- AIDS Project of Southern Vermont

AIDS Project
of Southern Vermont NEWS
aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org
| volume 22, issue 1 | Spring 2015
2014 Walk for Life Participants
Clockwise from upper left:
1. Team Tri-State Gay Men
show their support.
2. Andy Davis leads us in song.
3. Team Boys & Girls Club
are happy to participate.
4. Banner volunteers
lead the way.
5. Honoree Shirley Squires
and family.
6. Even the little guys
carry placards.
Sharing Hope!
Join us for our Walk for Life on May 16
“…and here in Vermont, examples
of working together to make it better
aren’t hard to find. Case in point is the
Brattleboro AIDS walk, this weekend.
Here was as diverse a group of
Vermonters to come together as can
be. And, for as sober a cause to be
found. Yet, there was a profound sense
of community, and shared hope –
right alongside the somber memorial
for those we have lost to this plague.”
— Mike Mrowicki
Brattleboro Reformer, May 22, 2013
Each year in May we take a symbolic walk to remember our friends who have died from HIVrelated illnesses, to call attention to the effects of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in our community,
and to honor those who make a difference in this challenging work.
In 2015, the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont is marking 28 years of effort by community
members to support those living with HIV/AIDS and to reduce the risk of HIV transmission
in southern Vermont. This year our Walk for Life honors the Comprehensive Care Clinic as it
celebrates 20 years of service to the HIV+ community.
This is a special day for us and we hope you will join us as we gather at the River Garden at
10:00 a.m. on May 16th. There, we will take time to reflect on the memory of those we have
lost before setting out on our walk. On our return, we will join together again for music, prizes
for fundraising, and a light lunch.
Walk for Life team members may use the Internet-based FirstGiving website as well as
traditional means, to reach out to family and friends to join a Walk team and to raise funds for
HIV/AIDS direct services and prevention efforts. For more information about what is involved
with forming a team, please call Karen at 802-254-4444.
SAVE THE DATE:
May 16:
28th Annual
Walk for Life
Photo credits (6): C. Hutcheson
May 30:
Drag Show featuring
Ladies of the Rainbow
July 18:
8th Annual Summer BBQ &
Garden Party at Frog Meadow Farm
Cindy Hutcheson,
Direct Services
Associate
Cindy Hutcheson:
Saying Good-bye after 12 Years
AIDS Project
of Southern Vermont
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Penny Abbott
Sarah Benton, Secretary
Patrick Brown, Vice Chair
Geoff Burgess
Rick Dumas
Robert Glennon
Julie van der Horst
Jansen, Treasurer
Gilbert Ruff
Ray Tessier
Phillip Wilson, Chair
STAFF
Steve Breakstone
Sue Conley
Cynthia Himmel
Marguerite Monet
Diane Parton
Karen Peterson
Speaking for all the members of the Board of Directors of the AIDS Project
of Southern Vermont, we express our deep respect for Cindy Hutcheson and
what she has contributed to the Project and the community at large. Cindy has proactively
taken on the food program, seeking out new and varied sources and working directly with
clients to accommodate individual needs. To many she has become a friend. She shares
the vision of compassion to those in need and has worked diligently to support the AIDS
Walk, education projects and various fundraisers. She brought her great talent for event
and catering management in the celebration of Susan Bell’s retirement. The members of
the Board, the clients and the staff of the AIDS Project will truly miss Cindy.
Welcome to New Board Members
The AIDS Project of Southern Vermont is pleased to announce three new Board members:
PENNY ABBOTT | RICK DUMAS | RAY TESSIER
15 Grove Street
PO Box 1486
Brattleboro VT 05302
802 254-8263
324 Main Street
PO Box 4264
Bennington VT 05201
802 447-8007
aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org
The mission of the AIDS
Project of Southern Vermont
is to provide direct services to
those whose lives are affected
by HIV/AIDS, to offer education
to help prevent its spread,
and to promote understanding
within the communities served.
The AIDS Project is a United Way
of Windham County Agency.
newsletter design: Mary Lynch Designs
Penny Abbott: I am a Pharmacy Technician at Hotel Pharmacy. I live in Brattleboro and have
one daughter. Free time is spent with her and loving the outdoors. I have volunteered for the
AIDS Project for a few years and am very excited about being a Board member.
Rick Dumas: I worked as Prevention Manager of AIDS Project New Haven (2013–2014) and
served as a member of the Connecticut HIV Planning Consortium (2009–2014). I worked as
Facilitator of The MPowerment Project at the Waterbury Health Department (2011–2013) and
served on the Board of Directors at Independence Northwest in Naugatuck, CT. I was a member
of the Community Advisory Board at the Waterbury Hospital. I moved to Brattleboro from
Connecticut in October 2014 and look forward to serving on the AIDS Project Board of Directors.
Ray Tessier: I am Owner/Producer of Ray’s Special Events and Mid Florida Leather Productions,
LLC. I live in Brattleboro after spending the past 9 years in Florida. I am involved in fundraising
events for the LGBT community up and down the East coast. I am a former Board member and
glad to be back on the APSV board.
Continuing members of the Board: Sarah Benton, Secretary; Patrick Brown, Vice Chair; Geoff Burgess;
Robert Glennon; Julie van der Horst Jansen, Treasurer; Gilbert Ruff; and Phillip Wilson, Chair.
AIDS Project of Southern Vermont NEWS | Spring 2015 | aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org
Pages 2 & 3 images: C. Hutcheson (Staff); K. O’Connor (Board)
PROGRAM SPOTLIGHT
AIDS Project Now Offers Hep C Testing
by Sue Conley
The Prevention Program is now offering
free and anonymous hepatitis C testing.
This point-of-care antibody test collects
and processes a sample of blood with a
simple fingerstick, with results in just 20
minutes. This is the first test to determine
if a person has been infected with the
hepatitis C virus. Further tests by a
medical professional will need to be
done if the test is positive.
What is Hepatitis C?
“Hepatitis” means inflammation of the
liver. Toxins, certain drugs, some diseases,
heavy alcohol use, and bacterial and viral
infections can all cause hepatitis. Hepatitis
is also the name of a family of viral
infections that affect the liver; the most
common types are hepatitis A, hepatitis B,
and hepatitis C.
How is Hepatitis C transmitted?
Hepatitis C (HCV) is transmitted by
direct blood-to-blood contact.
Transmission routes include sharing
drug paraphernalia (both injection and
non-injection drugs) including needles,
cookers, tourniquets, straws, and pipes.
Needles used for tattooing, body piercing
and acupuncture may also spread HCV
if the equipment used is not properly
sterilized. Sharing personal items such
as razors, toothbrushes or nail files are a
less likely, but still possible transmission
route. Sexual transmission is possible,
but unlikely.
The US government estimates that
four million Americans have been infected
with hepatitis C. In a majority of people,
once infected, the body does not clear
U.S. HCV Treatment Cascade
Overall: Overall: 3.2 million
population
with chronic
HCV
3.2 ofmU.S.
illion of U.S. population with chronic HCV 60% 50% 40% 50% (1.6M) 30% 32-­‐38% (1.0-­‐1.2M) 7-­‐11% (220,000-­‐ 360,000) 20% 10% 0% Diagnosed Referred to Care Treated Source: Holmberg et al., “Hepatitis C in the U.S.” N Engl J Med 2013; 368: 1859-1861
HCV completely, and the disease becomes
a chronic infection. In spite of this, many
people with hepatitis C have no symptoms
and lead normal lives. The lack of
symptoms makes getting tested even more
important. The CDC now recommends all
people born between 1945 and 1965 get
tested for hepatitis C.
Why is HCV testing important
to HIV Prevention?
HCV is the most common co-infection in
people with HIV, in part because the two
diseases can share similar transmission
routes. It is estimated that up to 30% of
people infected with HIV are also infected
with HCV.
Historically, people are more likely
to come in to be tested for HCV than
for HIV. This may be due in part to the
perception that there is less stigma
attached to HCV than HIV. Another
contributing factor may be that there is
treatment to “cure” HCV and not for HIV.
By offering both tests, the AIDS Project
can provide a perfect opportunity to open
a conversation about the importance of
testing for HIV.
If you have questions about getting an HIV
or HCV test, please call Sue at 254-4444 x 113
or email prevent@sover.net
5-­‐6% (170,000-­‐ 200,000 Successfully Treated Sue Conley,
Prevention Manager
AIDS Project of Southern Vermont NEWS | Spring 2015 | aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org
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AIDS Project of Southern Vermont
aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org / 802.254.4444
P O Box 1486, Brattleboro, VT 05302-1486
NEWS and ANNUAL REPORT inside!
credit (2): S. Squires
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
UPCOMING EVENTS
May 16 | 28th Annual AIDS Walk for Life (more information on page 1)
May 30 | An Evening with the Ladies of the Rainbow
VFW, Brattleboro — Drag Show Event to benefit the AIDS Project of Southern Vermont
Doors open at 7 pm, show starts at 8 pm
Tickets: $20 each, or $150 for a table (seats 8)
For tickets call 254-4444 or visit our webite.
Sponsored by Brown Computer Solutions
and West River Family Dental
photo courtesy of Ladies of the Rainbow
AIDS Project of Southern Vermont
aidsprojectsouthernvermont.org / 802.254.4444