Hey guys,
A quick reminder that the next meeting is on Monday 4th February at 7pm in the Union Lounge (2nd floor of Student Union).
Week of Action week starting Monday 4th February
This week will be focussed on campaigning and ensuring our MPs and government keep to their promise of global access to HIV medication by 2010. So we have decided to have stalls with ‘Action Cards’ for people to fill in, which are going to be presented to the Prime Minister in a meeting scheduled for 21st February! The more cards filled out the better, so get all your friends and anyone you know to fill them out! Cakes will also be sold on the stalls to attract attention to the campaign and to maximise our chances! Action Cards can be collected at the next meeting and also from the Stop AIDS pigeon hole box in the Student Union.
- Stalls at Student Union: Tuesday and Thursday lunchtimes this week (11-2pm).
- Stalls at Medical School: Thursday this week (11-2pm).
If anyone wants to man the stalls or bake some cakes let us know at the meeting or send us an email.
We are also thinking of having a stall at Monument on Saturday 9th February, so if anyone is free during the day, let us know! Catline and Caroline are finding out about a possible liaison with the crew from RAG week, which also begins on Monday!
Campaigning
This will be of uttermost importance this term. Andy, Jamie, Caroline, Caitlin, Shalini, Jenny and Jo all expressed interest in meeting with local MPs. If anyone lives in or has a contact in South Shields, we can go straight to the top and give Milliband a grilling!
We also discussed the idea of weekly stalls, to publicise the different aspects of the campaign.
Schools Project
David and Cat are holding a meeting, provisionally on Wednesday 13th February in the Student Union. This is to provide training to anyone who would like to get involved in the Schools project. This is a successful initiative started by Alison last year, and involves sending groups of volunteers to local secondary schools to raise HIV/AIDs awareness in the form of workshops and fun interactive group discussions. This is a fantastic opportunity not to be missed! You will not only contribute to changing the attitudes of the future generation but will also help reduce the stigma, which has forever been one of the most challenging barriers to overcome in HIV/AIDS prevention. It is also a great opportunity to learn new skills and meet new people, the rewards are endless, so I encourage you to give it a go. More details of this on Monday…
Training Weekend
The Stop AIDS Society is holding a training weekend, provisionally around the 16th February somewhere near Sheffield. Details are to be confirmed at a later date. However, this in an invaluable experience, especially if your a interested in becoming a National Representative for Stop AIDS Newcastle. The purpose of this training weekend is to learn a great deal about the aims of the campaign, meet some influential people and to unit and learn from other Stop AIDS societies around the country. We would love to send some representatives, and will sort out travel costs, so get in touch!
Future Events
Training: Due to the great sucess of the last training day, Alison raised the possibility of another training day. There are several new topics that the Stop AIDS team could cover.
Posh dinner party: Possibly to take place at the bar As You Like It later in the year.
Poetry/music gig: Another fundraising event in the pipeline, organised with NUTS.
Stop AIDS Triathlon: Harriet will take about this in the next meeting.
Hope to see you all at the next meeting!
Mel (Stop AIDS Secretary)