tridd forums

Please note: If you're a longstanding member of the Tyler HIV Support Group, you may or may not have heard about the dismissal last week of our much-loved counselor. As of this morning {1/22/08}, SHRET informs me that the group sessions will continue as scheduled, including today's session. Check back here or with SHRET for further changes / information.

On behalf of the SHRET clients and the entire group membership, we'd like to wish Sue all our best, and let her know she will be greatly missed.

Note - HIV Support Group Meetings have been cut to twice per month. We are working to increase our ability to meet more frequently, but budget considerations unfortunately always dictate our ability to serve. Please take note and make sure to participate in the annual Ryan White Funding focus groups, hosted by Houston's Resource Group... your opinions matter - and these annual interviews are your one chance every year to voice your opinion on how HIV budget dollars are spent in East Texas!

As always, the following meeting times are subject to change. Please check back often for updates, and its always wise to call to confirm group times, especially if you're driving in from out-of-town.

HIV Support Group (in general, the 1st and 3rd Tuesday Each Month, from 10am - noon)
Jan. 8 and 22
Feb.12 and 19
Mar. 4 and 18
Apr. 1 and 15
May 6 and 20
June 3 and 17

HEI Support Group in Tyler and Longview meets every Monday 1-3 pm unless a Monday falls on a holiday or CM is otherwise unavailable

Tyler Office
1308 Clinic Drive
Tyler, TX 75701
(903) 597-7558
(800) 853-9689 - Toll Free
(903) 597-9107 - Fax

*recently changed

Note: Kathy Hickerson has returned to the HEI CM position in Longview, so she will be doing the Monday groups there. We may join the two groups occasionally for activities.

Since the above schedule has been posted, I suppose it should now be pointed out that the Tyler SHRET support group has been suspended indefinitely. I am saddened by seeing this happen. Here's to hoping it resurfaces sometime in the future. There is talk of an alternate group emerging, however, which is encouraging. More concrete news on that as it becomes available.

Ox

I'm sorry to hear that, Ox - I was working at the polls yesterday - which ran 6am - 7:3- pm, so I wasn't able to go to group - but it does sadden me that they've cancelled the whole thing indefinitely. Did they explain the rationale?

tcarlyle wrote:I'm sorry to hear that, Ox - I was working at the polls yesterday - which ran 6am - 7:3- pm, so I wasn't able to go to group - but it does sadden me that they've cancelled the whole thing indefinitely. Did they explain the rationale?

Well, I hate to go into too much detail on all this, but it just doesn't add up. I know I'm not brilliant, but even I can tell something's up. You know how we were reassured at the last two group sessions how everything was okay and that funding was solid and had been allocated for the group for months to come, that there was no question about its continuation, and all that good stuff? The explanation given on Tuesday for group ending was "lack of funding" and "the grant ran out". I know this person could tell by the look on my face that I wasn't buying it.

I sincerely doubt that was the real answer (especially without notice) and suspect they were told to use that excuse when relaying the message to us. So, I couldn't see pushing the issue with the messenger. At this point, I've become indifferent about it all, which in itself is pretty sad.

I just hope the people who need assistance and counseling the most have access to it when they need it. While the point was made that the group session we were sitting in would be our last actual group, we were informed that individual sessions would still be available. Good to know (for now).

Here's what I've seen: The last three times I've been at SHRT Tyler, it has been oddly silent around there. I never even once heard the phone ring during any of the group sessions and virtually nobody was coming through the door for anything. There was no sign of other personel, receptionist included. It's never as crowded as Wal-Mart, but even if staff is lying low, things seem off in a major way. Could it be they really are closing the Tyler office? I hope not. Whatever is going on, I guess time will tell. Now that group has ended, I do not foresee myself being there for anything anytime soon. So, good luck you guys!

Ox

Well, I did call TAS today, & asked about their feelings about us meeting there a couple of hours every week, and they seemed very interested & welcoming. I plan to steal a few minutes before the tridd dinner starts this Saturday to see how people might feel about an "unsupervised" group session, where we just meet once a week to chat.

The new ED at TAS said that they've already been duiscussing starting up a group there - so this might be just the impetus they need.

They'e also cranking the TAS newsletter back up, so be thinking about articles & poetry & jokes & stuff you'd like to contribute!

Talk to you soon - Troy

tcarlyle wrote:They'e also cranking the TAS newsletter back up, so be thinking about articles & poetry & jokes & stuff you'd like to contribute!

That's really great that the newsletter is starting again and is interested in submissions, however, I get the feeling I couldn't censor myself enough for their satisfaction. heheh I'm afraid all I'd be left with are a bunch of "the"s and "and"s.

Ox (who is gay in real life, not just on TV ...er Xtube)

enemysox wrote:That's [edited] the newsletter [edited] interested [edited], however, I get the feeling [edited]. heheh I'm afraid [edited] a bunch of "the"s and "and"s. [edited]

Ox [edited]

Hope you don't mind, Ox... I took the liberty of editing that last post of yours... (hehe)

We're moving our group to TAS. Please see the following posting:
http://tridd.freeforums.org/tyler-hiv-s ... -t511.html