The Meeting Place Clubhouse:

A Welcoming Community By Chris

TMP colleagues take pride in creating an atmosphere

where members feel welcomed. In establishing a

community that strives to be inclusive, members who are in

recovery from mental illness can work toward realizing their

strengths and building confidence.

During our August Teambuilding Picnic in Balboa

Park, we talked about why members continue to come in

regularly to the Clubhouse even though attendance is volun-

tary. Caleigh read excerpts from an essay written by Tom

Sweet called Stigma Within the Clubhouse Community, but

more specifically from a section in the essay entitled

“Engaging and Attracting Attitudes: A Contribution We All

Can Make.” She had previously studied the text while at her 2

week Clubhouse International Training in South Carolina. After it was read aloud, the essay started a fruitful con-

versation about the importance of maintaining a welcoming environment at TMP, not only from saying “hello”, but

from taking an extra step and starting a conversation to really get to know other folks in the Clubhouse. “All of us

can and must treat ourselves and others with honesty, respect, decency and warmth,” the essay states. “This, not

the specific roles we perform, is what creates the essence of the healing Clubhouse community.”

The importance of a welcoming Clubhouse com-

munity has not been taken for granted at TMP. For

example, Visitors-in-Progress rely on their first impres-

sions to decide whether or not they want to go forward

with membership. According to Julia, who had just

completed her V.I.P. orientation, “The Meeting Place is

becoming my home away from home. When I’m not

caring for my mom, I find myself increasingly drawn

here. Not only have the members warmly welcomed me

and look to get to know me, but the staff has been

amazingly patient and helpful. I get to be a part of

something larger than myself at the Meeting Place.”

September 2018

The Meeting Place Clubhouse Funded by: San Diego County HHSA

The Meeting Place is open Monday thru Friday 8:00 am until 4:00 pm with Introductory Tours Mon., Tues., Thur., & Fri. at 9:30 am and 1:30 pm.

Our Unit Meetings are held at 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. Check out our monthly calendar for mid-week and weekend recreational activities.

Caleigh leading a discussion after presenting excerpts

from the essay “Engaging and Attracting Attitudes”

Jaki (right) creating a welcoming first impression at the front desk

Unit 2 enjoyed spending August making decorations

for the birthday dinner. Members spent time looking up

things about Michael Jackson, August Birthday Dinner’s

theme. We came up with décor for the dining room and reci-

pes for the dinner.

Manda, our new staff member, started working in Unit 2. Caleigh and

members from the unit have been training her. She has been working on

important tasks such as stats and the daily slide show.

There was some concern about making the Unit 2 work table less cluttered. Jaki has

been tending the table lately and we’re very appreciative. We also made plenty of birthday cards in August.

A whopping 8 colleagues had their birthdays during the month. Wow, what a month!

Unit 1 Update by Robert G.

SPOTLIGHT

September

Birthdays

The Meeting Place News Volume 18 Issue 3

Welcome our Newest and Returning Members

Mark, Julia, Ethan, Yesenia, Thomas, & Danny B.

Let’s Get to Know Mark! by Jaki

Unit 2 Update by Jaki

Mark Youngblood is our newest Clubhouse member. He hails

from San Diego and claims to have been a real wild child in his

youth. He finds being at the Clubhouse keeps him busy and out of

trouble. His attendance also allows him to meet new people and

learn essential life and job skills. Adding to that, he finds great unity

at TMP.

His mother was an immigrant from Philippines and his father,

who was in the military, was stationed in San Diego. The family en-

joyed the city so much, they decided to stay. His father passed

away when Mark was only twelve, which led to depression.

Mark’s hobbies include skateboarding, reading, drawing and doing research. He also

finds music very relaxing. We’re happy to have such an enthusiastic young man at

the Clubhouse. Welcome, Mark!

Unit 1 had an eventful August. Our peer specialist, Jason

returned and we appreciate his knowledge in Unit 1 tasks and

genuine concern for the Clubhouse. With his help, the newscast

has become a more member-led task. Jeff has taken on the writ-

ing and editing part of the production. I’ve become more involved

with the camera and production. We’ve also involved Unit 2 more

in front of the camera and they’ve been great.

Unit 1 also is continuing to get more folks trained on

making the caffeinated and non-caffeinated beverages on the

café’s new drink menu. We’re very proud of our café crew and

thank them for helping pick up the energy in our Clubhouse.

Denise

1st

Roger

8th

Charlie

13th

Emily

15th

Jovi

17th

Lindsey

17th

Roby

25th

Elise

26th

Rick

29th

Page 3

SCHOOL & EMPLOYMENT

Life as a Phlebotomy Student by Roger

Recently, I have been working toward a phlebotomy certifi-

cate at Vista Adult School. While the coursework has been very

challenging, the information I have learned is very rewarding. Also,

my time in the Clubhouse, especially in Unit 2, has helped to build

my capacity to take on longer hours of schoolwork.

Most of the information I have learned so far focuses in on

the basics of the healthcare field, but eventually I will be trained on

the blood drawing technique that comprises phlebotomy. This se-

mester I will be taking “Medical Terminology” and “Anatomy and

Physiology”, with one of the classes being online and the other,

classroom-based. I will have a heavier course load than last semes-

ter as I am taking one more class; however, I imagine I will be able to do well because of the better work ethic I

have from coming to The Meeting Place often.

Once I complete the curriculum track, I will take the certification test for phlebotomy, and hopefully, draw

blood at a health center.

Members Take Advantage of Art Enrichment Classes by Lee

There are many options for Clubhouse members to benefit through self-enrichment classes offered in San

Diego. These courses are an alternative to degree and general education courses and often are free.

Long-time member, Alan Brue, is taking a pass/no pass class in composition and painting at City College.

“I’ve only worked in water color and a very little acrylic, never in oil,” said Alan. He is proud of an acrylic painting

of a mermaid he did on wood. “I like to be around people when I paint; its boring and dark in my condo.”

“He is the first one we ask when we do chalk wall drawings in the TMP Café,” according to Chris. Alan’s

favorite museum is the Legion of Honor in San Francisco where he enjoys the Rodin sculptures. He has done

sculpture as well and his Shamu was mass produced with one

thousand copies.

The painting course is free, but there is a fee for

materials.

Mary Clarke is also continuing her education in painting

and is starting her third year at the Mission Valley Library this

month. The course, Japanese watercolor, is free but she pays

for materials which are cheaper than acrylic and oils. She

paints flowers, fish and plants using the correct brush strokes

she has learned in the class. “Its really fun and therapeutic,”

said Mary. “It’s a good time.” Mary has distinguished herself

with two second place ribbons for her Japanese watercolor

paintings at the San Diego County Fair, winning with a flower

in 2016 and a geisha in 2017.

Check with Chris to find about self-enrichment classes

of interest to you.

Pro-Wrestler Manda Joins

Clubhouse Staff by Lee

Manda O. has joined TMP as a Staff Generalist. “She’s

our first professional wrestler,” commented Sharron. “We are

the only Clubhouse with a wrestler on staff.” It is rumored that

Jason and Chris have challenged her to a match. “Hopefully her

pro wrestling skills aren’t as good as her generalist skills be-

cause she is whooping butt in Unit 2,” exclaimed Chris.

Manda’s wrestling “gimmicks” or characters include

MantaRay, a half human, half manta ray hybrid created in his

lab by Dr. Hostyle. She escaped, and the other wrestlers are

trying to bring her back. Hilda Wildschwein is her other gim-

mick. A burly punk bouncer from Austria by way of New York,

she is a former Galactic Co-Champion.

“Our show, Super Awesome Showdown, is different, fantasy based with things like outer space and time trav-

el,” Manda said. She is also a filmmaker and is part of a team competing in the San Diego Film Consortium’s 15-

minute horror video competition.

Manda is a San Diego native, studied psychology at NYU and spent 10 years in New York. Building on her

degree and family experience with mental health issues, Manda has always wanted work in behavioral health.

She got into wrestling by way of performing in a circus where she did puppetry. Manda also has been a gardener

since elementary school and this year she has squash, melons, beets and green beans – lots of green beans – in her

garden. An amateur chef, she says that it is rewarding to grow your own food.

You’ll have to wait until January to see Manda in action with Super Awesome at the Tengo del Rey in Pacific

Beach, but you can come in now and meet her. She looks forward to beating, um, meeting you.

Page 4

THE CLUBHOUSE

At the beginning of August, the Clubhouse hosted an ice cream social after

sending invitations to inactive members who we haven’t seen in the last year. We

also celebrated Lindsey’s last full-time day at The Meeting Place as Program Super-

visor. Although we were sad to see her go, the Clubhouse is looking forward to

seeing her again when she comes back in to help with special projects.

During the party, we

were also glad to see folks we

haven’t seen in a while like Ste-

ve M. and Elio. Seeing them re-

ally brought home the idea that

once you’re member, you’re al-

ways a member! As expected,

the ice cream was a hit. At-

tendees had the chance to choose from a wide variety of top-

pings for their scoops of either vanilla or peanut butter ice

cream. What a day!

New generalist Manda and her alter ego, Hilda.

Ice Cream Social and Lindsey’s Last Full Time Day by Chris

Page 5

HEALTH & WELLNESS

How to Do a Proper Squat at TMP by Natalie & Steve L.

Health Benefits from Decluttering by Mariah and Christina

(A) (B)

Have you ever thought you need to declutter and organize your life? This happens when we collect too

much stuff. It causes chaos and can negatively impact our environment and well-being. During one Wellness on

Wednesday in August, we discussed the mental health benefits of decluttering. If, in the past, your mother told

you to clean your room or your teachers told you to straighten your desk, science can now back this up. Re-

search shows that clutter affects your brain’s ability to concentrate and process information. In fact, the

amount of stress you experience at home can be proportional to the amount of stuff you have accumulated.

Clutter frustrates you, makes you lose things and waste time. This is one of the many reasons members

and staff in the Clubhouse work tirelessly to keep our Units and work spaces free of clutter and unnecessary

items. A common source of clutter can be too many clothes. A good rule of thumb is to get rid of what you

haven’t worn in 2 years, or that you’ve had for 5. It’s a good idea to get rid of things that you do not use or if

you have too much of the same thing. Look for products that have been long outdated, even magazines. It is a

sign you have too much stuff when things pile up, you shove things under your bed or hide them away.

You will see changes in yourself getting rid of the old and onto the new. Practice purchasing things more

mindfully and stop wasting money on things you do not need. Surround yourself with things you love and have

a happier outlook by keeping your favorite items close. Keep things clean and tidy with the mentality of every-

thing having a place. You will detach from material possessions and place more importance on other things in

your life. This can reduce anxiety and improve sleep, productivity and creativity. If you want more tips on

keeping your surroundings neat and orderly, we have handouts from our W.O.W. meeting!

For the past few years, our post-Unit Meeting routine is to do twenty five squats. Not only does the rou-tine help keep us in shape, it also gives us a natural kick of energy before we take on our tasks. Here are a few of the benefits of doing daily squats and an overview on how to do them properly. Benefits * Builds muscle

* Burns fat

* Helps maintain mobility

* Helps maintain balance

* Boosts performance

* Prevents injuries

* Strengthens your core

* Strengthens your joints

* Can be done anywhere

Standing Position (A) 1. Look straight ahead 2. Keep your back straight 3. Put each foot shoulder-width apart

Squatting Position (B) 4. Keep your arms straight in front of you to maintain bal-ance 5. Bend your knees up to 90 degrees. They should not go passed your knees and not point inwards. 6. Your heels should not leave the floor.

Summer Pool Party at Roger’s House by Robert G.

On Saturday, August 25th, we had a most excellent party at Roger’s family home in Rancho Santa Fe.

Roger and his mother, Irene, welcomed members to a great get together around their pool and even served

lunch. Luck was with us as there was a cool breeze and it wasn’t too hot. We played Cornhole, a bean bag

tossing game and the winning team won Starbucks gift cards. We also played a rousing game of Uno. There

was a choice between home-grilled cheese burgers and

chicken-kabobs. Both were very good. There was also a

huge bowl of home-made guacamole. Then, of course,

many opted to go in the pool. The Jacuzzi was used by

about half a dozen members! For the land-lovers, there

were plenty of chairs and shade. The conversation was

lively. Irene was a delightful hostess. There was also a

tour of the very clean and spacious house. After dinner

there was this killer chocolate-chocolate cake with large

chocolate flakes on it! Navajo had difficulty finishing her

slice and mentioned hitting “The Chocolate Wall”. After-

wards, Roger said that the party went very well. He en-

joyed grilling the food, playing Cornhole, and enjoying

time in the pool with his Clubhouse colleagues. Muchas

gracias to the Lowe family!

The Meeting Place News Volume 18 Issue 3

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Michael Jackson Birthday Dinner by Jaki

The August Birthday Dinner theme was “Michael Jack-

son”. The party was a “Thriller” and everyone in attendance

felt the vibe. The decorations were definitely appropriate for

the party. Caleigh dazzled us with her

dancing rendition of the choreography

from the zombie scene in the famous

Thriller video. She did an excellent job

and we are still amazed by her dancing

skills. Michael Jackson’s favorite food,

believe it or not, was Kentucky Fried

Chicken. Accordingly, our wonderful cus-

tomized meal would have been fit for a

King of Pop: Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough Chicken, Billie Jean Green Beans, Bub-

bles Biscuits, Orange Smoothie Criminal, and a Jackson 5 Layer Chocolate and Strawber-

ry Cake.

Birthday Dinners are such special events for TMP. Members who don’t usually

get a chance to spend time with others on their birthdays get to celebrate amongst their

friends and colleagues at TMP. Please join us later in September when the birthday

party theme will be “Country Western.”

Page 7

Trader Joe’s and Sprouts Gift Cards

for our healthy, organic meals

Monetary donations

Individual Hand Sanitizers

Gas Gift Cards

Transitional Employment Leads

Here is my gift to help The Meeting Place Clubhouse

$10 $25 $50 $75 $100 Other $_______

Your generous donation will go toward the growth and advancement of

The Meeting Place Clubhouse, Inc., as one of the leading Mental Health Recovery Programs in

San Diego County.

I would like to receive The Meeting Place Clubhouse monthly Newsletter

Name: ________ Thank you

for

E-mail: ________ your gift!

YES! I WANT TO SUPPORT THE MEETING PLACE CLUBHOUSE

ODDS & ENDS

WARMLINE Peer to Peer

Funded by the County of San Diego

HHSA

1 (800) 930-9276

Or

1 (619) 295-1055

What is The Warmline?

The Warmline is a friendly

telephone support line, answered by

Peer Support Specialists. We listen to

concerns, offer referrals and provide

understanding because we have been

there, done that.

The Warmline is a non-crisis,

non-emergency phone service.

The Warm-line is in operation from 3:30 P.M. to

11:00 P.M., 7 days a week (except holidays).

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words The Meeting Place Wish List

2553 State Street

San Diego, CA 92101

Phone: 619-294-9582 Fax: 619-294-9588

Email: themeetingplace@mhsinc.org Website: www.themeetingplaceinc.org

WHAT WE GUARANTEE

A PLACE TO COME

The Meeting Place is open to any adult age 18 or older with a diagnosed mental health disorder who resides within the county of San Diego. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.. We also offer evening and weekend activities for fun and

relaxation. Individuals who participate in our Clubhouse are called members.

MEANINGFUL WORK

At The Meeting Place, we believe everyone has something to contribute. Members and staff work side by side to facilitate the day-to-

day operations of the clubhouse and perform numerous tasks to ensure smooth operation of the program.

Examples of tasks performed by members include: answering phones, preparing breakfast and lunch, gardening, typing, filing,

entering data and maintaining records, tutoring, mentoring, writing, and coordinating the publication of the monthly newsletter,

The Meeting Place News, and everything that goes into creating our daily in-house newscast, KTMP Daily News.

MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS

Through the shared work of the clubhouse, meaningful relationships are developed between members and staff. But it’s not all work at

The Meeting Place! Membership has its privileges. These include outings to local restaurants, plays, tourist attractions, and other

special activities.

Members and staff celebrate holidays, birthdays and achievements together. The Meeting Place is a place to come when you’re happy

or when you’re sad—you’re always welcome and you’re always among friends.

A PLACE TO RETURN TO

Membership is for life. No matter how long you’ve been gone, you can always come back home. Returning members are welcomed and they are immediately returned to active status if they request it.

The First Clubhouse International Accredited Clubhouse in California

Recipient of the San Diego Mental Health Director’s Program of the Year Award

and Lilly Reintegration Award