MAACA, Inc.
3rd Annual
CAPITAL CITY YOUTH CONFERENCE
TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA
February 11, 2012
For information contact Ms. Sylvia Hubbard by email - sylviahubbard@hotmail.com.
Click HERE to see the student application form. Print and fill out per instructions on form.
Click HERE to see vendor/exhibitor invitation.
Click HERE to see a sponsorship application form. Print and fill out per instructions on form.
POSITIVE LIVING
March 9-11, 2012
Don't miss this opportunity to attend this important event!
Click on the Positive Living Icon (below) to go directly to the application page at aidsoasis.org.
Hello,
OASIS (Okaloosa AIDS Support and Informational Services, Inc.) hosts a conference every March for people living with HIV/AIDS. It is one of a handful of consumer based conferences left in the country. Our conference is called the Positive Living HIV/AIDS Prevention and Treatment Conference. We feel is it critically important to provide a safe meeting space for people dealing with the everyday issues of living with this disease; a space where they are free to share with others experiencing the same issues. We have held 14 Positive Living Conferences and our next planned one will be March 9-11, 2012 at the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort in Ft. Walton Beach, Florida. We can accommodate 435 attendees. Most of the people we are attempting to reach are those who do not have the resources to attend national conferences that have large registration fees and which are usually held in expensive venues. Years ago we introduced a scholarship program to defray the cost of lodging and meals for people living with HIV/AIDS. We ask attendees to pay a small registration fee of $75 and we provide two- three night shared lodging (depending on where they are traveling from to attend) and all their meals during the conference. I realize this seems very generous, but without extending this opportunity many of these individuals would never have the opportunity to receive the valuable and often life changing information presented by an international panel of experts in the field of HIV (many of whom are positive themselves). More important are the connections they make at the conference, individuals who later become mentors and friends they can reach out to all year long. Below are two links from individuals speaking about their experiences at Positive Living.
The Positive Pitch: My Positive Living Conference Experience
Another thing we try to do is measure the impact of the conference on the lives of those attending. We have a wonderful relationship with the Psychology Department at the University of West Florida who provide focus groups and evaluations for each of our conferences. Some years they conduct quality of life surveys at the conference and then 3 months after the conference to measure the changes people make in their routines to better their health as a result of what they learned at Positive Living. We gladly give ownership of the conference to the participants and it is hear warming when I travel and hear people publicly speak about Positive Living and refer to it as" their conference". We don't spend money advertising the conference because all the attendees do an excellent job on selling the conference experience to others. Once you attend you are referred to as an ambassador for Positive Living. Last year we had 435 attendees from 20 states, the District of Columbia and Uganda. Half of them were there for the first time and had been recruited by our ambassadors. We get a very balanced diversity, 55/45% male/female about 60/40% African American & Latino/ Caucasion
On the first day of the conference we provide advocacy training through a program called Activate! U Advocacy Academy. Basically we share ideas and encourage self involvement in one health care which means advocating effectively for the services that are critical to quality of life issues. This is one of the favorite tracks of the conference every year.
Our successes are many of which we are proud. Our challenges lie in financial support of this great conference We are always looking for sponsors and vendors, so if you know of any possible sponsors please refer them to OASIS at 850-314-0950. We look forward to our annual family reunion at Positive Living 15 and the opportunity to welcome new people to our family.
Yours in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS,
OASIS,Inc.
4 Jackson Street NE
Ft.Walton Beach, Florida 32548
850-314-0950 phone
850-3140952 fax
Held annually at the Ramada Plaza Beach Resort in Fort Walton Beach,
Florida, Positive Living is an HIV Education & Prevention Conference
sponsored by Okaloosa AIDS Support & Informational Services. With
presenters from all over the U.S., Positive Living provides a relaxing,
comfortable, and enjoyable HIV-relevant educational experience, which is
both nationally and internationally recognized. This three day event
is one of very few remaining conferences of its nature offered in the
United States.
Click on the Positive Living Icon above to go directly to the application page at www.aidsoasis.org.
Why is 2012 So Important?
Ending the Epidemic From Paul Kawata
The National Minority AIDS Council (NMAC)
For many years I've enjoyed sharing my thoughts with NMAC's
constituents and friends through my periodic "musings." In 2012, my
writings -- Ending the Epidemic -- will reflect NMAC's efforts to
realize its new mission and discuss the various changes brought about by
the watershed moment in which our movement finds itself. Through these
new messages, I will seek to share with all of you, more than just my
general thoughts on the status of our movement, but concrete suggestions
and analysis that, in my opinion, will position us to better achieve
the goal of ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
2012 is going to be a big year and we are going to need everyone in top form, if we are going to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
You have no idea how much I like saying "we're going to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic!" It's a dream come true. I am so
ready to make this vision a reality. I know it will take years, but
every big transformation has to start somewhere. This is our watershed
moment and I hope we're up to the task.
The importance of
this year's election cannot be overstated. The last two years have been
marred by partisan gridlock and rancor. Elections have consequences,
and now is the time for our constituents' voices to be heard. For our
community, this election is important for another reason. The
populations who are most likely to be disenfranchised – minorities and
the poor – are also the same populations that are most severely impacted
by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. We work every day to give voice to these
communities and ensure that their needs are met. This election is their
chance to speak up for themselves: at the ballot box. We should do
everything we can to help them do so.
Voting is fundamental to our democracy; however, too often CBOs don't
want to get involved. They're concerned about their 501(c)3 status.
While their trepidation is understandable, their participation is
critical. As nonprofits, we must all be careful to remain nonpartisan, but we can and should, encourage voting, whether through registering new voters and/or organizing transportation to the polls.
Nonpartisan Voter Registration
At every fundraiser, health fair, support group, coalition meeting, our
movement needs to register voters. In most states it’s a simple process.
To figure out how, go to http://register-vote.com.
Not only is voter registration important for our democracy, but
organizations that register thousands of voters become important to
mayors, city councils, governors and federal legislators. Not only are
you doing your part for democracy, but you're also building "political
capital." You never know when this will come in handy, especially as we
need additional funds to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
Why This Election Is Important
Constituents, donors and clients need to know why it's important to
vote. You can't tell them who to vote for, but you can certainly educate
them about our issues. You can also share with candidates why health
care reform is important. Talk about our shared vision to end the
HIV/AIDS epidemic.
NMAC is here for support as you put together briefs for candidates on
the issues that impact your community. We have already planned a series
of issue papers that you can modify to meet your needs. Contact Kali
Lindsey (klindsey@nmac.org), NMAC's Director of Legislative and Public Affairs or Daniel Montoya (dmontoya@nmac.org),
NMAC's Deputy Executive Director if you need assistance as you develop
your organization's strategy or simiply want to know ways you can make a
difference.
Organize Transportation
We all know that access to a doctor is meaningless unless you have
transportation to get to the appointment. As a result, our community has
developed systems to get folks to their medical appointments.
Constituents, donors and clients need to understand that voting is
similarly important and your agency can help arrange transportation to
get to the polls.
Please note: You cannot use government money to organize transportation to the polls.
This is why it is vital that organizations establish diverse funding
streams to sustain their mission and work. Organizations that have a mix
of government and private support are more likely to succeed than
organizations dependent on government money alone. Organizing
transportation is a great way to create "new private donors" for your
agency. Private donors understand the value of voting. I'm available to
help strategize if you'd like: pkawata@nmac.org.
Continue to Support the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
While this year's election is important, it's also critical that we keep
our eye on the ball in terms of health care reform. We must continue to
support the ACA in Congress and oppose any efforts to undermine its
full implementation. This being an election year, it's possible that the
ACA will become an even more aggressive target for those looking to
score political points. We must work to ensure that the health of
millions of Americans, including the 1.1 million individuals living with
HIV or AIDS are not held hostage by political gamesmanship.
2012 is a big year. We have to a lot of work to do to get ourselves
positioned to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic. No one said ending the AIDS
epidemic would be easy. It's a struggle that will test our character and
commitment. But I have no doubt our movement is up to the challenge.
Yours in the struggle,
Paul Kawata
Executive Director
ANNOUNCING THE 2012 EVENT
