Front Line November 2011

Volume 24
Issue 3
ATB Launches New Hep C Project
Fall 2011
AIDS Thunder Bay was successful in having an
application for a new Hepatitis C project approved
late last summer. Over the next year and a half, the
“Blood 2 Blood” Project will create new resources
and information tools to educate people about Hep C.
Inside this issue:
Fundraising News
2
Fundraising continued
3
Education Update
4
Support Services Update
5
News from the Volunteer
Department
6
Here and There...
7
Parting glance
8
REMEMBER—if you have a new or
worsened cough, please get a mask
from reception when you come into our
agency. We do not want to help the
spread of colds or the flu. We also
have hand sanitizer available at
reception. Let’s work together to
protect each other.
The resources will provide information to help
demystify and provide accurate information about the
virus, how it is transmitted, how to prevent
transmission and what treatments are available.
Building on information learned from our Hepatitis C
Outreach Project (HEPCOP), the project will develop
a number of materials, including information
brochures, cards, matchbooks and a comic strip.
The project will also create a series of theatrical
presentations that will be toured in various locales,
venues and schools. The plays will also be turned
into video productions to place on our agency
website and social media sites such as YouTube and
Facebook.
All of the new resources created will be available for
distribution to individuals, groups, organizations and
agencies seeking to have accurate information on
Hep C available. The materials created will also be
designed so they can be easily adapted for other
communities that may want to put out local
information on it.
The project will have a strong community and internet
-based promotion element showcasing all of the
resources developed.
Lawrence Korhonen
Executive Director
FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES
Our annual AIDS Walk was another great success. The total raised, including all
sponsors, teams and individual walkers was $17,563.06
The top 3 walkers were:
1. Selly Pajamaki $5,896
2. Tony Caria $1,690
3. John Crilly $875
The top team was:
The Walking Gardeners: Bob Manson & Diane Gordon
$400
Thank you to all our generous sponsors!
Get yourself a sparkling red ribbon
pin and show your support for AIDS
Thunder Bay. Or get it as a Christmas
gift for someone else. A donation of
$5.00 will give you one of these lovely
mementos. Available at reception at
the office at 574 Memorial Ave. Your
donation will support direct programs
and services for people living with
HIV/AIDS in your community.
Page 2
Upcoming Fundraising Events
The annual waffle breakfast will be
held on
Saturday, February 11, 2012 at
St. John’s Anglican Church Hall,
226 Pearl Street, beside the casino
Bring your sweetheart and loved ones to a special breakfast. It is the perfect way to
begin to celebrate Valentine’s Day.
Enjoy mouth-watering waffles with home-made whipped cream & fruit toppings.
A scrumptious bake table too!
This location is accessible. The accessible door is located at the back of the church
hall, just off the parking lot.
TICKETS: $5.00 in advance $7.00 at door
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Taste for Life – Wednesday April 25, 2012
Watch for details about restaurants for this year’s event. Make reservations at one of
the participating restaurants and enjoy dinner with family and friends. The restaurant
will donate 25% of the evening’s proceeds to AIDS Thunder Bay.
Check our website www.aidsthunderbay.org for updates!
Annual General Meeting
AIDS Thunder Bay’s Annual General Meeting will be on November 16th at the St. John’s Ambulance building at 518 Fort William Road. Doors open at 6p.m. and the meeting begins at 7.
We will once again be having a Silent Auction at the AGM so come prepared to do a little Christmas shopping. We will have things like books,
CDs, DVDs, household items, toiletry items, art work, etc. Cash, cheques
and credit cards are accepted.
Page 3
EDUCATION UPDATE
As an educator, I am constantly wondering if I am being effective in reaching people with information
about HIV prevention and whether I am making a difference or not. I had no such thoughts on Saturday September 10th while working our display table at the Victoria Avenue Business Improvement Area Street Fair,
when I had my most successful day as an educator. We know from our Engaging Populations at Risk Survey
that at-risk populations (injection drug users) like to get information from people they trust, family members
and peers. From 8:30 am until 4:45 pm, I engaged a constant stream of people from all walks of life: young
and old, male and female, kids and parents, grandparents, political leaders and so on. When they left, I was
confident that they knew the five bodily fluids that contain enough of the HIV virus that could infect them
(semen and pre cum, vaginal fluid, blood, breast milk, rectal secretions), that there is no cure once infected,
that 30% don’t know they are infected with HIV because they haven’t been tested and other information dispelling many myths about HIV that lead to more stigma/discrimination. I was also confident that they would
share that information with their family members, peers and colleagues.
I attended our local Ka-Na-Chi-Hih Solvent Abuse Treatment Centre Walk back on September 15th. I
was glad I attended to show solidarity with an organization that shares many of the same challenges our
agency faces. The Grey Wolf Teaching Lodge held a three-day event at the end of September and I was honoured to be there for the opening ceremonies, prayers and speeches. I displayed information of our agency,
HIV and Hep C . I heard again of the struggles and challenges facing our aboriginal brothers and sisters. I was
encouraged by the elders who were reaching out to the youth and taking a proactive approach by reconnecting them to the sacred teachings. As an agency we will need to find how to best work with our partners to
address these common challenges.
The Strategic Planning Committee, which I am a part of, has worked very hard completing an extensive look at our agency. We are certainly not the same agency as we were twenty-six years ago. We have successfully adjusted to each challenge over the years. We can boast a rich history to be proud of and the envy
of many non-profit groups. We are now on the cusp of perhaps the biggest change our agency has ever
faced, which is both scary and exciting. I am confident that the team we have will make the correct choices
only after careful deliberation ensuring that we will maintain the highest standard of compassion and care
for our clients. I know we have much hard work to do, but I also know when it is completed, AIDS Thunder
Bay will be a vital, relevant part of our community and region for a long time to come.
Bob Manson, Education Coordinator
World AIDS Day Breakfast
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Victoria Inn
555 W. Arthur St. Thunder Bay
7:30am – 9:00am $10
Tickets available at AIDS Thunder Bay
Page 4
Support Services Update
Secret Santa
Would you like Santa to bring you something special this Christmas? Register
now for AIDS Thunder Bay’s Secret
Santa. Take a few minutes to update your
information on this sheet then drop it by
our office. Gifts will be distributed at the
upcoming PHA Christmas party.
Name:____________________________
Address:__________________________
Telephone Number::_________________
DOB:_____________________________
Things I need/want for Christmas
Partners Name::_____________________
Partners DOB:______________________
Things I need/want for Christmas
Child’s Name:______________________
Child’s DOB:______________________
Things I need/want for Christmas
October 25, 2011
Dear Friends:
It doesn't seem possible a year
has passed and it's time for the
“SECRET SANTA PROJECT 2011.” We are asking for
your help in making Christmas special for the individuals and families within our care. Your donation
of a gift item, turkey, gift card or cash can help support some of this city’s most disadvantaged members.
All monetary donations will be used to purchase
food and gift items for our clients and any cash donation of $20 or more will be eligible for a charitable tax receipt.
THE SECRET SANTA PROJECT has been a proud tradition at AIDS Thunder Bay for over 20 years. We
cannot begin to tell you how these gifts and tokens
touch the lives of the people we serve. For those of
you who have generously donated in the past we
thank you, and we hope you will remember AIDS
Thunder Bay during the 2011 holiday season.
For pickup of unwrapped gift items or more information, contact Holly Gauvin at 345-1516 ext 24 or
via email [email protected].
Our most sincere thanks,
The Secret Santa Committee
Funding Approval for 2nd Hep C Treatment Nurse
The Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care recently approved ATB’s funding request to hire a second Hep C
Treatment Nurse. The position has already been advertized and we are currently in the hiring process aiming for our new nurse to start by January 2012. This funding approval came at an opportune time as Canada has recently approved two new protease inhibitors for use in Hep C treatment and the expectation is
that our treatment team will only get busier. Nurse Sarah is working with Dr. Gamble preparing several
people to start this new treatment regimen soon and is excited about having another nurse on-board to
share the work.
Janet Adams, Clinic Coordinator
Page 5
News from the Volunteer Department
Here’s what’s
happening in the
coming months:
AGM—Nov. 16, 2011
Waffle Breakfast—
Feb. 11, 2012
Tag Day—Apr. 7, 2012
A Taste For Life—Apr.
25, 2012
If you would like to
volunteer for any of these
events, please call Selly
at 345-1516.
Thank you to the many volunteers who worked at the
AIDS Walk, the RFDA Food Drive and the Opening Doors
Counselling Conference. Your work made all these events
very successful!
And thank you to all our volunteer receptionists and drivers for your ongoing work. We couldn’t do our work without your help.
Bingo volunteers also deserve a big thank you. They continue to work for us month after month for our biggest,
continuous fundraiser.
I’d like to once again thank those volunteer receptionists
who worked extra shifts this summer and fall while others were unavailable. We really appreciated your availability, sometimes with very short notice.
As this is our last newsletter before the holiday season,
I’d like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and an even
happier New Year! May you have a joyous holiday season.
Attention all clients,
volunteers and visitors to
the AIDS Thunder Bay
office. We are a ‘scentfree’ building. Please do
not wear colognes,
perfumes, aftershave, or
scented makeup or
hairspray when visiting
our premises. They have
been known to cause
allergic reactions for
staff,
clients
and
volunteers. Some scented
fabric softeners have also
caused reactions.
Page 6
Selly Pajamaki. Coordinator of Volunteer Services
Here and There...
Have You Purchased Your ATB Membership?
Is your membership up-to-date? If you would like to renew
or purchase a membership, please fill out this form and mail
or fax it to:
AIDS Thunder Bay
574 Memorial Ave.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 3Z2
Phone #: 345-1516 Fax #: 345-2505
Or, bring your completed form into the office.
Name: ____________________________________
Address: __________________________________
__________________________________
Postal Code: _______________________________
Phone #: (Work)____________(Home)___________
When calling, would you prefer us to use discretion?
Yes _____
No _____
Would you like to receive information by email?
Yes _____
No _____
Email address:
_______________________________________
This information may be used in future to contact you about
fundraising/special events. Please note, AIDS Thunder Bay
does not exchange mailing lists. All lists are confidential.
Basic membership
$10.00
Supporting membership
$25.00
I would also like to donate
$_____
For Information About AIDS or HIV Infection:
Call the AIDS Hotline at 1-800-668-2437
About Superior Points:
Call 624-2005, 625-8830 or 625-8831
About Anonymous HIV Testing in Thunder
Bay
Call 625-5981 or 624-2000
About Regular HIV Testing
Call the Sexual Health Clinics 625-5976 or 6242000
About Counselling or Referrals
Call AIDS Thunder Bay 345-1516
About HIV/AIDS Treatment Information
Call Catie (Community AIDS Treatment
Information Exchange) 1-800-263-1638
About Legal Issues
Call the HIV & AIDS Legal Clinic Ontario
(HALCO), Tel. 416-340-7790 / 1-888-705-8889
Service bilingue disponible
ALL CALLS CONFIDENTIAL
Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Eastern Time)
CATIE
Community AIDS Treatment Information Exchange
1-800-263-1638
HIV/AIDS Treatment Information
email: [email protected]
internet: www.catie.ca
The opinions and medical information offered by
“Front Line” are those of the individual authors and
not necessarily those of the staff and Board of
Directors of AIDS Thunder Bay. Medical information
offered should be used at your own discretion. Please
consult your doctor.
Please address any comments or concerns to:
Front Line
574 Memorial Ave.
Thunder Bay, ON P7B 3Z2
Or, e-mail us at: [email protected]
Visit us on the internet at: www.aidsthunderbay.org
Page 7
Parting Glance
AIDS Thunder Bay Board of Directors
Bruno Allard
Fran Dutli
Marla Hollingsworth
Carol Nicholson
Sandra Russell
Karen Vescio
Nancee Day
Dennis Eeles
Maureen Kahn
Ruth Racic
Brent Trudell
Colette Villeneuve
AIDS Thunder Bay acknowledges and thanks
our various funders:
Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care AIDS Bureau and Hepatitis C Secretariat
Public Health Agency of Canada, Ontario Region
(ACAP)
And all of the people involved in general fundraising and
the support of many local businesses and individuals
AIDS Thunder Bay Staff
Janet Adams
Kylie Alton
Joanne Clark
John Crilly
Mike Croft
Holly Gauvin
Lawrence Korhonen
Bob Manson
Kate Freeman
Carrie Miller
Selly Pajamaki
Sarah Tycholiz
HIV Clinic Coordinator
Program Assistant
Administrative Coordinator
Support/IDUO Worker
IDU Outreach Worker
Support Services Coordinator
Hepatitis C Outreach Worker
Executive Director
Education & Communication
Coordinator
Hepatitis C Social Worker
EHOP Coordinator
Volunteer Coordinator
Hep C Nurse
Front Line Contributors
Selly Pajamaki
ATB staff & volunteers
Editor
E.H.O.P Update:
From Carrie Miller (Enhancing Healthy Options Program Coordinator)
Many of you probably already know my due date is fast approaching and my last day at
AIDS Thunder Bay is Friday November 11, 2011. Before I go on maternity leave I
would like to thank everyone for the support and understanding you have given me the
past few months. It has been wonderful sharing this very special time of my life with all
of you.
Kari Chiappetta and Michelle Gentile will be coordinating E.H.O.P in my absence, with
Michelle taking the lead. Kari has coordinated the ODCC for many years and has done
other work at ATB such as the Health Agenda Review. Michelle will be working in the
office on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10am – 3pm. Both Kari and Michelle will do a
fabulous job coordinating the program.
ATB originally received four years of funding for E.H.O.P by Public Health Agency of
Canada (PHAC). Thanks to their great generosity we had many funding extensions and
are now going into our 9th year of the program. However, E.H.O.P is winding down and
scheduled to end March 31, 2012.
I would like to thank PHAC (for their generous funding), all the community partners
that have helped enrich the lives of the participants, and last, but not least, the clients
who participated in the program. I’ve really enjoyed coordinating this program and over
the years I’ve had the opportunity to grow both professionally and personally while
working with all of you. I will miss you all.
Page 8
The following article is reproduced from www.real-worldmindfulness.com for educational purposes. This information is presented as a point of interest; it does not necessarily reflect the opinions of AIDS Thunder Bay.
Mindful Laughter:
Gaining Clarity While Giggling
by Maya Frost
Life is funny.
Throughout the day, there are plenty of humorous moments that we tend to
ignore. We get so caught up in being earnest that we miss opportunities to
gain clarity while giggling.
Sure, there are times when it is considered inappropriate to laugh, but if
we're honest, we'll see that if we're suppressing a smile it's a sign that we're
fully present.
Not only that, but these are times when we could most use a little laughter
to bring levity to an overly-serious situation. The best business meetings—and funerals—I’ve ever attended included plenty of bust-agut moments.
Years ago, during a two-week silent meditation retreat, I got the giggles.
Oh, I know, you're supposed to be *serious* about meditating for five hours
straight, but I couldn't help it.
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It all started when I was roused from my peaceful posture by a certain
"KLUNK!" from across the room. I opened my eyes to see that one of my
retreat buddies had fallen asleep and landed with his head
against the wall. Momentarily unnerved, he quickly straightened up,
closed his eyes and put on his best meditator's face.
I, on the other hand, completely lost it.
I managed to stifle the first few giggles, but then they started escaping in
little bursts. I tried the ol' coughing technique, hoping to disguise my snorts
as expectoration, but I wasn't fooling anyone.
Pretty soon, I saw (well, I did have my eyes open) others looking my way.
Nobody else was laughing. In fact, nobody else was even smiling. Clearly, I
was the only one who had allowed myself to get caught up in that unexpected moment of hilarity.
I was chagrined, and then annoyed, and continued to watch my response to
this incident shift over the next few minutes.
Had it been funny? Of course. Were we supposed to be concentrating fully
on the moment? Absolutely. Anything else would be attachment to past regrets or worries about the future.
Okay, so we were focusing on watching our thoughts, and this little interruption was not part of what was going on in our heads. But isn't ignoring what's happening around us the same kind of thing that gets
us into trouble back in the Real World?
We go about our lives, obsessing silently, moving mindlessly, getting things
done. We fail to notice the wonder and joy and beauty all around us because we are in full scowl mode about the things in our heads.
Well, I'm all for taking time to laugh. Give me a giggling guru over a
dour taskmaster every time. The greatest guides—in business, education, and personal success—are those who encourage us to invite hilarity
into our lives whenever it happens to appear.
Open your eyes to the silliness around you, and laugh out loud. It's good for
your heart in every way.
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