This year marks Triad Health Project's 25th Annual Dining for Friends! We've already started planning this historic event and it promises to be unforgettable. Please mark your calendar for the Dessert Finale on May 17, 2014.

Each month, we will be sharing stories and pictures of Dining for Friends events and parties through the years. This month, we are featuring our friends who come together to organize the Fish Fry Dining for Friends Party!

 
Monthly Musings from THP's Executive Director

  

"Never call an accountant a credit to his profession;
a good accountant is a debit to this profession."
~ Sir Charles Lyell
 
 
I've been thinking about accountants a lot lately. Well, just one accountant in particular.

Shirley Crowley, THP's Finance Director, retired last month after almost 18 years of service to the agency. Shirley is a petite woman, who has about a size five foot but don't let that fool you - those are some mighty big shoes to fill.

I have to think that there was some divine intervention that brought Shirley to THP in 1996. Sure, she's a "typical" accountant - a no nonsense, by the book, IRS quoting
numbers person - except for one minor detail. You see, Shirley is an accountant with the heart of a social worker.

Lucky for THP.

Shirley has sat in with me on some tough decisions over the years - hard choices usually based on money and she always gave me the bottom line, even when it was often painful to hear. And she always - always - put THP's clients first.

If there was a discussion about having to curtail any service to clients, Shirley would pulverize our budget to get out every last red cent to cover it. She took it personally because she cared so deeply for our clients.

Often case managers would share a client story and Shirley would listen quietly and draw her hand to her face. If you gazed at her too long she would say softly, "I think I've got something in my eye."

She also cared deeply for our staff - playing the role of Mother Confessor, Dear Abby, and Dr. Ruth all rolled into one.
Addison Ore, 
Executive Director

Shirley could have made a lot more money over the years somewhere else but she stayed at THP because she believed in our mission. And I will always be grateful that she believed in me - a brand new executive director who was a deer in the headlights for that first bumpy year or so.

We're all thrilled that she can now relax a bit and spend more time with her family - her real family - but her THP family will miss her more than she could ever imagine.

I think I have something in my eye...

 

   

The End of an Era: Shirley Crowley Retires 

After almost 18 years of service to THP, Finance Director 

Shirley Crowley retired last month. Shirley came to THP in 1996 at a time of great financial challenges to the agency and helped steer THP to safer waters and calmer seas. Perhaps that's how she acquired the affectionate nickname of "Captain."

Actually, Shirley had many unofficial titles at THP: personal shopper, second mom to all staff, friend, jewelry maker, and perhaps her favorite, "happy dancer" - only when large checks came in to THP's coiffeurs. You haven't truly lived until you've seen the CPA Happy Dance.

 

We gave our captain a pirate themed send off at Higher Ground and many former colleagues and board members dropped by to help us celebrate Shirley.

There were plenty of stories, belly laughs, and tears but one common theme - there will never be another Shirley and her contributions to THP will continue to impact our clients and our community for years to come.

 

Now relax, Shirley. You've earned it!

 

Happy trails, dear friend!

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Shirley's pi�ata filled with Office Depot coupons,  office supplies and candy, Shirley and her husband, Jim Crowley,  and the infamous THP staff pyramid

Faith and Sexuality Workshop
Bridget Thomas, Prevention Education Intern, discusses HIV at the Faith and Sexuality Workshop

 

For the past several months, Triad Health Project has been partnering with Holy Trinity Episcopal Church in Greensboro and St. Mary's Episcopal Church in High Point to develop a Faith & Sexuality Workshop for high school students and their parents.  The intent of the workshop is to recognize our sexuality as a gift, and to create safe spaces within communities of faith for youth and parents to be able to learn and engage in dialogue. Topics include "What does the Bible say about Sex and Relationships?", "Faith, Sex, and the Age of Technology", "Self Worth, Healthy Boundaries and Sexuality", and "HIV/STD 101". 

 

The first workshop was offered for youth and parents in these two congregations on Friday evening, February 28th and Saturday, March 1. "It was a powerful experience," says Ken Keeton, THP's Director of Development and Community Involvement and a member at Holy Trinity.  "I could literally see the communication barriers between youth and parents starting to crack and crumble.  I hope it will make a lasting impact." 

Shane, Shana, Ken
Ken Keeton, Director of Development & Community Involvement

 

The idea emerged during the planning for Holy Trinity's first-ever Dining for Friends party last year.  Ken explained, "The planning team decided that we wanted to do something specifically for youth to educate them about HIV/AIDS and other STDs, and by bringing clergy, staff and other interested persons to the table to be part of dreaming out this vision, this is what unfolded - an even bigger and better dream."  

 

The next phase of the dream is to begin making the workshop

available to other communities of faith.  "We're not quite sure how we're going to do it yet, but I think we're just getting started," says Ken. "We want to help our young people and their parents understand the risks and how to make informed decisions about their sexual health and relationships, and helping them to know that they are deeply loved seems to be a great place to start."  

Cooking with Ninevah
In my effort to "dress up" some basic red potatoes, I turned to my spice cabinet for inspiration. As I began to look over available herbs, the words of the song, "Scarborough Fair" came to mind and I found myself reaching for parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. The combination of these herbs with olive oil and a bit of sea salt and pepper transformed my ordinary red potatoes into a dish that even Simon and Garfunkel might enjoy! 

 

Scarborough Blend Potatoes 


Ingredients
1 Tablespoon + 1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried parsley, crushed
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
� teaspoon dried thyme
� teaspoon dried rubbed sage
� teaspoon fine sea salt
� teaspoon coarse ground black pepper
1 � pounds red skin potatoes, skins remaining

Directions
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Coat a 8 x 8 inch (1 � quart) baking dish with cooking spray.
Wash and dry the red skin potatoes and set aside.
Combine the olive oil, parsley, rosemary, thyme, sage, sea salt and black pepper in a large mixing bowl.
If potatoes are large, cut the potatoes into thirds then cut into 1 to 1 � inch chunks. If potatoes are smaller, cut the potatoes into quarters, then into chunks. Add the potato pieces to the oil and herbs in the mixing bowl and use a spatula to blend the potato pieces with the oil mixture until the potatoes are coated. Place the coated potatoes in a single layer in the baking dish and spoon any remaining oil and herbs onto the potatoes.
Bake for 30 minutes or until potatoes begin to brown. Serve warm.
Makes 4 servings 

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25 Years of Dining for Friends
You had us at hushpuppies!

Dining for Friends parties have been bringing together friends for 25 years now and one of the most successful and delicious parties is the Fish Fry hosted by several long time THP supporters.

Originally a backyard BBQ, five years ago the co-hosts decided to change things up and hold an old fashioned fish fry catered on site by Libby Hill Seafood. The rest, as they say, is history.

The Fish Fry team has turned fried shrimp, hush puppies, french fries, slaw, and banana pudding into a much anticipated Dining for Friends tradition.

"Everyone takes a night off from their diets and enjoys all those things we know are bad for us but we're happy to do it to help THP," says John Melton, former THP board member and one of the Fish Fry's co-hosts.

The Fish Fry is just one of about 80 parties that will take place this spring in support of Triad Health Project. If you've never hosted a Dining for Friends party before, this, our 25th year, would be an ideal time to start. You never know what new Triad tradition you might be creating! 

 

For more information about hosting a party, contact Shana Carignan.
 
 
The BIG DFF Reveal
We have been working with Hayes Henderson, creator of 22 of our past 25 Dining for Friends posters, on this year's artwork. We are beyond excited at the first drafts and can not wait to share this exciting and historical artwork.



Stay tuned!
By the Numbers!

February testing numbers and clients returning for results have increased over last year.

  • 58 total tested at our Monday night clinic this month; February 2013 a total of 39. 33% increase.
  • 51 received a full screen for HIV/Syphilis, Gonorrhea and Chlamydia. February 2013 a total of 33 received a full screen. 35% increase.
  • Of those 58 tested this month, 47 have returned for their results within two weeks. February 2013, 15 out of 39 returned for results. 68% increase.

THP is offering two new, confidential and FREE counseling services. CRCS counseling has taken in 4 new counseling participants in February for an active total of 9 participants. 

Kevin Varner, Director of Prevention and Education

 

CLEAR counseling initiative has 3 active participants as of this month. CRCS (Comprehensive Risk-reduction Counseling Services) is counseling and goal setting for both HIV positive and HIV/STI negative clients who wish to discuss issues around their sexual health and preventing future infections, plus goal setting and support for HIV positive clients. CLEAR (Choosing Life, Empowerment, Action and Results) is for HIV positive clients who would like counseling around a variety of topics including disclosure of status, medical compliance, stress reduction, risk reduction, boosting self worth, and more.

Like and Share Challenge
 
Thank you to all of our Facebook friends who helped us reach our goal of 2,500 likes! Thanks to you, we received our first 25th Annual Dining for Friends donation of $1,000!
 

                           

                                                                   Greensboro                                                                        High Point

                                                         801 Summit Avenue                                                         620 English Road

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                                                    Greensboro, NC 27435                                                     High Point, NC 27262

                                                           (336) 275-1654                                                                (336) 884-4116

                                                                                               

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