Ms. Olive R. Hours has made it even easier for you to record the hours you volunteer for TIHAN. Volunteer Impact Report forms can now be retrieved from our website. Simply go online to www.tihan.org and click on "Volunteer" on the bar at the top of the home page. Follow the link to either:

• A Word document you can download to your computer, fill in, and e-mail back to kim@tihan.org
• A PDF file you can print out and fill in by hand to mail, fax, or bring in person to the TIHAN office.

The impact TIHAN makes is real and substantial. One way we measure this impact is by recording "all of our hours." The statistics generated from the Volunteer Impact Reports you  return each month are used in TIHAN reports and grant requests to emphasize the impact you make. Grantors often determine which agency gets their grant by looking at the number of volunteer hours given to the agency.

Click here to go directly to the Volunteer page on TIHAN's website

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5. We Appreciate Your Non-Cash Gifts Too!

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6. So, You Already Know HIV 101…

Learn more about HIV/AIDS at HIV 201, the advanced course! Our next TIHAN/SAAF Continuing Education workshop is Thursday, January 3, from 6-8pm at TIHAN. Learn about what the virus actually does in the human body, the spectrum of opportunistic infections, and the ever-improving variety of medications.

We ask all volunteers to attend at least three workshops each year. Call 299-6647 to sign up for this workshop.

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7. It's Time to Turn the Tide

According to the CDC, African American women are 20 times more likely than white women to be HIV-positive. African American men are 8 times more likely than white men to be HIV-positive. In Pima County, African American people compose 3% of the population but 10% of HIV/AIDS cases. Be part of eliminating this appalling disparity.

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 join this worthy effort that takes place March 2-8, 2008. 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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8. Use Your Words!

Are you ready to share what you have learned about HIV/AIDS? Do you know relatives, co-workers, classmates, or friends who don't know enough about the effect of HIV/AIDS on our community? How can you hold back from sharing with others? Come to our Speakers' Training on Saturday, February 9 from 9am-5pm at TIHAN, 1011 N. Craycroft Rd. #301. You will learn to share the facts about the disease and impart your own story. Volunteer Orientation is a prerequisite. The training is $17 and scholarships are available. Please RSVP by calling 299-6647.

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9. Can Volunteering Really Improve your Heath?

This past summer the Corporation of National and Community Service published an article in the Faith in Action July News and Notes E-Newsletter titled "The Health Benefits of Volunteering." The article is based on research gathered over the past 20 years demonstrating that volunteering leads to better heath. "Those who volunteer have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer."

In addition to comparing the health benefits with volunteering, researchers also evaluated volunteering among different age groups. The study found that senior volunteers benefited the most from donating their time and energy. "Some of these findings also indicate that volunteers who devote a considerable amount of time to volunteer activities (about 100 hours per year) are most likely to exhibit positive health outcomes." We all know as volunteers that we volunteer to help others, to give back to our community, to "Pay it Forward", but many times we receive as much, if not more than we give. It is believed that this simple fact is the basic cause for improved health.

Volunteering gives us a sense of purpose. It improves our mental health which has a tremendous affect on our physical health. The study found that people who volunteer have much more fulfillment in their lives than those who do not regardless of one's age. They have "higher levels of happiness, life-satisfaction, self-esteem and a sense of control over their life."

While the studies showed the greatest health improvement was for seniors who volunteered it also demonstrated that individuals who volunteered at a young age, volunteering on an intermittent basis throughout the years, had happier healthy lives in their later years. Additionally, the research proves that those who volunteer consistently (100 hours per year) live longer than those who do not.

Using information from the "Americans' Changing Lives survey" people with chronic or serious illness found improvement in their health once they began volunteering and "found benefits beyond what they could receive from their medical care."

• "Those individuals suffering from chronic pain experienced declines in their pain intensity and decreased levels of disability and depression when they began to serve as peer volunteers for others also suffering from chronic pain." (Arnstein et al, 2002)
• "According to a Duke study of individuals with post-coronary artery disease, those individuals who volunteered after their hear attack reported reductions in despair and depression, two factors that have been linked to an increased likelihood of mortality in this type of patient. In addition these individuals reported a greater sense of purpose in their lives." (Sullivan and Sullivan, 1997)

It is important to remember that volunteering can cause poor health if an individual volunteers too many hours per month. The study found that 100 hours per month seemed to be the "volunteering threshold". Anything less than 100 hours did not improve the health of the individuals.

Bottom line, when you volunteer, you have a happier, healthier, longer life than those who do not volunteer. Please consider volunteering with TIHAN today and contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Kim Talerico, 299-6647 or email her kim@tihan.org.

This article was summarized by Kim Talerico, Volunteer Coordinator.
Authors of the Original Article:
From the Office of Research and Policy Development,
Corporation for National and Community Service
Robert Grimm, Jr., Director & Senior Counsel to the CEO
Kimberly Spring, Policy Analyst
Nathan Dietz, Research Associate and Statistician

See the Faith in Action newsletter article.

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10. HIV Question of the Month: When do you start HIV treatment? See If You Know the Answer…

True or False: It is recommended that a person start HIV medications when their CD4 count drops below 200. What do you think is the answer?

Start HIV Meds at 350, New U.S. HIV Treatment Guidelines Say
It's been more than a year since the bible of U.S. HIV treatment has been updated, but the wait is finally over—and there are some huge changes. The biggest one: HIV meds are now recommended for anyone with a CD4 count below 350. (Until now, treatment had been recommended only when a person's CD4 count dropped below 200.) A similar change was made to European HIV treatment guidelines in October. The newly revised U.S. guidelines also recommend HIV drug resistance testing for everyone who's been diagnosed with HIV, even if they're not even considering treatment yet.

For the full article, click here. To download a PDF of the complete revised guidelines, click here.

The Body (www.thebody.com) is a great resource for HIV/AIDS information and to answer all your questions. Ask the Experts about HIV prevention, treatment, medications, care, support, and more.

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11. Buy A Raffle Ticket to Win a 2008 Ford Mustang and Help Support TIHAN!

Buy your raffle ticket now, and get a chance to win a limited edition 2008 Ford Mustang (Bullitt model). Tickets are $25 each, or five for $100. Jim Click is trying to raise ONE MILLION DOLLARS for Tucson area 501(c)(3) charities. He's giving away a 2008 Bullitt Mustang!

TIHAN is participating in this event and we get to keep 100% of the money raised from our raffle ticket sales in order to help us in our mission of a compassionate response to HIV/AIDS. By purchasing a ticket, you get a chance to win a great car, and help support TIHAN!

Get your tickets by contacting TIHAN at 299-6647 (credit card orders can be taken over the phone), or stop in and see us at 1011 N. Craycroft Rd. #301. We would love to see one of TIHAN's supporters win this great Mustang. Drawing is in February 2008, and you must be 21 years of age or older to win. Winner need not be present. The winner will be responsible for all taxes, registration, and travel to claim the vehicle.

Color and options on the 2008 Mustang "Bullitt" are subject to Jim Click Automotive Team discretion.

Thanks to the generosity of the Jim Click Automotive group, all the money from every raffle ticket that TIHAN sells will directly support the programs and services of TIHAN!

* Car pictured is for display purposes only. Actual color and options on the 2008 Mustang "Bullitt" are at the discretion of the Jim Click Automotive Team.

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12. Poz magazine survey link

We recently discovered an interesting article with results from a survey of thousands of people living with HIV/AIDS across the country. Although this is NOT a scientifically-valid representative sample of people living with HIV (it's probably skewed towards people with higher education and income than the average person), this survey done by Poz magazine has very interesting information about what it is like to live with HIV today. If you care about people living with HIV, you will want to see this article.

More Than Just a Number
by Lucile Scott

Click here to read the article.

From Poz Magazine,
December 2007 edition

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13. Do you have time to make a difference in someone's life?

We have a number of CarePartners, people living with HIV/AIDS, on a waiting list in need of a CareTeam. Please make a difference in someone's life today and become a TIHAN Volunteer! We also have needs in the areas of Speakers and Presenters, E-newsletter Preparer, Receptionists, Data Entry Team Member, Community Event Volunteer, Fundraising and administrative support to the Volunteer Coordinator and Director of Education.

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14. Charitable IRA Rollover Law

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 70 1/2 or older to direct funds (maximum of $100,000) to qualified charities like TIHAN without tax consequence. This opportunity expires on December 31, 2007.

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. If You Like To Invite Others to Make A Difference and Build A Stronger Community, We Need You!

It's a rare gift to find someone who likes to invite people and businesses to make a difference by investing in TIHAN. If you like to ask people to help by donating a gift certificate or an item for our auction; if you like to help us show potential funders how they can invest in a healthier community; if you like to show people how they can make a difference by donating to a small, lean, cost-effective volunteer-based organization; if you have an idea for a great fundraising event, we need you!

If you aren't afraid to ask people to help, you are a very valuable commodity—contact Scott Blades, Executive Director (scott@tihan.org), or Kim Talerico, Volunteer Coordinator (kim@tihan.org), or call us at 299-6647.

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16. TNT (Tuesday Nights at TIHAN) on Sabbatical Until January 8

Due to the holidays, TIHAN will not host TNT (Tuesday Nights at TIHAN) until January 8. Please join us again beginning January 8 for our extended Tuesday evening volunteer night (from 5:30-8:00pm).

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17. Make a Resolution to Start Volunteering in 2008

"Make a Difference in Someone's Life Today" and volunteer with the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN). Your first step to volunteering is attending our next Volunteer Orientation which is scheduled for Thursday, January 10 from 5:15-9:15 pm at First Congregational United Church of Christ, located at 1350 N. Arcadia Avenue (near Speedway and Swan). If a daytime orientation works better for you, we have one scheduled for Tuesday, March 11 from 1:00-5:00 pm.

In just one evening or afternoon, you will experience an HIV 101 presentation, be inspired by a panel discussion by persons living with HIV, and hear an overview of TIHAN's programs, services and volunteer opportunities. Six times a year, TIHAN offers a Volunteer Orientation, and January 10 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 and 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. To get more information about TIHAN visit our website at www.tihan.org.

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18. Quote of the Month

Never doubt that a small group of concerned citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.  —Margaret Mead

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19. We are BONKERS for
Michael Kling

Michael Kling is a very dedicated TIHAN volunteer. He is an incredibly giving individual and is involved in many volunteer areas of TIHAN. As a Link Specialist, Michael handles support requests from our CarePartners with warmth and understanding. (TIHAN's Link Specialist program is funded in part by the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona.) Michael also helps with Poz Cafe. He serves as Receptionist, weekly sharing his cheery attitude with callers and visitors to TIHAN.

Additionally, he helped with our United Way "Days of Caring" project and was on the 2007 "Treasures for TIHAN" Auction Committee. Michael is always available when we need him with a smile on his face and a warm welcome for everyone. Michael, we are very grateful for your presence and contributions—we are BONKERS about you!