December 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.

The Art of Giving:

2018 Homeless Outreach by Chris

The act of giving is a big part of the holiday season

at The Meeting Place. In November, a great deal of our

Work-Ordered Day was committed to putting together care

packages and distributing them to the homeless. The pro-

ject was truly a team effort which required reaching out to

local hotels for toiletry donations, meticulously piecing to-

gether our Pocketful of Hope mini suicide-prevention book-

lets, working together in an assembly line to fill bags with

hygienic products and snacks, and finally going out on No-

vember 16th to hand the care packages to individuals in

need in areas surrounding Downtown San Diego. Helping

ease the hardships of a few folks in the community by sharing basic, yet essential resources was a rewarding process

and it really showcased what the Clubhouse community can do when we work and plan together. “It was a lot of

hard work, but we got it done because it was a joint effort,” Caleigh said. Seeing the project from the beginning

planning stages all the way to passing out the very last bag reaffirmed her confidence in the generous and hardwork-

ing spirit of the The Meeting Place’s membership. “Everyone really came together to help make it possible.”

For a full list of companies who donated resources to our homeless outreach project and quotes

about the experience from members, turn to Page 3.

Navajo passing out a care package.

(L-R) Clubhouse members working together to stuff bags for the homeless; Emily passing out care packages to children in need;

Homeless individuals with their care packages outside of the Downtown Central Library

ROBERT B. from UNIT 1

I had an operation at Scripps Mercy Hospital in Hillcrest a few

years ago. I remember that the staff there were very nice. It oc-

curred to me that it would be very cool to work alongside people like

that. So, with the help of the staff at the Clubhouse, my dream be-

came a reality last month. It was the perfect job for me because you

have to connect positively with several dozen patients on a daily ba-

sis. It forces me to focus and be careful and to go on my rounds

slowly and not get in the way of the doctors and nurses. It’s easy,

stress-free work that is very valuable to my mental health recovery.

Since I’ve been drawing Social Security checks for many years, it makes

me feel good to give back to society. I feel like it’s a win-win situation for me.

Our Longest Tenured Volunteer, Leila! by Jaki

SPOTLIGHT

December

Birthdays

The Meeting Place News Volume 18 Issue 5

Welcome our Newest and Returning Members

Neiko, Fadi, Maya, Anthony. Gary, Dylan

Bob H. from UNIT 2

I have volunteered at Sharp Mesa Vista as a Peer Support Specialist

for 6 ½ years and at the Oak Park Library as a Computer Tutor for 18

years. At Sharp Mesa Vista my job involves talking to any patients

who need someone to talk to, going to several group meetings

throughout the day, and supervising the Tea Time, at which we serve tea and cook-

ies to the patients and staff. The Computer Tutor job at the library is just being

there at 9:30 (when the library opens) on Saturdays and tutoring anyone who

comes in on whatever they want to learn how to do on the computer. This usually

involves some question on how to do something on the Internet. I really get a lot

out of both volunteer jobs – it just feels good to help others.

Leila has been one of our volunteers for nearly two years—and

how the time flew! When not at the Clubhouse Leila freelances as a

reporter for local community newspapers.

Originally from Boston, Leila has been in San Diego for eight

years. A traveler, Leila has lived in Hong Kong for eight years. She also

spent her growing up years in Portugal and West Africa. When not

working or volunteering, Leila’s hobbies include walking, bike riding,

visiting museums, and her favorite place to go to is Sunset Cliffs, and

how it makes her feel free, at peace and close to nature.

Leila became a volunteer at the Clubhouse when she learned

about the TMP Clubhouse International model, which matched her

background in psychology and former job experience in counseling.

Leila likes how the collaborative environment of the Clubhouse supports members through their jour-

ney of healing. She is grateful for the opportunity to help in any capacity needed, and she appreci-

ates the openness and caring everyone has at the Clubhouse.

Giving Back By Volunteering: Two Stories

Suzy

6th

Sharron

9th

Ethan

12th

Chris R..

13th

Elsa

21st

Heidi

30th

Shana

31st

Page 3

SCHOOL & EMPLOYMENT

Navigating the Online Job Application World by Jason

The world of job searching has changed dramatically as the Internet has quickly become an essential tool in

our everyday lives. Getting a job is no longer as simple as printing out a resume and shopping it around to employers.

This month in our EEMD class, we covered the in and outs of navigating the online job application world, including tips

for making your application materials stand out in modern job screening software that many companies now employ.

Here some suggestions we covered for getting the most visibility out of your online application:

Make sure you have a working email: Having a working email address and knowing how to use tools like

sending attachments is a must in modern job searching. Many if not all online applications require an email

address, as this is how many recruiters interact with potential job candidates. The email address should be

professional in nature, free of nick names or slang.

Create an original cover letter. If the company asks for a cover letter, be sure to include one. Make sure to

write one specific to your accomplishments and skills and one that addresses the job description properly.

Identify key words and tailor your resume. Take your time and look over your resume. Find the key words in

the job description and make sure you indicate how your accomplishments address those requirements.

Make sure your responses are error free. With paper applications, poorly written submissions can be thrown

away but digital documents lives on at that company, potentially hurting your chances for a relationship with

the employer in the future as well.

Maintain one candidate profile per company. Once you apply to a company, that organization saves your

personal information. While you should tailor your resume and cover letter for each job submission, maintain

one master profile for all of your applications for that company

Fill out all fields within the application process. By filling out every field, you are not just giving information

that could make you stand out from the competition, but also demonstrating your interest and desire for the

job

Clean up your public social media

profile. A technology-savvy hiring com-

pany is more likely to take an active in-

terest in your social media profile post-

ings. Make sure you don't have public

images or content that would distract, or

worse yet, deter hiring managers or re-

cruiters from wanting to hire you.

Review all the information you import-

ed before submitting. Before hitting

the submit button, take a final glance at

the content you have provided. Keep in

mind that once you hit that button, your

information is sent to the recruiter di-

rectly.

Page 4

THE CLUBHOUSE

Steve: “Giving care bags to the homeless was a rewarding

experience. You’re connecting with people and you’re helping them.

I’ve been homeless before, and it’s hard because you have no run-

ning water, no electricity, so trying to maintain basic hygiene is a

constant struggle. Knowing that I made a difference means a lot to

me. Next time I join the TMP homeless outreach effort, I’d like to

take double the amount of care bags we took this year.”

Katherine: “It was nice to do something constructive for the

homeless, because you can’t always give them money, but you can

invest some of your time when the opportunity arises. I remember

when I was struggling, it was the little things that helped me

through.”

Erica: “I was part of the group that went to Imperial Ave

and the Chicano Park area. We had 96 care packages, which we dis-

tributed in less than 15 minutes. The demand for them was so high!

It was great to be part of this wonderful project. ”

Alina’s Return by Roger

We are excited to have Alina back at The Meeting Place as a part-time

generalist in Unit 2. Alina worked here for 2 years and was away for about a

year and a half. In the time between, Alina has worked different jobs. What

brought her back was an interest in helping out the Clubhouse and enjoying

supporting members with their recovery. Seeing TMP members make progress

with mental health through health and wellness and goal-setting was a fulfilling

experience and she couldn’t wait to return to continue with her familiar dimpled

-smile in tow.

Alina: “I was thrilled to accept the position to come back to TMP. I can’t

wait to expand my skills and knowledge working side by side with everyone

here at the Clubhouse.”

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS!

• Hilton Garden Inn Old Town/Sea World Area • La Quinta Inn & Suites San Diego Old Town • Kimpton Hotel Palomar San Diego • Courtyard by Marriott San Diego Downtown • Holiday Inn Express Old Town • Super Awesome Showdown

The Art of Giving: 2018 Homeless Outreach (cont.)

Page 5

HEALTH & WELLNESS Striving to Make the TMP Café

More Healthy by Manda

Sugar adds calories to your diet while displacing more

nutritious food, leading to weight gain, obesity and diabetes.

It may cause inflammation, an increase in triglycerides, and

an increase in blood pressure. All of these factors can lead

to an increased risk for heart disease. But don’t forget it may

also cause acne, an increase in depression, increase your risk

for cancer, and may accelerate the skin aging process. So

why are we still eating and drinking it?

We have been discussing the dangers of sugar in

WOW but still selling sugary beverages and snacks in the

café. It just didn’t make sense for a Clubhouse who

strives to be health conscious to continue to sell these items and to hand them out dur-

ing food distribution. So, at community meeting on November 7th, Sharron suggested,

with all we know about sugar, why not come up with some healthier alternatives in the

café. We agreed to no longer purchase sodas. Also we will no longer be making or

selling cookies, cakes or other sugary pastries. Instead, we have replaced these items

with fruit, cheese, meat and nut plates. We are trying out some carbonated water

based beverages, like La Croix and Perrier. Some members are still skeptical. Bob R.

described the decision to eliminate sugar as “high-handed, [and] autocratic.” Others

are willing to make sacrifices for their health. “I like it,” says Jack S. He believes re-

moving sugar from the café and food distribution will help him achieve his health goal.

Setting My New WHAM Goal by Marie

I really enjoy the WHAM classes on Wednesdays with Manda. I’ve learned a

lot about setting whole health goals and its benefits to our overall health. She pro-

vides us with reading material and we discuss a topic for each week. With that is

also a question and answer paper which we complete during the class related to

that specific topic.

Today we set a whole health and resiliency goal and mine was to increase

my physical activity by walking 3-4 times a week for an hour. The goal must be

measurable. We discussed why, what and when and the steps we need to take to

achieve this specific goal and its potential benefits. An 8-week time period is rec-

ommended to coincide with WHAM group meetings. If you want to improve the

quality of your life and live a longer healthier life, go to WHAM.

Haircuts, Facemasks, and Manicures at

TMP Courtesy of Remy and Mary by George & Chris

On November 17th, The Meeting Place was lucky enough to have

Mary’s mother, Remy, come in once again to give haircuts to a few of our

members. As usual, she did a wonderful job. Remy has offered her time and

expertise for several years and it’s always a pleasure being under such a tal-

ented woman’s care. “Remy is very nice and I always look forward to getting

a haircut from her. It’s really a bargain too! Nothing beats free. She always

does a quality job on me,”

George said.

Mary was also available

for face masks and manicures.

Remy and Mary make a great

mother and daughter makeo-

ver team. “I was so happy to

help rejuvenate my fellow

members with facials and manicures. It’s really fun,” Mary said.

Thank you so much for giving your time to make us look and feel

beautiful, Remy and Mary!

The Meeting Place News Volume 18 Issue 5

SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

Thanksgiving by Jaki

Thursday, November 22nd was a “family” Thanksgiving

at The Meeting Place.. Although the families are not biological,

the warmth, kindness and support each give each other at the

Clubhouse was especially evident during the holiday Brunch.

However, there was a bit of good-spirited competitiveness. Not

nearly as much as the Apples to Apples game in one Unit, but

the traditional Thanksgiving Day Football playing in the other.

Everyone was a good sport no matter what the outcome of

their team’s game.

Our terrific host, and chef, was Jason, who worked in the

kitchen with his Sous Chefs, his lovely wife Laurel, and two of our

wonderful board members, Cynthia and Harriet. The Turkey was

carved by Mark, Cynthia’s husband, which has become a yearly

tradition.

The meal was served in a beautifully decorated dining

room and was a feast. We had turkey, dressing, mashed pota-

toes, gravy, fresh cranberries, a green bean casserole, sweet po-

tatoes and a roll. The desserts included pumpkin pie, pecan pie,

apple crumble and cranberry crumble, and, there was home-made

whipped cream. Thanksgiving at TMP was once again a big suc-

cess. It was truly a family-like gathering.

Remy giving Phil’s beard a trim.

Mary working on giving Steven C. a facial.

Helping out in the kitchen on Thanksgiving morning.

Enjoying Thanksgiving brunch at TMP.

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@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