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<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="05bfd523.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Cape Fear Regional Bureau For Community Action, Inc.</B></FONT><B>     |     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cape Fear Regional Bureau For Community "><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Cape Fear Regional Bureau For Community "><U><B><IMG SRC="04e0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="up" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="14" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="14"><B>    </B><A HREF="id59.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Statewide Community Planning Group"><U><B><IMG SRC="04d0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="previous" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A><B>  </B><A HREF="id61.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frequently Asked Questions"><U><B><IMG SRC="04f0e0e0.png" border=0 width="14" height="14" ALT="next" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcommunityactioninc.org/mf.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.capefearregionalbureauforcomm"><U><B>Click Here For Site Map</B></U></A></div> <div> <B> <embed src="HTMLobj-317/News.wav" autostart="true" hidden="true">  </B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="23fd2993.jpg"> <div> <B>Events of interest to you.</B></div> </td> <td valign="top" height=398 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><I> <A NAME="news_and_events"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></I></FONT><I><B>News and Events</B></I></div> <div> <IMG SRC="169fe160.png" border=0 width="254" height="22" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Saturday, January 4, 2003 12:00AM EST</B></div> <div> Aid for AIDS<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> No North Carolinian should have to choose between life-saving medicine and food, yet for many Tar Heels suffering from AIDS, that is the no-win reality of their threatened lives. </div> <div> Science has made impressive progress in the fight against AIDS, but the new miracle drugs come at a high cost. AIDS treatments routinely run upwards of $1,000 a month, a staggering toll for people living at the edge of society.</div> <bR> <div> North Carolina's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, funded with federal and state money, has the tightest eligibility standard in the nation. Only those at 125 percent or less of the national poverty level of $8,860 a year qualify for help. As a result those who make more than $11,075 a year are ineligible. With drug bills costing that much or more, sick North Carolinians are forced to choose between life-prolonging medicine and basic living expenses. By comparison, Virginia, Tennessee and South Carolina set their eligibility at 300 percent of the poverty rate, or $26,580.</div> <div> The result, say AIDS experts, is that many people are not bothering to be tested for AIDS since they know they cannot afford the medicines that their disease requires. An even more distressing result is that AIDS is continuing to spread. For the first nine months of 2002, there were 1,242 new cases of HIV infection in North Carolina. That is 20 more than during the same period in 2001 and 135 more than during the first three quarters of 2000.</div> <bR> <div> AIDS is an epidemic often affecting those least able to cope with the cost of treatment. African-Americans account for 70 percent of the new cases. One out of three are women. Most new victims are heterosexual.</div> <bR> <div> Drugs have been remarkably successful in keeping AIDS patients alive and productive members of society. What is needed now is an expanded commitment by the state to adequately fund the drug assistance program. AIDS experts suggest $13 million (up from $8 million last year) in the upcoming budget.</div> <bR> <div> AIDS treatment, while expensive, pales in comparison to the cost of hospital care for sufferers. An increased allocation, even in what will surely be a tight budget, is a compassionate investment in human lives that the state would be smart to make. </div> <bR> <div> <I>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </I></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Friday, January 3, 2003 6:11AM EST</B></div> <bR> <div> AIDS activists seek funding<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> By SARAH AVERY, Staff Writer </div> <div> A coalition of AIDS activists groups, pharmaceutical companies, case managers and others has formed around the single goal of improving the access poor people have to drugs that fight the deadly disease. </div> <div> The N.C. AIDS Action Network, a statewide movement launched this fall, will begin pressing its mission once the General Assembly convenes this month. The group faces a difficult battle as legislators return to Raleigh to again wrestle with a billion-dollar budget shortfall.</div> <div> The need for better access to drugs, however, has been growing, as HIV infection rates in North Carolina and across the Southeast have outpaced the rest of the country.</div> <div> At the same time, North Carolina's AIDS Drug Assistance Program, funded with federal and state money, has the tightest eligibility standard in the nation, granting assistance to people who are at 125 percent of the national poverty level of $8,860 a year. As a result, anyone who makes more than $11,075 annually is ineligible for help.</div> <div> "This is a fatal disease," said Dr. Steve Cline, the state's chief epidemiologist. "There are medications for it that will keep people alive and keep them as productive citizens much longer. It's just the right thing to do."</div> <div> AIDS activists argue that the state's cutoff for drug assistance is unrealistic because current drug regimens cost more than $10,000 a year. Without some assistance, poor people with HIV are forced to choose between life-saving drugs and basic living expenses.</div> <div> "It's futile to get tested for HIV if you don't have health insurance," said Patrick Lee, program director with the N.C. Counsel for Positive Living and an organizer of the N.C. AIDS Action Network.</div> <div> "If you get tested and you need state support for medications, the message you are getting is that we can't help," Lee said. "It's almost a slap in the face."</div> <div> Lee and others contend that the state's funding formula for the drug program is creating hardship and contributing to the increased rate of HIV infection in North Carolina. For the first three quarters of 2002, there were 1,242 new cases of HIV disease reported -- 20 more than the were reported for the same period in 2001 and 135 more than had been reported for the first three quarters of 2000.</div> <div> The Southeast has the highest rate of new infections in the United States, prompting health leaders to explore treatment and education efforts during a 17-state summit held in Charlotte in November.</div> <div> The disease is hitting particularly hard among African-Americans and heterosexuals. In North Carolina, blacks account for 70 percent of new cases, according to the state Department of Health and Human Services, which compiles quarterly data. One out of three new cases are women.</div> <div> John Paul Womble, who serves as president of the new AIDS network and head of counseling with the Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina, said HIV drugs not only save lives, they also guard against risky lifestyles that contribute to the spread of the disease. When people are denied medications, he said, they are more inclined to throw caution aside, engaging in unprotected sex or sharing drug needles.</div> <div> "When we provide services to people with HIV, it's all-encompassing -- case management, prevention information, treatment information," Womble said of his work with the Alliance. "We sit down with our clients for two hours, talking about risky sexual behaviors, how to take medications, how not to expose people. If the state can't provide medication, they're going to fall through the cracks."</div> <div> Pharmaceutical companies offer some assistance to people who have no insurance and are ineligible for the state program, but their measures are supposed to be temporary. Womble said AIDS case managers spend countless hours on the telephone getting patients qualified for the compassionate care programs offered through the drug manufacturers, which often require monthly requalifications. Research grants through universities or medical clinics also offer help, but they, too, are stopgap.</div> <div> Cliff Aitken, who is 51 and lives in Washington, N.C., gets his medications free as a result of a grant his doctor secured, but he isn't sure how long the benefit will last. Before the grant, he got his medications from AIDS Drug Assistance Program but was removed from the program when he went to work and his income was deemed too high.</div> <div> "I can't tell you exactly what all the drugs cost," Aitken said, "but I know one runs $460 for a month supply. I take four medications. Multiply that by four, and you're talking $1,600 easy. I was making $1,500 a month on my job, and if you expect me to pay for my medications, I'm already $100 in the hole."</div> <div> As it is, Aitken said, he is rationing his drugs. His regimen calls for twice-daily doses, but he stretches them by taking a dose every 18 hours. If his doctor's grant runs out, he said, he will quit the medicines altogether.</div> <div> Public health officials worry that episodic use of HIV drugs could make the virus resistant to medications. As a result, the patient could lose the benefits of effective drugs, or spread the drug-resistant strain of virus to others.</div> <div> "Resistance is happening with HIV," Cline said. "We've been lucky that new things have come on line to help us deal with patients who have developed resistance, but the problem is, the new medications are very expensive."</div> <div> Those medications tap out the state's limited funds for the drug assistance program. Last year, the state contributed about $8 million, with a federal allocation of about $9 million, Cline said.</div> <div> That money didn't go far enough. The program was closed to new enrollees a year ago, and a waiting list was started. This past fall, with the infusion of a $3 million critical need grant, the state was able to clear the waiting list, which had grown to 817 people, by adding them to the program.</div> <div> But funding still falls short of demand. The program has again been frozen, and now 200 more people are awaiting services, Cline said.</div> <div> "We can't enroll people in the program unless we are sure we can keep them enrolled for years," Cline said. "We've done what is prudent in managing the program by closing it, so we don't run out of money for people who have been receiving medication."</div> <div> For the upcoming year, state officials are requesting $13 million from the General Assembly to reopen the drug assistance plan and expand eligibility to people who are at 200 percent of the poverty level. That would raise the salary cap to $17,720 a year.</div> <div> Still, even the 200 percent cutoff is lower than in neighboring states. Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee all set their eligibility cap at 300 percent of the poverty rate, or $26,580. AIDS activists contend that North Carolina's current funding level sends a discouraging message to people battling HIV.</div> <div> "Folks who could be productive members of society are ceasing to be," Womble said. "What is the legislature really concerned about? Is that their goal? They're sentencing people to a very bad deal. It's a crime against humanity." </div> <bR> <div> <I>* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * </I></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="205c6800.png" border=0 width="710" height="128" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> January 29, 2003                                                                                                                                          UPDATE  #59</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>HIV Events</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Date</B>:  02/21/2003.  <B><U>Consumer Advocacy Training</U></B>.  The purpose of this training is to teach consumers how to effectively educate legislators and to present the needs of PLWHA to those who have the power to make a difference with a special emphasis will be placed on the AIDS Drug Assistance Program. There is only space for 60 consumers.  Reservations will be taken on a first come, first served basis. <B>Offered By</B>: The North Carolina Council for Positive Living.  <B>Location</B>: Raleigh, NC.  <B>Contact</B>:  Patrick Lee at 336-586-0062 ext. 13, Fax: 336-586-0063, Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:nccpl@bellsouth.net" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:nccpl@bellsouth.net"><U><U>nccpl@bellsouth.net</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  02/26/2003 - 02/28/2003.  <B><U>HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral Training</U></B>.  This training teaches healthcare providers working with HIV/AIDS the client-centered counseling method.  Counselors will use these skills to help their clients determine their readiness to know their HIV status, interpret their HIV test results, and help develop and implement a plan of action that reduces their risk or the risk to others.  <B>Offered By</B>: HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch, NC DHHS and Whetstone Consultations.  <B>Location</B>: Chapel Hill, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Whetstone Consultations at 828-274-3541, Fax: 828-274-3541, Email: whetstoneconsultations@charter.net, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.whetstoneconsultations.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.whetstoneconsultations.com"><U><U>www.whetstoneconsultations.com</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/02/2003 - 03/08/2003.  <B><U>The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: The Balm In Gilead.  <B>Location</B>: Nationwide.  <B>Contact</B>: Balm In Gilead at 888-885-6843, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.balmingilead.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.balmingilead.org"><U><U>www.balmingilead.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/11/2003.  <B><U>Hepatitis B and C with HIV Co-Infection: A Diagnostic and Treatment Update: Management of HIV/AIDS in the Correctional Setting: A Live Satellite Videoconference Series</U></B>.  The Management of HIV/AIDS in the Correctional Setting is an on-going satellite videoconference series designed to address clinical issues in the management of HIV infected inmates.  <B>Offered By</B>:  Albany Medical Center. New York State Department of Correctional Services.  <B>Location</B>: Various.  <B>Contact</B>: Jim Ybarra at 518-262- 4674, Email: ybarraj@mail.amc.edu, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.amc.edu/patient/HIV/hivconf/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.amc.edu/patient/HIV/hivconf/i"><U><U>www.amc.edu/patient/HIV/hivconf/index.htm</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/19/2003 - 03/21/2003.  <B><U>HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral Training</U></B>.  This training teaches healthcare providers working with HIV/AIDS the client-centered counseling method.  Counselors will use these skills to help their clients determine their readiness to know their HIV status, interpret their HIV test results, and help develop and implement a plan of action that reduces their risk or the risk to others.  <B>Offered By</B>: HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch, NC DHHS and Whetstone Consultations.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Whetstone Consultations at 828-274-3541, Fax: 828-274-3541, Email: whetstoneconsultations@charter.net, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.whetstoneconsultations.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.whetstoneconsultations.com"><U><U>www.whetstoneconsultations.com</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/23/2003.  <B><U>Annual Update of HIV/AIDS</U></B>.  This program will bring the participant up-to-date with HIV/AIDS therapies, complications of the disease and side effects of the medications that are used to treat the disease, and what a pharmacist needs to know to better assist the patient with HIV/AIDS.  <B>Offered By</B>: MAHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Pharmacotherapy Education at 828-257-4468, Fax: 828-257-4768, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org"><U><U>www.mtn.ncahec.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/28/2003 - 03/30/2003.  <B><U>RCAP 2003 National Conference: HIV/STD Prevention in Rural Communities: Sharing Successful Strategies III</U></B>.  The major focus of this conference is the promotion of  HIV/STD prevention in rural America, with the goal of reducing HIV/STD incidence. The participants will share information and ideas on their  HIV/STD prevention experiences and offer help and support to rural communities.  <B>Offered By</B>: Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention (RCAP).  <B>Location</B>: Bloomington, IN.  <B>Contact</B>: Rural Center for AIDS/STD Prevention at 812-855-1718 TDD 800-566-8644, Fax:  812-855-3717, Email: aids@indiana.edu, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.indiana.edu/~aids/" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.indiana.edu/~aids/"><U><U>www.indiana.edu/~aids/</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/29/2003 - 04/04/2003.  <B><U>Twenty Years of HIV Research: From Discovery to Understanding</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: Abbott Laboratories.  <B>Location</B>: Alberta, Canada.  <B>Contact</B>: Keystone Symposia at 800-253-0685 or 970-262-1230, Fax: 970-262-1525, Email: info@keystonesymposia.org, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.keystonesymposia.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.keystonesymposia.org"><U><U>www.keystonesymposia.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  04/09/2003 - 04/11/2003.  <B><U>Working Positive Summit Conference: Developing Evidence- and Experience-Based Best Practices in Employment Supports for People Living with HIV/AIDS</U></B>.  This conference is being held in order to identify and collect information about evidence-based and experience-based practices in providing employment supports and services to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA's). The conference will bring together the consumers, service providers, educators, and researchers who have the best information available about what helps PLHA's to obtain and maintain employment. Conference activities will include putting this information together and identifying practices that are effective across communities. The results of this working conference will be compiled into a manual and web-ready format to ensure that consumer and service organizations have access to the best and most current knowledge on the subject.  <B>Offered By</B>: Matrix Research Institute.  <B>Location</B>: Philadelphia, PA.  <B>Contact</B>: Fran Serpico at 215-569-2240 ext. 315, Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:FrancesMRI@aol.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:FrancesMRI@aol.com"><U><U>FrancesMRI@aol.com</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  04/10/2003.  <B><U>HIV Pharmacotherapy - What a Pharmacist Should Know</U></B>.  The purpose of the program is to provide participants with an overview of the use of antiretroviral pharmaceuticals in patients infected with the HIV.  <B>Offered By</B>: Wake AHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Raleigh, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Wake AHEC at 919-350-8547, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.wakeahec.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wakeahec.org"><U><U>www.wakeahec.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  04/23/2003 - 04/25/2003.  <B><U>HIV Counseling, Testing and Referral Training</U></B>.  This training teaches healthcare providers working with HIV/AIDS the client-centered counseling method.  Counselors will use these skills to help their clients determine their readiness to know their HIV status, interpret their HIV test results, and help develop and implement a plan of action that reduces their risk or the risk to others.  <B>Offered By</B>: HIV/STD Prevention and Care Branch, NC DHHS and Whetstone Consultations.  <B>Location</B>: Charlotte, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Whetstone Consultations at 828-274-3541, Fax: 828-274-3541, Email: whetstoneconsultations@charter.net, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.whetstoneconsultations.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.whetstoneconsultations.com"><U><U>www.whetstoneconsultations.com</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  04/25/2003.  <B><U>HIV & Hepatitis C</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: MAHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Mental Health Education at 828-257-4481, Fax: 828-257-4768, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org"><U><U>www.mtn.ncahec.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  04/27/2003 - 05/01/2003.  <B><U>16th International Conference on Antiviral Research</U></B>.  The purpose of ISAR's annual meeting is to provide an interdisciplinary forum at which investigators involved in basic, applied and clinical research worldwide can meet to review recent developments in all areas of antiviral research. The organizers plan a program to meet the needs of chemists, biologists, virologists, and clinicians interested in the field.  <B>Offered By</B>: The International Society for Antiviral Research (ISAR).  <B>Location</B>: Savannah, GA. <B>Contact</B>: Dr. Brent C. Korba at 301-309-6145 ext 27, Fax: 301-309-1553, Email: korbabe@gusun.georgetown.edu, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.isar-icar.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.isar-icar.com"><U><U>www.isar-icar.com</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  04/28/2003 - 04/30/2003.  <B><U>7th International Conference on Malignancies in AIDS and Other Immmunodeficiencies: Basic, Epidemiologic and Clinical Research</U></B>.  This Conference is a forum for the presentation of basic, epidemiologic and clinical aspects of research on malignancies in HIV-infected and other immunosuppressed individuals. <B>Offered By</B>: National Cancer Institute (NCI).  <B>Location</B>: Bethesda, MD.  <B>Contact</B>: Jaime Quinn.  Fax: 301-496-0826, Email: jquinn@mail.nih.gov, Web: www3.cancer.gov/dctd/aids/conference.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  05/01/2003 - 05/05/2003.  <B><U>Voices 2003: The National Conference on HIV/AIDS and Children, Youth, and Families</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: AIDS Alliance for Children, Youth & Families.  <B>Location</B>: Washington, DC.  <B>Contact</B>: Linda Horton-St. Hubert at 202-785-3564 x 34, Email: lhorton@aids-alliance.org</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Related Events</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Date</B>:  02/21/2003.  <B><U>Motivational Interviewing for the Hard-to-Reach Client</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: Eastern AHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Greenville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Eastern AHEC at 252-816-8214, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.eahec.ecu.edu/calendar" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.eahec.ecu.edu/calendar"><U><U>www.eahec.ecu.edu/calendar</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  02/21/2003.  <B><U>Successful Grant Writing in Tight Times</U></B>.  This full-day workshop will provide participants with resources, tools and methods for researching grants, writing competitive grant proposals, and undertaking community-based fundraising. Participants are invited to bring current grants to the workshop for feedback from the instructors and peers.   <B>Offered By</B>: MAHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Public Health Education at 828-771-4207, Fax: 828-232-4768.  Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars"><U><U>www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/05/2003.  <B><U>Self Awareness and Leadership</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: MAHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Leadership Manangement Education at 828-257-4481, Fax: 828-257-4768, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars"><U><U>www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/14/2003.  <B><U>The Basics of Substance Abuse Treatment</U></B>.  This program will address some of the basic issues related to substance abuse treatment. It will look at social concerns and the history of treatment. Time will be spent with the issues of diagnosis, treatment models, gender specific needs, and various treatment interventions/activities.  <B>Offered By</B>: MAHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Mental Health Education at 828-257-4481, Fax: 828-257-4768, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars"><U><U>www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/19/2003.  <B><U>OSHA 2003: What Is New and What Is on the Horizon</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: MAHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Allied Health Education at 828-257-4468, Fax: 828-257-4768, Web: www.mtn.ncahec.org/calendars.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/21/2003.  <B><U>2003 7th National Hispanic Medical Association Annual Conference</U></B>.  <B>Offered By</B>: National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA).  <B>Location</B>: Washington, DC.  <B>Contact</B>: NHMA at 202-628-5895, Fax: 202-628-5898, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.home.earthlink.net/~nhma/confnxt.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.home.earthlink.net/~nhma/conf"><U><U>www.home.earthlink.net/~nhma/confnxt.htm</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/21/2003 - 03/22/2003.  <B><U>Stayin' Alive - NC Healthcare Educators Summit</U></B>.  In the fast-paced world of healthcare, the times are constantly changing, and educators must constantly strive to accomplish more than ever before, often times with less resources! This conference event will not only help you learn how to keep "stayin' alive", but will teach you how to make the most of every day in healthcare education, maximizing your resources for stelar results, and making yourself an indispensable part of your organization.  <B>Offered By</B>: Wake AHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Wilmington, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Wake AHEC at 919-350-8547, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.wakeahec.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wakeahec.org"><U><U>www.wakeahec.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/27/2003 - 03/29/2003.  <B><U>61st ATPM Annual Meeting: Teaching Prevention: Linking the Prevention Education Community</U></B>.  This annual meeting will provide an interactive forum for Association members and their colleagues in health promotion and disease prevention to exchange ideas and best practices. This conference is designed to improve the teaching of prevention in the health professions by linking the community of prevention educators in a learning environment. A main objective of the conference is to showcase research and teaching accomplishments and share expertise between attendees.  <B>Offered By</B>: Association of Teachers of Preventive Medicine (ATPM).  <B>Location</B>: Albuquerque, NM.  <B>Contact</B>: Donna A. Page at 540-334-2335, Fax: 540-334-2432, Email: dap@atpm.org, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.atpm.org/annual/information.html" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.atpm.org/annual/information.h"><U><U>www.atpm.org/annual/information.html</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  03/28/2003.  <B><U>Ethics & Dual Relationships: Will the Real Boundary Violations Please Stand Up?</U></B>  Dual relationships come in every size and shape- bartering with clients, establishing romantic or sexual relationships, "sponsoring" clients in 12 Step groups, and simply living in close community all create dual relationships. But not all dual relationships are equally damaging and troubling. The ethics of dual relationships are critical to ethical practice. <B>Offered By</B>: MAHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Asheville, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Mental Health Education at 828-257-4481, Fax: 828-257-4768.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  04/28/2003 - 04/30/2003.  <B><U>54th Annual Conference of Council on Foundations</U></B>.  The program will focus on the conference theme, "Working Together for the Common Good: What Have We Learned about Collaboration?" and challenge grantmakers to examine the state of collaboration on multiple levels: internationally, across economic and government sectors and within the philanthropic community.  <B>Offered By</B>: Council on Foundations (COF).  <B>Location</B>: Dallas, TX.  <B>Contact</B>: Angelique Wilkins at 202-467-0295, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.cof.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cof.org"><U><U>www.cof.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  05/07/2003 - 05/11/2003.  <B><U>Gay Men's Health Summit 2003</U></B>.  This is no ordinary health conference. Instead, GMHS 2003 will cut through the professionalism and "attitude" of many gatherings focused on gay male health and create a warm, welcoming, and equitable climate to discuss a broad range of health issues affecting the gay male community. The Summit is open to anyone who cares about gay men's health.  <B>Offered By</B>: Wake AHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Raleigh, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Wake AHEC at 919- 892-3981, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.gmhs2003.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.gmhs2003.org"><U><U>www.gmhs2003.org</U></U></A></FONT>.</div> <div> <B>Date</B>:  06/06/2003.  <B><U>OSHA and North Carolina Infection Control Methods</U></B>.  The course will include an update on North Carolina infection control methods and OSHA bloodborne pathogens regulations and infection control in dentistry. Details on operatory asepsis methods and materials will be highlighted. The program meets Sterilization and Infection Control requirements to become a DA II.  <B>Offered By</B>: Wake AHEC.  <B>Location</B>: Raleigh, NC.  <B>Contact</B>: Anthony Molina DDS at 919-350-8547, Web: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.wakeahec.org" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.wakeahec.org"><U><U>www.wakeahec.org</U></U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Job Opening</div> <bR> <div> The University of North Carolina's AIDS Clinical Trials Unit seeks a full time, temporary, Patient Care Coordinator to assist with patient care and advocacy issues.  Duties will include intake assessments, crisis intervention and referral, coordination with local case managers, facilitating the community advisory board, assistance with procuring post study medications and follow up for missed research study appointments.  </div> <div> Requirements include a Bachelor's degree from an accredited school of social work and 1 year of social work or counseling experience; or graduation from a 4 year college or university and 3 years of experience in human services field providing experience in the techniques of casework, group work or community organization; or an equivalent combination of training and experience.  Experience with HIV is highly desired and familiarity with the NC HIV case management network is preferred.  This is a full time, 12 month, temporary position with the possibility of becoming permanent contingent on funding.</div> <bR> <div> Please forward letter of interest and resume to:</div> <bR> <div> Michael Case</div> <div> UNC Center for Infectious Diseases</div> <div> CB 3424</div> <div> Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3424</div> <div> Fax: 919-966-8536</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>You Idiot………….</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>IDIOTS IN SERVICE:</B></div> <div> This week, our phones went dead and I had to contact the telephone repair people. They promised to be out sometime between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m.  The next day, when I asked if they could give me a smaller time window, the pleasant man asked, "Would you like us to call you before we come?"  I replied that I did not see how he would be able to do that since our phones weren't working.  He also requested that we report future outages by email.  (Does YOUR email work without a telephone line?)</div> <bR> <div> <B>IDIOTS AT WORK:</B></div> <div> I was signing the receipt for my credit card purchase when the clerk noticed I had never signed my name on the back of the credit card. She informed me that she could not complete the transaction unless the card was signed.  When I asked why, she explained that it was necessary to compare the signature I had just signed on the receipt. So I signed the credit card in front of her.  She carefully compared the signature to the one I had just signed on the receipt.  As luck would have it, they matched.</div> <bR> <div> <B>IDIOTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD:</B></div> <div> I live in a semi-rural area.  We recently had a new neighbor call the local township administrative office to request the removal of the <I>Deer Crossing</I> sign on our road. The reason: too many deer were being hit by cars and she did not want them to cross there anymore.  I could swear I have recently been with some of these people...</div> <bR> <div> <B>IDIOTS IN FOOD SERVICE:</B></div> <div> My daughter went to a local Taco Bell and ordered a taco.  She asked the person behind the counter for "minimal lettuce."  He said he was sorry, but they only had "iceberg."</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>positively</I></div> <div> important</div> <bR> <div> Eastern Triad Consortium</div> <div> Positive Impact Network</div> <div> 537-B Huffman Mill Road</div> <div> Burlington, NC 27215</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>