Announcement

Vancouver Island AIDS Society
(AIDS Vancouver Island)

Annual General Meeting

Wednesday, July 30
5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.

St. John the Divine
1611 Quadra Street

Snacks and drinks provided.

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Gabor Maté, author of many books, including In the Realm of the Hungry Ghosts: Encounters with Addiction, will be our guest speaker. Dr. Maté is currently the staff physician at the Portland Hotel, a residence and resource centre for the people of Vancouver's Downtown Eastside. Many of his patients suffer from mental illness, drug addiction and HIV, or all three.

For more information, contact Andrea Langlois, at 250-384-2366 or andrea.langlois(at)avi(dot)org.

POSITION: Positive Wellness Cook, CASUAL When and as required
$15/hr

SUPERVISOR: Manager- Positive Wellness Program
______________________________________________________________________

JOB SUMMARY

The Positive Wellness Program supports members of our community who are living with HIV and who may be co-infected with Hepatitis C. Support is offered through advocacy and counseling, and referrals to other services available in the community. The Positive Wellness Program offers a daily (Monday-Friday) drop-in space and serves approximately 40 hot lunches per day to HIV positive individuals.

Under the direct supervision of the Manager of the Positive Wellness Program or designate, the Positive Wellness Cook will plan and prepare a daily hot lunch for Positive Wellness members living with HIV.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Is that all there is?

Sex and beyond... Celebrating the full colours of Pride

• Who are we as gay, bi, trans men?
• How do we define ourselves in a culture where sex is key?
• What have we learned and where are we going?

A Free Community Forum for Gay, Bi, & Trans Men

Talk. Explore. Debate. Discuss.

And have some fun while we’re at it!
Friday, July 4, 2008
7pm – 10 pm
Cook Street Health Unit Multi-purpose Room
1947 Cook Street

Sponsored by VIHA & AIDS Vancouver Island's Men's Wellness Program which is funded by Health Canada

For info: david.mielke(at)avi(dot)org
(men only please)

POSITION TITLE: Counsellor / Community Development / Harm Reduction

HOURS: On call, including vacation replacement (July 21 - Aug 8)
______________________________________________________________________

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager of Direct Services, or designate, the Counsellor is responsible for the provision and delivery of direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS on northern Vancouver Island.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITES

1. Advocates on behalf of clients with various Ministries and agencies to ensure clients receive maximum information and support.

POSITION TITLE: Full Time Counsellor / Community Development / Harm Reduction

(35 hours/week)
______________________________________________________________________

JOB SUMMARY

Under the direct supervision of the Program Manager of Direct Services, or designate, the Counsellor is responsible for the provision and delivery of direct services to persons living with HIV/AIDS on northern Vancouver Island.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Advocates on behalf of clients with various Ministries and agencies to ensure clients receive maximum information and support.

2. Provides advocacy to clients by performing duties such as speaking on their behalf in areas such as housing, medical, legal and other support agencies.

+ AIDS Vancouver Island’s fixed needle exchange site is set to close on May 31, 2008. A new fixed site has not been found, but AVI will continue to pursue options for fixed needle exchange delivery, in line with best practice guidelines for needle exchange services.

+ After May 31st, AVI will be operating a trial mobile needle exchange program until it finds a new fixed site for the program. This trial will be reviewed at the end of June and then at the end of September. Every effort will be made to meet both the needs of the clients while limiting the impact on the broader community and taking their concerns into account.

Re-using is better than recycling!

Since the media attention on the potential toxicity of BPA (Bisphenol-A), a chemical found in some water bottles, Victorians have been quick to switch to non-BPA alternatives.

But what to do with your stash of water bottles with #7 on the bottom?

AVI has a need for hard plastic containers to give to clients as sharps containers – so that they have a way to dispose of needles safely and help to keep our community clean. Plastic water bottles, especially the Nalgene brand with wide mouth tops, are perfect for this use!

Mountain Equipment Coop (MEC) is accepting bottles at their store on Government Street (between Johnson and Pandora) and passing them on to AVI. We then turn them into biohazard containers, which we can then give to clients and community members for sharps disposal! Full bottles can be brought back to AVI.

The 2nd Annual Walk Away From Homophobia in Campbell River will take place on Thursday, May 15, 2008, starting promptly at 5:30PM at the Heritage Pavilion at Bob Ostler Park (formerly Foreshore Park). Campbell River's GLBTQ support group is excited to be hosting this event for the second time.

The group is currently looking for volunteers to act as parade marshals. If you’re interested in volunteering or looking for more information about the event, please contact Leanne at (250)204-2821.

AVI is happy to announce that the AVI Update, Spring 2008 is hot off the press! If you would like a paper version, please stop by our office.

For the first time, our newsletter is available electronically in PDF format. Please click here to download the pdf.

Feedback is welcome - email Andrea at andrea.langlois(at)avi.org with your suggestions.

POSITION TITLE: Street Outreach Worker

DEPARTMENT: Street Outreach Services

SUPERVISIOR: Program Manager

BARGAINING UNIT: Health Services & Support Community Subsector Association

CLASSIFICATION: Pending Grid 10 - $19.72 per hour

______________________________________________________________________

JOB SUMMARY

Under the general supervision of the Manager of Street Outreach Services or the Shift Supervisor, the Street Outreach Worker will provide effective, comprehensive and accessible harm reduction and health promotion services in all aspects of the Street Outreach Services program.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Harm Reduction
a. Provides needle exchange services, distributing condoms, lubricant, alcohol swabs and other harm reduction supplies, as well as harm reduction/health promotion information.