Tucson Observer

TUCSON (Observer Update) – Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) will be holding our volunteer orientation on November 12th from 5:15pm to 9:15pm. The orientation will take place at First Congregational UCC which is located at 1350 N Arcadia Ave, Tucson.

TIHAN is a volunteer driven organization with a commitment to providing compassionate, nonjudgmental care to those living with HIV/AIDS. Visit us at tihan.org to learn more. Here are some of our volunteer positions:

Care Team Member – Make someone’s day brighter by visiting them, running errands with them, or helping them get to their doctors appointments. Care Teams provide compassionate nonmedical support to people living with HIV/AIDS.

Link Specialist – This position was rated the second most important to wellbeing by the people living with HIV that we serve. Link specialists provide referrals and well calls to our CarePartners.

Administrative Support for TIHAN Staff – The TIHAN office seeks fun-loving people to help with a data entry and administrative tasks.

Grants Team Member – Looking to keep your grant writing skills fresh? Looking for experience in grant writing, editing, or research? TIHAN is searching for both experienced and inexperienced-but-interested volunteers to join our grants team. We are a small, but dynamic nonprofit and your skills will make a huge difference here!

To sign up for orientation, simply contact Katelyn, Volunteer Resources Coordinator at (520) 299-6647 or email her at katelyn@tihan.org. We hope to see you there!

TUCSON (Observer Update) – The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) is pleased to announce the addition of staff member Natalie Brown, who will be serving as its Director of Education and Community Relations.

Natalie is a University of Arizona graduate with a degree in molecular and cellular biology. She has a passion for public health and has been involved in AIDS education efforts in the United States, Mexico, and anzania, as a volunteer with Support for International Change and the United Methodist Church. She currently serves on the United Methodist Church’s Desert Southwest AIDS Task Force and assists with Strength for the Journey, a retreat for individuals living with HIV and their care givers. Natalie is thrilled to make the transition from TIHAN volunteer to staff member and is excited to work more closely with TIHAN’s wonderful education volunteers.

In her role as Director of Education and Community Relations, Natalie coordinates HIV/AIDS awareness and education programs, including developing HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention materials for faith communities, trainings for volunteers, working closely with liaisons and congregations, and building relationships with other agencies, service providers, and the general community.

Turnabout for TIHAN is an annual show put on by Tucson’s GLBT clubs and their bar staff. The staff request donations from their friends and customers in order to do a “turn-about” from male to female (or vice versa) and put on a fabulous show to benefit the work of TIHAN, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (www.tihan.org)

The doors open at 5 p.m., and the show starts at 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door. The evening also features a raffle.

Join us for Turnabout, featuring emcees Bunny Fufu and Janee Starr, along with your favorite bar staff in drag from participating bars (IBT’s, Woody’s, Colors, Coyote Moon Pub).

Event Details: Turnabout for TIHAN, tonight, September 6, 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park (445 South Alvernon Way).

Since Wingspan had to relocate to new premises, the Tucson chapter of GLSEN (Gay, Lesbian, Straight Educators Network) has moved their meeting location.

Until further notice, GLSEN-Tucson will be meeting in the Martha Cooper Branch Library, 1377 N. Catalina Ave, in Meeting Room B.

Even though the meeting location may have changed, the date and time have not. On the first Thursday of each month, these meetings will take at 4:30 p.m. For more information, go online to chapters.glsen.org/cgi-bin/iowa/tucson/home.html.

“Turnabout for TIHAN” is an annual show put on by Tucson’s GLBT clubs and their bar staff.

Each club and bar’s staff request donations from their friends and customers in order to do a “turn-about” from male to female (or vice versa) and put on a fabulous show to benefit the work of TIHAN, the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (tihan.org)

So get ready for the glitz and glamour, the pumps and passion for this year’s “Turnabout for TIHAN” benefit show, one of the biggest drag shows of the year, and takes place on Sunday, September 6 at the Doubletree Hotel at Reid Park (445 South Alvernon Way, Tucson, Arizona). The doors open at 5:00 p.m., and the show starts at 6:00 p.m. Tickets are only $10.00 in advance or $15.00 at the door. The evening also features a raffle with some great prizes.

Join us for Turnabout, featuring emcees Bunny Fufu and Janee Starr, along with your favorite bar staff in drag from your favorite participating bars: Woody’s, IBT’s, Coyote Moon and Colors.

Tickets are on sale now through the TIHAN office (credit card orders can be taken – (520) 299-6647), or at participating bars. For more information about the event, or to volunteer, contact Scott Blades at scott@tihan.org.

T-Squares, Tucson’s GLBT square dance club, is celebrating their 25th anniversary with a dance on Saturday, August 29 at the Therapeutic Recreation Center at Reid Park, 1000 S. Randolph Way.

The T-Squares club is a member of the International Association of Gay Squares Dance Clubs (IAGSDC) and the local Square & Round Dance Association of Southern Arizona (SARDASA). T-Squares’ diverse membership is open to all regardless of age, race, gender, religion, ethnic background, or sexual orientation.

The T-Squares club dances every Tuesday evening at the Cornerstone Fellowship Social Hall at 2902 N. Geronimo Ave from 6:30 to 9:00 pm with a crash course slated for September 15th for anyone interested in taking square dance lessons with a uniquely Gay flair. For more information about T-Squares, email them at T-Squares@azgaydance.org, or visit azgaydance.org and click on “Tucson, AZ”

Welcome to OZ, Tucson’s newest LGBT/LGBT-friendly mixed bowling league had a wonderful inaugural summer season with 39 bowlers (thirteen teams), and are looking to carry the momentum forward and expand for the upcoming winter season.

Welcome to OZ is housed at Tucson Bowl, 7020 E. 21st Street (22nd & Kolb Rd) and will bowl on Thursday nights, practice at 6:45 p.m. and bowling at 7:00 p.m. The Winter league will begin on Thursday, September 10 and is a 34 week leaguer ending on Thursday, May 20, 2010 with a banquet held on Thursday, May 27, 2010.

A league meeting will be held on Thursday, September 10, 6:00 p.m. with our season beginning at 7:00 pm. Teams will consist of three bowlers each. Come as a team of three, a double or a single, we will assist in making teams. Let’s continue the fun, so for more information contact us at: welcometoOZ09@gmail.com.

Men, women and children living with HIV and AIDS in Southern Arizona have recently been dealt a blow to their health services and medication regimen. Federal funding through the Ryan White Program Part B as well as the AIDS Drug Assistance Program (ADAP) has fallen short and not able to adequately cover all the services and medications previously provided. While the numbers of new HIV infections locally have gone up and more people are living with the disease than ever before, funding has stayed the same and not increased to meet the need. The shortfalls have resulted in drastic program cuts, including mental health services, dental services and medications covered by ADAP.

(continue reading…)

On Wednesday, July 15, from 4:00-8:00 p.m., Tucsonans are invited to treat themselves to beauty, style, and relaxation at the Robert Markley Salon Spa and the programs of the Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) will benefit, too!  Pampering may include a massage, facial, waxing, or hair cut/ style/ treatment/ color, and the salon will donate ALL proceeds (including tips) to support TIHAN’s programs for people living with HIV/AIDS.  The salon spa is located at the Plaza at Williams Centre, 5350 East Broadway Boulevard (just west of Craycroft) Suite 160.  To make an appointment for this special July 15 event, call Robert Markley Salon Spa at 520-747-1388.

“We hope to have the salon filled with that night with men and women who are transforming themselves with great spa/salon services, while at the same time helping transform the lives of our clients through our programs,” said Scott Blades, Executive Director of TIHAN.  “Come get more beautiful, and help build a more beautiful and compassionate community.” TIHAN is the largest privately-funded provider of support services for people living with HIV/AIDS in the state of Arizona.  In 2008, TIHAN’s education and awareness programs reached more than 5,000 people through presentations, sermons, spoken announcements, and information tables at community events and another 36,000 through faith community bulletins and newsletters.  TIHAN’s volunteer-based support programs served 267 people living with HIV/AIDS in 2008.  Its Poz Café lunch program is the largest regular gathering place for people living with HIV/AIDS in Southern Arizona, having served over 10,000 meals to more than 500 people living with HIV/AIDS. …

The Tucson Interfaith HIV/AIDS Network (TIHAN) seeks your assistance with our active search for qualified applicants for two current openings: Administrative Assistant (30 hours/week) – must have experience coordinating volunteers, managing office operations, and proficiency with Microsoft Office programs, especially Microsoft Access Kitchen/Menu Supervisor for Poz Cafe (15 hours/month) – must have experience coordinating volunteers as well as planning and preparing nutritious meals for 125-150 people once a month, ensuring compliance with health department guidelines (must be available on the third Thursday of each month for our Poz Cafe monthly luncheon for people living with HIV/AIDS)

For complete job descriptions, minimum qualifications, and instructions for applying, visit tihan.org and click on “Job Openings.”  (Due to funding constraints, these positions have reduced hours.) For more information, visit www.tihan.org or contact Scott Blades, Executive Director, (520) 299-6647 or scott@tihan.org.