Save the Dates!

Holiday Party Dinner and Dance
Volunteer and CarePartner Appreciation Event
Sunday, January 11 from 5:00-8:00 pm
Dinner and Dance for ALL CarePartners and Volunteers at
Temple Emanu-El
225 North Country Club Road
(this is a free event, in collaboration with SAAF)

Annual Meeting and Presentation of Volunteer Appreciation Awards
Monday, February 23 from 5:30-7:00pm
St. Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church
602 North Wilmot (5th and Wilmot)

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5. Can An HIV-Positive Woman Have a Healthy HIV-Negative Child? (And what are the issues for positive women who are pregnant, or want to get pregnant?)

Yes, it is indeed possible for an HIV-positive woman to give birth to a healthy HIV-negative baby. With proper medical care, the likelihood of problems can be minimized, although it can be complicated. Why would an HIV-positive woman give birth?

1. for the same varied reasons as any other woman who wants children (including religious and societal pressures, as well as personal desires), or
2. she may have become pregnant not by choice, but by force or by accident, or
3. she may have religious beliefs that prevent her from using contraception or terminating the pregnancy, or
4. she may not have been tested and may not know her HIV-positive status

Preventing transmission of HIV from pregnant HIV-positive women to their babies is a major priority and can be extremely effective as long as women access qualified prenatal care.

According to Thomas H. Maugh II in an article in the Los Angeles Times, "Most infants and children who carry HIV contract it during delivery or from nursing. In general, about 28% to 30% of infants born to infected mothers become infected if no treatment is given… Treatment of the mother with a 'cocktail' of three anti-HIV drugs during pregnancy further reduces transmission to about 1% to 2%."

In general, women living with HIV have to contend with a host of prejudices, especially if they desire to have children.

For a fascinating international discussion of issues relating to women, HIV, and pregnancy, see the briefing paper from the International Community of Women Living with HIV/AIDS at http://www.icw.org/files/briefingpaper- motherhood 09-08.pdf

Additional resource information is available at http://www.thebody.com/index/
whatis/women_pregnancy.html, including the article, "Positive Pregnancy," at http://www.thebody.com/content/
art45496.html?mtrk=6732333.

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6. Help Us Recognize Those Who Make a Difference—Nominate Someone Via Email Right Now!

TIHAN will be recognizing our volunteers and supporters for their hard work and tireless efforts to educate our community and reduce the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, and for the care and compassion they've shown to those affected by HIV/AIDS, at our Annual Meeting on February 23. We are asking you to nominate TIHAN volunteers and/or supporters who you think best demonstrate compassion, devotion, and dedication to TIHAN's mission over the last year.

To nominate an individual, congregation, business, or group for their efforts, just email us a short paragraph with the name of the nominee and what their contributions have been, and which category (or categories) you are nominating them for, or complete a nomination form which is available below.

1. Empowerment Award (awarded to a person living with HIV/AIDS who has demonstrated exceptional courage and achievement
2. Excellence in Caring Award (awarded for overall contributions to the HIV Community)
3. Outstanding CareTeam Member or Link Specialist Volunteer
4. Outstanding CarePartner Support Volunteer (Poz Cafe/Breakfast, Family Day)
5. Outstanding AIDS Education Volunteer
6. Outstanding Faith Community
7. Outstanding Administrative Volunteer
8. Outstanding Fundraising Volunteer
9. Outstanding Board and Board Committee Volunteer
10. Outstanding New Volunteer
11. Outstanding Business
12. Outstanding Organization

If you have had experiences working with one of TIHAN's fabulous volunteers and/or supporters, please let us know so that we can recognize them for their efforts. Please email your brief nomination by January 30 to kim@tihan.org. It can be as simple as just a few sentences! Feel free to submit nominations for more than one person or award per category. A committee will review the nominations and choose who will be asked to represent each category in accepting the award.

You may also print out a nomination form below and mail or bring it to the TIHAN office, 1011 North Craycroft Road #301 Tucson, Arizona 85711-7301.

Deadline is January 30, 2009.

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7. Black Church Week of Prayer

Every year, more than 56,000 people in this country contract HIV. The devastation is worst among Black Americans, who represent nearly half of all new HIV infections, including two-thirds of the new cases among women and 70% of the new cases among adolescents… AIDS, in short, is a sickness at the very heart of the American family. Like any family, America must respond to the sickness in its midst by displaying both solidarity for those who are living with HIV and a determination to make sure no one else gets infected.
—Phill Wilson, Black AIDS Institute

Here in Pima County, African Americans account for 3% of our population but nearly 10% of HIV/AIDS cases. The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is a powerful week of prayer, education and action for church members and non-members alike. This national AIDS awareness campaign engages Black congregations to support, encourage and empower African Americans, Africans and all people of the Diaspora to take action toward stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS in Black communities worldwide.

The Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS is a movement created by the Balm in Gilead to promote HIV/AIDS awareness through our African American faith communities. Tucson will once again join this worthy effort that takes place March 1-7, 2009. The next planning meetings are December 17 and January 7, both Wednesdays at 3:00pm. If you would like to help plan or carry out this event, contact Ari Kelly, ari@tihan.org or 299-6647.

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Thank you to all of the wonderful Link Specialists who so graciously donate their time to provide and maintain steady contact with CarePartners. Link Specialists assist CarePartners, facilitating a more efficient and comprehensive connection to community services. Our Link Specialist volunteers devote two to four hours per week, working directly with the Director of CarePartner Support and the TIHAN office staff. Link Specialists are generally the primary contact that new and existing CarePartners will make with TIHAN. They register new CarePartners and explain all of TIHAN's services, as well as help to coordinate requests for service. Link Specialists are also out in the community working directly with our CarePartners, visiting CarePartners in the hospital available, making a home delivery of a care package, and providing advocacy as needed.

Thanks again to the amazing Link Specialist Volunteers who are the link in connecting services to CarePartners who need them! And thanks to the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona, which provided startup funding for this program!

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9. November Poz Cafe: Huge Success!

November has been an extremely busy month. TIHAN staff and volunteers have been feverishly working to make the November Poz Cafe a warm and welcoming event for CarePartners and guests. A considerable amount of planning went into the event and each congregation came together to provide an amazing Thanksgiving meal.

This Poz Cafe broke the all-time record for attendance, with 162 CarePartners and their guests, congregational volunteers, and TIHAN volunteers/staff. This is a truly impressive number of people who turned out to share their holiday spirit and Thanksgiving with CarePartners and their guests. Thank you to all those who made this event possible!

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10. Keeping Current with TIHAN News

To keep in touch with you throughout the year, TIHAN publishes two different newsletters, which contain different information:

• This monthly e-newsletter, which provides more timely news about current and upcoming events. It is delivered mid-month via e-mail and on-line.
• A quarterly printed newsletter, which provides longer-term information about TIHAN and the experiences of its volunteers and CarePartners. It is mailed four times a year.

As a TIHAN volunteer, donor, or CarePartner, you are automatically signed up to be on our newsletter mailing lists. You also receive our newsletters if you signed up at one of our events. If you know someone who would like to be added to these subscription lists, or if you want to be removed from a subscription, follow these instructions:

Ø Monthly e-newsletter

• New subscribers: Simply enter your e-mail address in the "Join Our Mailing List" box on the "Newsletters and Annual Report" page of our website.
• If you already subscribe: You may confirm your subscription directly from the version that is sent to your e-mail inbox, by clicking on the first paragraph at the very top of the e-newsletter above the logo, where it says, "You're receiving this email because of your relationship with Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network. Please confirm your continued interest in receiving email from us."
• To unsubscribe: While viewing the version that is sent to your e-mail inbox, click on the second paragraph at the very top of the e-newsletter above the logo, where it says, "You may unsubscribe if you no longer wish to receive our emails."

Ø Quarterly printed newsletter

• To subscribe or unsubscribe: Call the TIHAN office at 299-6647 and tell the receptionist volunteer that you would like to be added to, or be removed from, TIHAN's paper newsletter mailing list. The Receptionist Volunteer will record your name and address to be sure your wishes are fulfilled.
• For address changes: Again, call the receptionist volunteer at 299-6647; it is helpful if you can give them your name exactly as it is on the mailing label.

Current and past issues of both these newsletters can always be viewed by going to our website, www.tihan.org, and clicking on "Newsletters and Annual Report" in the left-hand column.

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11. End of Year Giving to TIHAN. Need to Double-Check How Much You Have Contributed This Year?

If you would like to verify how much you have contributed to TIHAN this year, please contact Scott Blades, Executive Director, at 299-6647 or scott@tihan.org

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12. Volunteer Impact Reports

Be sure to report all of your 2008 volunteer hours before the end of the year. You can access a Volunteer Impact Report form at www.tihan.org and submit it to us. We ask that volunteers fill out and turn in a form documenting their volunteer time each month. Volunteer Impact Reports heighten our awareness of how much our volunteers do for us, give us required statistics for grant proposals and tracking. In addition, it gives you an opportunity to share your ideas with us.

First, go to the TIHAN website, www.tihan.org.
Click on the "Volunteer" tab found across the top of the page.
Click on the "Volunteer Impact Report" tab on the left of the page.

The easiest way to submit your volunteer hours is to download the Word form, fill it in and email it back to us!

Email:

1. Click on the Word version to download and save the file to your computer.
2. Open the file; fill in both pages of the form, and save it.
3. Email the file to TIHAN's Volunteer Coordinator, kim@tihan.org. Put "Volunteer Impact Report" in the email subject line with your name and the reporting month(s).

Fax, Mail or In Person:

1. Open either the Word or PDF version online, or save the file to your computer and then open.
2. Print out both pages of the form and fill them in.
3. Turn in your report:

• Fax it to TIHAN at the number on the form. No cover sheet is necessary.
  
• Mail it to:
  TIHAN
  1011 North Craycroft Road, #301
  Tucson, AZ 85711
  
• Submit it in person at the TIHAN office; the Receptionist will be sure our Volunteer Coordinator receives it.

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13. First Step to Volunteering in 2009

Go beyond "feel-good volunteering" and volunteer with the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN). Really make a difference in the lives of our CarePartners, people living with HIV/AIDS.

Your first step to volunteering is attending one of our Volunteer Orientations. Our 2009 schedule is as follows:

• Thursday, January 15 from 5:15-9:15pm at First Congregational Church
• Tuesday, March 3 from 1:00-5:00pm at TIHAN (Special Afternoon Orientation)
• Thursday, May 14 from 5:15-9:15pm at First Congregational Church
• Tuesday, July 14 from 1:00-5:00pm at TIHAN (Special Afternoon Orientation)
• Thursday, September 10 from 5:15-9:15pm at First Congregational Church
• Thursday, November 12 from 5:15-9:15pm at First Congregational Church

In just one evening or afternoon, you will experience an HIV 101 presentation, be inspired by a panel discussion of persons living with HIV, and hear an overview of TIHAN's programs, services and volunteer opportunities. Six times a year, TIHAN offers Volunteer Orientations, and January 15 is your next chance.

If you are interested in volunteering at TIHAN or you just want to know more about HIV/AIDS and related issues, please join us. Your cost is only $17 which includes a light meal and printed materials. Feel free to pass this information on to your friends, family, co-workers and congregations.

For more information about volunteer opportunities contact Kim Talerico, Volunteer Coordinator, at 299-6647 or email her at kim@tihan.org.

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14. IRS Extends Deadline for IRA Charitable Rollover

The Pension Protection Act of 2006, allowing individuals age 70½ and older to make distributions from the IRAs to their favorite charities, free from income tax, has been extended to 12/31/2009.

Congress enacted a tax incentive for individuals to make charitable contributions of individual retirement account (IRA) assets. Commonly referred to as the "IRA charitable rollover," the provision allows individuals age 70½ or older to direct funds (maximum of $100,000) to qualified charities like TIHAN without tax consequence.

The primary reason IRA owners use the rollover to make gifts is the convenience of a direct transfer from an IRA to a charity, without incurring any income tax liability for the transfer. Some donors find that they have substantial amounts in their IRA and this is the best way for them to make a charitable gift this year. There are restrictions, so talk to your tax advisor soon to explore this as an option for you to contribute to TIHAN while this limited opportunity exists!

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15. Gifts Received By TIHAN in Honor of and in Memory of Loved Ones

Making a donation to TIHAN in honor of or in memory of someone is a great way to pay tribute, while at the same time contributing to TIHAN's efforts. Over the course of the year, TIHAN has received donations in memory of those who have died this year, as well as those who passed away in previous years, on the anniversary of their birth, death, or other special occasion. Many people also choose to honor their loved ones with a gift in honor of someone, especially on the occasion of a birthday or wedding, or a special accomplishment.

For a list of those honored with gifts to TIHAN in honor of or in memory of someone, click here…

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16. Put Those Hands Together!

Giving applause is difficult if you are sitting on your hands. We all know that two hands are better than one and that many hands make light work. Two are the beginning of a community! You too can join two or more in our Care & Support Training. The outcome will be you becoming a CareTeam volunteer, Link Specialist, Poz Cafe volunteer, or Holiday Program volunteer.

Care & Support Training is your opportunity to expand your knowledge to provide compassionate support to people living with HIV. TIHAN Volunteer Orientation is a prerequisite. Care & Support Training will be held Saturday, January 31, from 9:00am to 5:00pm, at the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF), 375 S. Euclid Avenue, just south of Broadway.

Training is currently free, thanks to a generous donor, and includes lunch, snacks, and your very own manual. If you want to help but not take the training, you can assist us at a future training by signing up to greet volunteers, provide refreshments, and provide scholarship funds. Call the TIHAN front desk, 299-6647, to sign up. Questions? Contact Ari Kelly, ari@tihan.org or 299-6647.

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17. New Year! New Opportunities for Continuing Education!

TIHAN is pleased to continue to offer FREE Continuing Education workshops to volunteers in collaboration with the Southern Arizona AIDS Foundation (SAAF). The next workshop, titled LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) 101, is Thursday, January 8, 6-8 pm at SAAF, 375 S. Euclid. Call 299-6647 to reserve your spot! Registration is appreciated but not required. We ask all volunteers to attend at least three workshops each year.

All workshops are subject to change. Please call to confirm and sign up: 299-6647.

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Rose with Bonkers

18. Bonkers About Rose Carmichael

"I do a lot of little things—nothing big," so states Rose Carmichael, a TIHAN volunteer for three years. Through Pantano Christian Church, Rose discovered TIHAN, and when this retired volunteer takes a break from stamping her own greeting cards and ballroom dancing with her husband, she serves as a weekly receptionist at TIHAN and helps with our quarterly newsletter, various mailings, filing, copying, the calendar, and collecting food. These 'little things' add up to quite a bit! Rose also helps at Poz Cafe. She volunteers in memory of and with love for a friend who died of AIDS in 2002.

Rose, your contributions to TIHAN are the "little" things that keep our organization running smoothly. We are grateful for your presence and contributions—we are BONKERS about you!