Co-authored by Jennie Anderson, HIV.gov Communications Director

Later this week, we'll be attending the U.S. Conference on AIDS (USCA) the largest AIDS-related gathering in the U.S. As you may remember, in November we posted some highlights from USCA 2009. In this post, we'll give you a sneak-preview of what's coming up at USCA 2010 and an update on last year's USCA activities. If you're attending this year's conference, we invite you to join us in the following activities:

• Learn more about the National HIV/AIDS Strategy at Booth #308
  --Talk with HHS staff to learn basic facts about the National HIV/AIDS Strategy.
  --Attend the closing session on the National HIV/AIDS Strategy which will feature Dr. Howard Koh, Dr. Ron Valdiserri, Mr. Jeff Crowley, and other Federal and community leaders.
• Take a photo at our Facing AIDS Photo Booth #209
  Share messages about why you're Facing AIDS for World AIDS Day 2010 (Dec. 1) and about what the National HIV/AIDS Strategy means to you. Check out last year's Facing AIDS photosExit Disclaimer .
• Sign-up for New Media Technical Assistance at Booth #207
  During exhibit hall hours, HIV.gov will provide small group new media technical assistance (TA) on topics such as Twitter, Facebook, blogs, wikis, and more! Sign up at booth #207.
• Join the USCA and HIV.gov Tweet-up*, Monday, September 13, 6:15 pm, outside the USCA Press/New Media Office, in De Soto Room
  USCA and HIV.gov will be hosting a Tweet-Up. Use hashtag #USCA2010 for your Tweets!
• Particpate in the HIV.gov's New Media Workshop, Tuesday, September 14, 1:45 - 3:45 pm, Alachua, Ground Level
  We will present on our Facing AIDS and other HIV.gov new media initiatives.
• Attend the Closing Luncheon Plenary: "The National HIV/AIDS Strategy: Taking Steps to Make it Real at the Community Level", Wednesday, September 15, 11:45 am - 1:30 pm
  Dr. Howard Koh, Dr. Ron Valdiserri, Mr. Jeff Crowley, and other Federal and community leaders will present and take questions.
• Share your Feedback through Usability Testing
  We are trying to improve our website, blog, and more, and would love your feedback. To sign up for usability testing click hereExit Disclaimer.

Not attending USCA? There are many ways to follow updates from the conference remotely and get involved such as:

• Follow and share tweets at the conference using the hashtag: #USCA2010
• Join the Facing AIDS photo initiative: visit HIV.gov in the weeks to come with more details
• Check out the HIV.gov blog
• Become a fan of NMAC's Facebook pageExit Disclaimer.

Looking Back to USCA 2009

Last year at USCA we had over 150 people attend our new media institutes and six months after the conference we sent out an email asking people to share what their journey with new media has been like since the conference. We wanted to know where that enthusiasm about new media took people -- did they implement new techniques, learn some lessons, need more support?

One respondent told us that "The internet has opened a world of possibilities for our agency. a rural state where many individuals are physically isolated, yet the internet brings everyone together. This can result in both positive and negative consequences. making the internet work for us to prevent infections and build community." Another respondent shared that it can be challenging to implement new programs during tight fiscal times when many organizations are struggling to maintain core services. Yet another told us that having a Federal example of new media use made it easier to ask her agency to implement similar strategies.

Thank you to all of you who responded…we really appreciate your thoughtful responses and all of the work that you are doing! Please continue to share your updates with us.

Also, if you are attending USCA 2010, please let us know. We would love to connect with you there!

^{*= According to NMAC, a tweet-up is "an organized or impromptu gathering of people that use Twitter to meet up and exchange ideas and promote a common cause or goal."}