Monthly E-Newsletter for

January 2012

Dear Friends,

Thanks for taking a few minutes out of your busy day to learn more about what's happening with TIHAN and our CarePartners and volunteers! Your care and support mean the world to TIHAN and those we serve.

Scott Blades
Executive Director

Volunteer Orientation - Learn about TIHAN and Volunteer Opportunities on Saturday, January 28th from 8:30am-12:30pm

Help Us Recognize Those Who Make A Difference: Nominate Someone Via Email Right Now! Outstanding Volunteers, Businesses, Congregations, and Models of Empowerment!

TIHAN will present awards at our Annual Meeting on Thursday, February 23, 2012 in recognition of all the outstanding contributions of our volunteers and supporters. Please take a few minutes to complete a nomination form to nominate and honor a fellow volunteer, local organization or business to be recognized at this event.

Forms are available in hard copy format at the TIHAN offices, on our website (click here for a copy), or just e-mail your nomination to scott@tihan.org (just the name of who you are nominating, and a sentence or two about why they are outstanding). Thanks for letting us know your thoughts about those doing outstanding work in support of TIHAN and our mission!

Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation – February 23 – Save the Date

TIHAN's Annual Meeting and Volunteer Appreciation Event will be held on Thursday, February 23, at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church (602 N. Wilmot Road, at 5th Street), with a reception at 5:30pm, and the program from 6:00-7:00pm. Join us for refreshments, a look back at our 2011 accomplishments, and our recognition of the people and groups who make a difference through their support of TIHAN. It's a party that is free and open to all! RSVP to 299-6647.

If you would like to donate an item for our "Treasures for TIHAN" auction, or if you want to help us collect treasures to auction off, please let us know! We're seeking donations of antiques, gift certificates, trips, jewelry, rugs, unique gift items, textiles, ceramics, event tickets, hotel/condo/bed & breakfast stays—fun things that will make interesting auctions items and bring in some funds for TIHAN.

"Treasures for TIHAN," the signature fundraising event for the programs and services of TIHAN, is Saturday, May 5 at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park. Under the leadership of event co-chairs Dr. Lisa Fogle and Beth Daum, this is one of Tucson's premiere benefits, with a crowd of hundreds of Tucsonans enjoying a fun night and bidding on great auction items, all to benefit programs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

And we are seeking businesses, groups, and organizations to help sponsor this year's event. If you or your business/group wants to be a sponsor for the 15th Annual "Treasures for TIHAN," please let us know. Sponsorship levels begin at $500 and each level offers you a host of benefits, including free tickets, publicity, and great karma!

Come on board and help us make this another grand event! Volunteers are needed for a variety of roles, both now as we plan the event, and on the night of the event itself. We need volunteers to assist with making phone calls to last year’s item donors, pick up auction items that have been promised, and assistance with event set-up and more. To get involved, please contact Scott at 299-6647 or scott@tihan.org.

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Taina’s News, and Announcement of Job Opening

In conjunction with Taina’s changes noted below, TIHAN is making some changes in our staffing, and we are currently recruiting for a new modified full-time position. A copy of the job description and instructions for applying can be found on the home page.

I am very sad to say that I will be leaving my position at TIHAN as Director of CarePartner Support. I’ve made the difficult decision to return back east to Maryland this summer in order to be closer to my family who need my support at this time. Consequently, I need to finish my internship immediately so that I can receive my Master’s in Education (School Counseling) degree in May. Therefore, I will be reducing to part-time at TIHAN as of January 23, working just one day a week until a new staff person is hired and trained.

I want to express my sincere appreciation to all the volunteers I have directly worked with in the Care & Support Programs, especially the Link Specialists, Poz Cafe Volunteers and CareTeam Members. I am so honored to have met such wonderful and caring people here in Tucson and am proud to call you my friends. Working with all of you at TIHAN has opened my eyes to the tremendous generosity and love that exists in this world. So often it’s hard to believe in the good of humanity when so much of what I hear and see on the news is full of negativity and hatred. However, my experiences at TIHAN remind me that when we come together with the common mission of compassion we can and do rise above.

Every single day I have been fortunate to witness the members of this amazing network participating in small and large ways to support our CarePartners. In doing so you’ve helped not only a group of people become empowered to live better lives, but also uphold and spread the message that they are indeed valued and worthy. That has meant so much to me these past two years and has truly enriched my life in a way that I will never forget.

Thank you.

—Taina

Volunteer Opportunities - No Training Needed!

Are you looking to volunteer, but don’t have the time to make a weekly commitment? We have two great volunteer opportunities coming up that are flexible and do not require any previous training! If you are interested in either one of the following options, please contact our Administrative Assistant Katie Meismer at 299-6647 or adminassistant@tihan.org—be sure to indicate when you would like to volunteer!

1) Tuesday Nights at TIHAN—Spend an hour or two with us at TIHAN the first Tuesday night of every month from 5:00 to 8:00 pm. We have variety of projects; feel free to bring friends and family.

2) Quarterly Newsletter Party—We need a lot of volunteers in the production of our Quarterly Newsletter to help fold, tab and label the newsletter. Our next Quarterly Newsletter Party will take place on Tuesday January 17 and Wednesday January 18 from 9:00am to 4:30pm (both days). If you are available for a couple hours during those time periods let us know!!

Flu Season – Some Tips and Needs

Symptoms of influenza can cause mild to severe illness, including: fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headaches, and chills. These symptoms can be intensified for people living with HIV/AIDS and can sometimes cause heart and lung complications.

• Wash hands often and thoroughly—wash your hands long enough to sing happy birthday twice

• Cough or sneeze into your elbow or shirt sleeve, not your hands

• Use a tissue, throw it away and then wash your hands

• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth

• Skip the quick hug or embrace when greeting friends

• Flu viruses can spread from person to person through coughing, sneezing, by touching something with flu viruses on it, and in some cases through the air

• If you are sick, stay home and rest

To help our some of our CarePartners get through this flu season, please contribute any of the following items:

• Blankets

• Kleenex tissue boxes

• Hand sanitizer

• Vapor rub

You can drop these off at 1011 North Craycroft Road, #301 during office hours: Monday–Friday 8:30am-4:30pm.

For more information, see TIHAN's statement for staff, volunteers and CarePartners.

Make a difference in the life of an HIV+ person right here in Tucson!

Come to the next Care & Support Training on Saturday January 28 from 1:00-5:30pm and learn how YOU can make a difference in someone's life today and become Care & Support volunteer!

At the training you’ll not only learn more about the disease progression of HIV/AIDS, but also about how to be more supportive through active listening, boundaries and get some great information about cultural competency!

We could sure use your help serving people with living with HIV directly in the Tucson community. Make a positive difference in the life of someone living with HIV/AIDS today!

If you are interested in volunteering in any of our CarePartner programs at TIHAN or you just want to know more about HIV/AIDS and related issues, please contact Taina Compagnet, Director of CarePartner Support at (520) 299-6647 or taina@tihan.org.

Hope to see you there!

Stay in the Loop

If you have had a recent change in address, email or phone number please contact our Administrative Assistant, Katie Meismer at adminassistant@tihan.org or 299-6647. Keeping our information current helps to cut down on cost of returned mail and keeps you in the loop on all the exciting things going on at TIHAN.

Thanks for These Gifts In Memory Of and/or In Honor Of Your Loved Ones

In the final quarter of 2011, we received a number of special gifts made in honor or in memory of friends. Thank you for choosing TIHAN as a means of honoring and remembering special people.

Click here for the list of people honored with gifts to TIHAN in the last three months of 2011.

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Another Volunteer Opportunity - Flowers for TIHAN!

Help us make paper flowers for our Cinco De Mayo fiesta-theme for Treasures for TIHAN! If you'd like to learn to make these beautiful and colorful decorations, please join us at the TIHAN office (1011 N. Craycroft #301) on Thursday, January 19, at 3:00pm. We'll supply free instruction and the paper—let us know if you want to come give it a shot! If you are interested but cannot attend on the 19th, please email adminassistant@tihan.org and we’ll inform you of future dates for flower-making lessons!

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