South Texas HIV poz · South Texas HIV support and social group

Announcement: Monday, April 28, 10:30am

Website Editorial and Comments

Last night I sent out "introductory" E mail messages announcing the opening of our new website to about 30 key "officials" listed in the Texas HIV Community Resource Directory, with particular emphasis on those within our own South Texas Region. This morning I received a very encouraging call from Bob Smith of the Valley AIDS Project. Not only was he complimentary about the site and effort expressed by the formation of it but offered and extended both friendship and support! He directed me to their own website (it is wonderful!) and gave me full permission to share any item on his site with us here locally. He brought much light and hope as he shared just a bit with me over the phone about our coming new HIV clinic (grant will be applied for in June and possibility of a new clinic opening here as early as January or February of next year!). He explained a bit about the involvement of the Valley AIDS Project and how that we soon will be very closely linked with them. (Actually we are already in the same "Region" anyway). He offered suggestions about this website and I listened carefully to his wisdom and expertise. He even mentioned that we may get some support from his own website designer. He is an amazing, warm and intelligent gentleman and made me feel as though I had instantly made a new friend. He expressed a desire to meet me personally and extended an open invitation to tour their facilities and also promised to consider visiting with us here locally soon!

...BUT the conversation did NOT stop there! He told me about his employee located right here in Corpus Christi, Alicia Williams. He called her and gave her a preliminary "introduction" to me and then I received a call from her as well. She was also kind and supportive. I told Alicia that I hoped that in the future this website would be a JOINT community effort and asked for input from and support of this project from CBAF. She assured me that she would keep us in mind if special events came up so that we could post it to the website. I hope to also begin to receive input from MCC Corpus Christi, the Lovin Spoonful and any other benevolent party or organization. It will take us a while to gain a solid reputation, and that is where kindness, courtesty, humility and trust comes into focus. The primary FACT is that we should all incorporate and work together in harmony, sharing information, and FELLOWSHIP for a common purpose.

Mr. Smith shared with me the FACT that we currently have 516 clients in this area alone! 385 of those utilize CBAF services. I expressed to him that because of confidentiality agreements (and those of course are required by LAW) that same confidentiality often prohibits us from meeting others like ourselves. I stated that it was a shame that those other HIV+ individuals who may actually WANT to connect socially or for support purposes do not know how to find each other. I stated that somehow we must discover how to REACH these individuals to let them know that if they CHOOSE to get involved in HIV social activities they can! Why should we have to feel lonely and isolated; and that is my "stand" in a nutshell!

I thank each of you for considering my opinions. I am NOT political whatsoever. This website will NEVER take a political stance nor will it seek to create discord but will seek to encourage ALL who wish to do a work beneficial to the HIV community.

Michael, Site Manager