Archive for category BTTBP News

Our September meeting is scheduled for Friday, September 3^rd, Noon-2:00 p.m. Location:  The Heritage Library (downstairs conference room), 350 Third Ave Yuma, AZ 85364.  http://www.yumalibrary.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=179&Itemid=118

Realizing that many will be starting their holiday weekend this day, we expect a small but productive crowdJ

We can expect reports and dialogue from the following divisions:

1. Life Wellness:

1. • Michelle and Holly will share their thoughts on future blog posts.  The most popular keywords used to hit our site in the Google search engine are “better life.”
   • We will open the dialogue for our “activity nights” shared with PFLAG.  We will sort through the ideas for a September event and move forward.

1. Substance Use/Abuse Outreach:

• Chris and Tara will have a report on their progress for recruiting individuals into support groups.  A date will be announced as to when these groups will start and continue on a weekly basis.
• Our National and local social media agenda encompasses a revamp of the Substance Abuse section of the website to add more entailed and graphically appealing information.  This progress is ongoing.

1. HIV Outreach:

• Gabby will be available to discuss the upcoming National Latino AIDS Awareness Day Summit (meet and greet) breakfast at Springhill Suites, October 15^th.  Coordinators from other health organizations/institutions, legislators, and members of the community will discuss the great progress that has been made in the border regions of Western Arizona as well as the progress that still needs to be made.
• A synopsis of where we’re at with World AIDS Day planning at AWC, will be provided.  The Regional Center for Border Health has joined as a mutual host for this event.
• We will contemplate a campaign to launch a firm social media presence in the Washington DC area which will be managed by Mark Fischer who resides in the DC area.  The integration of social presence in an urban center with the cultivation of the same in rural Arizona may be key to some great web oriented interaction….

1. Outreach:

• Holly will have a report on pending business with the Chamber of Commerce, the city of Yuma, AWC, etc., if there is any.
• We will discuss the cultivation of a fundraising committee and a committee chairperson.

1. Development:

• The duties of this division have been spread to those willing to assist.  Ideally we would like to find a person who would be responsible for the following:

Ø       Someone who can specifically network various States, and local communities to our organization, using our website as one of our main tools.  This person will have excellent communication skills, a basic knowledge of working with local media, the capability of researching valuable demographic data and compiling statistics, and the ability to build bridges with other organizations with a coast to coast strategy in mind.  This individual will work with our rural and urban agendas.  This position will assist in local efforts but ideally will help coordinate our efforts to explore and network with activities and organizations throughout the country.

• The nomination and election of advisory members is ongoing and each executive is required to acquire at least five key members to seat the initial panel.  Each Director is required to have at least one Honorary Director.  The purpose of this endeavor is to build consensus in our decision making process.  Important decisions asked of a program/division will be presented to the advisory panel of each division for dialogue and vote.  The executive of each division is required to allow debate, allowance of research, individual and consensus rationale, prior to voting on any topic.  If anyone would like to be considered, please contact anyone on the Executive Board for nomination and consideration.
• We may exceed 60,000 hits for the month of August!  We have received an advertising grant that will allow our website to be put on the grand stage in many ways.  We urgently need to brainstorm and expound on ways that we can further the attraction of our website and seek interaction.  Our goal is to exceed 200,000 monthly hits by the holiday season.
• Open end topic to include facilitation and new positions in FY2011.
• Open end topic on expanding and assisting community partners (PFLAG, BeYourself Bar, Amancio Project, etc.).

The Secretary will present any unfinished business from the last monthly meeting and will record new business.

I hope to see you there!

Regards,

Mr. Brandon Bennett

President / Back to the Basics Please, Inc.

brandon.m.bennett@bttbp.org

Web URL:  www.bttbp.org

928-550-3999

NOTE:  Request appropriate dissemination

Greetings,

Thanks to all those who joined us at our June meeting.  Our July meeting is scheduled for Friday, July 2^nd 12:00 – 1:30 p.m.  Location:  The Heritage Library (downstairs conference room), 350 Third Ave Yuma, AZ 85364.  http://www.yumalibrary.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=179&Itemid=118

We can expect reports from the following divisions:

1. Life Wellness:

• Michelle Smith and Holly Sakariason will brief us on upcoming blog posts.
• The viability of participants for our proposed summer activities will be discussed.  We will move forward with these ideas or table them for further thought.

1. Substance Use/Abuse Outreach:

1. • Please welcome Tara Salas as our Chief Clinical Officer!  Tara comes to this position with a wealth of knowledge, education, and experience in behavioral health.
   • Chris Murphy and Tara Salas will be available to discuss our developing support groups as well as the process for referrals.
   • Our new program brochure will be available.
   • Dialogue will continue as we seek new ideas for the Substance Abuse portion of our website.  We will be seeking and developing a webpage that appeals to all levels of comprehension.  We will also be seeking language that purposely educates without pressing the need for instant sobriety but certainly offering “recovery” to those who seek it.  This will be a collaborative effort and a local web design expert may be needed for the cutting edge appeal that we are seeking.

1. HIV Outreach:

• Gabby Leon will have a report on the progress of her proposed policy briefing to be held on National Latino AIDS Awareness Day (NLAAD), scheduled for October 15^th.  This session will include community leaders, media, legislators, and those concerned to effectively strategize the most effective means of addressing HIV Prevention/Awareness, and Treatment near the border regions.
• We will ask for nominations for a Yuma World AIDS Day committee to be organized with a meeting date set for the end of July.  Committee members will be asked to offer ideas, help market the event to Yuma and beyond, and take part with the organizing and implementation of this event to be held Dec 1^st, 2010.

1. Development:

• Many items to discuss, including a hard pressed movement to focus on our National agenda.  Website development is essential as we have received new resources to further develop our website.  Mark Fischer is working on some possible connections in Washington DC to assist with a necessary website expansion.
• Two potential executive positions are available:

Ø       Director of Development:  Someone who can specifically network various States, and local communities to our organization, using our website as one of our main tools.  This person will have excellent communication skills, a basic knowledge of working with local media, the capability of researching valuable demographic data and compiling statistics, and the ability to build bridges with other organizations with a coast to coast strategy in mind.  This individual will work with our rural and urban agendas.

Ø       Director of Outreach:  This person will effectively correspond with the Board of Directors, members of the community, other organizations, and interested parties to compile information and offer possibilities, ideas, and represent BTTBP as a whole to others.  This position will also be the head of a fundraising committee and will oversee an elected fundraising chairperson.

• As an ongoing effort, we will continue to seek those interested in other States to help us build resources for our website and act as a correspondent in their respective area.  Encouraging a monthly blog from each State would be a great way to increase attention at the local level.
• Also, we are always seeking those interested in blogging.  Our website is visited by hundreds of people everyday and receives over 8000 monthly hits.  This is a great way to increase exposure for new talent, and it helps us keep the BTTBP website interesting.

The Secretary will brief us on the minutes from the last meeting and any unresolved public business.

I hope to see you all there!  We’ll have refreshments!

Regards,

Mr. Brandon Bennett

President / Back to the Basics Please, Inc.

brandon.m.bennett@bttbp.org

Web URL:  www.bttbp.org

928-550-3999

NOTE:  Request Widest Dissemination

Heritage Library

Greetings,

Thanks to all that attended our meeting in May.  Much was accomplished and we have many items on our agendas in the coming months.  Our June meeting is scheduled for Friday, June 4^th starting at noon – 2: 00 p.m.  Location:  The Heritage Library (downstairs conference room), 350 Third Ave Yuma, AZ 85364.  We’ll have refreshments! J

We can expect reports from the following divisions:

1. Life Wellness:

• Michelle Smith and Holly Sakariason will have a report on various ideas for the Life Wellness blog, http://backtothebasicsplease.com/wordpress/?cat=3
• We will open the dialogue to the planning and execution of various social activities to be decided by popular vote and in coordination with PFLAG, Out in Yuma, Yuma High School GSA, etc.   Discussion will include the viability of group inclusion as well as the importance of women’s groups, men’s groups, youth groups, young adult groups, etc.  The intention is to provide a foundation for people to meet with other like minded people under a healthy setting as well as to integrate and find commonalities.
• Carried over from our Annual Meeting, we will continue the discussion on a proposed website listing of rural area LGBT affirming physicians.  The listing could be made as part of a drop down section of this page, http://backtothebasicsplease.com/wordpress/?page_id=237

1. Substance Use/Abuse Outreach:

• Chris Murphy will have a report on the referral process for our recovery support groups
• Proposed revamp of website to include more educational information, “signs and symptoms of substance abuse.”  The information at www.tweaker.org may be a good example as we want the information to be discernable at all comprehension levels.  Current legal disclaimers on our website need to be moved to make way for more inviting information to the public

1. HIV Outreach:

• Gabriela Leon will have a report on the current outreach agendas to include the following:

Ø      National Latino AIDS Awareness Day policy briefing committee:  A brief outline and invitation for additional committee members to take part in organizing a formal strategy session to improve services, and awareness campaigns primarily in the four county border region of AZ.  The session will be comprised of community leaders, representatives and legislators, directors of institutions and organizations, and concerned citizens.  This event will be held on October 15^th to include local as well as outside media.

Ø      World AIDS Day planning:  We will discuss forming a committee for the planning of this event.  The first meeting will be scheduled in July.

• The adaptation of HIV Outreach services may include Case Management and referral services to be decided on funding arrangements and our legal division.  These services may include the following:

Ø      Support services to include emotional support counseling, crisis intervention services, out-patient substance abuse assessment, and mediated support groups.  Facilitation to discuss health, medication, other topics of interest

Ø      Safer sex-workshops, peer advocation, basics understanding of viral loads, cell counts, etc.

Ø      More forthcoming pending future agreements and legal requirements:  Open dialogue concerning the need and adaptation of these services is most appreciated from the public.

1. Development:

• Brandon Bennett will be available to present an overview of local fundraising efforts, and the viability to afford proposed events and services
• We will resume the dialogue from the Annual Meeting concerning the need for an executive position entitled “Director of Outreach” to include website development, networking, community partnerships, and interdepartmental relations.
• The Director of Development position is still open.  This position will include website development, and strategies involving our partnerships outside of Western Arizona and how to better accommodate and communicate in other areas.

A brief overview of the last recorded minutes from our May meeting will be presented as well as a current Treasury report.

I hope to see you all there!

Regards,

Mr. Brandon Bennett

President / Back to the Basics Please, Inc.

brandon.m.bennett@bttbp.org

Web URL:  www.bttbp.org

928-550-3999

Greetings,

Thanks to all that attended our last meeting.  We hope that you return and help us bring more to the table, Friday May 7th, noon-2:00 p.m.

As stated in the last meeting, we have much to gear up for and we believe a proactive approach will allow us to better serve the community and our agendas.

That said we can expect the following reports from these divisions:

1. Life Wellness:  Michelle Smith will be available to answer questions and exchange ideas while she continues to cultivate her division, http://backtothebasicsplease.com/wordpress/?page_id=237

1. Substance Use/ Abuse Outreach:

• Chris Murphy will be available to discuss strategies in referring clients to our Substance Abuse support groups.  These support groups offer confidential recovery oriented support to those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning.  We will also discuss ways in which the lgbt recovery community can be better served in Western Arizona.
• We will continue to discuss the role of “Chief Clinical Officer” as a valid & needed executive position for BTTBP.

1. HIV Outreach:

• Gabby Leon will be available to launch a committee for the National Latino AIDS Awareness Day, October 15^th.  We’ll be looking for volunteers to help support awareness and education in Yuma as we gear up for the National Latino AIDS Awareness Campaign.  As well, the committee will support a briefing to provide information to the public with a panel of community organizers, politicians, local leaders and representatives, advocates and service providers to engage them in bringing solutions and policy in Yuma County.  Discussion will also include how the “non-profit sector” can function and possibly improve public awareness at a time when funding has been pulled for so many programs. The committee shall only present information pertaining to the need for improved HIV related services in the community.  BTTBP will not be involved with any formal campaign to change policy.
• As an ongoing process, we will be looking for more volunteers to support more public awareness activities and projects, support mobile HIV testing, secure a reliable base of volunteers for outreach, and broaden the marketing capability for free information through web-based communications, pamphlets, public gatherings, and public postings.  Substantial information is not always getting to the intended party.  These ideals benefit all parties involved and assist organizational growth while helping to prevent illness.
• We will briefly touch on preparations for World AIDS Day in preparation for a committee forming in July/August.
• We will discuss the efficacy of projects like Dab The AIDS Bear as well as better ways to engage the public to remove associated stigmas and further our educational outreach campaigns.

1. Development:

• We’re still looking for someone that can work into the role of Director of Development/Publicist.
• As the grant receipt process has become tedious, the need for local fundraising is paramount.  Most public awareness projects must be funded through local donations.  Grants are not offering clauses for informal public venues; however paramount these venues are for the community.
• Next car wash is May 15^th, proposed as a joint effort between BTTBP and the Yuma High School Gay Straight Alliance.
• Local donations and local fundraising ideas?  Restaurant sponsorship?

These and other discussions will commence at the Heritage Library, May 7^th (noon-2:00 pm).  Location:  http://www.yumalibrary.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=179&Itemid=118 Please feel free to respond to this e-mail with any ideas or comments.  We will be sending a reminder to you about one week before the meeting.

The Secretary will read minutes from the last public meeting and introduce any unfinished business.  I hope to see you all there!

Regards,

Mr. Brandon Bennett

President / Back to the Basics Please, Inc.

brandon.m.bennett@bttbp.org

Web URL:  www.bttbp.org

928-550-3999

NOTE:  Request widest dissemination.