Tampa Bay Coalition
Posts this Activism Update in Support and on Behalf of;
 
Florida AIDS Action
 
FLORIDA AIDS ACTION
PO Box 16705 -Tampa FL 33687
813-232-5886 - 813-232-0857 fax

For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Mary Ann T. Green
813-974-4892/mgreen@floridaaidsaction.org

FLORIDA AIDS ACTION RINGS IN 2003 WITH NEW BOARD

Tamp, FL - Florida AIDS Action (FLAA) is pleased to present the agency's 2003 Board of Directors.

Elected during a meeting held late last year, the diverse 14-member board serves as the governing body of Florida's only statewide nonprofit AIDS organization.

Newly elected members include:
· Tony Plakas, Executive Director, COMPASS, Ft. Lauderdale
· Yolette Bonnet, Executive Director, Comprehensive AIDS Program, West Palm Beach
· Marc Cohen, President, United Foundation for AIDS, Miami Beach
· Charles Martin, Executive Director/Founder, Julius Adams AIDS Task Force, Key West
· Frank Dean, Executive Director, BASIC, Panama City
· Karen Klubertanz, Health Planning Council, Gainesville
· The Rev. LaTanya Graphenreed, Director/Founder, Out of Nazareth, Pensacola

The Executive Committee is comprised of Tampa's Marylin Merida, Florida Family AIDS Network, serving as President; David Waldron, Health Planning Council of Southwest Florida, Inc., as Vice President; Cathy Robinson with Lakeland-based Friends Together as Secretary; Lew Sibert, President of PHC Consulting, Inc. as Treasurer and Valerie Mincey, BASIC, is FLAA's Immediate Past President.

Additionally, Robin Kurtzman, owner of Production Partners, Inc. in Tampa, and Dr. Dan Warner with Consultive Medicine of Daytona continue their terms, along with the members of the Executive Committee, as active members of the Board of Directors.

"FLAA's leadership continues to evolve to ensure that we reflect the AIDS epidemic itself. The Board and Staff consist of committed individuals who are able to proactively lead the agency in addressing challenges, many of which mimic where we were 20 years ago with this epidemic," explains FLAA Executive Director Dr. Gene Copello.

Florida AIDS Action's mission is to promote social change through community planning, education, public policy research and advocacy. With offices in Miami, Tampa, Tallahassee and Washington, DC, the organization ensures that the needs of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS are met through public policy programs at the state, regional and national levels via efforts such as the agency's Center for Public Policy Research and its Government Affairs and Advocacy Program.

"Now more than ever we need dedicated, passionate people to advocate on behalf of children, women and men living with HIV disease," notes Marylin Merida, Board President. "We're fortunate because we have such people, both staff and volunteers, where and when we need them most."

To learn more about Florida AIDS Action, and for more information on how to become involved in AIDS advocacy work, please contact Florida AIDS Action at 813-232-5886, or via email at:  information@floridaaidsaction.org
 
FLORIDA AIDS ACTION
PO Box 16705 - Tampa, FL  33687
(813) 232-5886 - Fax (813) 232-0857

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact:
Mary Ann T. Green (813) 974-4892/mgreen@floridaaidsaction.org

LIGHTNING HELP TAMPA BAY FIGHT AIDS

Tampa, FL - The Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida AIDS Action (FLAA) and Hillsborough County Health Department are pleased to present Tampa Bay Fights AIDS, Sunday, February 23, 2003, 5:00 p.m. at the St. Petersburg Times Forum.

A unique approach to raising HIV/AIDS awareness and funds, Tampa Bay Fights AIDS features the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. the Buffalo Sabres, as well as information booths by the Hillsborough County Health Department and Florida AIDS Action (plaza level). A portion of proceeds from all tickets purchased through Florida AIDS Action benefits the nonprofit's work advocating on behalf of Florida's nearly 100,000 men, women and children living with HIV disease.

"AIDS is a public health crisis and we need people to understand what that means for our communities," notes FLAA Executive Director Dr. Gene Copello. "More than 5,000 Floridians become infected with HIV each year and the Tampa - St. Petersburg area ranks 17th among the top 20 cities in the US for cumulative AIDS cases. AIDS can only decimate our communities if we let it."

Tampa Bay Fights AIDS features the Tampa Bay Lightning vs. the Buffalo Sabres on Sunday, February 23rd and includes special pricing for fans purchasing tickets through Florida AIDS Action:
· $15 Terrace Level Seats (regularly $28) includes entry into Lightning raffle to receive Free Lightning merchandise; a $5 donation to Florida AIDS Action

· $35 Club Level Seats (regularly $85) includes entry into Lightning raffle to receive Free Lightning merchandise; FREE Tampa Bay Lightning visor; $10 donation to Florida AIDS Action

· Groups of 10 or more will receive Jumbotron recognition

To enjoy these special rates, order tickets before 5:00 p.m., Monday, February 10th by calling 813-974-4892. All tickets will be available for pick up with a photo ID at the St. Pete Times Forum Box Office Will Call starting Wednesday, February 19th at 12 p.m.

For more information on sponsorship, and to learn more about Florida AIDS Action and AIDS advocacy work,
please contact Florida AIDS Action by phone at: (813) 232-5886, or by email at: information@floridaaidsaction.org .
 
FLORIDA AIDS ACTION
PO Box 16705 - Tampa, FL  33687
(813) 232-5886 - Fax (813) 232-0857

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Mary Ann T. Green (813) 974-4892/mgreen@floridaaidsaction.org

FLORIDA AIDS ACTION HOSTS GLOBAL AIDS FORUM

Tampa, FL - Florida AIDS Action is pleased to announce that the nonprofit organization will host a Global AIDS Forum at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2003, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel Westshore, Tampa.

The Global AIDS Forum is designed to bring together community leaders from across the state to address Florida's role in meeting the unique challenges inherent in fighting AIDS in the Caribbean, Latin America and Africa.

According to the United Nations Fund:
· 1.4 million people in Latin America are living with HIV/AIDS
· 390,000 persons in the Caribbean have HIV/AIDS
· 25.7 million Africans are living with HIV/AIDS

"Florida AIDS Action is taking the lead in facilitating a constructive dialogue and promoting education to increase awareness about this epidemic," explains FLAA Executive Director Dr. Gene Copello. "We plan to use this event as a foundation for future work addressing the global AIDS epidemic - helping to halt the pandemic. Given that Florida is a major gateway to the Caribbean and Central America, the participation of Florida AIDS Action in helping to shape the global response to HIV/AIDS is a priority."

The evening's presentations include:
· AIDS in the Virgin Islands by Dr. Knox, AIDS Education Training Centers (AETC)
· HIV/AIDS Medical training in Africa by Dr. Ann Carter
· First-hand perspective on the impact of AIDS in Uganda by Reverend Magezii

"It's my hope that this Forum will ignite a flame on the global AIDS epidemic which will open a dialogue about Florida's role in the prevention and care of the ever-spreading virus in our communities," details FLAA Director of Community Services Natalie Kennedy.

Florida AIDS Action is dedicated to advising and educating lawmakers and public officials, ensuring that AIDS remains a priority at all levels of government. The agency is the only statewide nonprofit AIDS organization in Florida.

For more information on the Global AIDS Forum, and to learn more about Florida AIDS Action and AIDS advocacy work, please contact Florida AIDS Action by phone at: (813) 232-5886, or by email at: information@floridaaidsaction.org .

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Florida AIDS Action, the only statewide 501(c)(3) HIV/AIDS agency in Florida, promotes social change through community planning, education, public policy research and advocacy. For more information, call (813) 232-5886, or visit on the web at www.floridaaidsaction.org .

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