In the spirit of inclusive decision making set out in the 1983 Denver Principles,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/People_With_AIDS this group of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A)  organized in early 1994 to influence the direction and quality of services for the new Ryan White, Title 1 (Ryan White CARE Act)  funds arriving in the Portland Metropolitan Area. In the Fall of that year the group expanded to include all of Oregon and SW Washington for greater influence in the direction and quality of statewide services(RWCA Title 2) provided since 1991.

This group produced the HIV Positive Letter, collaborated in organizing a weekend training retreat for more than 100 HIV positive people from Oregon and SW Wasington to develop organizing skills, budget and program development skills and health maintenance skills.