Notes from Meeting 7 January 2007

The meeting started with Ethan describing his vision of the Aims of the Garden and Group. These are to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS and the effects of the virus, to promote safe practices (primarily safer sex), and to offer a safe space for people, regardless of HIV Status, Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation or any other reason.

Ethan went on to suggest that the group would benefit from more members before we started working towards these aims. Kiril recommended that we first set more specific goals so that we would be able to target our search for volunteer help, to which pup concurred. It was pup's suggestion that we work on the promotiion of the Garden first so that we would hae a wider audience and by extension a wider skills base to use.

Kiril then discussed an idea that he had for the Group to have volunteers who would be able to offer support and advice for people around HIV/AIDS and safe practices for anyone who would need it. He described it as 'Buddy Support'. He also suggested an anonymous IM based system for one-to-one support allowing both volunteers and users to use the services with anonymity. Ethan mentioned Data Protection Laws as we are a multi-national group, and also mentioned the difficulty of this idea to start with as it would need technology that we do not have access to at the moment.

Kiril advised the group that he would be able to sketch out a plan for the support we would be able to offer, along with training and co-ordination needs, which he would then pass to Ethan and Melon to have a look through for further suggestions.

pup suggested that we also contact RL organisations for support in delivering this. Kiril advised that he is very influential in AIDS Community Care, Montreal, and that they were very eager to be involved. Ethan advised that he would approach some organisations in the UK to see if they would like to be involved. Kiril recommeded that we stick to a maximum of 2 or 3 organisations' involvement.

pup and Classy advised that they have contacts in M2 and SL Bus magazines, who they will contact and ask to arrange a meeting with Ethan to promote the garden. Classy also suggested that Ethan post on the SL Forums. Ethan mentioned that an article had appeared in SLNN about the AIDS Memorial Service, and that he was advertising all meetings as events in game.

pup then stated that, before we can promote we need to identify what we are promoting, and so it was decided that we would primarily promote the Garden as a safe space, along with the safer sex message, and then once this was working we would then diversify into offering the counselling/support services.

Classy went on to advise what she and pup would be able to offer for the group, they have recently acquired 2 islands and they have offered to use some of the space to set up a 'quiet corner' with a fountain/landmark giver. Ethan showed the group his ham-fisted attempt but Classy will work on it to make a more eye-pleasing form. Ethan will also work on posters for the memorial, however before this can be done it was decided that we needed a name for the group. Ethan's suggestions of "SLAM" and "SLAG" were not well recieved (I can't think why!) and so everyone will have a think of some names/acronyms and bring their suggestions to the next meeting. Once a name has been decided we will then be able to design a logo and Ethan wll be able to design some of his world famous "Made in Taiwan T's"

Classy and pup also wanted to offer some of their products to decorate the garden, this then became that they would create the meeting spaces for the counselling and group support side of the operation.

Melon advised the group that he has some knowledge of LSL, and is improving this all the time and so he will be working on a type of "hotel concierge bell" that would be able to send a message to the volunteers that someone would like to speak to them, he will also help Ethan with Kiril's proposal.

Melon also mentioned to Ethan that the Safe nature of the Memorial Garden is something that may need to be promoted more within the garden itself, so Ethan will be working on a poster for this. He will also try to get an appoinment with the creators of the Excite range of products to see if they would be prepared to introduce a safe sex script for their range.