DISAPOINTED , POPLAR BLUFF GROUP MEETINGS COLLASPING !

[weasel]

Our HIV /AIDS  group is  falling to the way side .

  When  I moved here to  Poplar Bluff  area , there was  NOT  a support  group !

   I hounded and hounded and finally  the Health Councillor  caved and  started  a

   group ,that  meets ONCE  a  MONTH .

   Now  after  TWO  years  SHE  has  canceled  quite a few  meetings !

   Most  of us have to drive  FAR  , from  40  to some people  100 or more  miles !

   Last month SHE  was too tired , she could have had her ASSISTANT  stand in ,
     The meetings are  for  US ,NOT for HER ! ,She gets paid for these meetings ,more of a trade off of hours .

  Never the less , She is NOT giving away her time .

   But instead sat there YAWNING 

   Bob & I  started  to clean up early ,we use a meeting room that needs to left as found .

    I feel  that  the meetings will just end .........................fade  away ...................

    She had mentioned , when i first asked why the  area  had  no support , that  the "GUYS "

     just  never seemed too  interested !

     NOW  I know who was NOT  interested .

     I am just so  sad the the one little outlet I had  will be  gone .

     I do go to the  group meetings  at the  V.A. in Saint Louis .

    BUT  it really  takes a toll on BOB , it is an ALL day  thing , when i have to drive 2 and a half hours

    each way ! So we only go everyother month .

      I am going to start going to Cape Giradeau's group !

      It is  an hour and a half  trip on a mountain road .

                                                                           karl

[denb45]

Our HIV /AIDS  group is  falling to the way side .

  When  I moved here to  Poplar Bluff  area , there was  NOT  a support  group !

   I hounded and hounded and finally  the Health Councillor  caved and  started  a

   group ,that  meets ONCE  a  MONTH .

   Now  after  TWO  years  SHE  has  canceled  quite a few  meetings !

   Most  of us have to drive  FAR  , from  40  to some people  100 or more  miles !

   Last month SHE  was too tired , she could have had her ASSISTANT  stand in ,
     The meetings are  for  US ,NOT for HER ! ,She gets paid for these meetings ,more of a trade off of hours .

  Never the less , She is NOT giving away her time .

   But instead sat there YAWNING 

   Bob & I  started  to clean up early ,we use a meeting room that needs to left as found .

    I feel  that  the meetings will just end .........................fade  away ...................

 

Maybe you should start up your own HIV+ Support monthly meetings, every month, pick a Host (like at your home or someone else house), and you can have support at a different place every month, for support or whatever you are seeking, perhaps maybe an all Male HIV+ social ,with food are whatever  why even bother with (HER) at all.........

[Miss Philicia]

So this moderator isn't even HIV+?  Sheesh, what's the point?

I agree with the previous post that you always have the option of picking up the ball and coordinating this yourself, but that is of course a lot of work.  If you don't wish to have it in your own home you'd have to find some place that is willing to donate a small space for you to use for a couple hours monthly.  Some non-wacko compassionate church may be an option.

I'm not surprised that it's hard to sustain a support group, as I googled Poplar Bluffs and it's in a county of only ~40,000 people.

[bear60]

I sympathize with you.  Losing a support group is very hard.  I went to support group for a total of almost 7 years.  Going to support group helped me survive this HIV mess we find ourselves in. I hope you find an alternative or something.