The Clubhouse Haverhill Clubhouse Connection · This worksheet will help you to identify examples of coping thoughts that you may already be using, or could start to use in your life.

March 2015

Haverhill

Clubhouse The Clubhouse

Connection March Birthdays

Barry M. 3/6

Anthony M. 3/7

Louis P. 3/10

Karen D. 3/19

Mark B. 3/23

Little Jenn 3/24

Stephen M. 3/29

Michael S. 3/29

“Thank you for welcoming me so warmly to

your Clubhouse family! I’m so excited to get to know

everyone better, and to make some great things

happen! I graduated from Lesley University last

spring, and I have a little experience in the human

service field from my internships. However, I’m look-

ing forward to learning even more everyday from

both staff and members here.

“In my free time, I love being with friends and

family. I also love music and art, and I try to create

something everyday. I am often listening to music

and drawing or painting to wind down or express my-

self. I really hope to bring these relaxing and expres-

sive techniques to anyone who is interested in ex-

ploring their creativity. I think anyone can make art,

in any medium, any where and any time! Art and

creation is about the process, not the product, so

let’s make a mess and have some fun!!!”

-Taylor

Meet our new CASR unit staff, Taylor!

Page 2 The Clubhouse Connection

“Cold Weather and Health Conditions, Plus the Winter Blues”

By Gena S.

Anyone with arthritis or bone disorders know it is difficult to start your

day in this bitter cold weather. Although we do no want to stay cooped

up in bed or home/community housing either, this goes for lung disor-

ders too, although that’s mostly in the summer days when its hot and

humid. Seeing all this snow can cause the winter blues...On top of the

coldness you just find it hard to move. I think of all the homeless cats,

dogs and animals and say what can we do for them. Me and my

mother shelter them with a dog house filled with straw and feed them

several times including warm water throughout the day.

Education Update

A few members took a trip to NECC to learn more about the school. If

you would like to check out the campus and learn more about NECC, please

see Lisa.

We would like to congratulate Christina D. who now is a certified

CNA. Way to go Christina!!

Are you connected with MRC (Mass Rehab Coalition)? They help adults

with mental illness find jobs, trainings and assist with education. If you are al-

ready involved with MRC, please see Lisa so that we can coordinate with

MRC. If you would like more information or want to be involved with them,

please see Lisa.

Page 3

Valentines Day Parties PAC

Valentines Day Dance

Haverhill Clubhouse

Valentines Day Party

Below and next page


Page 5

Activities Update We have been on some great activities lately. We go out to restaurants, shopping,

the movies, and we have our monthly bowling league. We are always looking for new

ideas. Please see Taylor with ideas and join us at our activities planning meetings on the

first and third Tuesdays of the month at 11:00 in the CASR unit. Join your fellow mem-

bers for a good time!

On Tuesday, March 17th we will be having a St. Patrick’s Day Party from 11:00

AM to 3:00 PM. Join us for a traditional Irish boiled meal of corned beef, cabbage, music

and more! Even though the snow is still outside, we will have a spring time feel inside

with our decorations!

____ Take a deep breath and relax.

____ Getting upset won’t help.

____ Just as long as I keep my cool, I’m in control.

____ Easy does it – there’s nothing to be gained by

getting mad.

____ Maybe this is a good time to take a break and

drink some cold water.

____ Relax and let go – there’s no need to get upset.

____ Stay calm – No sarcasm, no attacks

____ No one is right, no one is wrong – we just have

different needs.

____ Stay cool – don’t make any judgments.

____ I can stay calm and relaxed.

____ I’ll just watch them getting all upset – I

can keep my cool.

____ It is just not worth it to get so angry.

____ This is just a hassle. I can deal with has-

sles.

____ I got angry, but kept the lid on saying

mean things – that’s progress.

____ I can manage this; I’m in control.

____ If they want me to get angry, I’m going to

disappoint them.

____ I don’t have to take this so seriously.

People can learn to reduce the use of anger by substituting positive coping thoughts for some of the inflamma-

tory negative thoughts that increase anger. This worksheet will help you to identify examples of coping

thoughts that you may already be using, or could start to use in your life. Check off the thoughts you find

helpful or use already, and use the space available to write down some of your own coping thoughts.

____ Their opinion isn’t impor-

tant – I won’t be pushed into

losing my cool.

____ Bottom line – I’m in con-

trol. I can just leave if I need to

do so.

____ My anger means it is time

for me to relax and cope.

____ People just don’t agree

sometimes – it doesn’t mean I

have to get upset.

____ No matter what other peo-

ple say, I know I’m a good per-

son.

Positive Coping Thoughts


Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3

Paper Mache

4 5

Food

Shopping

Westgate

6 7

Tuckaway

Tavern And

Epping

Shopping

8 9 10

Closed @

5:00pm

11

Bowling

12

Mystery Ride

13

14

Movies and

Games

15 16 17

St Patrick’s

Day Party

18 19

Plaistow

Shops

20 21

Burlington

Mall

22 23 24

Casa Blanca

25 26

Chunky's Mov-

ies

27 28

Hangout and

Games

29 30 31

Art Project

March 2015 Activities

Young Adult Corner 18-29yrs old

Page 7

The young adults have sent out letters to local businesses to obtain dona-

tions to various places. We meet on Thursdays at 1:00 PM. Please join us to work

with peers and learn about ways to help the Clubhouse community and plan

young adult activities. For more information, see Lisa.

The Clubhouse is currently in the process of creating better and more useful

spaces in the rooms upstairs. We are creating an audio/visual media room for the

young adult group with a variety of electronics like a new TV, gaming system, com-

puter and more. More information to come!

MOP

The MOP crew was hard at work this month! Here is what Tom

W. has to say about MOP:

“MOP TEAM is the Clubhouse’s opportunity to go to the hospi-

tals to recruit new members. As long as one person is interested in

becoming a member, it is considered a success. It’s just like catching

fish!”

Picture done by

Michelle L.

The Clubhouse by Stephen Speck


Hello, My name Is Stephen Speck. I have been a member of the Haverhill Club-

house starting in July of 2012. When I started I let people know that I was interested in

getting a job. At that time there were no jobs available. I had been unemployed from

2007 due to a major mental health meltdown. I worked hard at repairing the damage

that I experienced. I got a lot of help from a variety of services that I had been referred

to. I started working in the kitchen at the Clubhouse. I showed up four or five days a

week and cleaned dishes for the most part. I worked hard at that job and people took

notice. When a job became available I applied for it that day. Three weeks later I

started working at CVS. The clubhouse helped me with the application process (that

was an unnecessarily difficult process). I worked with the clubhouse staff to be able to

present myself well when I was interviewed. At that time I was working a transitional

employment job meaning that the Clubhouse took a very active role to help me main-

tain that Job. At that time I was given rides to and from work. I live in Haverhill and

work in Newburyport. When I was in the van coming home from work, I talked about

my job with Basilio. Basilio is my contact person at the Clubhouse. He helped me to

deal with any issues I had at work. He also sent a person from the clubhouse to work

for me when I was in the Hospital. I was in the hospital five times in the first year that I

worked at CVS. I didn't have to worry about losing my Job because the Clubhouse

sent someone to fill in for me.

In August of 2014, I transferred to a supported employment job. That means I

had to take more responsibility to maintain the job. I still get a ride to work in the morn-

ing but I take a bus to get back home. The bus ride is a 90 minute ride. I take along a

book to occupy my mind during the ride. I have friends that I met on the bus. I only

mention that because previously I was a very private and withdrawn person. Now I

feel like a part of the bus riders community. We get together when we are on the bus

and joke and talk a lot. (continued on next page)

Page 9

In November of last year I went to a different CVS at West gate in Haverhill. I asked to speak to the

manager and told her about what I do in Newburyport and asked her if she would hire me to do the

same thing at her store. She called my boss who gave me a glowing reference. She hired me late in

November and I started in December. I mention this because I did it independently.

The change in me has been both dramatic and positive. Where I had been limited by my lack

of confidence, I was starting to be more and more assertive and my self esteem has risen steadily to

the point where I actually got a job on my own. The Clubhouse has been instrumental in this part of

my recovery.

I have seen other people at the

Clubhouse progress in the same ways

that I have. The Clubhouse works to help

people set and achieve goals. The peo-

ple who want to improve their lives and

are willing to work hard at it, can get the

help they need from the clubhouse.

Photographs featured are of Stephen and

other members attending Senate President,

Stan Rosenberg’s listening tour. Both

Haverhill Clubhouse and The Point After Club

were in attendance to ask for additional fund-

ing for an enhanced rate for

clubhouses. As well as the fulfillment of Chap-

ter 257 so we can have adequately paid staff

comparable to other Social Service Agencies.

The Clubhouse by Stephen Speck (cont’d)

Phone: (978) 521-6957

Fax: (978) 521-7028

Email:

[email protected]

Haverhill Clubhouse

100 Locust Street

Haverhill, MA, 018306957

Clubhouse

Mission Statement

The Haverhill Club-house

offers respect, hope, and

unlimited opportunity for

membership to access

friendship, housing, educa-

tion and employment in

their community.

Vinfen Mission Statement

Vinfen transforms lives by build-

ing the capacity of individuals,

families, organizations and com-

munities to learn, thrive and

achieve their goals.

Our services promote the recov-

ery, resiliency, habilitation and

self-determination of the people

we serve.

As a human services leader, we

strive to be the provider, em-

ployer and partner of choice. We just wanted to give a best wishes and a shout out to one of our staff

member Christian Way, he is the IOOH Coordinator. He is a

reserve in the Marines and will be leaving us for two weeks to help serve

our country. He is so amazing in the IOOH unit and we can’t wait for

his return. Thank you Christian for your dedication and service to our

country. God Bless and all our prayers are with you!

Donna Gleason

and the Haverhill

Clubhouse.

The Clubhouse Haverhill Clubhouse Connection · This worksheet will help you to identify examples of coping thoughts that you may already be using, or could start to use in your life.

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