2012 is going to be a big year and we are going to need everyone in top form, if we are going to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
You have no idea how much I like saying "we're going to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic!" It's a dream come true. I am so ready to make this vision a reality. I know it will take years, but every big transformation has to start somewhere. This is our watershed moment and I hope we're up to the task.
The importance of this year's election cannot be overstated. The last two years have been marred by partisan gridlock and rancor. Elections have consequences, and now is the time for our constituents' voices to be heard. For our community, this election is important for another reason. The populations who are most likely to be disenfranchised - minorities and the poor - are also the same populations that are most severely impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We work every day to give voice to these communities and ensure that their needs are met. This election is their chance to speak up for themselves: at the ballot box. We should do everything we can to help them do so.
Voting is fundamental to our democracy; however, too often CBOs don't want to get involved. They're concerned about their 501(c)3 status. While their trepidation is understandable, their participation is critical. As nonprofits, we must all be careful to remain nonpartisan, but we can and should encourage voting, whether through registering new voters and/or organizing transportation to the polls.
You have no idea how much I like saying "we're going to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic!" It's a dream come true. I am so ready to make this vision a reality. I know it will take years, but every big transformation has to start somewhere. This is our watershed moment and I hope we're up to the task.
The importance of this year's election cannot be overstated. The last two years have been marred by partisan gridlock and rancor. Elections have consequences, and now is the time for our constituents' voices to be heard. For our community, this election is important for another reason. The populations who are most likely to be disenfranchised - minorities and the poor - are also the same populations that are most severely impacted by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We work every day to give voice to these communities and ensure that their needs are met. This election is their chance to speak up for themselves: at the ballot box. We should do everything we can to help them do so.
Voting is fundamental to our democracy; however, too often CBOs don't want to get involved. They're concerned about their 501(c)3 status. While their trepidation is understandable, their participation is critical. As nonprofits, we must all be careful to remain nonpartisan, but we can and should encourage voting, whether through registering new voters and/or organizing transportation to the polls.
Nonpartisan Voter Registration
At every fundraiser, health fair, support group, coalition meeting, our movement needs to register voters. In most states it's a simple process. To figure out how, go to http://register-vote.com.
Not only is voter registration important for our democracy, but organizations that register thousands of voters become important to mayors, city councils, governors and federal legislators. Not only are you doing your part for democracy, but you're also building "political capital." You never know when this will come in handy, especially as we need additional funds to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Why This Election Is Important
Constituents, donors and clients need to know why it's important to vote. You can't tell them who to vote for, but you can certainly educate them about our issues. You can also share with candidates why health care reform is important. Talk about our shared vision to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
NMAC is here for support as you put together briefs for candidates on the issues that impact your community. We have already planned a series of issue papers that you can modify to meet your needs. Contact Kali Lindsey (klindsey@nmac.org), NMAC's Director of Legislative and Public Affairs or Daniel Montoya (dmontoya@nmac.org), NMAC's Deputy Executive Director if you need assistance as you develop your organization's strategy or simply want to know ways you can make a difference.
Organize Transportation
We all know that access to a doctor is meaningless unless you have transportation to get to the appointment. As a result, our community has developed systems to get folks to their medical appointments. Constituents, donors and clients need to understand that voting is similarly important and your agency can help arrange transportation to get to the polls.
Please note: You cannot use government money to organize transportation to the polls. This is why it is vital that organizations establish diverse funding streams to sustain their mission and work. Organizations that have a mix of government and private support are more likely to succeed than organizations dependent on government money alone. Organizing transportation is a great way to create "new private donors" for your agency. Private donors understand the value of voting. I'm available to help strategize if you'd like: pkawata@nmac.org.
Continue to Support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
While this year's election is important, it's also critical that we keep our eye on the ball in terms of health care reform. We must continue to support the ACA in Congress and oppose any efforts to undermine its full implementation. This being an election year, it's possible that the ACA will become an even more aggressive target for those looking to score political points. We must work to ensure that the health of millions of Americans, including the 1.1 million individuals living with HIV or AIDS are not held hostage by political gamesmanship.
2012 is a big year. We have to a lot of work to do to get ourselves positioned to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. No one said ending the AIDS epidemic would be easy. It's a struggle that will test our character and commitment. But I have no doubt our movement is up to the challenge.
At every fundraiser, health fair, support group, coalition meeting, our movement needs to register voters. In most states it's a simple process. To figure out how, go to http://register-vote.com.
Not only is voter registration important for our democracy, but organizations that register thousands of voters become important to mayors, city councils, governors and federal legislators. Not only are you doing your part for democracy, but you're also building "political capital." You never know when this will come in handy, especially as we need additional funds to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Why This Election Is Important
Constituents, donors and clients need to know why it's important to vote. You can't tell them who to vote for, but you can certainly educate them about our issues. You can also share with candidates why health care reform is important. Talk about our shared vision to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
NMAC is here for support as you put together briefs for candidates on the issues that impact your community. We have already planned a series of issue papers that you can modify to meet your needs. Contact Kali Lindsey (klindsey@nmac.org), NMAC's Director of Legislative and Public Affairs or Daniel Montoya (dmontoya@nmac.org), NMAC's Deputy Executive Director if you need assistance as you develop your organization's strategy or simply want to know ways you can make a difference.
Organize Transportation
We all know that access to a doctor is meaningless unless you have transportation to get to the appointment. As a result, our community has developed systems to get folks to their medical appointments. Constituents, donors and clients need to understand that voting is similarly important and your agency can help arrange transportation to get to the polls.
Please note: You cannot use government money to organize transportation to the polls. This is why it is vital that organizations establish diverse funding streams to sustain their mission and work. Organizations that have a mix of government and private support are more likely to succeed than organizations dependent on government money alone. Organizing transportation is a great way to create "new private donors" for your agency. Private donors understand the value of voting. I'm available to help strategize if you'd like: pkawata@nmac.org.
Continue to Support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
While this year's election is important, it's also critical that we keep our eye on the ball in terms of health care reform. We must continue to support the ACA in Congress and oppose any efforts to undermine its full implementation. This being an election year, it's possible that the ACA will become an even more aggressive target for those looking to score political points. We must work to ensure that the health of millions of Americans, including the 1.1 million individuals living with HIV or AIDS are not held hostage by political gamesmanship.
2012 is a big year. We have to a lot of work to do to get ourselves positioned to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. No one said ending the AIDS epidemic would be easy. It's a struggle that will test our character and commitment. But I have no doubt our movement is up to the challenge.
It's a pretty simple choice in November, really. Although this blogger is far less blunt than me. Choice A) Health care is a right. Choice B) If you aren't working full time to make the 1 percent's wealth greater, you are not needed on this planet, by simply denying you access to care, we save Billions on trains and ovens.
Put the choice out to millions suffering out there globally with hiv / aids and or other STD's. There is NO global fund where we the sufferers that can afford to, can pool our contribution to see the end to a problem which is spreading faster than the experts and polititians think or know. Most of us did not ask to be infected, like the flu you can get it if in the wrong place and the wrong time. I contracted from a decent divorced woman, whose ex husband slept around. If governments do not care (other than for our vote), well then its simple they have signed the death warrants for those who got it and the millions still to innocently acquire it (Almighty i pray that it does not happen). This virus is mutating faster than funds and research can keep up with. If a functional cure can be found for HIV then it opens up unlimited similar functional cures for other STD's
I find this article to be too narrowly focused and without any real answers.
If we put all our eggs in the Afordable Care Act basket, we may very well be mightily disappointed. Sure, we can then blame Republicans. However, that gets us nowhere.
We need to look at alternative's beyond "Obama Care" that can get us where we need to be.
Questions we need to ask are:
How do we keep SS disability fully funded in a sustainable manner so that those with AIDS and can not work recieve some sort of income?
What strategies do we have to increase HIV drug adherance? Mutation need not be a problem if we can get a very high adherance rate. There are many people with access to care, who simply do not take their drugs.
How do we ensure that state legislatures fully fund HIV care to remove the ADAP waiting list? This requires states to make tough budgetting decisions so they get out of their massive debt.
How can we make the cost of care cheaper? My drugs, before insurance pays, are $2500 per month. That is an awful burden for society to pick up.
In short, there are many more ways to acheive our goals than to place all our Eggs in the ACA basket.