ProjectAccept.org only reimburses staff for the cost of goods and services directly related to the production of the events themselves:  vendor fees, printing, equipment rentals, booth giveaways, etc, which will be published in the official Event Report upon completion (est. 4/15/13).  They are not compensated for their time, or reimbursed for travel, lodging, meals, etc. These personal expenses in pursuit of volunteering are indeed tax-deductible, so we track and report them.

In addition, although volunteer time is neither tax-deductible or reimbursed, it should be tracked.  Every state and territory publishes an official per/hour rate to calculate the cost of time, for organizational management and planning purposes.  Thus, we figure both into our internal reporting, in order to accurately reflect the whole costs associated with our activities.

Why do we track all of this?  So that we know how much things truly cost; who is actually paying for each line item it is a separate matter entirely.  We must constantly make cost projections, both to the corporation and to individuals, in order to determine what is and what is not feasible.

The expenses of the core event staff are reported under Staff Expenses.  However, we also try to have board meetings in conjunction with fundraising & social events, in order to keep costs down for all involved.  Due to this, we often have two events on the same weekend, each with its own accounting.  Documentation of the expenses of any board members who are not physically working directly on the fundraising event will be on charged instead toward the overall “cost” of the board meeting event, rather than the fundraising event itself.  None of the expenses, however, are actually reimbursed; only deducted on taxes.

Our expense reports are not produced in order to get reimbursement; they’re produced in order to get receipts for our own tax accountants.  All reporting processes are dictated and overseen by our CFO.

All reports are updated regularly as receipts and reports come in.

February 28, 2013 in Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

Professor Paul Hertzog (right), Dr. Ka Yee Fung (left) and Dr. Niamh Mangan (center), from the Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Monash Institute of Medical Research, Monash University.
The three are key members of the team who discovered and characterized the important new molecule, interferon epsilon, found exclusively in the female reproductive tract and thought to be important in protecting against STIs. Credit: Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, Monash Institute of Medical Research Monash Institute of Medical Research scientists have found a protein in the female reproductive tract that protects against sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) such as chlamydia and herpes simplex virus (HSV).

It is estimated that 450 million people worldwide are newly infected with STIs each year. Chlamydia has the highest infection rate of all the STIs reported in Australia.

The research, published today in the prestigious journal, Science, was led by Prof Paul Hertzog, Director of MIMR’s Centre for Innate Immunity and Infectious Diseases, and his team including, Ka Yee Fung and Niamh Mangan.

The team discovered a protein, which they called Interferon epsilon (IFNe), and showed it plays an important role in protecting females against infections. It could have clinical potential to determine which women may be more or less susceptible to disease such as STIs or to boost protective immunity.

IFNe could also be used potentially to treat STIs or other inflammatory diseases.

“One way this protein is unusual is because of the way it’s produced,” Prof Hertzog said. ”  Most proteins protecting us against infection are produced only after we’re exposed to a virus or bacteria.

“But this protein is produced normally and is instead regulated by hormones so its levels change during the oestrous cycle (an animal’s menstrual cycle) and is switched off at implantation in pregnancy and at other times like menopause,” Prof Hertzog said.

“Some of these times when normal IFNe is lowest, correlate with when women are most susceptible to STIs so this might be an important link to new therapeutic opportunities – IFNe follows different rules to normal immuno-modulatory proteins, and therefore this might also be important to vaccines and the way they’re formulated to boost our protective immunity.

“Since this protein boosts female reproductive tract immune responses, it’s likely, although we haven’t addressed it directly, that this finding will be important for other infectious diseases like HIV and HPV and other diseases.”

Prof Hertzog said STIs are a critical global health and socioeconomic problem.

According to the 2011 Australian Bureau of Statistics, chlamydia has the highest infection rates of the notifiable STIs, and infection rates have more than tripled over the past decade. Men and women in the 15-19-year age group saw the largest increase in infection rates. According to these statistics, chlamydia affects more women than men, with 46,636 women aged over 15 diagnosed compared with 33,197 men aged 15 and over.

Prof Hertzog said the next step for this research would be to work towards clinical studies within the next five years. He is also keen to see whether this work can be applied across other diseases including cancer, female reproductive tract related disorders including endometriosis and pelvic inflammatory disease, as well as other non reproductive tract diseases.

More information: “Interferon-ε Protects the Female Reproductive Tract from Viral and Bacterial Infection,” by K.Y. Fung et al., Science, 2013. Journal reference: Science Provided by Monash Institute of Medical Research

Read more at: http://medicalxpress.com/news/2013-02-protein-link-sexually-transmitted-disease.html#jCp

ProjectAccept needs some help with web backend: PHP upgrade, mediawiki install/configuration, integrations and other assorted geekery.

This is a part-time, volunteer position.  You get paid what the rest of us get paid: $0.

However, there are incredible fringe benefits, such as our undying love and affection, the admiration of the community, exceptional karma points and the opportunity to help make a difference in the world.

*protected email* for consideration.

Phase : Diagnosis & Overreaction

Emotional Feelings

Shock; Paranoia; Despair; Isolation

Physical condition

May be having a nasty “first outbreak”

State of Knowledge

Little accurate information; lots of misinformation

Common Behaviors

Close off from the world

Halt sexual activity

Phase 2: Under-react

Emotional Feelings

Denial

Physical condition

OBs less frequent and less severe, learning how to manage with medications or other therapies*

State of Knowledge

Little, if any, accurate information; much misinformation

Common Behaviors

“Dangerous Period”

As one realizes living in social/sexual isolation is not realistic, some people – unsure how to approach things – will be tempted to not disclose their status with partners and to remain in a state of ignorance regarding the contagious nature of the condition whether you are on medications or not.

May either ignore having HSV or rationalize non-disclosure, for example:

• “Not my fault I have this, and not my fault if someone gets it from me”
• “It’s not that big a deal anyway”
• “I’m not having an OB and I’m taking a preventative medication, so I don’t need to tell my partner”

However, no amount of reducing risk to others can eliminate all risk and it does not justify taking away your partner’s choice to decide what level of risk (even small) is right for them.

Moreover, succumbing to these feelings may cause you to feel severe guilt later and will complicate your ability to live openly when you are ready to do so.

Although many good people have been in this phase for a period of time, you don’t have to be here or stay here.

You have options.  This phase is unhelpful to you, is hurtful to others, is not sustainable and is unnecessary.  Skip this phase or seek help to move out of it if you are already there.

Phase 3: Personal Acceptance

Emotional Feelings

Acceptance; getting back to living

Physical condition

OBs less frequent and less severe, know how to manage with medications or other therapies*

State of Knowledge

Acquiring accurate information

Common Behaviors

Meet other people in the HSV community who provide non-judgmental support, friendship, and social pursuits

Become comfortable with the truth that it is not your fault that this happened, but accept that it places an obligation on you to act responsibly

Learn how to have frank, fair, and friendly conversations with potential partners regarding your status accept your Whole self; no longer live H/non-H bifurcated existence

Phase 4: Global Acceptance (Help Others)

Emotional Feelings

Acceptance of HSV; outreach to others

Physical condition

OBs rare, or end altogether; know how to manage with medications or other therapies*

State of Knowledge

Command and remain up-to-date with accurate information; ready to share

Common Behaviors

At some point, people living with HSV reach a stage when they are not only comfortable with their condition, but additionally:

• Feel that it has made them stronger, more empathetic and desirable human beings
• Choose to share the fact of their condition with family and friends
• Want to assist others, not only by being an example of someone who lives well and openly wih HSV, but through outreach to the newly diagnosed or socially isolated, to help them navigate these phases.

*  IMPORTANT NOTES

*Not everyone has the same physical experience with HSV.  Although for most people following the initial OB, having HSV is benign with rare OBs easily managed with medications, in some instances people have severe OBs frequently.  Some people have pre-existing medical conditions that make having HSV a serious health risk.

No one can predict who will be the rare case who has a very harsh experience with HSV, which is one of the reasons why – even if your HSV has been relatively benign – that it is imperative to disclose your condition to partners.   You should always give your partner the information and the choice to make their own decision, even if you were not given that same choice.

**  Not only is everyone’s physical experience slightly different – we are not genetically the same – but every person is different in their emotional and behavior patterns, as well.  These phases are generalizations derived from the collective stories and experiences of many people who have lived with and through HSV.

Navigating the world as an HSV person is not nearly as complicated, isolating, or challenging as I had assumed it would be during my marriage. This is a principle motivator for why I believe so strongly in the PA movement. It is tragic that lives are unnecessarily and negatively impacted by this (usually) mild medical condition. I don’t want my daughter or my son to experience a sense of doom, isolation, or have their future in anyway limited by an HSV (or any other chronic viral disease) diagnosis.

I feel strongly that the message to the public – first and foremost – should be that every adult has a moral and medical obligation to know their status. Once the true volume of persons living with this is known – 1) people will realize that for most, it is exceptionally benign, and 2) will realize that only through disclosure can we ever hope to curtail transmission bc for some people it is not benign and we don’t want to encourage transmission. But, if people are ashamed to admit they have it or to disclose they have it, they won’t and it will pass on and on and on.

No one individual can tackle what it takes to turn a society’s unfair condemnation. Not even an organization comprised of thousands could do it all. Good efforts are underway in several fronts, but until hearing about PA via the Walk for H organization, I hadn’t encountered any group that was directly addressing the social stigma. Quite the opposite – the groups that promote only social contact effectively promote secrecy (which increases stigma) and those that emphasize reducing transmission only, also increase stigma by failing to address the normalcy of this condition.

So, Go, Go ProjectAccept!  Good things are happening here.

It didn’t really matter – the treatment is the same – but at least I finally knew it was a form of herpes.  Ever since,  I have suffered constant burning and tingling all over my face. I can no longer shave without aggravating it more. Too much sun, exercise, or stress and it flares up. I also suffer from constant head aches that often start with the burning sensations.

For most people, HSV doesn’t even show symptoms, but for some of use, it’s horrible.  This disease has really changed my life as I felt I could no longer date and I stayed away from any physical activities for fear of a massive out break which only caused me to gain weight and get even more depressed.

Today I am a bit better and married, which I never thought would happen. I don’t get the blisters as often as I did before, but I do get them at least monthly.  The all-over tingling never goes away and drives me nuts. Its like the virus doesn’t want to go sleep in the nerve ganglia like it is supposed to.  I still have no clue why the medications dont work and I spend a lot of money on vitamins, herbs, snake oil, and anything I can test to see if it helps.

Sadly, I haven’t really found anything worth talking about. I have learned that there are many more like me – hypersymptomatic – and we are all suffering and worrying about what this virus will do to us later in life;  beyond the known increase in the risk of acquiring HIV, a connection has been identified with Alzheimer’s.  We worry about spreading it to others and turning their lives into Hell.  We dont understand why it’s taking so long to get better treatments or why the FDA wont fast track these treatments for such a horrible disease.

I dont know if this helps anyone but thats my story.

I contracted herpes type 2 in Febuary of 2012. It was a surprise,because the woman I had been dating for a while had claimed she was “Negative” for everything and we used condoms the first time we had sex. A week later I developed the classic flu-like symptoms and outbreak of herpes. I actually knew what it was but I was in shock because we had used protection and she said her tests were negative!  About a week later I went to a local health clinic and they confirmed it.

One of the first things I realized was that herpes would not stop me from being me. I continued on with my everyday life and daily routines and responsibilities. To me, it seemed that herpes was just something that would make my life more difficult. I did look for local support groups, but there were not any in my area other than an on-line dating site for STDs, so I joined that.

After two months, I had developed an emotional need to tell a real person about my situation, so I told a female co-worker. The first thing she did was give me a big hug and told me that we all have something that affects us. That night I also told my sister about it. She was supportive as well (she works in the medical field). Both of those steps were somewhat of a relief.

I was not enjoying the STD dating site. It wasn’t really beneficial to me, except that I did talk with someone who steered me to find The National Help Site. Once I got involved with that website I started to get the real kind of social and moral support that I needed. That was in July and since then, I have joined other groups, attended one event, and met some really great people!

I do believe that it is especially important to be active and carry on with your daily life for the newly-diagnosed. I think that it is equally important to seek out those support groups and get the social and emotional support that people need, whether they are male or female. I feel pretty good about myself now. Sometimes, I feel like the stigma of having herpes is such a bogus annoyance and I don’t care if people know or not. In reality, I am still guarded about my condition and want to protect myself and my kids from any negative backlash. I haven’t told my children yet, though. Yes, I am a single, full-time father. I have a full-time job, I go to school some and I am active in my hobbies. Maybe in the future I will be able to be totally open about having herpes.

I hope that my story is helpful to others, especially the newly diagnosed. There is hope and you are not alone.

Hello my name is Allan and I have herpes.

She was a little older; a down to earth gal.  I was divorced and had not dated in a few years.

Then we met in our neighborhood; the attraction was mutual. As we courted and grew closer both emotionally and physically, our passion lit and we were together most every day.

As our relationship grew as well as our ‘passionate moments’, one day she casually steps to the back porch and says “Oh….by the way; I have herpes. But it’s not a big deal if I am not having an outbreak”.

OK, would have Liked To Have Known That!

I knew the physical trauma was like getting a pimple on your prom night, but I knew the social stigma attached to it. Thus we were together for a few years, and when we went our separate ways; I was now facing a society that sees this ‘Scarlet H’ on me .

Since then, I have done the research and became better educated, joined support groups, and have become involved in breaking down this barrier I face like so many others.

Currently I choose to not perpetuate the virus, by dating within ‘my community’, but will go into a relationship providing full knowledge and resources to a potential partner so she can make the choice to see me for ‘Me’ and not H.

I am proud to know the people I have met during this journey; and to feed on their strength of conviction to eliminate the ‘dirty’ stigma; I am just a regular Joe who was clouded by attraction and let sensibility sit by the wayside.

The majority of adults have at least one type of HSV; there are many out there who either do not know it, choose to ignore it, or act carelessly with it.  It’s time to put a stop not only to virus, but to break down the stigma and educate so we can interact as who we are, rather than the guy who had ‘a pimple on his prom night’.