[e-drug] NATAF: Scholarships Deadline August 31st

[Gregg Gonsalves <Greggg@gmhc.org>]

E-drug: NATAF: Scholarships Deadline August 31st
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NATAF: Scholarships Deadline August 31st
December 2-5, 2001 
Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
Vancouver, Canada

For more information on scholarships
http://www.nmac.org/nataf/2001/scholarship/scholarship.htm

The 2001 North American AIDS Treatment Action Forum (NATAF)
will be held December 2-5 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre
Hotel, Vancouver, Canada. The forum is designed to educate
individuals interested in becoming HIV/AIDS advocates and
educators; to enhance their skills and knowledge; and to develop
inclusive, national strategies to ensure the continuity and success
of the treatment advocacy movement. 

NATAF 2001 is open to anyone interested in broadening their
knowledge of HIV/AIDS research and treatment issues, and learning
to use this knowledge to advocate on behalf of everyone living with
HIV/AIDS. Participants include the volunteers, staff, and board
members of community-based organizations, case managers, social
workers, AIDS educators and outreach workers, pharmaceutical and
government representatives, healthcare professionals and people
living with HIV/AIDS.

Scholarships Deadline August 31st Deadline for scholarships
application is 6:00 PM (eastern) on August 31, 2001. For
information about scholarships or to apply online, please go to
http://www.nmac.org/nataf/2001/scholarship/scholarship.htm

Scholarship applications will be accepted from all interested parties.
Special consideration will be given to treatment advocates living
with HIV/AIDS and people who are interested in becoming
treatment advocates. Depending on availability, a maximum of one
scholarship per agency will be awarded.

DO NOT FAX your scholarship application. Faxed applications will
NOT be considered. Please be sure to complete all required
information. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
 
Scholarship Options
Option A - Registration only ($150.00 US)
Option B - Registration($150.00 US), $100.00 US travel credit, two
nights hotel lodging at Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel
($430.00 US)

The forum includes a pre-conference orientation and is divided into
three tracks:

Action Track
(http://www.nmac.org/nataf/2001/welcome.htm#Action_Track)
The Action Track combines two tracks from previous years: the
Treatment Activist track and the Public Policy track. This track will
provide information and skills-building necessary to impact how
AIDS research is conducted, and how treatments, vaccines and
microbicides are developed and approved. It will also cover policies
made by federal, state and provincial governments, and private
insurers that affect access to treatment and quality health care for
all people living with HIV. Finally, it will examine how governments,
international agencies and drug companies respond to the global
AIDS epidemic.

Treatment Education Track
(http://www.nmac.org/nataf/2001/welcome.htm#Treatment_Educat
ion_Track)
The Treatment Education track will engage in discussions about
existing and emerging concepts in HIV/AIDS-related treatment
issues. The track will examine these issues in a manner that makes
them accessible to people living with HIV/AIDS, treatment
educators, and direct service providers.

Skills Building Track
(http://www.nmac.org/nataf/2001/welcome.htm#Skills_Building_Tra
ck)
The goal of the Skills Building track is to help participants apply the
information and strategies discussed in the Treatment Education
and Action Tracks in their own activities and communities. The
Skills Building workshops use hands-on learning approaches and
provide participants the opportunity to use real-life projects,
experiences and challenges throughout the workshops.

Registration
Deadline for registration is 6 p.m., October 31, 2001. You can
register online at
http://www.nmac.org/nataf/2001/online_registration.htm.

Member Pre-Registration Fee $150 (before October 31, 2001, 6
p.m. eastern)
Non Member Pre-Registration Fee $175 (before October 31, 2001,
6 p.m. eastern)
Onsite Registration Fee $225 (after October 31, 2001, 6 p.m.
eastern)

Visiting Canada
A valid passport is required for citizens of all countries to enter
Canada. Canada has no specific restrictions on entry for people
living with HIV/AIDS. However, Canada does reserve the right to
deny entry to someone with serious medical illness that poses a
danger to public health or safety, or whose admission might cause
excessive demands on health or social services. Although HIV is not
considered a danger to public heath, it may be necessary for
delegates to prove that they have health insurance coverage for the
entire period of their visit to Canada. Therefore, it is strongly
recommended that you purchase health insurance for your visit to
Canada. Delegates will have access to medical services and nursing
support during the conference. Make sure your travel health
insurance will cover these expenses. Access to HIV-related drugs
will be possible but not without payment. There will be no free
drugs at the conference. So please, ensure you bring an adequate
supply for your stay in Canada. Individuals who are undergoing
Methadone maintenance therapy are permitted to enter into Canada
with no more than a two-day supply of methadone. Upon arrival in
Vancouver, arrangements can be made to insure appropriate
quantity of Methadone is prescribed for the remainder of your stay.
If you are entering Canada with Methadone, you MUST bring an
original letter from your doctor clearly stating the dose, route and
frequency of administration as well as the reason for and length of
time you have been taking Methadone. Requests for Methadone
prescriptions will be handled with strict confidentiality. Please note
that you will be responsible for paying for the cost of filling a
Methadone prescription. The possession of and/or transport of
illegal drugs (including marijuana) into Canada is NOT permitted
even with a doctor¹s prescription 
 
Hotel Information
Please go to
http://www.nmac.org/nataf/2001/Hotel_Registration_Form.htm to
the the hotel registration form. 

NATAF has reserved a block of rooms at the Sheraton Vancouver
Wall Centre Hotel for the forum. To be assured a room at the
special forum rates, you must make your reservations by October
31, 2001, and identify yourself as a NATAF participant. You may
make reservations by completing the hotel reservation form and
returning it directly to the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel
1088 Burrard Street Vancouver, BC Canada V6Z 2R9. Phone:
1-800-663-9255, Fax: 604-893-7123. A deposit for the first night
is required to guarantee your room reservation. The room rate is for
single Occupancy $129.00 (plus taxes) or Double Occupancy $129
(plus taxes). Amount shown is in Canadian Currency, his amount
converts to $86.00 dollars per night as of January 4, 2001.
Amount subject to change in currency exchange. Also your GST
taxes paid on hotel accommodations and purchases made in
Canada are refundable.

Scholarship recipients will be required to make their own hotel
reservations. 

The Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel is located in downtown
Vancouver within walking distance of several attractions. The hotel
is located approximately 30 minutes from Vancouver International
Airport. All accommodations feature remote control color television
with cable, three phones with two dedicated phone lines, voicemail,
computer and fax hook-ups, am/fm clock radios, in room coffee
makers, ironing boards/irons, hairdryers and complimentary
newspapers. Meeting participants will be able to enjoy fitness
center with indoor lap pool and 2 Jacuzzis as well as 24 hour room
service.

Sponsors
AIDS Project Los Angeles
African American AIDS Policy and Training Institute
American Foundation for AIDS Research
Asian & Pacific Islander Wellness Center
British Columbia Persons With AIDS Society
Canadian AIDS Society
Canadian Treatment Advocates Council
Community Research Initiative on AIDS 
Gay Men's Health Crisis 
Hyacinth AIDS Foundation
National Minority AIDS Council
Project Inform
Test Positive Aware Network
Treatment Action Group

Please check out the latest information on our web page by going
to http://www.nmac.org

Information from NMAC On-Line and at www.nmac.org is drawn
mostly from secondary sources; people living with HIV/AIDS should
share information of interest to them with their primary care
provider before making treatment choices. The presence of the
name or image of any individual on http://www.nmac.org should
not be construed as an indication of their HIV status or unless
specifically stated. Questions or comments should be directed to
info@nmac.org or you can write to: NMAC, 1931 13th St., NW,
Washington, D.C.


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