[Viva] Programs shutting down

Fri Feb 7 08:28:19 PST 2020

Good morning everyone.  I have been absent from ViVA of late for a number
of reasons, personal and health issues that I have been dealing with, as
well as taking a step back from on line/internet and social media to focus
on health and self care.  I have been diagnosed with two new conditions -
Hypothyroidism - which I am now just starting my first month of meds -
(Synthroid) and I have also been diagnosed with COPD and am starting a
pulmonary rehab program , as well as further treatment pending further
tests and results.  Additionally, two members of my family have been
diagnosed with Cancer - one terminal and one so far in remission after
surgery and non effective chemo. It has been a challenging few months, but
I am starting to feel the relief that comes with knowledge.  No matter how
bad the news is - it's much easier to deal with health issues when you know
whats going on.  It also helps explain some of the symptoms I was
continually putting down to simply depression or aging.  Knowledge truly is
power sometimes.  So, that's why you haven't heard too much from me...

The news of Positive Living closing is so very close to the bone for me and
I have to say I spent a great deal of Monday in tears, so sad for the loss
of the organization to those who truly were at the heart of it - the
volunteers, members and staff ! It is indeed a huge loss and one that will
be heartfelt for many for months, years to come. Perhaps more importantly,
it highlights the urgent need for the community to come together and share
resources, space and support each other in ways that matter ...how that
looks will unfold over time.

I whole heartedly 100 support the need for ViVA to continue and would like
to offer a couple of suggestions:

   - I would like to help organize a committee to look into a more evolved
   role for ViVA across the province and redefine the changing landscape women
   in B.C. now find themselves in lieu off funding cuts, and how best to
   utilize ViVA on a province wide basis.
   - I am confident that if ViVA were to approach Friends for Life - there
   would be support to have ViVA housed out of VFFL - with the ability to
   utilize the house for potential meetings or events or ? whatever women see
   in the future for ViVA
   - I would also be interested in researching into any other
   organizations/facilities that may want to see ViVA a part of their
   program/services...basically a promotion campaign to let women know more
   about ViVA and encourage more postings, information sharing and women to
   women online support.

I have applied for the two-day conference coming up with PAN and VFFL,
March 10/11 and look forward to hearing from them next week, fingers and
toes crossed I get in! I know the deadline was extended to end of day
yesterday - I hope many of the women who applied for the Women's Wellness
Fund will have applied and to see you all there. Just fyi, I am not
involved in the conference planning, and am looking forward to hopefully
attending and seeing some of you there. It will be a perfect opportunity
for women to come together and talk about the vision for support moving
forward.  If you haven't applied - maybe check with PAN  today and see if
there is any way you can apply today. (May be too late - but never hurts to
ask!) I again, do not know the conference details, or the numbers of folks
that have applied, but I do know that the more people who apply, the more
the need for events such as these to come together are highlighted and
heard by the organizations presenting, as well of the funders funding.

Now, more than ever - we as women need to come together and ensure we
connect and support each other - and I will volunteer my time and
commitment to ensuring ViVA continues and potentially evolves to an even
stronger platform with renewed inspiration.  I am not working for now and
the foreseeable future, and need things to keep my tiny little mind busy -
I am a doer that needs to keep doing. I have some time and energy to commit
to ViVA...anyone else out there?...

Thanks so much for reading my novel length posting this morning, I
appreciate any and all feedback.  Finally,  to all of the women out there
struggling with health issues, physical, mental or emotional, and the loss
of so many programs, services and support - I am sending out a big huge
virtual hug to you all.  If any one wants to connect with me directly my
email is shetognazzini at gmail.com, my cell phone is 604 440-1579.  Would
love to hear from women about this post as well - your thoughts ? Continue
this thread.  Thanks Gals, hope everyone has a good weekend. Heading out to
Surrey today to support Afro Caribbean day, maybe see some of you out
there.  Big hugs and love.
Shelly Tognazzini

On Fri, Feb 7, 2020 at 7:36 AM Lisa Lagos <lagos.lisa20 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Such a heartfelt message Leila.  Thank you.  🤝
>
> On Fri., Feb. 7, 2020, 12:19 a.m. Leila Kaman, <leilamadhvani at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Not viva too.. I don't think we should close the program. It's were we
>> are learning and getting information from.  what's left for us HIV ladies
>> to support us??  Please let's keep the viva. Ladies let's join hands
>> together 🤝
>>
>> On Thu., Feb. 6, 2020, 8:49 p.m. Margarite Sanchez, <
>> margaritesanchez at gmail.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for sending this out Tami. It's true, Positive Living Society of
>>> BC is closing.
>>> I'm not sure what the PLBC closure means for Viva. We have been
>>> functioning as  Standing Committee of the society for the last (5?) years.  *Do
>>> we want to become an independent society? Do we want to continue? *
>>> I don't have the answer, I hope there is enthusiasm to keep it going but
>>> it needs new energy and commitment.
>>>
>>> *How do Viva women feel about Viva? Is it valuable to you, to our
>>> community? *
>>>
>>> Margarite
>>>
>>> On Mon, Feb 3, 2020 at 5:25 AM Tami Starlight <tamistarlight at gmail.com>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> See:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/02/01/hiv-aids-support-advocacy-org-closing/amp/
>>>>
>>>> Sent from a mobile device
>>>> Tami Starlight - she/her/hers & they/them/theirs
>>>> Unceded coast Salish territory / Vancouver, Canada
>>>> https://theantioppressionnetwork.com https://
>>>> facebook.com/TheAntiONetwork/
>>>> twitter: @theaonetwork
>>>> _______________________________________________
>>>> VIVA mailing list
>>>> VIVA at lists.resist.ca
>>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/viva
>>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> VIVA mailing list
>>> VIVA at lists.resist.ca
>>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/viva
>>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> VIVA mailing list
>> VIVA at lists.resist.ca
>> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/viva
>>
> _______________________________________________
> VIVA mailing list
> VIVA at lists.resist.ca
> https://lists.resist.ca/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/viva
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.resist.ca/pipermail/viva/attachments/20200207/d52992b2/attachment.html>