AIDS Volunteer Orientation Held

Vermont's first training session for A.I.D.S. volunteers took place in Burlington the weekend of November 15-16.

Sponsored by the Vermont Committee for A.I.D.S. Resources, Education and Services (Vermont CARES), the two day session featured a variety of workshops covering medical questions, social service resources, empowerment in the health care system, legal issues, antibody testing, risk reduction, direct care, and methods of avoiding burnout.

The training was designed to provide a core group of people with information to serve as resources, "A lot of what we're doing is teaching people who will become teachers themselves," said Terje Anderson, Director of Vermont CARES.

The workshop, which was hosted by GLSA at University of Vermont, included presentations by local authorities and representatives of the Boston A.I.D.S. Action Committee.

Twenty-seven people attended all or part of the conference, which organizers said was "an encouraging number."

"While we are still fortunate to have a relatively small number of diagnosed cases in the state, we have to be prepared for what lies ahead," said Anderson.

Future workshops on specific care issues are being planned. For more information, contact Vermont CARES at Box 1125, Montpelier 05602.