Hey everyone,

I found out two years ago this month that I was HIV-Positive, and like many others, thought my life was over.

Since then, I have had a number of great people rally around me in support, and I can see all the positives (and the Positives!) in my life.

For the past two years, I have also been working to help raise money so that others may attend this event. The teamwork paid off, and the Opening Ceremonies was PACKED! I was so happy to see people from every state and over 30 foreign countries!

Today, I participated in Power Lifting, and completed all of required lifts. My goal was to successfully participate in the competition, following the rules and regulations. Much to my surprise, I qualified for a gold medal!

I really enjoyed working with my friends from San Francisco today, and I am happy that I found a sport which suits me. I encourage everyone to find a sport or activity which works best for their health & sero-status. Many of the more popular sports are great, but make it harder to earn medals, because there are SO many participants.

Ultimately, the Gay Games is about Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best. I hope each of you have a great week in Chicago, and that you were able to realize a personal best in some way this week as well!

Warmest regards (literally, at 100 degrees today, and figuratively).

Ross Hayduk
Team San Francisco

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Hey everyone,

I found out two years ago this month that I was HIV-Positive, and like many
others, thought my life was over.

Since then, I have had a number of great people rally around me in support, and
I can see all the positives (and the Positives!) in my life.

For the past two years, I have also been working to help raise money so that
others may attend this event.  The teamwork paid off, and the Opening Ceremonies
was PACKED!  I was so happy to see people from every state and over 30 foreign
countries!


Today, I participated in Power Lifting, and completed all of required lifts.  My
goal was to successfully participate in the competition, following the rules and
regulations.  Much to my surprise, I qualified for a gold medal!

I really enjoyed working with my friends from San Francisco today, and I am
happy that I found a sport which suits me.  I encourage everyone to find a sport
or activity which works best for their health & sero-status.  Many of the more
popular sports are great, but make it harder to earn medals, because there are
SO many participants.

Ultimately, the Gay Games is about Participation, Inclusion, and Personal Best. 
I hope each of you have a great week in Chicago, and that you were able to
realize a personal best in some way this week as well!


Warmest regards (literally, at 100 degrees today, and figuratively).


Ross Hayduk
Team San Francisco

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Take CTA RED LINE TRAIN (TO 95TH/DAN RYAN)
	Depart:	HARRISON CTA	At 05:17 AM
	Arrive:	69TH CTA	At 05:33 AM
	Take CTA BUS # 71 71ST STREET SOUTHBOUND
	Depart:	69TH CTA BUS TERMINAL	At 05:45 AM
	Arrive:	75TH & EXCHANGE	At 06:03 AM
	Walk S to 7500 S EXCHANGE AVE   http://www.teamplus.4t.com

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Anti-Gay Groups Target Gay Games
by 365Gay.com Newscenter Staff

July 12, 2006 - 11:00 am ET


(Chicago) Illinois conservative Christian groups pushing for a constitutional
amendment to
ban same-sex marriage in the state say they intend to demonstrate against
homosexuality
at Gay Games events in Chicago next week.

The Illinois Family Institute and Chicago's Uptown Baptist Church are organizing
what they
call a  a "Love and Truth Offensive".

It will begin on Saturday with a rally featuring so-called ex-gays. The groups
also say that
during next weeks athletic events members will be on hand to "present water
bottles with
a Gospel message to athletes and spectators at Gay Games venues across the
city."

"We are presenting an alternative message to Gay Games attendees to anyone with
an
open mind to hear it," said IFI Executive Director Peter LaBarbera in a
statement.

"Our outreach includes several excellent speakers who embody the spirit of true
Christian
compassion on this issue. All of us embrace the life-changing hope of Jesus
Christ and
understand that nobody has to be `gay.'"

As well, the groups say they will stage a demonstration in front of the
Steamworks
bathhouse in Boystown. The Steamworks is one of the Games'  official sponsors.

"Because we care about gay men, we will be in front of Steamworks urging them
not to
engage in destructive and highly dangerous behavior,"  LaBarbera said.

The IFI was one of the organizers of Protect Marriage Illinois an umbrella group
formed to
organize a plebiscite to have the issue of same-sex marriage placed before
voters in
November.

Protect Marriage submitted 340-thousand names for the referendum, more than the
283-
thousand required. But a spot check last week by the state Board of Elections to
validate
the signatures showed the ballot measure came up short (story) and refused to
certify the
measure.

Protect Marriage has hired a lawyer and is fighting the decision.

The referendum calls upon the Illinois lawmakers to enact a constitutional
amendment to
ban  all unions of same-sex couples including marriage, civil unions and
domestic
partnerships.

The organization began collecting signatures after the legislature last year
rejected an
attempt to pass an amendment to ban same-sex marriage. (story)

Even if the measure gets on the November ballot it is nonbinding.  Citizen
referenda in
Illinois can only prod the legislature to act.

©365Gay.com 2006

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Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the TeamPlus
group.

   File        : /Name.doc
   Uploaded by : teamplusggc <teamplusggc@...>
   Description : Name/phone/Sport list

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TeamPlus/files/Name.doc

To learn more about file sharing for your group, please visit:
http://help.yahoo.com/help/us/groups/files

Regards,

teamplusggc <teamplusggc@...>

Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the TeamPlus
group.

   File        : /We have a team for Poz particpants in the Gay Games and it.doc
   Uploaded by : teamplusggc <teamplusggc@...>
   Description : About Team Plus

You can access this file at the URL:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TeamPlus/files/We%20have%20a%20team%20for%20Poz%20\
particpants%20in%20the%20Gay%20Games%20and%20it.doc

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Hi Guys,

tons of organized activities and postings for Chicago and the Gay Games. My name is Lee and
I'm a member of the SF Bay Blades rowing team. After months of agonizing, our team chose
to go to the OUT Games and I would like to know if there are any POZ guys heainf to
Montreal?

I love that there is so much going on for Chicago. C'mon giuys, let me hear from you guys
going to the OUT Games!

Most Sincerely,

Lee Jewell
rljinsf@gmail.com

http://www.gaygameschicago.org/ceremonies/rr.php

Greetings, fellow Team Plus members.

Below is information for the International Rainbow Memorial Relay (also on web
address listed above). Would be great to have as many of us there as possible.
As a Gay Games pioneer and former Co-chair for the Federation of Gay Games'
Wellness Subcommittee, I am honoured to have been selected to participate in the
ceremonial proceedings (unfurling the quilt). Several of my family members will
be there, including my 83-year-old Mom, herself a recent breast cancer survivor.
My sister, neice and I plan to power walk the 5k course, and hope others from
this group will join us.

On Monday, I'd like to invite everyone to come watch water polo:

University of Illinois Chicago campus
900 W. Roosevelt Road,
2-3 blocks from the UIC-Halsted Blue Line subway stop
FREE ADMISSION
http://uicflames.cstv.com/facilities/nat.html

Although a member of West Hollywood Aquatics, I will instead be playing for the
Sydney Stingers - wh2o-polo is bringing four goalies, and Sydney has none, so I
volunteered to play for them since I have to return to L.A. Monday night for
business anyway (our A team is defending its Gay Games title, and our B team is
also expected on the medals stand).

Sydney game times are 1:00pm Sydney vs. New York 'A"; and 6:00pm Sydney vs.
Washington DC/ACDC. I will be playing goalie for both games (look for the red
cap and the red speedoes with bright yellow water polo balls printed on them -
not hard to miss).

Special request: if you do plan to attend, please help us get in the spirit of
the Games, and join my large and loud Irish-German Catholic family and our
friends in welcoming the Stingers to our home, by dressing in green and gold
(Aussie colours for intl competitions). My uncle promises to lead everyone in
singing Waltzing Mathilda and 'Advance Australia Fair' - their national anthem
(we have copies of the words already printed for distribution).  And one more
thing - let's try and keep it a secret from the Stingers.

Can we create an excel sheet of who's competing, when/where, as well as other
key events, so we can have a handy guide to support each other? I was diagnosed
HIV+ in 1985 - while living in Chicago - and was told I had 2-3 years to live.
Coming home for these Games, 21 years later is a huge victory for me on many
fronts.

Finally, if this group is unfamiliar with Chicago, I would be happy to submit a
brief description of the city's grid pattern, which makes it really easy to
navigate, once you 'get' how the city is designed. Also happy to make
suggestions for good restaurants, be it carbo-loading breakfasts or dinners,
best place for burgers, ribs, deep dish pizza, country french, etc. And if
you're into blues, museums or local history, happy to share what I can to
enhance your visit to my family home.

Kind regards,

Shamey Cramer
Co-founder, Team Los Angeles
Co-chair, 1982 and 2002 Team Los Angeles




Overview

JOIN THE RUN! All are welcome to participate -- simply Register on-site by
6:30am.
Saturday, July 15 (7:00am Start)
(77th and South Shore Drive in the Rainbow Beach parking lot)

The International Rainbow Memorial Run is a series of events to bring the
Rainbow Flag as a symbolic “torch” from San Francisco, the “Athens” of the Gay
Games, around the world in 2006 to Gay Games VII in Chicago. These events
include memorial runs with the Rainbow Flag, displays of memorial Quilts
historically linked to the Gay Games, and receptions and rallies focused on
remembrance, AIDS and breast cancer prevention, and promotion of Gay Games VII
in Chicago from 15 July to 22 July, 2006.

These pre-Gay Games events are in memory of artist Keith Haring, lesbian
activist Rikki Streicher and Dr. Tom Waddell, the Founder of the Gay Games. In
keeping with this theme of remembrance, names are read and memorials left on the
2006 International Rainbow Memorial Run Signature Quilt Square. The intention of
this series of international events leading up to Gay Games VII is not only to
promote the Games but to help unify the global LGBT community, increase its
visibility and strength, raise awareness about important health issues affecting
the community and to remember its pioneers.

Hi Guys,

tons of organized activities and postings for Chicago and the Gay Games. My name
is Lee and
I'm a member of the SF Bay Blades rowing team. After months of agonizing, our
team chose
to go to the OUT Games and I would like to know if there are any POZ guys heainf
to
Montreal?

I love that there is so much going on for Chicago. C'mon giuys, let me hear from
you guys
going to the OUT Games!

Most Sincerely,

Lee Jewell
rljinsf@...

__________________________________________________
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Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

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http://mail.yahoo.com

I second that.  Good luck, and I hope you all have a
great week of competition.

I guess I'll save my pennies and try for the next
games.  You can look for the 6'7" kid playing in the
AA volleyball competition (hopefully!!!).

Again, good luck.

-Jonny

--- bobkatz96@... wrote:

> Picked up my Team SF uniform this past weekend, and
> I was reminded again  how
> disappointed I am that I won't be there in Chicago
> with you; due to an
> injury, I can't compete, and it's best that I try to
> avoid traveling as much as
> possible until I've healed. I was really looking
> forward to the Games, and to
> meeting those of you I hadn't met previously.
>
> Best of luck to all of you, whichever events you're
> competing in.  I will be
> with you in spirit. Hopefully we'll all still be
> alive and kicking in  four
> years and we can all get together in Cologne.
>
> Bob
>


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Please include the city you're from and in what locale you're planning
get-togethers.

Doug (and others):

We'll be competing in the same age group.
Great message to Team Plus and the world at large.
I feel the same way big-time: no settling for less than your passion or dreams.
I try to make every day is my personal best.

I worked hard, trained and fueled smart and it paid off.
Snagged my first trophy (at 59)!
3rd Place Masters 50-60: Mr/Ms Muscle Beach, Venice, CA, July 4, '06.
What an awesome high ESPECIALLY given the poz challenges.

See you there, Douglas among others...

Steve Perkins
(AKA foxysteve)

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great  keep me posted, RJ. Would you mind giving me a quick call
tonight? I have only limited  Email access since I'm from out of town
and where I am staying is out in the far west area past 94. Would be
great to hear a supportive voice. Thanks...will be going to Gentry on
State St. tonight for open mic night...care to join me and my friend
David?
I'll sing a tune or two!
917 860 8231
otherwise won't be getting email until late tonight after midnite
sometime...thanks so much
DOUG

-----Original Message-----
From: Team Plus <teamplusggc@...>
To: teamplus@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sun, 9 Jul 2006 16:33:13 -0700 (PDT)
Subject: [TeamPlus] Meeting info:sort of!!



Ok, TPAN's "social night" is at the North End North End, 3373 N.
Halsted Ave.
  Thursdays only!!
  see http://www.tpan.com for info on that

   I'd rather find a space/time earlier in the week if we can. Again,
I'll be contacting Dr. Berger in Monday about this.


   Since all MY competions will be in the far south side and it's free to
watch,
  Monday Criterium (major road race)
  Wednesday Time Trials
  Thursday shorter road race

  Love ya
  RJ Hadley
  Director/Founder
  Team Plus


--------
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  Next-gen email? Have it all with the  all-new Yahoo! Mail Beta.




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