Ask a friend or bring yourself to our next Volunteer Orientation! Attending an orientation is your first step on the rewarding journey of being a TIHAN volunteer. TIHAN's volunteers are needed, appreciated, and elevated. We have THREE options for upcoming orientation dates: Tuesday, September 18 from 1:00-5:00 pm at the TIHAN offices; Thursday, October 11 or Thursday, November 8 at First Congregational United Church of Christ (1350 N. Arcadia Avenue, near Speedway and Swan) from 5:15-9:15pm.

The cost is $17.00 which covers snacks and printed materials. Please plan on attending one of our next orientations so you can join our Volunteer Team! Please call 299-6647 or email Kim Talerico, Volunteer Coordinator, kim@tihan.org for additional information and to sign up to begin your Volunteer journey!

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

5. TIHAN Seeking Feedback from CarePartners Living with HIV: Satisfaction Surveys

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

6. Fall is Almost Here -Time to Designate TIHAN Through Your Workplace Giving Campaign

Remember that you can contribute to TIHAN through your workplace! If your employer participates in Community Shares of Southern Arizona, United Way, or UA Cares' workplace giving programs, or you work for Raytheon or IBM, TIHAN is one of the member agencies to whom you can choose to designate all or part of your contributions. Please write us in! If you are an employee of the City of Tucson, Pima County, State of Arizona, or the federal government, TIHAN is an approved agency with each of these government employers, so you can write in the name "TIHAN" on the designation form, and we will be notified of your gift. 

If you have any questions or want more information about how to designate TIHAN to receive part of your workplace giving donations, call Scott at 299-6647.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

7. TIHAN Education Events Just For Clergy!

Clergy Roundtables provide clergy with an opportunity to learn about issues related to HIV/AIDS.

These sessions are great opportunities for information and networking. All clergy, from faith communities that are interested in TIHAN or members of TIHAN, are invited. For more information, contact Ari Kelly: ari@tihan.org or 299-6647.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

8. Thanks For the Gifts: TIHAN's Updated Wish List Items

We appreciate the donations we received to help finance the upgrade of RAM in four of our computers. We need just one more donation of $95 so that all computers can be upgraded at once (thus saving labor expense). Simply note that your contribution is for computer upgrades. If you have any questions, contact Leslie Johnson, Administrative Assistant, at 299-6647 or at leslie@tihan.org.

Upgrading the memory in our four Dell computers will help us more quickly prepare for events like Poz Cafe and educational classes, and more rapidly compile statistics necessary for grants.

Other items currently needed to help the TIHAN office run smoothly include:

• White, letter-size, multi-purpose paper
• Scissors
• Plastic forks (we have lots of spoons and knives)
• Paper napkins
• Paper hot drink cups (8-10 ounce)
• Plastic waste basket liners (10-13 gallon size)

Next time you're at the store, please remember to purchase some of these items to give to TIHAN. Even a small amount helps!

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

9. Wake Up! Take Control!

October 15 is National Latino AIDS Awareness Day. Nationally, Hispanic/Latino people make up 14% of the population, but comprise 20% of all HIV/AIDS cases (according to the U.S. Census and the CDC). Our local community is more than 29% Hispanic/Latino. It is time to face the issue of HIV in our Latina/o community, get tested, and learn to stop the rate of HIV infection. 

This year's commemoration of Latino AIDS Awareness Day will be a free and festive event at the El Rio Neighborhood Center, 1390 W. Speedway Boulevard. We will have HIV education, testing, dinner, entertainment, and prizes. The resource fair will be from 4:00-6:00pm, with dinner and awards from 6:00-8:00pm. Sponsors for this event include TIHAN, COPE Community Services, Luz Southside Coalition, Pima County Health Department, Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), and Wingspan.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

10. AIDSWALK 2007

TIHAN is proud to participate in AIDSWALK by holding an interfaith service and having a team of walkers. The Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation's largest fundraiser will take place on the University of Arizona Mall on Sunday, October 14. You can make AIDSWALK 2007 a significant day in your life by walking and fundraising, attending TIHAN's Interfaith Service, or planning Called to Care weekend at your faith community.

The Interfaith Service will take place on the University of Arizona Mall at 7:45 am. We will come together from different faiths to "remember, support, and prevent." This annual event has left a lasting impression on our community. Prayers will be offered by leaders of several TIHAN member faith communities. The popular and successful chorus Reveille will sing a few beautiful songs. Join us for some sacred time before the walk.

Since 1988, the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation has generated over $2 million through AIDSWALK for education and compassionate care for those living with HIV or at risk of infection — and all of those funds stay right here in our community! This event increases in importance as government funding for HIV support programs diminishes. We encourage you to raise funds for AIDSWalk and also matching funds for TIHAN at the same time. We will provide instructions, an envelope, and a script to make it easy to be part of Team TIHAN.

AIDSWALK is an exciting community event that draws about 6,000 participants. There are huge posters at bus stops and registration forms at local businesses. You can use this momentum to increase HIV/AIDS awareness in your faith community. The timing is perfect for our Called to Care weekend September 28-30 when TIHAN supporters will give 5-minute speeches at TIHAN member faith communities. Ask your faith community leaders to include Called to Care during services.

Contact Ari Kelly, ari@tihan.org or 299-6647, to plan your participation in AIDSWALK 2007.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

11. Ask an HIV Doctor: October 14 Presentation with Dr. Carmichael Open to All

Our next TIHAN/SAAF Continuing Education presentation is Thursday, October 4, from 6:00-8:00pm at the TIHAN office (1011 North Craycroft, #301). This is your opportunity to ask Dr. J. Kevin Carmichael your questions about HIV infection, medication, illness, and more. 

Dr. Carmichael works at El Rio Special Immunology Associates, which treats over 1,500 HIV+ patients. He has over 20 years experience in medicine, and has received many awards for his compassionate efforts for people living with HIV/AIDS, including TIHAN's highest honor, our Excellence in Caring award.

TIHAN asks that all volunteers attend at least three workshops each year, so please join us! Call 299-6647 to sign up for this workshop.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

12. Preparing You to Serve and Care: TIHAN's Support Training for Volunteers Interested in Working with People Living with HIV/AIDS

The next Support Training is October 22, 23, and 24, 6:00-9:00pm each evening at the TIHAN office. This training prepares you to be a substantial show of support for our friends living with HIV/AIDS. Bring a willing spirit and you will learn the skills for serving a CarePartner living with HIV. The training is $22 and scholarships are available. Volunteer Orientation is a prerequisite to attend. Call 299-6647 to sign up for a fulfilling experience.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

13. Turnabout for TIHAN a Success: Thank You!

Thank you to everyone involved in making this year's Turnabout for TIHAN benefit show such a huge success! TIHAN and those we serve are very grateful for the hard work of so many volunteers, and the support of our participating bars and their owners/staff, event sponsors, restaurants, and the hundreds of people who attended the show and raised over $17,000 for TIHAN!

TIHAN is so proud to be part of such a generous and hardworking community that supports AIDS education and support services. Through your work on Turnabout, you HELP PEOPLE and you BUILD A STRONGER COMMUNITY where everyone is cared about.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

14. Our Volunteers Do Valuable Work in the Office!

Thanks to our very capable volunteers, our Administrative Assistant was able to be gone from the office for three weeks this summer, for a very refreshing vacation. Volunteers stepped up to make sure every receptionist shift was filled during Leslie's absence, and also to sit at her desk and complete special projects while she was away. A total of 15 to 20 volunteers helped to make sure the Administrative Assistant's projects continued to be done while she was away. The entire TIHAN staff gives them a big "Thank you!"

If you want to help but not be directly involved with CarePartners, you can be doing important work in the TIHAN office for any of our staff (even if you have only minimal office skills!). Give Kim Talerico, our Volunteer Coordinator, a call at 299-6647 to discuss possibilities and training. You can also e-mail her at kim@tihan.org.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

15. "Musical Potpourri" Concert — Mark Your Calendar for November 11

Join us and our special musical guests for a benefit concert for TIHAN Sunday, November 11. The concert starts at 3 pm at Lutheran Church of the Foothills, 5102 N. Craycroft Road (Craycroft and Territory). Performing will be Tucson Arizona Mass Choir, Reveille, Desert Voices, and Marianne Dissard. An hors d'ouevres reception following the concert is sponsored by Wild Oats Market, Rincon Market, Sunflower Market and Trader Joe's. 

Tickets are $20. Children 12 and under are $5. Tickets and concert information can be found by calling TIHAN at 299-6647 or Lutheran Church of the Foothills at 299-5631. Please come celebrate TIHAN's work. Your donation to the concert will be doubled with matching funds provided by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

16. "Make someday Today" and Volunteer with TIHAN: Featured Volunteer Opportunities!

Don't keep waiting for someday. We need you today! We have opportunities in the areas of Grant Writers, E-Newsletter Preparer and Receptionists. For more information about volunteer needs and opportunities, please contact Volunteer Coordinator Kim Talerico at 299-6647 or kim@tihan.org.

Do you have the right stuff? We are looking for people who project hospitality and professionalism to work a 4-hour shift at our Reception Desk. As Receptionist, you represent our agency to visitors and phone callers. Our Receptionists work in 4-hour shifts once a week to direct callers and visitors to the appropriate staff person, maintain the physical appearance of the office, create a pleasing attitude and atmosphere, and help our Administrative Assistant with phone calls, paperwork, and special projects. Computer expertise is a plus in this volunteer position. If you have the gifts of hospitality, professionalism, and organization skills, this may the position for you! Please contact Leslie Johnson, Administrative Assistant at 299-6647, or leslie@tihan.org.

"Constant Contact"

Like to work from your computer at home? You might be the person for us. We are looking for two volunteers to alternate monthly in the position of preparing our e-newsletter each month. You would be using our on-line service and working with a template to upload articles and create links within those articles for artwork, photos, and other websites. The work is done in coordination with our Website Editor, Administrative Assistant, and Executive Director. The articles are already written; we just need someone to help upload them into the program we use to send our e-newsletter.

You would need Microsoft Word 2003, e-mail, and internet access. Each month's work would take a total of 3 or 4 hours concentrated within a 1- or 2-day period, sometime between the 5th and the 15th of the month, according to TIHAN's mailing schedule. A team of two people will ensure that the timing will work with at least one of you each month. If you think you are one of those persons, please contact Leslie Johnson, Administrative Assistant at 299-6647, or leslie@tihan.org.

Calling All Writers

Do you want to assist in crafting a proposal that will help foundations invest in TIHAN's efforts? As a Grants Team Member Volunteer, you can assist us in drafting grant proposals to foundations and groups. If you are a gifted writer, you can help us succeed! Attendance at our Volunteer Orientation training is required prior to volunteering. For more information, please contact Kim Talerico at 299-6647, or kim@tihan.org.

Back to top

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

17. TIHAN is BONKERS about Jay Johnson!

Jay with BONKERS!

Jay Johnson (pictured here, with BONKERS) is one of our newest volunteers. He is an incredibly giving individual and is involved in many volunteer areas of TIHAN. He serves as Receptionist once each week; he is a member of the Poz Cafe lunch committee; he cleans the office really well, consistently scrubbing the bathroom and kitchen, and vacuuming; and he single-handedly organized a school supply drive at Water of Life Metropolitan Community Church, collecting over 20 backpacks filled with school supplies! Jay is always here when we need him with a smile on his face and a warm welcome for everyone. His tireless devotion has changed many lives, and his generosity and willingness to be of assistance are comforts to those we serve. Jay, we are very grateful for your presence and contributions — we are BONKERS about you!