Five years into its mandate to educate Bermudians about the killer disease HIV/AIDS, the Allan Vincent Smith Foundation is set to chart new waters, focusing its energies towards certain "risk'' communities and bringing its message to the Internet.

The Foundation announced the new phase of operation following Monday night's annual general meeting.

Central to the strategy is a higher public profile with the Foundation taking to cyberspace with a new Web site listing AIDS specific information, links to other AIDS-related sites on the World Wide Web, frequently asked questions (FAQs), and a calender of monthly events.

The Foundation also plans to target specific sectors of the "at-risk'' community in addition to educating those who remain unaware of the disease's potential or how it is spread.

"We have to go out and seek active assistance in getting our message across.

We will be looking to engage an advertising agency to assist with the print media and we will make more use of Fresh Creations to help target audiences in the electronic media,'' in-coming President Joe Gibbons said in a press release.

In addition the Foundation plans to hold monthly information seminars, make greater use of ties to off-shore AIDS resources such as AIDS Action Boston and the Terrence Higgins Trust.

Mr. Gibbons replaces Martin Smith as President of the Foundation while Rhonda Daniels, Paul David Dean, Marc Thomas, and Wendy West stepped down as Directors.

Meanwhile Mr. Smith has been named to the newly-created post of Chairman, Brenda Smith to vice-president, and Gaylia Landry, Michael Fox, and the Reverend Ron Vincent will be taking up duties as new Directors.

The Foundation, which operates the AIDS/HIV Helpline, operates out of offices at Bermuda House Lane.

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