From: Brotherhood Retreats <brotherhoodretreats@...>
Date: Wed, July 08, 2009 5:44 pm
To: Bryan Levinson <bryan@...>

To all SIN members: Due to a couple of last-minute cancellations, we have two spaces available for the retreat at only $450 per person including room and board!! The retreat runs from July 16-20 near Stroudsburg, PA in the Poconos. These spaces will be given on a first come, first serve basis and only applies to new registrations.  Contact me asap if you are interested in this discount. We have a few additional spaces available at the regular rate as well. The early registration discounted rate of $595 is extended to all SIN members if you miss out on the bigger discount.  More info on the retreat at www.pozretreat.com. Claes  Retreat Producer