Put your tax rebate to good use! Many of us will receive a check from the Federal government this month thanks to the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008. This extra income will provide a much-needed lift to many people throughout our region struggling with the rising costs of fuel and food.

As you plan what you will do with your rebate, I ask you to consider donating a portion of your rebate to the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York to help us meet the needs of our clients.

Your generous gift today will provide our clients with many things we take for granted such as transportation to medical appointments or basic household supplies. Your gift of $65, $100, $150 or more will make an immediate impact on the life of someone in our community, and I hope you will make as generous a contribution you can afford to make at this time to help us be there for our clients… for as long as HIV is here.

Make a gift to the AIDS Council today by donating online. You may also mail a check (made payable to the “AIDS Council”) to 927 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207.

For more information or alternative payment options, please call our Development Office at 518.434.4686 Ext. 2428.

Most sincerely,

Michele McClave
Executive Director

The AIDS Council is a private, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization established in 1984. Your gift to the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York is tax deductible to the full extent allowed by current state and federal law.

The AIDS Council of Northeastern New York would like to thank all of the sponsors, restaurants, diners, donors and volunteers that made our 5th Annual Dining Out for Life a success. We are still tallying the donations and will have updates soon. We will be drawing the wonderful raffle prizes on May 18th, so please mail your raffle envelops soon to be eligible!

Please fill out a brief survey so that we can make Dining Out for Life 2009 even better!

Singer-songwriter Kate Voegele joins the Capital Region for Dining Out for Life 2008. Voegele, who is currently on tour, will have a special live performance and autograph session on Thursday, April 24th at the Bayou Café in Downtown Albany (79 North Pearl Street) from 4:00pm-6:00pm. 25% of all food sales will be donated to help fight HIV/AIDS.

Kate is a singer, songwriter, guitarist and pianist from Bay Village, Ohio who recently became popular playing Mia Catalano on the hit CW television show One Tree Hill. Kate has been writing music since she was 15 years old and has recorded several albums with well known producers. In 2007, she signed with a division of Interscope Records and released her hit album “Don’t Look Away”. The 21 year-old upcoming star has performed on the Early Show and her music has been featured on popular shows including MTV’s The Hills. Several singles have already hit the Billboard Charts.

Remember to Dine Out on April 24 at one of 33 Capital Region locations.
http://www.diningoutforlife.com/Albany

Dine out to fight AIDS on Thursday, April 24, 2008. The AIDS Council of Northeastern New York is proud to host the Capital Region’s fifth annual Dining Out for Life. Over 30 area restaurants, from Plattsburgh to Hudson and throughout the Capital Region, will be donating at least 25% of their sales to help provide essential services to those living with HIV/AIDS and cutting-edge HIV prevention programs throughout the region. All you have to donate is your appetite!

Dining Out for Life has received increasing support each year since its local inception. Last year raised $30,000. Restaurants in Albany, Clifton Park, Delmar, Glens Falls, Guilderland, Hudson, Latham, Plattsburgh, Saratoga, Schenectady and Troy are participating in the event. Barefoot Wine is graciously donating 100% of their wine sales at the restaurants to the AIDS Council. Diners will also have the chance to win several prizes by dining out such as a trip to Atlantic City, Lake Placid getaway or a $500.00 floral gift certificate. Dining Out for Life is an international event held in more than 40 cities that raises HIV/AIDS awareness.

Sponsors of the event include HSBC Bank USA and Total Town Health. Media Sponsors: Metroland, Fly92, WTEN and Plattsburgh Press-Republican. Additional support from Barefoot Wine, Out&About Phonebook, Yankee Trails World Travel, Mirror Lake Inn and Brendan Flanigan Design.

For a complete restaurant listing please call 518.434.4686 or visit www.diningoutforlife.com.

ALBANY
Bayou Cafe Downtown
Beff’s
BFS Restaurant & Catering
Cheesecake Machismo
DeJohn’s Restaurant & Pub
El Loco Mexican Cafe
Grandma’s Restaurant
Justin’s
Magnolias on the Park
Nicole’s Restaurant
Provence
Scratch Bakery Cafe

CLIFTON PARK
Nothing But Noodles

DELMAR
Beff’s

GLENSFALLS
GG Mama’s Restaurant & Catering

HUDSON
Ca’Mea Ristorante
Mexican Radio
Red Dot Restaurant & Bar
Vico Restaurant

LATHAM
Milano

PLATTSBURGH
Livingood’s Restaurant
Subway-334 Cornelia St.

SARATOGA SPRINGS
Beverly’s
Brindisi’s Restaurant & Bar
Hattie’s Restaurant
Longfellows Hotel, Restaurant & Conference Center
Mexican Connection
Olde Bryan Inn
Tiznow Restaurant

SCHENECTADY
Ambition Coffee & Eatery
Katz Kafe

TROY
Flavour Cafe
Tosca

The AIDS Council of Northeastern New York’s Spring 2008 Newsletter The Connection is now available. It is published in both electronic and hardcopy formats. To receive in the mail, please fill out the electronic registration below or call 518.434.4686. AIDS Council publications are also available at our regional offices in Albany, Glens Falls, Hudson, Plattsburgh, Schenectady and Troy.

In this issue:
-Find out how the Council is overcoming obstacles in the North Country
-Holiday Sponsor Program and Toiletry Drive
-Help Fight AIDS Through Books & Music
-2008 Book Sale Schedule
-Beaujolais Nouveau event recap and pictures
-2008 Special Event Schedule
-Client Dinner and Holiday Party
-World AIDS Day 2007
-National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day 2008

Download PDF

Many cases of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are not being detected in the U.S. because people are not being tested annually as advised, the New York Times reports. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends annual tests for HIV and syphilis, as well as other tests for gonorrhea and Chlamydia. However, three studies conducted by CDC researchers showed that screening rates were too low, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). According to Dr. Kevin Fenton, a top official with the CDC, incidence of these sexually transmitted diseases continues to increase, and are “a major threat to gay and bisexual men’s health”. He noted that such diseases increase the risk of contracting and spreading HIV.

A study conducted by Dr. Kristen Mahle found that among MSM who showed no symptoms of gonorrhea, many incidences of the disease were missed because some physicians did not test all sites of recent exposure. Further, the CDC recently announced that U.S. syphilis rates in 2007 increased for the seventh consecutive year; MSM accounted for 64% of the new cases and men overall accounted for six times as many cases as women. According to the CDC, communities of color were also highly affected with rates seven times higher for men of color and fourteen times higher for women of color. These sexually transmitted diseases rates could even be higher if more people were tested annually. The Times sites major issues of inadequate budgets and trained staff at sexual disease clinics as reasons why more comprehensive testing has not been done.

In the Capital Region, the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York provides free, confidential HIV and STD (Chlamydia, syphilis & gonorrhea) testing and counseling at a variety of community locations. Check the council’s website, www.aidscouncil.org, or call 518.HIV.TEST for additional testing sites and times.

(Altman, New York Times, 3/13)

The AIDS Council of Northeastern New York is pleased to present our Annual Report for 2006-2007. It is available in both electronic and hardcopy formats. To receive in the mail, please fill out the electronic registration below or call 518.434.4686. AIDS Council publications are also available at our regional offices in Albany, Glens Falls, Hudson, Plattsburgh, Schenectady and Troy.

2006-2007 Annual Report (PDF)

February 7, 2008 marks the eighth annual observance of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NBHAAD). This observance was created to educate African Americans about HIV/AIDS and its devastating effects on communities across the United States.

Over the last decade, African Americans and communities of color have come to bear the greatest burden of the AIDS epidemic in the US. While African Americans represent approximately 13% of the population, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that they account for over half of all new cases of HIV/AIDS. AIDS is now the leading cause of death for African American women ages 25 to 34 and second leading cause of death for African American men ages 35 to 44. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, HIV/AIDS is one of the top 10 leading causes of death for all African Americans. In the US, 72 African Americans are infected with HIV every day.

The AIDS Council of Northeastern New York joins as a part of a national mobilization effort to raise awareness about the threat posed by HIV/AIDS, encourage HIV testing and commit to fight the disease. More than 800 cities across the country will sponsor programs on February 7th. In the Capital Region, the AIDS Council will be hosting free and confidential HIV and STD testing at several community locations including 927 Broadway from 9:30AM-4:00PM, 245 Lark from 6:00PM-8:00PM and Waterworks Pub from 11:00PM-3:00AM. No appointment is needed for testing. The Council encourages citizens to get educated, get tested, get treated and get involved with HIV/AIDS as it continues to impact the Capital Region and New York State. HIV is 100% preventable and many do not know the test only takes about 20 minutes to get a result and involves no needles or blood. For additional testing dates, times and locations, call 518-HIV TEST.

The AIDS Council is committed to helping communities of color with its Given the Chance (GTC) initiative. This program launched last year is designed to address HIV, hepatitis and substance abuse prevention needs in the Capital Region among communities of color. GTC tackles one of the hardest hit populations by offering a multi-pronged approach including transitional case management, HIV counseling, enhanced peer outreach, free testing and risk reduction education. The Council also works on changing the behaviors of urban adolescents to reduce their risk of contracting HIV and other STDs. In the Capital Region, over 50% of newly diagnosed HIV/AIDS cases are in people of color. As the AIDS Council increases access to testing in communities with limited access to health care, this number could be even higher.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene released results of a survey that showed nearly one-fifth of NYC adults are at increased risk for HIV infection because of multiple sex partners or drug use. Among those identified with multiple sex partners, 60% do not use condoms all the time. More alarming is the fact that the survey found that 92% of this at-risk population does not believe they are at risk. The findings underscore the importance of prevention education and HIV testing.

The report is one of the first to use a citywide survey of blood samples to estimate HIV prevalence. The results support previous studies that show approximately 1.4% of New York City adults are infected with HIV. It also found disproportionately high numbers among men who have sex with men (MSM) (38 times the citywide average) and the Black and Hispanic populations (3.3% and 1.3% compared to .6% of Caucasians). Because of needle exchange programs and increased access to clean needles, HIV infection due to needle injection has decreased in the city, but the report showed the disease is still common among drug users (21% positive).

“Far too many people are in danger of contracting HIV through risky behavior,” said Dr. Thomas R. Frieden, Health Commissioner for New York City. “Reducing the number of sex partners you have and protecting yourself and your partners by consistently using condoms will help you stay safe. We should all know our HIV status, regardless of whether we think we’re at risk – and health care providers should offer this test to their patients.”

In the Capital Region, the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York provides free confidential HIV testing at a variety of locations including walk-in testing Monday-Friday 9:30am-4:00pm at our main office at 927 Broadway in downtown Albany. Check our website, www.aidscouncil.org, for additional testing sites and times.

DHMH Press Release, 1/10

According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the number of people living with HIV/ AIDS over 50 years of age has increased 77% from 2001 to 2005 (from 64,000 to 116,000). The New York Times reports that this age group now represents more than a quarter of all cases in the United States. Clearly, advances in medical treatment have allowed HIV/AIDS patients to live longer, but at what cost? With the longevity has come a range of unexpected serious medical conditions that can be worse than the disease itself.

The Times examined the “graying of the AIDS epidemic” and its link to many premature health problems including cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and depression. Twenty-five years ago, AIDS meant a speedy death sentence. Today, patients are living longer thanks to a variety of drug treatments and a continuum of support services. Medical professionals are now encountering a disproportionate number of ailments among the first wave of AIDS survivors to live past age 50. Although the first results are not conclusive, experts are coming to believe that the immune system and internal organs may be severely impacted before the patient starts the drug regime and those drugs then produce additional complications, according to the Times.

The research on AIDS and aging has barely begun. Most older people are excluded from drug trials and there is little information on long-term side effects of the drugs. Those who think HIV/AIDS is a disease manageable by taking a few pills are sorely mistaken.

(Gross, New York Times, 1/6)