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Monthly E-Newsletter
for
June
2009
We hope you enjoy
reading this latest news from TIHAN, and discover at least one
way you can make an important difference in someone's world.
1. Reduction in Hours:
TIHAN Office Will Be Closed Friday Afternoons Beginning July 1
2. Thanks for Your
Feedback about Our Collaborative Explorations
3. Get Beautiful/Help
TIHAN and Those We Serve: "A Day of Beauty" Benefit
at Robert Markley Salon Spa!
4. Announcing: Job
Transitions at TIHAN
5. Poz Marketplace Needs
Your Help with Items for Care Packages!
6.
Colors Food and Spirits Hosts a Benefit—TIHAN Receives
Proceeds of Food and Beverage Sales on Sunday, June 21
7. Collecting "Back
to School" Supplies and Backpacks for CarePartners with
Children
8. Checking What You Know
about HIV/AIDS: Test Question of the Month
9. Know Your History
10. Pastiche Modern
Eatery – Donating a Percentage to the Charity of your Choice
During the Month of June
11. Care & Support
Training
12.
Correct Myths and Misconceptions
1. Reduction in Hours: TIHAN Office Will
Be Closed Friday Afternoons Beginning July 1
Due to reduced donations to TIHAN and the resulting
reductions in staffing, the TIHAN office will be closed on
Friday afternoons, effective July 1 until further notice. The
office will be open Monday-Thursday 8:30am-4:30pm, and Fridays
8:30am-12:30pm. We greatly apologize for any inconvenience that
this may cause, and we hope this 10% furlough of staff hours
will be only temporary in nature.
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2. Thanks for Your Feedback about
Our Collaborative Explorations
TIHAN appreciates your feedback about
our announcement of collaborative discussions with SAAF and
Wingspan. We appreciate the words of encouragement, as well as
the voices of caution and concern. You can count on TIHAN and
our Board to do our utmost as we discern the best options for
moving our mission forward and being wise stewards of
resources. Please know that there has not been any decision
for TIHAN to merge, but we are exploring many forms of
collaborative work. We are beginning several months of a more
formal process of discussion and exploration of the possible
forms of collaboration, then we will evaluate which
possibilities might make sense. Throughout this process, we
will keep foremost in our minds the mission of TIHAN and the
issues of our CarePartners, our volunteers, our congregations,
and our donors, and we welcome your input and suggestions.
In the meantime, the needs remain,
our work continues, and your support of TIHAN is as important
as ever. In time, the way forward will become apparent as
we move through these conversations. Your feedback is an
important part of our process, and we value it very much.
Email feedback to:
Scott Blades, Executive Director -
scott@tihan.org
Tom Muller, Board President - mullert@email.arizona.edu
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3. Get
Beautiful/Help TIHAN and Those We Serve: "A Day of
Beauty" Benefit at Robert Markley Salon Spa!
Look good. Feel good. Do good.
Treat yourself to beauty, style, and
relaxation, and TIHAN benefits, too: all proceeds support
TIHAN's programs for people living with HIV/AIDS! Robert
Markley Salon Spa is offering a special event on Wednesday,
July 15 from 4:00-8:00pm. Pamper yourself and book a massage,
facial, waxing, or hair cut/ style/ treatment/ color, and the
salon will donate ALL proceeds (and tips!) to TIHAN. The salon
spa is located at the Plaza at Williams Centre, 5350 East
Broadway Boulevard (just west of Craycroft), Suite 160. To
make an appointment for this special TIHAN event, call Robert
Markley Salon Spa at 520-747-1388.
Men and women welcome! Check out the
website and explore the possibilities: www.robertmarkley.com.
Transform yourself, and help transform TIHAN, too. A special
thanks to Robert Markley and all of his staff for donating
their time and ALL proceeds from this evening, including tips,
to support TIHAN's programs.
Click here for the event flyer.
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4. Announcing: Job Transitions
at TIHAN
TIHAN is announcing staff departures,
some of which need to be re-filled immediately in order that
we can continue to provide support services to people living
with HIV. As noted in our email earlier this week, the
decrease in donations we are seeing has unfortunately impacted
the staffing and services that we provide, so we have had to
reduce the number of hours and staff.
TIHAN is seeking an administrative
assistant to replace Leslie Johnson after her four years
of service to TIHAN (thank you Leslie!). This part-time
position (30 hours/week) is open immediately, with salary
depending on experience.
Additionally, after almost two
years helping provide great meals at Poz Cafe, Jackie Blue
will soon be leaving TIHAN, so we have an opening for a part-time
(up to 15 hours/month) staff person to assist with the Poz
Cafe menu planning and overseeing the preparation of our
monthly lunch for our CarePartners living with HIV/AIDS.
In order to reduce costs, we will be
recruiting for an AmeriCorps VISTA placement to serve as
TIHAN's volunteer resources coordinator, saving us more
than $8,000 over the next year and helping us increase our
capacity for TIHAN's volunteer program, building upon the
advancements made by Kim Talerico over the past two years.
Administrative Assistant - job
description and instructions for applying
Poz Cafe Menu/Kitchen Supervisor - job description and
instructions for applying
AmeriCorps VISTA placement for TIHAN's Volunteer Coordinator -
job description and information about registering with VISTA
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5. Poz Marketplace Needs Your Help with
Items for Care Packages!
CarePartners are facing the realities of the recession, and
are finding themselves dealing with difficult times. Now, more
than ever, we are experiencing an increase in requests for care
packages (personal care items that are not covered by food
stamps, but are extremely necessary and important). The
most-needed items: toilet tissue, paper towels, shampoo, and bar
soap.
Although we respond to requests for care packages all month
long, Poz Cafe is where we are able to reach the largest number
of CarePartners to give them their extremely important personal
care items for the month. If you are interested in donating
items, please drop them off at the TIHAN office at 1011 N.
Craycroft Road #301 (hours 8:30am-4:30pm), or by calling Erin at
299-6647.
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6. Colors Food and Spirits Hosts a Benefit—TIHAN
Receives Proceeds of Food and Beverage Sales on Sunday, June 21
On Sunday, June 21, Colors Food and Spirits is hosting
a Pride Week event from 4-10pm, and 10% of all sales during that
time period—meals and drinks—will be donated to TIHAN!
Colors is located at 5305 East Speedway. Come out and show your
pride and support TIHAN and those we serve. For more information
about Colors, visit www.colorstucson.com.
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7. Collecting "Back to School"
Supplies and Backpacks for CarePartners with Children
Back to school season is just around
the corner, and TIHAN would like to help the children of
CarePartners have a wonderful transition from summer to fall.
We're looking for new backpacks filled with all of the
supplies a child will need for the school year. If you're
looking for a way to get involved with TIHAN, but are finding
your schedule filling up as we enter into the summer months,
perhaps you should consider donating much needed school
supplies to help ease the financial strain so many of our
CarePartners are feeling. Feel free to drop off any school
supplies to the TIHAN office. If you have questions, please
contact Erin Strange, Director of CarePartner Support at
299-6647 or erin@tihan.org.
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8. Checking What You Know about
HIV/AIDS: Test Question of the Month
Question: Is it ever a good idea
to take a "drug holiday" - stop taking HIV
medications for brief periods of time?
Answer: The answer is a highly
qualified, "maybe." Here's the advice from Dr.
J. Kevin Carmichael, MD, TIHAN's medical advisor and the
Associate Medical Director for Special Populations for El Rio
Community Health Center:
"The preponderance of data is very
much against drug holidays… I would encourage we say NO,
not without talking to your doctor but add that there is still
some ongoing research into different schedules with different
meds… the inflammatory response increases risk of death and
the lower drug levels increases risk of resistance…."
Sage advice. Never try this without a
thorough conversation with your own doctor. Never stop taking
your medications because you "feel good"—there are
all kinds of extremely serious consequences, and it could even
cost you your life.
That having been said, let's look at
a couple of recent studies.
The SMART study in 2006 found that
people who took extended breaks from antiretroviral therapy—when
their CD4 cell counts were high—were far more likely to
progress to AIDS and death than people who maintained their
daily therapy.
Yet, a new study—FOTO (five on, two
off)—found that patients with well-controlled HIV were able
to take brief breaks from their therapy, without any apparent
health risks. The study, which was presented at the HIV9
Conference in November 2008, reported that 83% of the
participants who took a two-day drug holiday every week, had
undetectable viral loads, compared to 80% in the daily therapy
group. None of the participants of either group experienced an
AIDS-related illness, and the CD4 cell counts remained high in
both groups. "Non-detectable viral load" means that
the HIV virus is found in less than 50 copies per milliliter
of blood, not "virus free."
The trial period was 24 weeks.
Several things are worth noting. One
is that further testing is required. Another is that all of
the participants were in healthy condition with high CD4
counts. Don't even think of trying this without talking to
your doctor first. It is also worth noting that the 2006 study
mentions "extended breaks"—not the five days on,
two off regimen in the FOTO study.
Be safe, be very careful—and don't
throw any surprises at your doctors by telling them you've
changed their prescribed therapy in any way.
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9. Know Your History
Attend our next Continuing Education
workshop on the History of AIDS, Thursday, July 9, 6-8 pm at
SAAF, 375 S. Euclid Ave. (south of Broadway). Start your
education (or review) by visiting the Kaiser Family
Foundation's interactive timeline at http://www.kff.org/hivaids/timeline/hivtimeline.cfm or watch the film And the Band Played
On. Call 299-6647 sign up for the Continuing Education
session.
AND THE BAND PLAYED ON
Review by TIHAN Volunteer Mitchell
This Emmy winning HBO docudrama also
won Golden Globe, Cable ACE, and GLAAD awards. The
made-for-television movie chronicles the discovery and spread
of HIV and AIDS, with a special emphasis on governmental
indifference and political fighting. Stars Matthew Modine,
Alan Alda, Ian McKellan, Lily Tomlin, Steve Martin, Richard
Gere, Anjelica Huston, who deliver the story's petty intrigue,
bigoted posturing, blind faith, and suffering. And the Band
Played On spans the late 1970s in Africa and ends with the
announcement by Rock Hudson in 1985 that he was dying with
AIDS. The title is a reference to the story about the dance
band in the First Class lounge of the RMS Titanic,
which kept playing as the ship sank, thereby alluding to the
multiple agencies and communities, who neglected to prioritize
a swift medical response to the crisis that impacted the USA
and the world for decades after. 140 minutes.
TIHAN continues to offer FREE Continuing
Education workshops to volunteers in collaboration with
the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF). Call 299-6647
sign up! Registration is appreciated but not required. We ask
all volunteers to attend at least three workshops each year to
stay up-to-date. All workshops are subject to change.
| Date |
Topic |
Location |
| Aug
6 |
HIV
Stigma
& Violence |
TIHAN |
| Sep
10 |
Seniors
& HIV |
SAAF |
| Oct
1 |
Low
Income
& HIV |
TIHAN |
| Nov
5 |
HIV
& Special
Populations |
TIHAN |
| Dec
3 |
HIV
& Refugees |
SAAF |
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10. Pastiche Modern Eatery – Donating
a Percentage to the Charity of your Choice During the Month of
June
Throughout the month of June,
Pastiche Modern Eatery (www.pasticheme.com)
will donate five percent of every purchase to one of forty
charities of choice, including TIHAN. Any time you dine at the
restaurant during the month of June—and again in October—please
designate TIHAN as the charity to receive Pastiche's donation
of 5% of your purchase. In addition to lunch and dinner
(including late night dining!), Pastiche now features summer
specials and wine specials! Pastiche Modern Eatery, at 3025 N.
Campbell, opened over 10 years ago, and has donated over
$80,000 to various charities. TIHAN is proud to support
Pastiche and other local independent restaurants (for a list
of locally-owned restaurants, check out the Tucson Originals
website www.tucsonoriginals.com).
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11. Care & Support Training
Can you show support and caring to
our CarePartners living with HIV? Want to be a Poz Cafe
volunteer, CareTeam member, or Link Specialist? All you have
to do is attend Care & Support Training. We cannot serve
our CarePartners without our wonderful volunteers. Come learn
about empowerment, compassionate care, cultural competency,
disease progression, psychosocial issues including substance
abuse, suicide, and mental health, boundaries, and active
listening.
The next Care
& Support Training, now held jointly with the Southern
Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), will be held on Saturday, July
25 from 9:00am to 5:00pm at SAAF, 375 S. Euclid Ave.
(south of Broadway). Training is now FREE and TIHAN Volunteer
Orientation is a pre-requisite. Call the TIHAN office,
299-6647, to sign up. Questions? Contact Ari Kelly, ari@tihan.org,
or 299-6647.
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12. Correct Myths and Misconceptions
One-third (34%) of Americans
incorrectly believe or are unsure whether HIV can be
transmitted by one of the following actions: sharing a
drinking glass (27%), touching a toilet seat (17%), or
swimming in a pool with an HIV positive person (14%).
—Kaiser Family Foundation, April 2009
Learn the facts of HIV/AIDS at the
next TIHAN Speakers'
and Media Training. Teach others what they need to know to
end discrimination against people living with HIV and stop the
spread of the virus.
Give presentations to volunteers and
faith community members to increase compassion and decrease
stigma for HIV/AIDS. All you have to do is attend TIHAN
Volunteer Orientation and Speakers'
Training, stay
up-to-date on HIV/AIDS information, and be friendly, outgoing,
and reliable.
Our next Speakers' Training is
Saturday, June 27, 9:00am to 5:00pm at TIHAN, 1011 N.
Craycroft Rd. #301. You will learn to share the facts about
the disease and share your own story of being affected by
HIV/AIDS. The training is $17 and scholarships are available.
Please RSVP by calling 299-6647. You can contact Ari Kelly, ari@tihan.org
or 299-6647, with questions.
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