ACT e-Bulletin, Vol. 4 No. 4
September/October 2009 Thank you for subscribing to the AIDS Committee of Toronto's e-Newsletter. We hope you enjoy our news! If you'd prefer not to receive the e-bulletin by email, simply click the unsubscribe link at the bottom. |
| Time to renew your ACT membership! |  |
| Are you a member of the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT)? Do you want to become one? If you haven't renewed your membership since April 1, 2009, your membership has expired! Members receive the ACT Newsletter and Annual Report, and they support and guide the direction of the agency. By becoming a member, or renewing your membership by September 26, 2009, you will be able to vote at the 2009 Annual General Meeting, to be held on Monday October 26th at Oakham House. Membership only costs $5 and can be purchased online or in person at our offices. For more information, see our membership page (http://www.actoronto.org/membership) or contact Anthony at membership@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 279. | |
| ACT Annual General Meeting 2009 | |
| Our Annual General Meeting (AGM) will be held on Monday, October 26 from 7-9pm at Oakham House, Thomas Lounge (Oakham House is located at 63 Gould Street, Toronto). A light meal will be served at 6:30pm. In addition to the business portion of the meeting, there will also be special presentations. More information will follow at http://www.actoronto.org/agm Please note: In order to vote at the AGM, you must be a member in good standing at least 30 days before the AGM. To become a member, contact Anthony at membership@actoronto.org, 416-340-8484 ext 279, or become a member using our on-line form at http://www.actoronto.org/membership. If you are planning on joining us for the light meal at 6:30pm, please RSVP to Anthony at: membership@actoronto.org, or call 416-340-8484 ext 279. | |
| Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life Toronto | |
The countdown is on! With less than a week to go until the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life Toronto, it's time to kick into gear and get ready for the Walk this Sunday, September 13th! We have a new benchmark prize for the walker who raises the most pledges in September, and we have exciting news about the Community Fair, Kids' Zone, and brand new Marketplace. Don't forget your wallet on Walk Day because we have a wide range of food and craft vendors joining us this year. Last Chance Benchmark Prize - September 1st - 30th Win four tickets to see the Toronto Raptors take on the Chicago Bulls on November 10th at the Air Canada Centre! 7:00 p.m. start time. Please check raptors.com for updates. Win with VISA! There are still two more chances to win $500 from VISA. Anyone who uses their VISA card to make a donation or pledge $50 or more, and they'll automatically be entered for a chance to win $500! There are two chances to win. So whip out that VISA number and Sponsor a Walker or Donate Now for your chance to WIN! Join a celebrity Walk Idol team! That's right! NEW this year, you can walk with one of your favourite celebrities at this year's Scotiabank AIDS Walk For Life Toronto. From Cynthia Nixon of Sex and the City to Gavin Crawford of This Hour Has 22 Minutes, celebrities from Canada and across the border have stepped up and joined us in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Together they are the founding members of this new initiative, and we are honoured that they are helping us to raise money for people in our community who are living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. How can you join in the fun? Just visit our website and click on the celebrity whose team you would like to walk with. Entertainment Last year the Beer Garden was the funkiest party to hit Church Street. This year will be no different! We are going to turn up the volume so you, your friends and family can dance the day away with our soulful street party. We are pleased to announce a brand new line-up of entertainment this year! We are pleased to welcome performances by Divine Brown, Roger Mooking and Soular, with DJ Sumation to kick off the party! The Beer Garden will be located at the corner of Church & Wood in the IMPARK Parking Lot. It is where the walk begins and ends. Community Fair After you've walked, the fun doesn't stop! Stick around to enjoy the new and revamped Community Fair, featuring big fun, big entertainment and big ways to celebrate your support. Located on Church Street between Carlton and Alexander Streets, the Community Fair will be filled with our community partners, sponsors and representatives from the walk community. Marketplace Don't forget your wallet! This year we have a wide range of food vendors selling jerk chicken, souvlaki, poutine, funnel cakes and more, along with arts and crafts vendors with items for you to purchase! Located inside Church Street Public School, the Marketplace will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Kids' Zone New this year, the Scotiabank AIDS Walk for Life Toronto is thrilled to present a stimulating Kids' Zone, so that you and your friends, family and children will have plenty to keep you entertained before and after the Walk! Everything from a bouncy castle to a rock climbing wall, obstacle course, inflatable slides, mini golf, face painting and more - this will be one day of fun that you won't forget! The Kids' Zone is open from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. To stay up to date all the way up to Walk Day, visit our website at www.aidswalkforlifetoronto.ca | |
| Upcoming Community Health Forums | |
| ACT presents two upcoming free Community Health Forums for all people living with HIV/AIDS. Wednesday, September 9, 2009 HIV and aging: how does this affect me?
Presentation: 7 to 9 p.m. Where:
Ramada Plaza Toronto Essex Room 300 Jarvis Street, Toronto (south of Carlton) Guest Speakers:
Scientific and Executive Director Ontario HIV Treatment Network Jim Truax Community member, author and activist Wednesday, October 14, 2009 Top tips for living well with HIV
Presentation: 7 to 9 p.m. Where:
Ramada Plaza Toronto Essex Room 300 Jarvis Street, Toronto (south of Carlton) Guest Speakers:
Staff physician, 410 Health Centre. Department of Family & Community Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital / University of Toronto Stephanie DeMaio, RD HIV Nutrition Care, Therapy to Taste, Weight Loss St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto Free admission. No registration required. Wheelchair accessible. Child care available. Community health forums are open discussions for all people living with HIV/AIDS. For more information, please contact Robin at rrhodes@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 219. | |
| Recruiting Outreach Volunteers | |
| Joint Volunteer Outreach Training equips volunteers to assist Gay Men's Outreach and Harm Reduction Outreach - Gay Youth and Men. The training builds on the basics of Core Skills Training for outreach-specific volunteer work. The training integrates a practicum of outreach on the street, in bars and clubs as well as the ever-popular field trip to Hassle Free Clinic and guest presenters. Fall 2009 dates are October 13, 15, 22, 23, and 24th. For more information, please contact Duncan at dmaclachlan@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 254. | |
| Get your kink on! | |
A community-driven initiative, funded by and written in consultation with the BDSM community in Toronto, the brochure provides information for safe, sane and consensual BDSM (bondage and discipline; dominance and submission; sadism and masochism) activity. Distribution will be arranged by ACT in Toronto and by CATIE (Canadian AIDS Treatment Information Exchange) for AIDS service organizations across Canada. The booklet also exists online, which will be updated as new information emerges at www.actoronto.org/bdsm | |
| BookAIDS | |
Thursday, September 17; 12 to 4 p.m. This event is open to people living with HIV/AIDS. Think green and B.Y.O.B. (bring your own bag)! We are also seeking donations of items for our BookAIDS events, which happen on a quarterly basis. These books, CDs and DVDs will be made available - free of charge - to service users for their personal enjoyment. BookAIDS is one of many practical assistance programs offered by ACT. For more information, or to inquire about making a donation, please contact Albin at alopez@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 244. | |
| Furniture Bank seeking donations | |
| Don't toss those household items and furnishings! The ACT Furniture Bank helps people living with HIV/AIDS obtain needed furniture and household items. At this time, we are in need of donations of small furniture and other household items. If you need to get rid of some excess possessions, why not donate them to a worthy cause? To find out more, please contact Patrick at pkearns@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 230. | |
| New condom and lube packs | |
The first - on HIV disclosure - tackles the complicated and difficult subject of criminalization of HIV non-disclosure, and provides tips for positive guys to protect themselves. Distribution of this pack began in August. The second condom and lube pack is titled "Getting Hard, Staying Hard." It includes tips to make sex harder and safer. Distribution of this pack will begin in October. Since 2007, ACT has led the way by providing two condoms and two lube packets in each standard pack we produce and distribute. To help out with this program, join us at a Condom Stuffing Party! No registration is required; you just need to show up! The next two parties will take place on September 15th and October 13th. All parties run from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at ACT on the fourth floor. We provide food, refreshments and the occasional random prize draw! Your help makes a difference. For ongoing information, including party dates, please check our condom stuffing web page. For more information on our condom and lube packs and condom stuffing parties, please contact Duncan at dmaclachlan@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 254. | |
| Founding General Meeting of Action Positive | |
The temporary board of directors for Action Positive: VIH/SIDA has called its members and any interested individuals to the founding General Meeting of the organization. A project of FrancoQueer, Action Positive is a group committed to developing services for francophones living with HIV/AIDS. Date:
Location:
399 Church Street, Room 220 Toronto, Ontario Schedule:
7 p.m. - Start of the Meeting Only members in good standing will be eligible to vote. To be in good standing, membership must be paid in full in advance or at the door on the night of the meeting. The meeting will be held in French. To become a member, or for more information, please contact Nathalie at nathalie@francoqueer.caor 416-340-8484 ext. 452. | |
| Annual General Meeting of HALCO | |
Location:
65 Wellesley Street East, Suite 400 (one block east of Yonge Street and the Wellesley subway station) A presentation from Tim McCaskell, long-time community activist, will focus on "Disparity, Blame, Criminalization". Everyone is welcome! Light refreshments will be served. For more information, or if you require accommodations, please call 416-340-7790 or visit the HALCO website. | |
| Registration open for OHTN Research Conference | |
Register now for the Ontario HIV Treatment Network (OHTN) Research Conference on November 16-17, 2009! The conference on Research at the Front Lines: Finding New Solutions in HIV Prevention, Treatment and Support will showcase research examining risk and vulnerability factors, and interventions leading to improved resiliency and health outcomes. For more information or to register, please visit the conference website. | |
| Anti-violence campaign wins award | |
Report Homophobic Violence, Period (RHVP) is a public awareness campaign aimed at youth aged 13 to 25, designed to address reasons for homophobic attitudes and encourage young people to report homophobic harassment and violence. The campaign and educational lesson plans were developed by the Community Mobilization Unit of Toronto Police, in conjunction with ACT, other community partners and George Brown College. On June 22, the program won the 2009 Community Policing Award from the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police. For more information or to receive materials from the campaign, please contact Adam at abusch@actoronto.org or 416-340-8484 ext. 235. | |
