March 2019

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.

Building relationships is the most valua-

ble thing I think of as I reflect on two years at

TMP. Getting to work with so many of the same

people while new faces flow in little by little, I

have accumulated many relationships through-

out the Clubhouse. I have colleague relation-

ships with people in my unit, friendly acquaint-

anceships with many in the other unit, workout

relationships with members who attend Abs

and Balance and Zumba, social relationships

with those who attend my social activities, and

team relationships with staff. I don’t know of

any other place in my life where there is so

much overlap among all these types of relationships.

In my experience, this immersive community where all kinds of relationships are built between all kinds of

people is unique to the Clubhouse. The coolest thing for me has been to watch relationships strengthen for the bet-

ter of the community. I have seen folks taking part in problem solving as a group when issues arise. I have ob-

served people bonding over collaborating to get a project done on time. I have found that a trust builds among the

community as familiar faces work together day to day. All these things are a byproduct of people working together

toward the common goal of supporting the Clubhouse community, and that is a community of which I feel

incredibly lucky to be part.

Relationships:

The Secret Ingredient to a

Successful Clubhouse by Caleigh

Caleigh on the day of her 2 Year Anniversary.

In several articles in this issue, we cover the important role relationship-building plays in our members’

Clubhouse experience and recovery goals. We have a story about a bond created through vocational support,

another about the encouraging atmosphere during last month’s annual 5K Walk/Run, and more articles about

the social value of team-oriented tasks during the Work-Ordered Day and benefits of exercising together.

Without working together and having opportunities to get to know our fellow colleagues, a Clubhouse In-

ternational-accredited Clubhouse would not run in a way that is beneficial to its members’ and the running of

the units. In short, it wouldn’t be a Clubhouse at all. We’re proud of the relationships we’ve developed at

The Meeting Place and we hope you enjoy our stories!

UNIT 2 Elise: The relationships I have formed at the Clubhouse

over the past few years has helped me with my recovery.

We are paired doing tasks at the Clubhouse, as well as

having social activities which are informal and promote get-

ting to know other members better.

Rob: I found that I have a lot in common with other members, and the cul-

ture of the Clubhouse is very conducive to forming lasting bonds.

Victor: I feel more relaxed as a result of the relationships I have formed at

the Clubhouse. Being here and with others keeps me from being preoccu-

pied with myself.

Building a Relationship Through

Vocational Support by Roger

SPOTLIGHT March

Birthdays

The Meeting Place News Volume 18 Issue 10

Welcome To Our Newest Members

Darryl & David C.

Dylan and staff member Chris have been able to build a

great support system through their joint effort to help Dylan start

his first job at Papa John’s. Chris and Dylan have built their rap-

port, from preparing for the job to training throughout the job

hour, to even working out together at the gym.

Chris began assisting Dylan with drafting a resume, work-

ing on a mock interview, and filling out online applications. Their

working together continued with the introduction of a potential job opening at Papa John’s, as a

Transitional Employment position. Because of schedule conflicts, the position was changed to Sup-

ported Employment.

During Dylan’s work (which started in January 2019) at Papa John’s, Chris has served as a

liaison between Dylan and his managers at Papa John’s. Further, Chris trained alongside Dylan during

the first couple of weeks. Dylan, now a couple months into the job, has been doing a great job ac-

cording to his managers.

Dylan has also been able to start going to the gym with Chris, further “cementing their sup-

port system,” Chris said.

Building Relationships in the Units...

UNIT 1 Denise: I think it’s very important for everyone in the club-

house to build some type of relationship. Without relation-

ships there’s no cohesiveness. As for myself, there are a

lot of members I consider family.

Steve: The tasks and activities create a bonding experience

that is very rewarding.

Jaki 6th

Caleigh 10th

Marie 12th

Steven C. 16th

Emilio 25th

Page 3

SCHOOL & EMPLOYMENT

Steve Got A Job! by Robert G.

Congratulations to Steve L. on his new

job! He has been hired to be a Guest Services

Representative for the San Diego Padres. Ever

since he was a kid, he wanted to work for a

baseball team. After ten years of being unem-

ployed, he can finally look forward to starting his

dream job.

Chris R. and Steve found a job posting in

the Job Room. Over a period of a few weeks,

they drafted a custom cover letter and resume for

the job. They worked on a mock interview as well.

This came in handy because the Sergeant Major

who interviewed him asked the same questions

Chris asked him in the mock interview.

“Getting support from the staff and working at the Clubhouse was a

very helpful experience,” Steve said. “The time I spent in Job Hour, Job Course, and the Employment Education

Members Dinners were essential to me preparing for employment.”

You’re going to do an excellent job, Steve!

Getting Support at TMP While

Still Working by Lee T.

TMP member Thom has worked for a year and a half

as a night auditor at a hotel. He balances his part-time work

with coming into the Clubhouse.

Thom says TMP has a relaxing atmosphere which

helps him de-stress. Attending the Clubhouse also helps him

with adding structure to his week. He especially likes the en-

couragement he gets from members and staff.

Because his job requires a great deal of customer ser-

vice and hospitality skills, the interactions with the diverse

people at the Clubhouse help him communicate with the dif-

ferent types of hotel guests he encounters at his job.

Thom says he loves everything about the job – except

the uniform. “It’s not fashionable enough for me,” says

Thom. Nevertheless, Thom gets to display his great sense of

style at the Clubhouse whenever he comes in.

Page 4

THE CLUBHOUSE

Together, The Clubhouse

Goes the Distance:

TMP’s 3rd 5K Walk/Run by Rob, Daphne, and Roger

From Left: Crossing the starting line; Mary and Erica taking in the view from the beautiful Downtown Harbor.

Our 3rd 5K Fun Run and Walk, originally

scheduled for Valentine’s Day, but postponed to

the following Friday due to rain, was held during

February because it was Americas Heart Health

Month. Twenty-four brave souls weathered the

harsh San Diego elements to do good for their

hearts (it was a cool, sunny day.)

The support and encouragement of other

members leading up to the 5K led many to train

and practice walking and running so they would

perform at their best. Some members did the fun

and healthy low-carb/ no refined sugar challenge

leading up to the 5K. Because the 5K was post-

poned many members doing the challenge contin-

ued the diet well beyond the 10 days originally

asked of them.

Alina said “I was so pleased that so many ran the 5K. It was exciting to have a running group who encour-

aged each other with laughs to finish the race.”

Page 5

HEALTH & WELLNESS TMP’s Keto Chicken BLT Salad

Makes 4 Servings

Net carbs: 2% (4 g)

Benefits of Working Out Together by Christina

Not only is it more fun to work out with someone else, it is great

to have some healthy competition. TMP’s fitness area allows for great

team workouts or personal workouts using equipment with fellow mem-

bers. You can have a good time doing a two-person exercise and chal-

lenge each other by upping reps.

When you don’t feel like going to the gym or going out for a jog,

having someone else with you can also just be motivating. If you can’t

afford a personal trainer, another person can be a great influence by

teaching you new workouts to

add to your regimen. Also,

there is less of a possible risk of

injury by pointing out flaws, which can lead to reaching your fitness goals

faster. Another person can be a good teacher. And remember there is

always room for improvement no matter what exercise you do. To sum it

up, working out with friends can boost your overall motivation, perfor-

mance and stamina. Working out with others also keeps the atmosphere

light so you can perform vigilantly. To lead a healthier life, combine both

regular exercise and hanging out with buddies!

In early February, TMP took on a 10-Day No Sugar/Low Carb Challenge. Many expe-

rienced weight loss and higher ketone levels. Because the diet proved successful for

those who committed, we’ve been continuing to have No Sugar/Low Carb lunches at

TMP. Here’s an example of a light, yet filling meal that won’t make you feel guilty.

Instructions

1. Whisk Garlic Aioli Dressing ingredients together.

2. Cook bacon until crispy and keep warm. 3. Slice grilled chicken in one inch cubes.

4. Rinse and shred the lettuce; be sure to use a clean cutting board and knife (different from the one used when handling the

raw chicken). Slice tomatoes in half. Place the lettuce on a plate and top with chicken, bacon, tomatoes, and a hearty dollop of garlic aioli. Enjoy!

Ingredients 1 lb boneless grilled chicken thighs 1 oz. butter

½ lb bacon 4 oz. cherry tomatoes

10 oz. Romaine lettuce

salt and pepper

Garlic Aioli Dressing Ingredients 1/2 cup olive oil 3 minced whole garlic cloves

1 large egg yolk, at room temperature 1/2 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

February’s Events by Erica, Alina, and Manda

Zoo-Themed Birthday For February’s birthday dinner, we had a roaring time

at our zoo-themed dinner. We kicked off the evening with an

animal guessing game during which we had a post-it on our

back and we had to guess the animal on the post it. It was

tricky but we all figured it out. Mary even dressed up as a

flamingo to get in the animal spirit. We had a delicious meal

that included options for those participating in the 10-Day No

Sugar/Low Carb Challenge. Erica said, “I had a great time cele-

brating my birthday month.”

Art Day What a blast we had making tile photos. Making

the tile photos was an all-day process. A few days before,

we each had to make a hard decision picking one or two

of our favorite photos to put on our wood tile. That day,

we painted our blocks, we cut and pasted our photos to

the blocks and finished with a beautiful gloss seal. These

blocks are perfect to hang around the house or to give as

a gift to a loved one. During the time we let our frames

and photos dry, we were making leather heart rings or

helping out with lunch. Emilio stepped up as a leader in

the kitchen, teaching a few members how to make the

perfect cauliflower pizza.

Manda’s Escape Room On Saturday, March 9th, seven members set sail for a

high seas adventure. They were in pursuit of Captain

Smith’s hidden treasure. They had to work together to look

for clues and solve puzzles. Sadly , they were not able to

find the treasure, but the journey itself was very exciting.

“I totally love it. I love puzzles like this. It gets my mind

going,” Denise W. reported.

Elise said, “It was very invigorating in a sense be-

cause it was so challenging. The team work was essential

to help solve the puzzles. It was a really great activity. I

would do it again.”

The Meeting Place News Volume 18 Issue 10

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

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

Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get

the latest updates on what’s happening at

The Meeting Place Clubhouse!

2553 State Street

San Diego, CA 92101

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

Email: themeetingplace@tmpclubhouse.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