President's Remarks
President Richard officially welcomed our newest members - Bryn Jones to his first meeting. Richard also expressed appreciate and thanks for the notes of condolences he has received from the club in support of the passing of his father.
Bell Ringer(s)
President Richard thanked Cheryl Ewing and made her the Bell Ringer for this week for the work she did leading last week's Club Assembly.
President's Wine Quiz
Question: How many Club Assemblies do we still have scheduled?
Answer: Two - Projects and Fundraising.
Happy Jar
Adrian DeCoo was happy on three counts - First, he and his wife Cathie were pleased to have been able to spend the last month in Spain and enjoyed the near perfect weather. Second, that while in Spain they were able to meet with and Howard and Rose and spent two days with them. Third, he was absolutely delighted to see the snow again on Sunday!
Louise Gardiner was delighted to be celebrating the anniversary of her 25 years in Rotary. She commented that looking back in our Club Directory from 1994 we had 160 members, she was the 8th women in the club and 18 of those members are still with the club.
Club Announcements
Paul Rostrup reminded members of our upcoming Pub Night on May 8. Posters and Tickets are now available and all members are asked to assist in promoting the event and attending. At the event we will again have a Barrel of Wine/Beer for a draw. To fill the Barrel we will be having another "Wine and Carrots" social on April 28 at the home of Gary and Sue Parker. Entrance "fee" is a bottle of wine or a six-pack of beer per person.
50/50 Draw
We started a new deck today with an initial pot of $44 which will be a bit more enticing next week as none of Richard Bruckeder, Louise Gardiner, nor Bill Proctor found the Jack of Hearts.
Program Highlights
Our guest speaker today was Benjamin Warren from the Aids Council of Cambridge,Kitchener, Waterloo and Area (ACCKWA). He was introduced by John Webster.
Benjamin Warren is the Gay Men’s Sexual Health Coordinator at The AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area. He is a member of the agency’s “Prevention Team” with his work focused on the reduction of HIV and other sexually transmitted or blood borne infection transmissions in the Waterloo Region among gay, bisexual, trans men and other men who have sex with men. Benjamin provides support, information, and safe-sex resources to this community through outreach at local events, online dating apps, and one-one-one and group risk-reduction counselling. He also facilitates educational and capacity-building workshops and training sessions to organizations and individuals providing services to this population in the Waterloo Region.
Benjamin provided information about his organization and the critical work they do.
The Mission of ACCKWA is three fold:
- reducing HIV, hepatitis C, and other sexually-transmitted and blood-borne infections in Waterloo Region;
- address the social determinants of health that create stigma, discrimination, and vulnerability for our service users
- provide excellent HIV care and support to individuals, families and most-affected communities.
A major focus of the ACCKWA is Harm Reduction – They meet people where they are at, regardless of lifestyle choices or circumstances, to reduce the possible harm of “risky” activities.
- ACCKWA unofficially began in 1985
- became incorporated in 1987
- Volunteers, Peers and Student placements make the agency succeed!
- Board of Directors are all volunteers
It is estimated that about 30,000 people in Ontario have HIV but generally one in five of those with HIV don’t know it. About 500 individuals access the services of ACCKWA on a regular basis.
Funding for ACCKWA comes from three main sources:
Donations:
- Online donations
- Various Grants: MAC AIDS, United Way, Trillium
Funding:
- Ontario Ministry of Health
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Waterloo Region Public Health
Fundraising:
- Online Auction
- A Taste for Life Third Party Events
- Step Up to the Plate
- Friends of Dorothy Bowling Fundraiser
ACCKWA provides a large variety of services including:
HIV Testing Clinic
- At ACCKWA every Thursday
- Public Health Nurse staffed
- Free and anonymous
- Rapid testing and blood draw
- Depending on individual’s activity, other STI testing and treatments are available
- Health card is not required
Healthcare HUB
- Available to all ACCKWA Service Users
- For individuals who do not have a primary family care giver
- Nurse Practitioner and Healthcare Outreach worker available every Thursday 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. by appointment
- Heath Cards are not mandatory
Promote emotional and physical well-being of people living with, affected by, or at risk of acquiring HIV:
- One-on-one and group support
- Encouraging service users to advocate on their own behalf
- Operating a Gay Men’s Social Group
- Operating Sexual Health risk reduction groups
- Supporting those at risk for HIV and HCV from substance use and condomless sex
- Doing Outreach to various locations, providing materials (condoms, IUD supplies, etc.)
- Managing SafePoint Needle Exchanges at various locations
- Listening, and providing support, and referrals to other agencies
- Increasing response to women’s HIV prevention needs in local organizations
- Working to improve quality of life for women infected and affected by HIV/AIDS
- Coordinating a PHA Women’s Social Group
- Delivering tailored sexual health and inclusion workshops to youth
- Providing support and culturally appropriate education and HIV/AIDS awareness in ACB (African, Caribbean, Black) communities
- Providing direct support for Sex Workers
Provide practical support to PHA (Person living with HIV) service users:
- Distribute: food vouchers, bus tickets
- Provide Transportation and accompaniment
- Provide and deliver Food hampers
- Develop and distribute Harm Reduction Kits
ACCKWA can be accessed via:
- 1770 King Street East, Unit 5, Kitchener
- Off the #7 bus line, in the plaza beside the Red Lobster, between Weber and King at Montgomery
- 519-570-3687
- www.acckwa.com
- facebook.com/ACCKWA
Closing Remarks & Reminders
President Richard reminded members to support the Pub Night and announced that our speaker next week will be Margriet van Haren, speaking about the Ekenywa project in Nakuru Kenya.
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