[Viva] a little rant from me.....

[James and Alexandria Keating]

Hi Gals,
    I don't often submit to our list serve lately as life have been a bit up in the air for my family. But I do really appreciate reading the thoughts and opinions of all who submit...so thanks. I also appreciate knowing your all there when I do need to share, rant, question or cry, this listserv is precious......  
    I am writing tonight because I am feeling very disturbed by an e-mail notice I got today from PWN regarding the $25 Christmas voucher that has been cancelled this year. As I read the notice, which I have attached to this e-mail for any of you who might not have received it yet, I found myself feeling angry. It is not about the money per say, although the voucher has always been helpful at such a financially challenging time of year and I have always appreciated it. For me, it is more about the question "what exactly does the Positive Women's Network do for me". If you don't live in Vancouver then there is now no direct help coming from PWN. But PWN is suppose to be a BC wide organization...isn't it? Once a year or so they hold a retreat where maybe 20 women attend, most of whom are from the Lower mainland if not Vancouver proper with the odd person from somewhere else in BC thrown in. They are still offering their lunch program once a week, their food bank once a week, support groups that at present are not happening (I'm not sure  why), their drop in space, day retreats/outings(things like beauty night, picnics, workshops, theatre outings, etc) to name a few. All these are services you need to be in Vancouver or the lower mainland to access. The ONLY direct assistance that PWN offers all their members, regardless of where they live in our province, is the Christmas Grocery Voucher. And now this is being cancelled. Let me say that again.......They have cancelled the only direct assistance they give to ALL their members, the only direct assistance they do for all of us who don't live in Vancouver. Don't get me wrong, those of you who live in Vancouver and the lower mainland need what assistance you get....but so do those of us who don't live there. For many who don't live in a city, this might be one of the only forms of direct assistance they get through out the year from any organization. Rural and smaller communities don't have multiple options for help, some don't have any options for help from an HIV specific organization. This leaves many of us with few if any options for assistance  and fewer still where ones HIV status is protected. With in the lower mainland there are many HIV organizations which women can access (AIDS Vancouver and BCPWA  are only two of many). They might not be women only organizations but a woman will not be turned away. What I just don't understand is why PWN decided to cancel the one and only thing they do for ALL their members instead of cancelling something that overlaps services already available in Vancouver, maybe at another HIV organization. I just don't understand. It's like PWN is saying "if your not in Vancouver....to bad for you, your not a priority for us this year. We're focusing what little we're going to give on those in our town an the rest of you can fend for yourselves". Those of us living with HIV fend for ourselves every day, whether we live in a city or a more rural area. We all struggle with many factors that those who do not live with this illness will just never get, not even those who work in the AIDS field. Poverty is one of the issues that a great many people with HIV struggle and it is sad that PWN is cancelling the Christmas Voucher, a little something that does help. Thanks for letting me pour out my frustration about this issue. I am planning to send an e-mail to PWN and express my feelings of disappointment with their decision. I think it is important to be heard, especially when it effects our lives and well being. I know that PWN is no longer an organization where HIV positive people have a direct say in how and what is done, and I think that is a shame. It used to be, 15 + years ago, but not any more. I think PWN is lesser for these changes and this decision is simply the latest reflection of that.
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