PoZitive Impact
A Retreat for Men Living with or Deeply Affected by HIVMay 23-26, 2025
About the Retreat
In 1985, as the HIV/AIDS crisis was terrorizing gay communities across the nation, The Rowe Center took the bold step of opening its doors and creating a public weekend for men who love men. Nearly four decades later, a great deal has changed. HIV, for many men, is no longer a death sentence but a manageable, chronic condition.
Nonetheless, these past four decades have been brutal for many long-term survivors of HIV and their loved ones. Some, regardless of status, lost lovers, close friends, or entire circles. Some feared impending death and mourned a future that might never come to pass. Some went back into the closet, sexually or otherwise.
For as much as the disease has changed, many of the issues men struggle with have not: issues of disclosure, medical care, and fears both well-founded and imaginary. These issues seem to have equal impact on men regardless of the date of their seroconversion.
Like soldiers returning from war, many tried to wipe these things from memory, to simply “move on”, to try to get past the past. But the scars of battle do not pass so easily.
So with the support of the Rowe Center, we return four decades later to offer, for the first time, a weekend for those impacted by HIV which we hope will be transformative, encouraging, and healing.
Tour UU Rowe Camp & Conference Center
Event Pricing
Includes lodging, meals, and a sustaining operations fee.
- Dorm/Cabin Bunk – $510
- Semi-Private Twin – $610
- Private Room Twin – $635
- Private Room Double – $710
- Commuting Attendee – $380
- Non-Attendee Guest – $510
What You’ll Explore
Participants will be able to explore many of the common experiences survivors share, including:
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Why me? How did I let this happen?
- Addressing issues of guilt, blame, and shame.
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Why not me?
- Exploring “survivor’s guilt”.
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Complex issues around disclosure, dating, serodiscordant relationships
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Medical and practical issues for long-term survivors
- Including the effects of medications and other health concerns.
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Questions of meaning-making, faith, and fate
- Addressing betrayal and abandonment.
- Why did this happen? Where is God/higher power/natural order?
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Opportunities to build community
- Through small and large group discussion, topical workshops, movement, and ritual.
Creating a Safe and Supportive Environment
We strive to create an environment where men make authentic connections, with each other and with themselves. We ask folks to refrain from using drugs recreationally. However, if you do use a substance medically to allow you to be more fully functional, please do so mindfully for yourself and privately for your brothers who may be in recovery.
Enrollment will be limited to 45, with explicit agreements for confidentiality and safety of participants.
Facilitators
Facilitators will include the current Rowe Labor Day Weekend co-leaders as well as additional guest presenters on special topics.
Support the PoZitive Impact Financial Assistance Fund
Help make this retreat accessible to those who may not have the means to attend. Your donation will enable men living with or deeply affected by HIV to participate in this important weekend.
Meet The Facilitators
Bill Chisholm
Facilitator
Bill Chisholm has been teaching yoga and stress management for 30 years. He is certified in Kripalu Yoga and completed Herbert Benson’s Mind/Medicine course through Harvard. He has also done extensive study and practice in vinyasa, Iyengar, and PNF yoga. He is the former founder of Cape Ann Yoga Center and has taught stress management and yoga at the Marino Health Center in Cambridge and several other medical facilities in the Boston Area. He is a fine art oil painter exhibiting throughout New England and a passionate student of both cello and duduk.
Karl Paulnack
Facilitator
Karl Paulnack lives in Ithaca, NY with his husband Dave and their dog Mato. Karl is an interfaith chaplain at the Cayuga Medical Center and a peer mentor with the Cancer Resource Center or Ithaca.
Karl is devoted to cultivating a broad and inclusive tribe of men-who-love-men, beyond sexual orientation. He has been a featured workshop presenter and speaker for groups of men spanning fraternities, abuse survivors, recovering addicts and spiritual communities. He identifies spiritually as a shaman, with a deep appreciation for ritual inspired by the Catholicism of his childhood as well as the contemplative and reflective life inspired by Buddhist practice.
