July 2015 - AIDS Project of the Ozarks

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1901 E. Bennett, Suite D
Springfield, MO 65804
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PERMIT NO. 499
Summer at APO
Employee spotlight
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In This Issue >>>
The Undetectable “U”
http://www.aidsprojectoftheozarks.org/
Red Ribbon Ride Review
Letter from Lynne—a Remembrance
Summer Edition
July 2015
Life lines
Summer at APO
Welcome Sam Saxton
Our New Medical Case Manager
We Need Your Support
AIDS Project of the Ozarks has been at the front line in the fight against
HIV/AIDS since 1985-when reliable information about the disease and its
treatment was nearly impossible to obtain. All of APO’s services to clients
and the public, including brochures, publications, testing and education programs are provided FREE of charge.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Contributions from our supporters are vitally important and needed to help ensure APO is able to continue providing the same high quality
services to our community.
I asked, “Why doesn’t somebody do something?”
then I realized I was somebody.
Enclosed is my:
Donation
Annual membership dues of $15
Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
My donation is in honor of:
________________________________________ (Optional)
Complete and mail to AIDS Project of the Ozarks* 1901 E Bennett, Suite D, * Springfield,
MO 65804
Contributions are tax deductible. All services to clients are provided in strict confidence. APO’s mailing list is kept
confidential
Board of Directors
Emily Bowen-Marler—President
Chris Rees--First Vice President
Lacey Nunnally, LCSW—2nd Vice President
Jane Pike—Secretary
Wade Shelton—Treasurer
Clarissa French
Stephen Adams, MD
Byrne Blackwood, PhD
Jean Turner
Joy Robertson
Rose DeGray
Carolyn Carine
Jane Pike—Secretary
Jeff Houghton
Brad Haller
Mary Anne Jennings
Alli Rees—-Jr. Board Member
I graduated with a
Bachelor’s in Psychology from Missouri
State in May 2014 and
immediately began
working for Burrell in
one of their youth residential facilities,
Bramblewood, as a
Residential Specialist.
While there, I provided general supervision
and guidance as well as emotional support to
kids ages 6-12 with severe mental illnesses. I
transferred within Burrell to the Ryan White
department in the early fall of 2014 and
worked as a Medical Case Manager there until
accepting the position with APO! As a Medical
Case Manager I have already learned so much
not only about HIV/AIDS but the many facets
of public health in general. While at APO, I
hope to extend my knowledge in those areas
and continue to learn about Springfield’s
LGBTQA community.
I am a huge music lover. I enjoy listening to
most everything but my heart lives with rock
n’ roll. I also play guitar whenever I have the
chance. On top of simply enjoying music, I
support my significant other in his dream to
play rock music for a living in the band
T.R.O.Y. My other major love is my puppy,
Marley. In my spare time we play and catch
Frisbees! And if those things don’t keep me
busy than I will take a ride on my motorcycle
with one of my best friends, my mom.
In the months of March through June
Along with the various events, APO
2015, APO Prevention staff has kept busy staff continues to provide free HIV/
at a variety of events at the two APO loca- STI/Hepatitis C Testing and Counseltions in Springfield and the APO office in
YTD as of 5/19/2015
Totals
Joplin. These included


HIV Tests (All Methods)
# Positives
% Positive
607
4
.6%
The Man Show March 20 and 21
Miss Gay Missouri US of A Pageant
March 20 and 21
239
Syphilis Tests
 Missouri Health Occupations Students
#
Positive
tests
8
of America (HOSA) March 24
% Positive
3%
 Testing at Clarity Treatment Center
March 18 and May 19 Miss Missouri
GC/Chlamydia (All
Classic April 10 and 11 MSSU testing
836
Methods)
event April 14 and 15
# Positive Tests
78
 PFLAG meeting April 19
%
Positive
9%
 Missouri Association of School Nurses
April 24
189
Rapid Hepatitis C
 MSU Microbiology class seminar May
# Positive Tests
28
5
% Positive
15%
 Booth and testing t Pride in Joplin
June 6
ing services. Since 01/01/15, the
 Booth and testing at Greater Ozark
School youth Education Team providPride Fest in Springfield June 20
ed 40 presentations to 20 high
APO is already scheduled for a number of schools, 14 middle schools and 6
other classes to 718 students. Overevents in late summer. These include:
all, the students’ post test scores on
knowledge regarding HIV and STI
 MSSU Community Days August 19
increased by an average of 33% as
 Testing at Behavioral Health Group in
compared to their pre-test scores.
West Plains August 19
Since 01/01/15, health education and
 Educational Program at Cactus Cancondom distribution continued at the
yon on August 22
APO Downtown facility on weekend
 MSU Back to School Outreach August evenings from 6 pm to 11 pm with
26
377 youth receiving condoms and
 Drury University September 9
counseling.
Red Ribbon Ride Review
Page 2 >>>
Lynne’s Letter
On June 6th, the Pike Family,
the APO Family and the Springfield Community, lost someone
who is truly irreplaceable.
James “Lee Lee” Pike died after
being hospitalized for several
months. Lee Lee had been a
long-time volunteer for APO,
and was a regular fixture at
APO downtown, educating whoever came through the doors.
He was especially good at talking with teen-agers and young
adults. He was able to approach them in a down to earth
manner that they responded to.
Lee Lee brought a unique voice
and perspective to the important
work we do at APO. He kept
delivering the prevention message even when he felt crummy.
He helped out however he could
around APO and he has been
missed since he went into the
hospital. There is no one else
like him and he will hold a special place in many of our hearts.
When Lee Lee passed, APO
staff shared happy memories
they had of him, and I would like
to share those with you: “Lee
Lee was a man that many
young gay/bi guys knew. I cannot
speak on the behalf of all the
young men that knew Lee Lee
but I bet we had universal experiences of safety, generosity, love,
sass, and wisdom that only age
and life experience can give.
They say people won’t remember
what you do or what you say but
they will remember how you
made them feel. Lee Lee was a
great example of that”; 1) His
smile and big laugh. 2) His sassy
humor. 3) His warm hugs, laugh,
smile, and loving spirit. 3) He
was such a loving and loveable
soul. 4) His
sense of
pleasure
with life. 5)
His love of
chocolate/
sweets—He
would say “Gotta give the meds
somethin’ to work on”. 6) He was
always welcoming. 7) His dedication to the health of our community. 8) His love of people. 9) He
loved being a part of APO.
Lee Lee had an energy that was
irrepressible. He also had a huge
heart and desire to help others.
Lee Lee is a part of so many families. The family he was born to;
his APO family; and the large family of folks that he offered advice
and wise direction to. Lee Lee
could also spot hooey from a mile
off. And he shared that with the
folks who needed to know. Folks
weren’t going to get over on him.
Lee Lee, like all the Pikes I’ve
met, has an indescribable soul—
the closest I can come is to say
his soul is kind, honest, and
peaceful.
Lee Lee is the most quietly extraordinary person I have ever
met. And I am so blessed to have
him in my life.
Quality Matters
A group of consumers, Medical Case Managers, and
Clinic Providers have identified a new Quality Management Project. While we have
been working closely with
individuals whose viral loads
are above 200 in an attempt
to achieve suppression, we
realized we should reward those consumers
who have already accomplished such life
changing healthy goals. We will be giving
out “It’s All About U” cards and a charm
stating “You Make the Difference” to the
86% of our consumers who have achieved
suppressed viral loads. We congratulate
them for their commitment to excellence, and
their investments in their personal health!
The t-shirts are packed up, the red
aprons have been put away, and the figures have all been calculated. The 2015
Red Ribbon Ride has officially come to
an end.
We cannot thank you enough for participating and making the event so wonderful!
We saw a lot of new faces this year,
which is always a great thing! We hope
the new rider's had a great time, and we
are always so happy to see all of our old
friends back each year!
Official count
Rider's: 249
volunteers: 100
Money raised: $35,000
(MAC matched over $14,000 in your
donations!)
This event would not be the same without the support and commitment from
all of you. This year there are a few people who went above and beyond and are
this year's Red Ribbon Ride Champions!
Michelle Winslow and MAC
Cosmetics for tirelessly working with
APO to raise funds and awareness. You
see them at our events and at the MAC
Cosmetics counter in Dillards, but what
you don't know is all the work they do
behind the scenes to help APO. They
host bake sales to raise funds, they speak
and volunteer at our events, they provide
glamor sessions for our clients, and are
always willing to pitch in wherever they are
needed. We truly cannot thank them enough
for all the things they do for APO!
John Tsahiridis from Galloway
Station. John works tirelessly to make sure
everyone is taken care of, fed, and shown a
great time. He outdid himself this year! We
cannot thank John, Klaus and Emi enough
for their hospitality over the years and for
being such a great group of people! Don't
forget to eat at Galloway Station throughout
the year, Their food is as good as they are
kind and generous.
Gary Grove and Grove Pharmacy
for always jumping in and supporting APO
for the last 30 years, and for always sponsoring and supporting our events. We could
write a book on all the wonderful things
Grove Pharmacy has done for those living
with HIV in our community. Gary Grove
has always put the lives and health of others
first, and it shows. We could not ask for a
better partner in our quest to slow the
spread of HIV. Gary has been a steadfast
ally in caring for those living with the disease, and for working to help make APO
the top notch AIDS Service Organization
we are today. Thank you Grove for walking this walk with us!
Tim Warner Photography for always flying in from Dallas to document our
event. Tim is a top level sports photographer, who shoots for so many professional
teams including the KC Chiefs, Houston
Astros, Dallas Cowboys and many many
others. We are so honored he shares his
time and talents with us each year.
Gary Ledford for providing guidance, knowledge and superior routing skills
to our ride. Gary routes, reroutes and marks
Save the Date!
2015 AIDS Walk
Saturday October 10th
Phelps Grove Park
our routes to make sure they are they
safest, and most enjoyable routes available to us. Gary is a resource, a wealth of
knowledge and an all out animal on a
bike, and we so delighted to learn from
him.
Team Wrong Way: We are so
honored to have such fabulous fundraiser's among you, and truly humbled by the
dedication and commitment Team
Wrong Way shows to the Red Ribbon
Ride. Thanks for busting your buns to be
number one! We really appreciate it!
All the money raised by the Red Ribbon
Ride is used for direct client services,
and makes a huge difference in the lives
of those suffering.
What Will Your Legacy Look Like?
While the subject of estate planning may be uncomfortable for some, to others it is a comfort to know they will live on through the
work they started during their lives. Here is are a few gift ideas that cost nothing today, but will mean the world to someone facing
HIV/AIDS.
 Beneficiary Designation Forms for retirement plans and life insurance policies (list APO as the beneficiary)
 Payable on Death accounts (consider adding APO as the POD on your bank accounts)
 Transfer on Death (consider adding APO as the TOD on your property, securities or real estate)
 Donor Advised Funds (allows donors to make a charitable contribution, receive an immediate tax benefit and then recommend grants from the fund
over time. An easy way to think about a donor-advised fund is like a charitable savings account: a donor contributes to the fund as frequently as they like
and then recommends grants to their favorite charity when they are ready. )
Gifts like yours sustain our organization and bolster the value of our mission. They are investments in the future of APO and the
people we serve.
Start your legacy today.
Please consider adding the AIDS Project of the Ozarks to your estate plans.