Field Notes # 9

Many promotional steps are being taken to endorse World AIDS Week. After speaking with fellow members in charge of marketing the event, I learned of their plans for making the event a success. For one, fliers are being made and will be distributed the week before the event at the West Mall. Second, circuit speakers are needed. Circuit speakers refer to those who go around to various organizations speaking on behalf of Face AIDS and the upcoming World AIDS Week events. While I'm still finalizing my project plans, I'm interested in studying which organizations the circuit speakers plan to target as well as the rhetoric used to persuade those in other organizations to check out the events. Based on what I have witnessed through out the semester I have come to realize that Face AIDS tends to support those organizations similarly related to the Face AIDS cause. For instance, there is an organization made up of students from Africa. Also, organizations tied to the promotion of various health related issues seem to be particularly connected to the Face AIDS cause. Face AIDS will likely be targeting the White Rose Society as well, which, according to its website is dedicated to Holocaust remembrance and genocide awareness. This group is especially prone to helping other human rights organizations, one reason the two clubs relate. I'm also interested in studying the rhetoric chosen for the fliers. My guess is pathos will be the group's main persuasive device, as the cause is particularly captivating when paired with an attention grabbing picture. Furthermore, statistics may be prominently placed, providing both logos and ethos for the audience. These statistics most likely will address the harsh reality facing the continent while also addressing how large a difference a small monetary contribution can make.

Field Notes # 8

As mentioned before, one reason Face AIDS does so well is great communication amongst members. Key to their success is the use of Google Groups. In fact a recent posting from a member gave praise to this new addition, saying "this is a great way to keep everyone in the loop, and to make sure that we're organized!" He even agreed "it's really key that we take advantage of this networking tool." Google Groups has transformed this organization as the speed of which information is exchanged is more rapid than before. Now, as opposed to exchanging information through email, phone and Monday night meetings, members can log on any time of the day to find the most up-to-date happenings. Through Google Groups Face AIDS can partake in group discussions, post links and conduct polls which may have previously required the presence of each member. Furthermore, members can create their own profile with pictures, comments and background information. I have referenced this multiple times as I am still unfamiliar with names and emails. One helpful aspect of Google Groups is member history is easily traced. For instance, most active members are listed based on time spent on the site and the amount of postings contributed. This is helpful to officers as well as the chapter because come election time members can easily tell an individuals level of involvement. The site also clarifies where the majority of the chapter's time is being spent. These last three weeks little was said in regards to anything other than tabling. In fact, of the last ten postings only three concerned something other than tabling which serves to show how integral a part tabling is to Face AIDS. Perhaps another reason Face AIDS does so well is their ability to take advantage of the multitude of organizations here on campus. Members are not comprised of a single set of ethnicity's or majors; rather, members come from all backgrounds and specialties. Face AIDS remains successful as they support other organizations and in turn gain new members, spread awareness and receive additional support when the favor is returned. The most recent posting offers a prime example, as the poster urges members to table at Delta Gamma's presentation of Paul Rusesabagina taking place tomorrow at 7pm in the Union Ballroom. There, Face AIDS is sure to make a good impression on the sorority for participating in the event.

Field Notes # 7

Perhaps one of the most significant events during the year Face Aids participates in is World AIDS Week, in which an entire week is devoted to raising awareness and funds for the cause. The event is scheduled to take place from December 1-5 and preparation for the festivities has already begun. One specific way of tackling the numerous responsibilities is through small groups such as the concert planning committee. Each group is given a different mission and an assigned leader who reports to the president. The president then updates the chapter during Monday night meetings, assigning new goals if needed. One way of maintaining communication amongst group members and updating one another on progress being made is through the Face Aids Austin google group. Here members can post and update information available to all participating Face Aid Austin users. In addition, daily updates to the tabling schedule are posted as well as individual thoughts and concerns. Overall, the Web site's rhetoric is very relaxed and chill. Members do not communicate in typical business jargon; however, slang is not used. Furthermore, members are very supportive of one another and incredibly friendly. The site has a very warm feel to it and gives off a community, "we're all in this together" kind of vibe which likely is one reason members continue to remain involved and active in the group. Most striking, is how close members are with one another and how common their interaction is as they are constantly posting and writing quick blurbs amongst each other whether or not it concerns Face Aid functions. I can not help but think this on-going interaction plays a large part in maintaining high retention rates. By encouraging everyone to participate members are made to feel welcome and a part of the group as though their contribution makes a difference in the overall picture.

Field Notes # 6

Face Aids currently has several projects they are working on to help raise money for the organization. Just last Monday Face Aids organized a Benefit at 10,000 Villages where half of all proceeds went to Face Aids for items sold from 5 to 9 p.m. Another current project is Penny Matching where members have friends and family sign a petition stating they plegde to donate x amount of money, often a penny, for every dollar or so that Face Aids makes. The idea is rather than just having people donate money, Penny Matching encourages a community effort where both parties are driven to work harder. In addition, Face Aids is working to gain money through dinner parties and a picnic. Both activities rely on Face Aids members to bring food and invite friends for a minimal price. The success of these parties relies on the fact that members do a great deal of promotion beforehand, as word of mouth is really the only form of advertisement. Members do suggest sending an invitation via email or snail mail however. What is interesting about these two activities is how much thought and debate went into planning them beforehand. While at the meeting, it was interesting to watch the process members take to put in place an activity. For instance, four possible dates were proposed concerning the night on which to have 10,000 Villages. A member would suggest a date while the president would write it on the power point. Once a good amount was suggested, members took turns discussing the pros and cons of each. Finally, after friendly debate the dates were narrowed down to two possibilities and voted on, majority rule. In the end November 20th was decided on for its conveniency, as it was believed to be after midterms and before elections so as not to conflict with students plans. This method proves to work well for Face Aids as it encourages thought and analysis on each subject, as members have to argue their side, while simultaneously taking into account what works best for everyone.

Field Notes # 5

The most significant part of Monday night's meeting was towards the end when the president requested all new members meet up front. While I've discussed tabling in my previous entries, Monday night provided me with more insight as we actually received a training session and discussed various tactics that work best. First, the president asked us to describe in a few words the purpose and goal of the organization, basically how would we explain what Face Aids is and does to someone stopping for information at our table? While there was no wrong answer, some proved better than others but overall most answers touched on the fact that Face Aids is a non profit organization that currently exists in over 150 college campuses and works to spread awareness and help fight the AIDS epidemic through various fund raising events. The president then asked older members to explain key points they like to throw in when tabling. Many students relied on statistics and other good examples of logos. For instance, just five dollars keeps a mother from passing HIV to her child. Most interesting though, was the fact that older tablers recommended never forming a comparison to a tangible good owned by a student, as in don't say "the money you used to buy the cigarettes you're smoking would have provided a years worth of treatment to a HIV positive person." Such a statement would likely offend someone. Other rhetorical tactics were discussed like the proper terminology to use when referring to a "HIV infected person" versus "person suffering from HIV.” Smiling was also encouraged and is most important according to the president, for our goal is simply not to raise funds but to spread the word and gain potential supporters. Our upmost priority is to inspire people so appearing approachable and kind is extremely important. Eye contact was even discussed as members suggested making eye contact early enough so that passer-bys feel pressure to stop and not walk past our table. It’s here that we should begin talking and should always start by saying "hi, would you like to learn how you can help fight aids?" Another key is to keep them talking as the longer they are present the more time you have to persuade them and potentially earn their donation as well as their interest in the organization.

Copy of the Dinner Party Email

Hello friends!

My roommate (fill in) and I are hosting a dinner part to benefit Face AIDS’ ‘Back to School’ campaign (for more information about Face AIDS and the campaign, see bottom of e-mail).

In exchange for good food, good drinks, and good fun we are asking for a suggested donation of $5- A STEAL! With your donation you will also receive a beaded AIDS awareness pin made by an HIV-affected Rwandan and a very nice bookmark with a bio of one of the students who will be receiving our funds.

Please e-mail me ASAP with any Friday/Saturday evening between Friday, October 11 and Saturday, November 22 that you WOULD NOT work for you. As soon as I hear back from you all we can set a date, those planning attending can e-mail food preferences/food you cannot or will not eat, and send out an e-vite.

I would love to have all of you come out; it will be lots of fun and all proceeds will go to a great cause!

Thank you all and have a great night!

(fill in name)

Face AIDS’ ‘Back to School’ Campaign: Face AIDS has asked the members of our support groups in Rwanda what we can do for them, and they have told us that they would like to send their children to secondary school. Primary education is universal in Rwanda, but secondary school fees cost between $150- $250/year. The average Rwandan makes around $250 a year. Face AIDS chapters across the nation are aiming to raise $20,000 to send these students to school.

Face AIDS Background: Face AIDS is a national student-run non-profit organization that was formed in 2005 to combat the issue of HIV and AIDS in Africa. We are currently working with international NGO Partners In Health to fundraise for their clinics in Rwanda. This past Spring we surpassed our goal of raising $1,000,000 for PIH-Rwanda. For more info go to www.faceaids.org.

Field Notes # 4

I mentioned in my previous assignments how important raising money is to the Face Aids organization, as the HIV/AIDS initiative can not be won with out funding. I feel I can not accurately describe the many activities taking place within this organization through a few short blogs but I will certainly do my best. I say this because, as I have mentioned before, the passion of this group is astounding and I have a flood of emails to prove it. Nothing summed up this group's mentality better than an off-hand comment made by the president, in which he responded to a question saying "seeing as how this group deals with health and makes such a difference in people's lives, you'll find everyone is extremely passionate and not willing to do just an ok job." In the context of the situation I remember feeling the remark to be brazen and off-putting, yet the effect it had on me is one worth noting as it set a certain tone. For me, the comment suggested a particular standard was expected and lazy, flaky, non-committed people need not apply. Perhaps this serves as the reason behind my signing up for over three different fundraising activities with in the group. Unlike many organizations where the leaders typically do the grunt of the work, Face Aids is very much a team effort and relies on the personal involvement of every group. Take for instance the latest Face Aids activity of hosting a dinner party, suggested by a regular member at last week's meeting, one of the three activities I signed up for. With the goal being to raise money, various people signed up to host a party at their place and provide a cheap dinner in which individual members contributed say with the dessert or the side dish, ect. Those of us who signed up to host a party received an email with a letter for us to send our to our friends and family to invite to our party, the goal of course to have as many people attend as possible. Face Aids very much relies on word of mouth as the success of the campaign basically is the result of how much buzz we create to get people to attend. In keeping with our lessons in class, I feel Face Aids most relies on pathos when urging people to become involved; however, in the example email the method most used is logos as citations from experts and authorities. However, ethos is used as well as an entire paragraph is devoted to explaining the purpose and background of Face Aids, by including the year the were established, how much money they have gained in the past and additional sponsorships authority on the topic is established.

Field Notes # 3

Venture into Parlin, room 201 at 8 p.m. on any given Monday and you will find yourself at a Face Aids meeting, a meeting worth staying for. Having been involved in many student organizations, I have not had more fun or felt more excited to be part of a group than when I attended my first Face Aids meeting. Comradory is the first word that comes to mind when describing the dynamics of this organization, as each member is genuinely passionate in the cause and interested in doing whatever it takes to help fight AIDS/HIV globally. With 50 or so members in attendance and gathered in a small room, the overall tone of the meeting felt relaxed and intimate. Unlike the overly serious and stuffy meetings I am used to attending, Face Aids felt more like a group of close friends hanging out. Surprisingly though, a great deal was accomplished at the meeting as members are focused in between playful jabs at one another. The president was the clear leader of the meeting and directed a power point from a podium up front. However, he was not the main speaker as many members spoke as well. These students were the leaders of various small groups and committees with in the organization. My favorite part about the meeting was how involved students were, as the leaders received constant feedback from all members and nothing was passed with out the consent of everyone. Furthermore, at the end of the meeting we broke down into our groups, each of which have a different focus and priority they are working towards. In addition to meeting Monday's at 8, each small group meets individually. My group, for instance, plans to meet this week on Monday at 6 to play Apples to Apples. The use of small groups works well in that it helps members get to know one another better. Also, I noticed a friendly competition brewing as one group busted out in a cheer directed towards the other groups, providing fellow members with some added motivation at succeeding at our goals.

Field Notes # 2

My main point of discussion for this week is how Face Aids uses "tabling" to effectively grow and communicate their organization's mission. As the president of Face Aids put it "they've somewhat become expert tablers now and know the ends and outs of getting people to listen." He went on to say that the best thing to do is to keep students talking as the longer they stay the more likely you are to gain their interest in the club. For those unfamiliar with tabling, it refers to the various organizations which set up booths in the west mall area on campus. Generally these consist of student organizations promoting their cause via fliers, candy and other tactics. Often, however, students sit idly behind a table awaiting passer-bys to show interest before discussing their reason for being there. In this way, Face Aids is extremely unique. To quote the president, they "aren't passive tablers." No, as I discovered, they most certainly are not. Every weekday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. you will find Face Aids tabling in the west mall. In fact, this is a major part of the organization as it not only helps gain additional supporters but it provides a good deal of their revenue. I was surprised by how well organized they were, as it was a stark contrast from prior tabling experiences I have had with other clubs. In fact, in the past very few people end up showing up, students choose to socialize or read, and almost always someone forgets a key ingredient such as flyers or wristbands. Not the case with Face Aids. Instead, students are held accountable and are so passionate about the program that everything is taken seriously, almost as though it were their job. Everything from how they approach students to the planning around schedules has been fine-tuned to perfection. For instance, every Monday night during meetings students sign up for the time they wish to work. This seems the best approach as schedules vary from week to week so it’s best to start anew each Monday. The trick, however, is making sure to include the following Monday on the sign up sheet and scheduling students to work two hour shifts. Also, two to three students are preferred so if need be one can take over should an emergency arise. Finally, members are asked to wear their pins while tabling. These pins have become a trademark of Face Aids and are made up of red and white beads displaying the aids awareness ribbon. Made by hand in Africa, these beads are my favorite part of the Face Aids program as they are so representative of the organization's spirit.

Field Notes #1

Today, September 8th, 2008 I took several steps towards becoming involved in a group for our semester long project. After reading our class email, I decided upon joining Face Aids, as the crisis particularly concerning HIV/AIDS in Africa has long been an interest of mine. Eager to begin, I attended an informative session covering all topics such as how Face Aids got its start, its mission, founders, funding and much more. Most exciting, however, was seeing and hearing first hand from the organization’s president who told of his seven week journey through the poverty stricken area, rampant with refugees, and struggling to survive this relentless epidemic. It was not but a few moments into his recap that I found myself hooked on participating in this organization. Hearing his passion for this cause further inspired me as, I too, longed to make a difference. In addition to the president’s speech, I was moved by a pamphlet each attendee received. Reading over the group’s mission statement and plan of action further proved how this “student campaign to fight AIDS in Africa” which meets here on campus and at other schools around the nation, is affecting the lives of people a world away. Just counting the Austin chapter’s contributions as of last year, over $4,000 was raised. After leaving this informative meeting, I downloaded the group’s application and emailed it a counsel member. Furthermore, I plan to attend next week’s meeting, pay my dues, join a committee, and table as a means of achieving my goal of becoming involved in this organization as well as working “to mobilize and inspire students, to fight AIDS in Africa.”