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.”