Red Ribbon Ball a Success!

EMAN would like to thank everyone who participated in the Red Ribbon Ball and helped to make it a success.  It was a banner year with the highest number of attendees and donations to date.

We would like to offer special thanks to chairperson Juanita Taylor, Carol Higgins-Taylor for the PSA and WABI for airing it, Joy Hollowell and Wayne Harvey for keeping things moving along smoothly, Special Event Center for donating the space, Brian Catell and the Jump City Jazz Band for keeping us all dancing, and, of course, YOU.  The folks who "partied with a purpose", gave items for the silent auction, and donated to the cause.  We couldn't have done it without you.

See you again next year!

Posted by Suze Howe on Wednesday, March 10th 2010 in EMAN News and Past events

FREE HIV Testing on June 26 as part of National HIV Testing Day!

Do you know your status?

National HIV Testing Day (NHTD) is an annual campaign produced by the National Association of People with AIDS (NAPWA) held each June 27 to encourage all individuals to receive voluntary HIV counseling and testing.

As part of this year's campaign, on Friday, June 26, Eastern Maine AIDS Network (EMAN) will be offering FREE free Rapid HIV antibody testing - with results in approximately 20 minutes - counseling and safer sex supplies from 9:00am to 4:00pm at the EMAN office, 370 Harlow Street, Bangor, Maine.

The Maine Centers For Disease Control (CDC) estimates that currently, approximately 1,500 to 1,700 people in the state of Maine are infected with HIV, and as many as 500 people are unaware that they are infected. In Northern Maine alone (Penobscot, Hancock, Piscataquis, Washington and Aroostook counties), there are 208 known cases of people living with HIV - approximately 14% of the total reported cases in the state of Maine - including persons of all ages, races, genders, sexual orientations, and walks of life.

The decision to take the test is the first step in taking responsibility for your health and the health of others with whom you may be intimately involved. As NAPWA puts it, "Take the test. Take control."

Posted by Suze Howe on Tuesday, June 9th 2009 in EMAN News and Past events

EMAN at PRIDE Festival

Eastern Maine AIDS Network will have a table this weekend at the Bangor area PRIDE Festival sponsored by the Bridge Alliance.  We will be in West Market Square, downtown Bangor, from 3:00-8:00pm with information about HIV prevention and testing.  If you come to the festival, stop by and say "hi!"

Posted by Suze Howe on Tuesday, June 9th 2009 in EMAN News and Past events

EMAN @ Skate Against Drugs

On Friday, May 29, EMAN joined a number of other local agencies, including Shaw House and Spruce Run, at the Bangor Skate Park for "Skate Against Drugs", an overdose and STD prevention event.  Participants were entertained by six different local bands, and despite the pouring rain, there was a high turnout.

Posted by Suze Howe on Monday, June 1st 2009 in EMAN News and Past events

AIDS Walk 2009 a HUGE Success!

First things first - we here at EMAN offer a hearty THANK YOU to everyone who participated in this year's walk.  Walkers, donors, volunteers - we couldn't do it without you.

The Bangor walkers raised over $7,400.00 for local AIDS Service Organizations! AMAZING!  That's an increase of over 75% from last year! Great job, everyone! As soon as we get the last of the donations sorted, we will announce the top fundraisers, both by team and individuals, so look for that soon.

These funds will be matched by the National AIDS Fund, which means over $14,800.00 will be disseminated to various local agencies, just as a result of the Bangor walk alone. In this time of severe budget crunches, these donations are crucial to helping the ASOs continue their vital service to the community.

And speaking of donations - yes, you can still donate!  We have another week or so to collect, so if you didn't get a chance to donate or if you know someone who wants to, please feel free!  You can mail any checks to EMAN, PO Box 2038, Bangor, ME 04402 or donate via PayPal on the main page of our website: www.maineaidsnetwork.com.

The weather on Saturday turned out to be better than anticipated, and ended up being perfect for walking.  Approximately 125 people participated in the walk this year, including men, women, children (and dogs!).  Everyone was decked out in red, Mardi Gras beads, funky hats, etc.  We were certainly noticed!  We had to use a truncated route due to construction, but I don't think anyone minded.

Last, but not least, we are (very slowly) uploading photos from the walk to Photobucket for everyone to enjoy.  They probably won't be fully uploaded until tonight, but you can check them out later at EMAN's 2009 AIDS Walk album.

Thanks again, everyone, and we'll see you next year!

Posted by Suze Howe on Wednesday, May 6th 2009 in EMAN News and Past events

Bangor Daily News article about the AIDS Walk!

AIDS walk gives disease visibility, raises money

By Nok-Noi Ricker
BDN Staff
May 4, 2009

BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY KATE COLLINS

Participants in the Bangor Area AIDS Walk acknowledge support from passing motorists during their 5K walk through Bangor on Saturday. Organized by the Maine Community AIDS Partnership, the funds raised by walkers were matched by the National AIDS Fund, with all proceeds benefiting local AIDS and HIV organizations.

BANGOR, Maine - More than 100 people walked in the downtown area Saturday, raising awareness that HIV-AIDS is still a problem in Maine, the country and the world.

"Until the disease goes away, we're not going away," Patsy Murphy of the Eastern Maine AIDS Network said before the event. "HIV-AIDS is still an issue. It's still a problem."

The Bangor AIDS Walk was one of nine held across the state over the weekend to spotlight the disease and raise funds to support programs that help those living with the virus and efforts to prevent its spread.

"We've got dogs and babies" and Mardi Gras beads, Murphy said Saturday as she walked with the group of around 120 people along the Penobscot River waterfront. "We're getting toots and waves" from people along the route.

The Eastern Maine AIDS Network was able to raise more than $4,000 in pledges, and all of the funds raised statewide will be matched by the National AIDS Fund in partnership with the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

"The dollars raised here stay here," Murphy said.

Even in these hard economic times, residents of Maine have been very giving, said Andrew Bossie of the Maine AIDS Alliance, based in Augusta.

"We have exceeded last year," he said. "We're due to raise over $50,000 statewide, all to be matched by the national AIDS network. I'm pretty pumped."

The locally raised funding is critical because state and federal dollars have decreased over the past several years, he said.

Statewide, more than 1,200 people are living with HIV, the precursor to AIDS, and an estimated 500 others are believed to be infected and don't know it, Bossie said.

"People should go out and get tested ... to help fight this," he said.

While the number of confirmed cases each year is relatively low, more people are testing positive for the disease nowadays than a decade ago, Bossie said.

"The crazy thing is 10 years ago, in '89, we had 32," he said. "The number was 46 last year and 50 the year before that."

Those interested in finding out more about HIV-AIDS or who want to make a donation may contact Bossie at the Maine AIDS Alliance, 899-9983.

nricker@bangordailynews.net
990-8190

http://www.bangordailynews.com/detail/105152.html

Posted by Suze Howe on Wednesday, May 6th 2009 in EMAN News, EMAN in the media, and Past events

EMAN Past Events

National HIV Testing Day
June 27, 2008

This year's National HIV Testing Day was a really great success. Approximately 15 people took advantage of the free HIV antibody testing that was offered, and we have high hopes for next year!

2008 AIDS Walk Northern New England
May 3, 2008

Despite the rather dreary weather, about 125 people turned out to participate in the 2008 Bangor/Brewer AIDS Walk. Thanks to your help, we raised over $4,100.00 for local AIDS service organizations (which will be matched by the National AIDS Fund)! Thank you SO much to everyone who walked, pledged, donated or volunteered. Special thanks to Sam's Club for their sponsorship and Tim Horton's on Broadway for the coffee - we certainly needed it! Photos and slideshows from the walk can be found HERE.

HOPE Festival
April 19, 2008

Eastern Maine AIDS Network was one of more than 80 organizations to have an informational table at this year's 14th annual HOPE Festival. Held at the University of Maine Field House, there were activities for all ages to celebrate Earth Day, their connections to the Earth and to each other.

DASH Fair
March 26, 2008

Hundreds of people attended this information fair for the elderly and disabled, held at Spectacular Events Center in Bangor. EMAN was one of many local organizations who gathered together to help get the word out on important topics such as services for the elderly and HIV/AIDS prevention.

2nd Annual Red Ribbon Ball
February 9, 2008

Eighty-six people dressed in their finest and came out to the Buchanan Alumni House in Orono, despite the threat of a major snowstorm to "party for a purpose" at the Second Annual Red Ribbon Ball. There was music and dancing with Brian Catell and the Jump City Jazz Band, hors d’oeuvres, door prizes and a silent auction.

The Red Ribbon Ball is EMAN’s largest fundraiser of the year and when the final numbers were tallied, we had netted about $10,000 to go toward services, prevention education and harm reduction materials.

Congrats to everyone involved! A special thank you to the volunteers from Alpha Delta Fraternity and Gamma Sigma Sigma Sorority for their invaluable assistance.

World AIDS Day 2007
December 1, 2007

Thank you to everyone who participated in our World AIDS Day 2008 event. Despite the bitter cold, approximately 40 people attended the open house at Hammond Congregational Church where four panels from the National AIDS Quilt were on display, as well as a timeline of HIV/AIDS both nationally and locally. A brief candlelight vigil was held and 200 luminaries were lit to represent the approximately 200 people in the Bangor area living with HIV/AIDS. Stories and articles in the local media can be found on our EMAN in the Media page. Photos from the event can be found HERE.

Maine AIDS Walk 2007
October 13, 2007

The first AIDS Walk in Bangor in over ten years was a HUGE success. Our walk had the largest turn out in the state with approximately 125 people participating and raising a total just shy of $4,400.00! Stories and articles in the local media can be found on our EMAN in the Media page. Photos from the Walk can be found HERE. Huge thank yous to everyone who participated, volunteered, or promoted the event!

Team Lavigne!

Posted by Suze Howe on Tuesday, January 22nd 2008 in Past events