July has been an exciting month for Toronto, especially with us hosting the PanAm Games in town. We hope all each and everyone of you had a wonderful month enjoying the wonderful warm and sunny weather. Here is a re-cap of what happened this past month and a very important announcement:
It’s Scotia Run Time!
Are you ready to run for a great cause and raise money for Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) to support East and Southeast Asians living with HIV in Toronto? Join ACAS at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon (STWM) Charity Challenge 2015 on Sunday, October 18, 2015 to help us reach our $20,000 goal! We invite each and everyone of you to take part of the challenge as a runner, walker, fundraiser, donor or supporter!
If you would like to register to become a runner and raise money for ACAS, you can register as a runner at https://secure.eventsonline.ca/reg/crs/. As a runner/walker for ACAS, you can use the special Charity Pin Code15TSCC when you register after which you can choose Asian Community AIDS Services as your designated charity. This special Charity Pin Code allows you to register at the preferred charity rates: $40 for 5k; $50 for 5k with a single baby stroller; $80 for Half Marathon (21k) or Marathon (42k). Please make sure that you utilize the 15TSCC code when you register as ACAS will not be able to reimburse you after you have registered. The only exception is for the top 10 fundraisers whom ACAS will reimburse the amount of the registration to you after the race. Free Registration fee will be waived for first 3 PHAs to register with ACAS, and the top 10 fundraisers will have their entry fee refunded after the race. Also, there will be a prize for the top fundraiser, so start training and ask your network to sponsor you!
As the registration system has changed, please IGNORE the “DISCOUNT CODE” area on the top of the first page of your registration form; this is NOT where you put the Charity Pin Code. Also, as the registration system has been updated, all registrants MUST create a NEW username (the system will NOT allow you to use a username you have used in previous years). After you have inputted your information and agreed to the release waiver, you will be taken to the second page on the registration site. For the question “Would you like to participate in the Scotia Charity Challenge, please select “Yes.” Under the Charity Pin Code, enter 15TSCC. Under “I would like to,” please select “Create a Fundraising Account.” Under Charities, please select “Asian Community AIDS Services.”
If you are a PHA interested in running, please contact Andrew at support@acas.org as the first 3 PHA will be eligible for free registration. If you are a youth (age < 29), please contact Euan at youth@acas.org and let him know you are interested in registering and/or might need assistance with the registration cost.
After your finished registering, you will receive an email sent to you with a link to create your Fundraising Account and Page. When you press the link in the email, you will be directed to the Fundraising Page where you can log in with the same username and password you have used during your race registration process. Please feel free to personalize your fundraising page with your personal message, photos, videos as these personal touches will allow you to fundraise more effectively!
If you would just like to fundraise for ACAS without becoming a runner or walker, you can go to https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/startup.aspx?locationID=164339, click “Sign Up”, then click “Create New Account” under “I Need to Create An Account” to create a fundraising profile without registering to become a runner or walker at the race.
If you would just like to make a single, one-time donation to Team ACAS at the 2015 Scotiabank Toronto Marathon, Half Marathon and 5k Charity Challenge, you can donate directly here by clicking on the following link: https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/FundraisingPage.aspx?RegistrationID=2781968. Tax receipts will be issued for amounts over $20.00.
Race kit will be available for pick-up on Friday, Friday, October 16th (11:00am to 8:00pm) and Saturday October 17th (10:00am to 6:00pm) at the Runner’s Expo at Hall D, Direct Energy Centre at Exhibition Place. You (or a friend) can pick up your race kit (Bib, Bib tag, T-shirt and goodie bag) at the Race Expo. To pick up your race kit, you MUST bring 1) your Bib # is (will be emailed to you on October 14 and posted on the online confirmation list and will be available for look up at the expo), and 2) you Photo ID OR a printout of your registration email confirmation (or have it on your smart phone to show the volunteers). If a friend/family member is picking up for you, they need to have: 1) Your Bib #; 2) an email or written permission from you (can be shown to volunteers from your smart phone); 3) A printout of your registration email confirmation (or have it on their smart phone to show the volunteers) OR a copy of your photo ID.
Last year, ACAS had 26 runners/walkers in five teams to rasie a total of $24,811at the 2014 Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, Half-Marathon and 5k, exceeding our $20,000 fundraising goal. This year, we are hoping to once again achieve or surpass our $20,000 fundraising goal as a way to finish celebrating our 20 years of community building and activism for the East and Southeast Asian HIV and LGBTQ communities in Toronto.
The funds raised will help ensure that our East and Southeast Asian service users living with HIV/AIDS can continue to receive the much needed culturally and linguistically appropriate services, to access emergency client funds to cover medication or emergency housing costs, and to apply for education allowance for education and training opportunities. The money raised will also help support the Ontario Positive Asians (OPA ) network that aims to bring all Asians living with HIV across the province together where they can connect with one another in a culturally-safe space and identify the needs most relevant to their well-being.
Please check out our ACAS Run4ACAS Tumblr site at http://run4acas.tumblr.com, and also the ACAS website (http://www.acas.org) and ACAS Facebook Page (http://www.facebook.com/AsianCommunityAIDSServices) for news and updates.
Thanks for supporting ACAS and taking part of our ACAS 2015 Scotia Run Fundraising Challenge. If you have any questions regarding the run, please contact Christian Hui at community@acas.org after August 3rd for further assistance.
QAYers Get Healthy and Active This Summer!
Summer is the best time to get active, and Queer Asian Youth has hosted fun and wholesome events for East and Southeast Asian queer youths to have fun through active physical activities and a chance to enjoy the summery weather all at once!
Do you like to RIM?
Rice In Motion – RIM is a new Sports and Recreation Project aimed for Queer Asian Youths. RIM collaborated with the QAY Health Promotion Project on July 11, 2015, RIM for a Dodgeball Recreation Event. As a wildly popular sport, Dodgeball, is fun yet promotes team and group spirits all at once!
QAY Gets On the Run!
Our QAY youth had an opportunity to run as a group to enjoy the beautiful weather and scenery at High Park with the QAY On the Run event on July 25! The group not only jogged along the 5k path, but they also had a chance to have fun and re-energize with a picnic after the finishing line. As the last official QAY Health Promotion event this year, we would like to thank Gabriel Bacani, QAY Health Promotion Project Leader, for all the wonderful events he has helped organized this past year!
ACAS Releases the Straight Talk Pilot Needs Assessment Final Report on Heterosexual Asian Men Who Have Sex With Men (MSM)
Over the past year, Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS) has undertaken a challenging yet groundbreaking pilot needs-assessment project focused on heterosexual Asian men who have sex with men (MSM). The goal of the Straight Talk project is to gain a better understanding of this often hidden and hard-to-reach group of men, to assess their sexual health knowledge and safer sex practices, and to gather recommendations to fill any existing service gaps.
The Straight Talk Program was funded by the Toronto Urban Health Fund, and was guided a community advisory committee on targeted outreach strategies as well as the development of culturally-appropriate interview questions to engage participants from the target population. 1-on-1 interviews and focus group were held over this past year. To transfer the knowledge gained from the project, the program had presented at community forums such as Pagitipon! Coming Together, the ACAS Sex, Love, Asian, Men! Real – Sexual Health Forum for Asian Gay and Bi Men, and the prestigious 2015 Guelph Sexuality Conference.
The Straight Talk Program would like to share with you our final report for the pilot-needs assessment project. You can download the report here: Download (PDF, 180KB). You can also view the Adobe Flash report on ISSU: http://issuu.com/asiancommunityaidsservices/docs/straight_talk_pilot_needs_assessmen
If you have any questions or answers, please contact Christian Hui, Straight Talk Coordinator at straighttalk@acas.org
Take the ACAS Sexual Behavior and Knowledge Survey for Heterosexual Asian Men
Asian Community AIDS Services is currently conducting an anonymous and confidential survey to collect information and data on the sexual behaviour and HIV/STI knowledge of heterosexual Asian men for the Locker Room Project. The results from this survey will help us make improvements to the existing programming and services as well as develop new features to the Locker Room Project to better serve heterosexual men of East and Southeast Asian descent. This survey should only take about 5-10 minutes to complete. You can access the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/H859D2L
We thank you for your time in taking part in this survey.
Employment Opportunities
ACAS Volunteer Program is currently recruiting for an
Administrative Assistant
Objective:
- To provide administrative and clerical support to the Executive Director and Program Coordinators as required.
- To act as ACAS frontline reception and direct clients and visitors to the appropriate services in a manner that is in line with ACAS guidelines and principles.
Time Commitment: minimum 3 months commitment / 3 hours per week
Current available shifts for this role are as follows:
Wednesdays: 1st shift: 11 am – 2 pm; 2nd shift: 2 pm – 5 pm (or 3 pm – 6 pm)
Fridays: 1st shift: 11 am – 2pm
Qualification/Requirements:
- knowledge of office procedures – phone etiquette, filing, organizational skills, computer skills (MS Office)
- good communication and social skills
- client-centered, sensitive, non-judgmental, and ability to work with diverse communities
- basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS transmission and prevention and willingness to increase knowledge through training and personal study
- awareness of relevant Asian community resources and services, client needs assessment, and referral skills an asset
- mature, responsible, reliable and self-starter
- knowledge of an East Asian and/or South-East Asian language an asset
Training & Placement: Volunteer is required to attend specific volunteer orientation training and Core Skills Training. You will also receive special training specific to this role.
Evaluation: Performance will be reviewed and evaluated by the volunteer program coordinator every 2 months.
For more details or if interested, please contact Trisha directly at:
(416) 963.4300 ext 232 or via email volunteer@acas.org
See you in early September for the ACAS August 2015 Update!
