Our Opportunity

On Tuesday, January 27th, I along with two other Clubhouse members were given a wonderful opportunity. We were invited to the BJC monthly agency meeting. We talked about NAMI (The National Alliance of Mental Illness) and some of the positive events we at Clubhouse have been able to to take part in. This presentation involved NAMI. We discussed the NAMI facilitator training that was offered this past August. Being able to take part in that training both challenged and insprired those of us who took it. Being able to reach out and be of help and emotional support to our peers has been a very good experience. We also talked about the NAMI conferences that myself and others from Clubhouse have been able to attend. We talked about keeping a positive mental outlook, taking our medications regularly, advocating for ourselves, and how being a part of NAMI forms bonds. We told workers about the monthly NAMI meeting which is held the second Thursday of every month. We are hoping this will inspire BJC workers to inform their clients to reach out to NAMI and Clubhouse.
Letitia D

How Clubhouse Effects Me

What can I say about Clubhouse? There is interaction of activities of arts and crafts, snack shack, and kitchen. There are many people of diversity that help keep Clubhouse interesting. Clubhouse helps me toward self-acctualization through participation in work units and the group helps pass the day.
Bill T

CHANGES

Along with all the new changes at Clubhouse for our goal for accreditation are many changes. The one change I am concerned with is our craft classes. We used to have two or three days a week at Clubhouse during the work ordered day as part of the Art work unit. Now since we are doing the work ordered day we cannot do crafts during the day.
We have had several craft groups in the evenings, during our Evening Weekend and Holiday program. We have had several groups in attendance. We did a lot of Christmas crafts with beads, made necklaces our of polymer clay, made Christmaas wreaths, and small Christmas trees.The okans are to have at least two craft evenings every month. Everyone seemed to really enjoy making the crafts. There was a lot of laughter and questions about what we were going to do next time. Along with the craft evenings we ahve had other activities we have had. The pot luck dinner went so well the food was wonderful and everyone had such a good time. We also has a New Year's Eve party and toasted the New Year with sparkling cider and sparkling grape juice. Everyone had a great time dancing the evening away.
We have plans for more evening and weekend activities. We have a karaoke and pizza evening event plannd and we have had a movie and dinner night for a long time. New ideas for future evening or weekend activities are always welcome. Come and see what we are doing and maybe you will just find out that you are havinf a great time. Fun and food? What more could you ask for? We may have to do our art classes in the evenings also, the accreditation process is going into effect a little at a time and we will just have to wait until the process has been fully implemented to know what direction the art class will have to take. Everybody will have to adjust to all of the new changes. Who knows they may even be better than what we were already doing/
Betty W

What Clubhouse is to Me.

C is for the caring environment Clubhouse gives to me.
L is for the lonely times that happen less and less when I am here.
U is for the understanding that is given, even if I am being a little dramatic.
B is for the best staff members I could ever ask for.
H is for the healing that Clubhouse has helped me accomplish.
O is for overcoming obstacles that I might not have if it weren’t for Clubhouse.
U is for the utmost respect that staff members have, not just for me, but all of us.
S is for the simple smiles or hello's that lift my spirit when I need it most.
E is for EVERYONE here at Clubhouse that makes my life complete.
by:Lisa C

Pot Luck & a Movie

On Saturday, January 10th, the friends in action club house for our very first potluck and movie event. The movie was great! Some of us were sitting on the edge of our seats. I think the food selection was just as good if not better than some of the buffets we’ve been to. It gave some of us club house members a chance to share some of their favorite recipies. Chicken and dumplings, broccoli and onion corn bread, beef stew, and black berry cobbler, were just a few of the choices on the menu. The movie was action packed and not one single person fell asleep. The idea was the brainchild of one of our beloved club house staff, mike. I along with other FIA members hope that poluck and a movie, become a regular event aton the Clubhouse calendar.
-Written by Latitia D.

Clubhouse by Ed

I try to come to the Clubhouse every Wednesday to feel accepted by those who are like me. It is good because people believe in me and trust me. I can show my respect for others here. It helps me to believe in myself. I think the change is better and there are people who still need to get used to the Clubhouse Model. Being able to work here helps us build our self-esteem and build relationships. At the end of the day here I am better than sitting at home alone. I gain more confidence and a better mood by attending Clubhouse. It is easier to come to Clubhouse now than the Clubhouse Model took place I am looking forward to growing into a new facility and meeting new members. This is a place where we can belong. I encourage anyone reading this to join us and keep coming to Clubhouse. Give us a chance, you WILL definitely like it.

Average Day at Club House by Matthew Queen

My name is Matthew I like club house because it provides an alternative to staying at home all the time. I come to club house to build a sort of daily routine, and to read books. I help out with various tasks at club house when I can. Today was pretty much your average day at club house. I have friends here at club house, which is good. When I first arrived today they were having their morning meeting. I helped out with a few things at club house today. I enjoy coming to club house and plan to keep coming more often than I used too.

What does the clubhouse mean to me?

Where would I be without the clubhouse? My life was a big mess before the clubhouse. I came from an abusive relationship mentally, and physically. I became homeless and was newly diagnosed with manic depression and anxiety. To deal with the pain I would like to burn myself and socially isolate myself. Now, since I been at the clubhouse, I haven’t burned myself for four months, I am happy and I can’t seem to stop talking to people, I got my Medicaid and currently working on my GED and independent living classes. So, the clubhouse saved my life and is a blessing.

Jasmine D

New Years

The Friends in Action Clubhouse gathered together on the evening of Tuesday 12-30-14 to celebrate the end of 2014 and look forward to our plans, hopes and dreams for 2015. It was a chance for the clubhouse members and staff to talk about both the ups and downs of the past year and look forward to all of the things we will strive to improve in 2015. The music was wonderful and was provided by our own personal DJ, Mike. The food was delicious. Most of us got up and danced at least once or twice to the music from the 80’s up until now. Everyone at the clubhouse is an important part of the FIA family and Tuesday night was a wonderful opportunity for all of us to reminisce about the past and have a good laugh and a good meal at the same time. I look forward to being a part of all that friends in action has to offer in the New Year. In turn I want to share all I have to offer of my time and talents to FIA. I can’t imagine what I would do without my Friends in Action family.


Letitia D

Christmas at Club House by Jack McDowell

We arrived at Colton’s and had our way to our tables with no waiting. We had peanuts to eat while waiting for our food. Mine was steak cookeed to medium rare and was cooked exactly like I wanted. We did drink seconds of tea, because we all were thirsty. We became a hub-bub of talking. We also had a party at the club house gifts must be five to ten dollars. We took turns and I lost my ten dollar walmart card and got old spice set T.S. is the one who robbed me of it and I had taken the walmart card from nathan our party was a happy success.