The San Diego LGBT Community Center’s Positive Action program is offering a comprehensive educational course for people living with HIV. The course, called Positive Living, focuses on being HIV positive and maintaining your mental, emotional, and physical health.

“Positive Living is about providing people living with HIV with the knowledge and resources that can assist them living a long and healthy life” said Rick Braatz, The Center’s Positive Action coordinator. The course covers a variety of HIV-related issues and subject matter including nutrition, medication, sexual health, depression, social support and stress reduction. All people living with or impacted by HIV/AIDS are invited to participate, Braatz said.

Beginning Feb. 3, Positive Living meets Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7-9 p.m. for four weeks at The Center, located at 3909 Centre Street. The course is free and food and beverages will be provided.

For more information, contact Rick Braatz at 619-692-2077, ext.133, or through email at rbraatz@thecentersd.org.

The Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol volunteers will receive their annual patrol refresher training from the San Diego Police Department at The San Diego LGBT Community Center, tonight at 6:30 p.m. in The Center’s Library.

Volunteers will also receive a community address from newly-elected District 3 City Councilmember Todd Gloria. The Stonewall volunteers primarily patrol in Hillcrest, North Park and University Heights.

The training and meeting is open to the public. Anyone who wishes to volunteer with the Stonewall Citizens’ Patrol is encouraged to attend the annual training. For more information, contact Ben Gomez at 619-501-2809 or visit www.stonewallcitizens.com.

The San Diego LGBT Community Center has set the dates for two of its largest HIV/AIDS fund-raisers.

The Center will serve as the local collaborating organization for Dining Out For Life. The community event, which raises critical funds for The Center’s HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs, will take place on Thursday, April 30.

Everyone can participate in Dining Out For Life simply by joining family and friends for breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at several of San Diego’s restaurants on Thursday, April 30. These local establishments will donate a minimum of 25 percent of their food and liquor sales on that day to benefit HIV/AIDS services and prevention programs. All funds raised locally will stay in San Diego helping to fight HIV/AIDS and provide services to thousands of San Diegans affected by this disease.

Also, San Diego County’s largest one-day HIV/AIDS fund-raiser, AIDS Walk, will take place on Sunday, Sept. 27 at Balboa Park. The 20th annual event will raise funds for more than 30 San Diego County HIV/AIDS service organizations. AIDS Walk San Diego is a program of The San Diego LGBT Community Center. For more information, call 619-291-WALK.

The Greater San Diego Business Association has begun distributing 30,000 copies of its annual business and resource directory, which also marks the organization’s 30th anniversary this year. In addition, the directory makes its online debut, offering a digital format that can be accessed from the GSDBA’s Web site.

The 2009 directory features a comprehensive timeline of the GSDBA’s history, as well as informative business listings by a majority of the chamber’s 800-plus membership and listings of the GSDBA’s most recent corporate sponsors and partnerships. This year’s directory cover was created by Anna Jimenez of Tenehua Design/Flock Studios. Hard copies can be obtained for free at 120 distribution points throughout San Diego County. And Internet users can access the full directory from the Web site’s homepage, www.gsdba.org.

“In today’s marketplace, many consumers and businesses go first to the Internet to do business. We want to be sure that even though our hard copy is very popular, that we expand our readership as much as possible through a new online format,” said Joyce Marieb, chief executive officer of the GSDBA.

An anniversary celebration featuring Olympic gold medalist Greg Louganis and other dignitaries is scheduled for Thursday, June 11, at the Hard Rock Hotel in Downtown San Diego. For more information regarding tickets and sponsorships, call the GSDBA at 619-296-4543 or visit www.gsdba.org.

A 15-year volunteer for San Diego Pride and former executive assistant to Councilmember Toni Atkins, Araceli “Cheli” Mohamed of North Park has been hired as Volunteer and Community Resources Director for San Diego LGBT Pride. Mohamed will be responsible for coordinating more than 700 volunteers as well as coordinating programs and resources involving community organizations and businesses.

Originally from Brawley, Calif., Mohamed moved to San Diego in 1985 to attend the University of California San Diego. Upon graduation she spent 10 years in nonprofit social services, working for AIDS Foundation San Diego, The San Diego LGBT Community Center and Family Pride Coalition, while spending the past seven years working in local government. Her professional background includes program development, volunteer management, crisis intervention, HIV/AIDS prevention and education, fund-raising, and special events.

Mohamed also served as volunteer coordinator for the Western States Police and Fire Games and captain of the SDPD’s Men’s 800 Baker to Vegas Challenge Cup Relay Team and as a volunteer for the Federal Women’s Pistol Invitational and the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund.

“Cheli has been a valued member of the Pride team for many years,” said Pride Executive Director Ron deHarte. “We are thrilled that she has chosen to devote her energies to Pride full-time. Her years of experience coordinating Pride volunteers along with her organizational skills and history working in local politics make her an ideal choice for the position.”

San Diego Pride is a community enhancement organization dedicated to civil rights that produces the city’s largest civic and cultural events that bring together lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, as well as their supporters. For more information on volunteer service, contact Cheli Mohamed at volunteer@sdpride.org or visit www.sandiegopride.org.

Family Health Centers of San Diego is celebrating the grand opening of the Chula Vista Family Health Center. The health center provides primary care services, pediatrics, women’s health, adult medicine, and health education. The clinic provides affordable services to all income levels and is committed to lower income and uninsured individuals. The Chula Vista facility is supported from the federal Healthcare Resources and Services Administration, the County of San Diego, and the City of Chula Vista. The clinic officially opened Jan. 14 and is located at 251 Landis Ave., in Chula Vista. For more information, call 619-446-7916.

E-World Recyclers in conjunction with California State University San Marcos will hold a free electronics Recycling Day on Saturday, Feb. 7, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

The event will take place at the CSUSM campus at the corner of Twin Oaks and Craven Road in the City of San Marcos.

All electronic products such as computers, monitors, and televisions are welcome and any cell phones that are donated will benefit the charitable organization Cell Phones for Soldiers.

No large appliances such as refrigerators or hazardous waste will be accepted.

For more information, call 760-750-4502.

For questions regarding products you wish to dispose of, call 760-599-0888 or visit www.eworldrecyclers.com.

Although Valentine’s Day has typically been reserved for couples, Baja Betty’s invites all singles to its first annual “Speed Gay-ting” event.

The concept behind Speed Gay-ting is simple: half of the participants sit stationary while the other half rotate from table to table. Using a questionnaire and comment card, participants will spend three minutes getting to know each other before moving on. Much like speed dating, Speed Gay-ting is a fast, fun, and easy way to connect with people in the community you might not otherwise meet. Unlike speed dating, Speed Gay-ting is all about making new friends – not finding a date for Saturday night. If a connection is made and you decide to stay for dinner, Baja Betty’s will honor you and your “non-” significant other with a 15 percent discount on your check.

Space is limited, so sign up early. Those who pre-register will receive their first drink for $1 ($9 value). Registration on the day of the event will begin at 4:30 p.m. with Speed Gay-ting scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. There is no cost to participate.

Baja Betty’s is located at 1421 University Ave. in Hillcrest. For more information call 619-265-8510 or visit www.bajabettyssd.com.