Traveling down my own road
Watching the signs as they go
Traveling down my own road
And I'm watching the signs as I go

Traveling, traveling
Watching the signs as I go

                                                     Sky Fits Heaven

 

At the moment I’m heading out of London, Ontario, sitting in first class. I can plug in my laptop, and use free wireless. What more could I ask for – with the exception of that YouTube is blocked. I know I’ll survive.

Positivelite.com is coming up to it's 7th month anniversary. Two redesigns, and another one coming up, great partnerships forming where independent business are coming to get to work collaboratively. These last seven months have been a great, yet very turbulant ride at times. I've learned to always fasten my seatbelts. Without warning I might find myself flying up and hitting the kitchen roof.

---

Here is some of the good stuff:  sponsorship to write about the Vienna conference coming up in July, which marks the first time I've gotten funding for this kind of work completely on my own and not dependent on an organziation.

Another little bit of self- gossip tid-bit about next week is that I’m doing to get what is trade marked as a term, “a soft lift.” And I can tell you I’m starting to really feel like I need it too.

The reasons why I’m doing it is to draw attention to the cause of lipo-atrophy, the term that is used in reference to the loss of fat on face, usually as a result of the medications.

There’s a huge stigma about it, and a lot more, all of which I will touch upon on a later date, but look for the Friday, June 18^th as I will reveal all

After my “soft lift” I’m heading out to a community advertising board for a pharmaceutical company where we act as consultants for the day giving feedback on whatever information they are wanting to provide. They certainly need a lot of help with their indirect ad campaigns.

In Canada there are strict rules on direct advertising to consumers, hence the many ambiguous posters out not identifying the company. If you live in Toronto, check out the one by the Beer Store on Church St. I believe it replaced the HIV Stigma campaign sign – and finally.

Finally on July 12,, I leave for Vienna to cover issues such as starting treatment, the guidelines and if there are new ones. The video aspect will be short interviews with people taking about their issues or non issues about considering treatment, or what they were if they have already  been on active treatment.

Being ADD myself, changes are always on the horizon. A major redesign of the font page is in the panning stages. As I use the site, I see where it needs to go, and hopefully I’ll be able to implement this very exciting stuff soon.

The video is now (unless it is YouTube) is accessible on mobile devises, the iPhone, Android, and iPad

Lot’s of new exciting stuff on the horizon

Bringing the conversation back to the need to buckle down, I’m so thankful for the support and guidance I have received through a small collection of business advisors.  Additionally I have many coaches whether it be improv, film production, or web development, ad oh ya I have a voice coach as well. Never do I feel like I'm doing anything alone.

Ok, I'm over the good mood, I just want to get back to home, Toronto and see my little baby Hildi.

Enrico Mandarino is this year’s recipient of the Canadian AIDS Society Leadership Award, which will be presented at the Canadian AIDS Society’s annual general meeting taking place this June 18^th.

The award celebrated the national contribution made each year by one outstanding individual and/or company in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Past recipients include PositiveLite.com’ very own Devan Nambiar, (2006), and guest writer Ron Roseness (2007), both for the individual category.

I took a moment to have a chat with Enrico about the upcoming AGM, and his thoughts on receiving such great community recognition.

First Rico (I say Rico – we’ve been friends for quite sometime), how long have you been involved in the movement, and what was your motivation?

I’ve been involved in the movement for over 20 years.  I was working in a research lab in 1995 on viral load testing, which then became the standard of care.  In 1996 when triple combination therapy started, I wanted to use my science background and transfer HIV knowledge to the community. I started volunteering at ACT and was one of the first volunteers in the gay men’s outreach program providing safe sex information to men who have sex with men in bars and bathhouses.  My motivation has always been around advocacy and education in HIV/AIDS.

---

How do you describe your work over the years?  

I have been involved in all areas of HIV/AIDS including, prevention, research and therapies at community, national and international levels. I sat on several boards and committees and did a lot of public policy work. It’s really an honor to receive a “leadership” award when I always thought of myself as” team player. I have always enjoyed doing the work as much as the strategic planning. In my professional life some people like to think I wasn’t a leader….  Thanks to CAS for recognizing that team players are also leaders.

What would you say your most significant or memorable moment working in the HIV/AIDS/affected community?

There were many significant accomplishments I remember over the years. While I was with CTAC we fought to get vaccines covered for HIV positive children in Ontario. While I was with CAS, I championed getting the bylaws changed so that individual people living with HIV can run for the board of directors.  My appointment to the Federals Ministerial Council on HIV/AIDS was also a significant moment for me.

I consider you a role model, do you think of yourself that way? Do you think 25-years later or so in this movement role models remain important.

Wow, thank you.  I’ve been around a long time and I learned so much from the people around me. Roll models are people looked to by others as an example. I think we all need roll models in whatever work we do.  In HIV roll models or mentors are very important because that bring a wealth of experience and knowledge that is so important to the movement. My closest dearest friends and mentors have developed through our mutual passion and commitment to HIVAIDS.

What do you think have been the greatest changes between the time when you first started out and now?

We certainly have come a long way from when I started 20 years ago. Back then I saw many friends die. Today although there is no cure, medications are much more convenient and more tolerable. People with HIV are living longer and the topic “HIV and aging” is on agendas. Unfortunately HIV/AIDS is no longer top of mind causing challenges to funding and resources. Despite all this progress millions of people in low- and middle-income countries still do not have access to antiretroviral therapy. In parts of the world, AIDS still looks like it did in the 1980s. 

Do you have any advice for the greater community’s next generation who want to become involved? Is it still needed it the same way as say twenty-years ago.

I would totally encourage the next generation to get involved. Whether its volunteering at a local ASO, a fundraiser or on a board. I especially encourage people living with HIV/AIDS to get involved. I’d say involvement is needed even more today to make sure that HIV/AIDS remains in the forefront and doesn’t drop off of anyone’s agenda. Volunteering and working in HIV/AIDS has truly been the most rewarding experience in my life.

Thank you Rico for joining us on PositiveLite.com, and we all wish you congratulations and that you have a great night on June 19^th, in Ottawa. We are all proud of you.

Brian Finch, PositiveLite.com publisher

The North American Housing and HIV/AIDS Research Summit V: Evidence into Action: Housing is HIV Prevention and Care just finished wrapping up.

It was the very kind of occasionto bring contributor Bob Leahy to town. As tawdry as sounds, and I assure you it isn't, we always seem to have our video cameras out.

This time we went on a bit of a little rainy video adventure. Even with my history, be that as it may, I was worried about being self-conscious about standing alone Bloor St. talking to a camera on a tripod.

Without Bob, alone in the rain, I’d be more like a sedentary vision of someone speaking to themselves, but not really with their handy bluetooths or, Blueteeth?

The strategy has always been working on a hope and a prayer. . I picked up a camera about a year-and-a-half ago, and figured out iMovie. It’s a message I want to give out on this site – as Obama – as it does, but yes you can. OK, yes you can more in the way that taking risk is possible. Life can still be an exciting ride.

Today I’m about working with a film production professional who is co-producing what I call “the result of a joke”, The Real Hags of Cabbagetown.

It really has been a great journey so far. I’ve accepted and embraced my weirdness.

We finally got to shoot my intro, which I’m sure will have the flare of a public access show. Next time, when its not raining, I’ll be standing in front of my bike as the roaming cycling reporter – always last at the scene of a crime.

There could be a fake commercial in there.

Everyone Enjoy the weekend.