September 2006

In this issue:

1. Intro — Contact info updates
2. What's new at MAP — Time to vote!
3. Big Hair Mania update
4. This month's volunteer opportunities - The Office Project of the Century!, Vikings vs. Bears, Tuesday Niters, Public Policy internships
5. Upcoming volunteer opportunities - Core Training
6. Did you know? — HIV and Nonoxynol-9
7. Education Corner — HIV medications
8. MAP staff recommends — from Steve Deerwood, Transportation Coordinator

Intro

Contact info updates

For many people, September is a time of change, whether it’s going back to school, joining a fall sports team, or getting your fall wardrobe out of boxes.  We decided this was the perfect time to update our volunteer database.  Having current contact information is essential to the success of our volunteer program (which, in turn, is essential to the success of MAP).  Our reasons for wanting your correct address, email address and phone number are obvious enough.  But there is other information that is very helpful as well.  When we apply for grants or sponsorships, many times companies ask us “how many of our employees volunteer for you?”  And, many employers will provide matching contributions to an organization if their employees donate or volunteer there. So that’s why we’re asking! We’re also interested in your other associations: churches, temples or mosques; boards you may serve on, community groups for whom you volunteer.  These all give us a great place to start when recruiting Minnesota AIDS Walk teams or lining up HIV education events. 

So, we are asking for updated information from all of our volunteers.  You can expect a request to be emailed out shortly.  Even if you think we have all of your current information, please respond anyway!  We will be following up with a “snail mail” for people who do not respond by email.  Please take a moment to help us with this important project.

What’s new at MAP

Time to vote!

Are you ever frustrated with government officials or decisions?  Wouldn’t it be nice if there were something you could do about it?  Wait—there is!  You can vote!  Primary elections are September 12, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.  The deadline to pre-register for the primary election has passed, but you can register that day at your polling place. If you have questions about what types of IDs to bring to the polling place, contact us—we can let you know what to bring. 

To make sure you are backing candidates that support the fight against HIV, consider contacting them with these questions:

1. What is your position on publicly funded, science-based HIV prevention programs as a strategy for stopping HIV?
2. Do you support government funding for HIV-related health care and services for low-income or uninsured people living with HIV?
3. What is your position on comprehensive sexuality education?
4. What ideas do you have for reducing the stigma that is still associated with HIV?

By the way, we expect every eligible voter that comes to Tuesday Niters on the 12th to be sporting an “I VOTED” sticker! Need to find your polling place?

Big Hair Mania update

As fall rolls around, you may be wondering about the Big Hair Mania event.  For the last several years, several wonderful and high-energy MAP supporters have organized this gala to benefit MAP. MAP’s primary role was to recruit our volunteers to assist on the night of the event.  The event organizers have decided to step away from the event, while still giving MAP the option of producing it ourselves in the future.  While it did not fit well in our development plan this year, it may be something that we come back to in the future.  Thanks to all of the volunteers who supported this event throughout the past few years.

This month’s volunteer opportunities

The Office Project of the Century!

It’s here!  If you’ve been waiting for an office project that you can help with for many hours over the next few months, you’re in luck!  We are cleaning up all of the records in our Convio database (Convio is the program we use to operate our Minnesota AIDS Walk website, and to send e-newsletters such as this one).  Volunteers will be helping us to get rid of duplicate records. Unfortunately this system, like so many, has its fair share of “bugs” which have resulted in numerous duplicate records.   This project is available 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday thorugh Friday, and volunteers will receive training on Convio (a great resume-enhancer!).  We are asking that interested volunteers commit to 20 hours or more over the next three months.  For more info, email Jessica.

Vikings Game

We have signed up for the September 24, 12 p.m. game against Chicago.  Volunteers have two options for that day:

• Ticket Takers—8 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.— these volunteers are stationed outside the stadium, get to greet guests and take their tickets, but do not get to see the game without tickets of their own.
• Ushers—8 a.m. to 4 p.m.— these volunteers are stationed inside the stadium, helping people find their seats, and can enjoy the game while they volunteer.

Both groups are provided with food and beverages.  You will receive training from the stadium security staff that day, and there will be security personnel at every gate for assistance.  If you would like to participate, email Jessica with the following information:

• Name
• Address
• Birth date (required by the Minnesota Vikings)
• Phone number (the security staff will call you a couple days before the game to check in with you and see if you have any questions about where to meet, etc.)
• Let me know if you would like to be a Ticket Taker or an Usher

MAP will receive $8 an hour per person for the time you spend volunteering that day.  This is a great opportunity for us to raise funds while participating in something unique and fun!  If you have questions, please let us know.

Tuesday Niters

Last month, Tuesday Niters volunteers were joking about seeing condoms in their sleep, because of the many many thousands of condoms we bagged for our outreach teams.  This month, perhaps your dreams will include red ribbons, envelopes, or bulletin boards!  Interested?  Join us at MAP any time between 4:30 to 7 p.m. on September 12 (but only after you vote!).  RSVP to Jessica.

Public Policy Internships

Our Public Policy department is well known for its riveting forums, uncompromising lobbying, and statewide community mobilization.  This fall, two lucky (but unpaid…) interns will have the chance to be a part of the excitement. 

Public Policy Intern

Position requires a part-time commitment of 10-15 hours per week.  Benefits include excellent networking opportunities and the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in community mobilization, particularly voter registration and education.  The public policy intern will also assist in tracking state legislation and organizing lobbying opportunities for members of the community. 
See full posting.

MN Teens for AIDS Prevention (MN-TAP) Intern

Position requires a part-time commitment of 10-15 hours per week.  Benefits include excellent networking opportunities and the opportunity to gain first-hand experience in working with youth from the metro area to create teen communities with social norms that promote healthy sexuality in order to reduce risk for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections.  MN-TAP also works to increase knowledge about policies affecting adolescent sexual health, and engages teens as community leaders.  See full posting.

Resumes are due September 9.  Please feel free to forward these positions to anyone you think might be a good fit.

Upcoming volunteer opportunities

Core Training

Core Training is an HIV 101 class geared toward volunteers.  Offered at no cost, this educational evening touches on subjects like HIV transmission, testing, prevention, history, and statistics.  The class may be best known for “the box of fun” used in the prevention discussion.  At the last training, we talked about such hot issues as anonymous partner notification and post-exposure prophylaxis.  Please join us on October 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. to get all your HIV questions answered.  RSVP to Jessica.

Did you know?

Nonoxynol-9 may actually enhance HIV transmission. A gel containing nonoxynol-9, a spermicide effective in preventing pregnancy (especially when used with a diaphragm), was tested as a microbicide to prevent HIV transmission. Not only did the compound fail to prevent transmission of the virus, but it may somehow have facilitated it. According to a presentation at the 13th International AIDS Conference held in Durban, South Africa, nearly 1,000 HIV-negative women were randomly assigned to use either the nonoxynol-9 product or a placebo gel; they were also given condoms and encouraged to use them. After four years, the women who used the test product had a 50% higher rate of HIV infection than did women who used the placebo gel.

Source: Stephenson J. JAMA 2000;284(8):949

Education Corner

HIV Medications

HIV anti-viral drugs slow down the replication of the virus and the destruction of the immune system.  While they improve the health of many living with HIV, they are not a cure. Their long-term effectiveness is unknown, and they require a complicated pill-taking regimen, which often produces significant and occasionally life-threatening side effects.  The drugs are also costly, about as much as buying a new car every year.

MAP staff recommends

Steve Deerwood is MAP’s Transportation Coordinator.  MAP also employs a full time driver to augment the support we receive from many dedicated volunteers. As a volunteer transportation driver, you would be able to provide rides for HIV-positive individuals to medical and social service appointments.  If you have some time, especially during daytime hours, to assist with transportation, contact Jessica for more information.  Here’s what Steve recommends:

Book

1984 by George Orwell

This book was written before 1950 and presents the author’s view of a possible future.  I find the book's dire predictions for our political and social state of well being especially interesting and compelling in today’s times.  Although I'm sure many readers have already read this book, I highly recommend it to anyone who hasn't.  This book can be read online for free, in it's entirety.
(Note that 1984 is not a public domain work in the United States; however it is available in the public domain in Canada, Russia, and Australia, so we provide a link for the convenience of our global readers.)

Movie

Secret Lives: Hidden Children and their Rescuers During WWII

This dramatic look at a small percentage of people who essentially did direct "volunteer work" in the face of incredible danger reminds me that in all times in history, in all places, there are strong, courageous, clever people who are fighting the good fight.  This documentary is about Jewish children and the people who took them into their homes to hide them from the Nazis during WWII.  Secret Lives: Hidden Children and their Rescuers During WWII is an incredible set of true stories of everyday people risking their lives and the lives of their families to do the right thing and help others.  The now-adult children are interviewed along side their rescuers, and speak of the bonds developed and the impact the events had on their lives and outlook on life. 

Last Updated: Tuesday, April 3, 2007
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