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April 2016
Volume 1, Issue 56
Welcome Aboard Trevor!
Contributors:
Welcome aboard Trevor! By
now we all know Mary Anne’s
replacement, Trevor W. He
took a few minutes to introduce
himself to us.
Jeff B.
Randy B.
Joe E.
Christine F.
Jennifer K.
April K.
Shanel L.
Eugene M.
Keon S.
John Sim.
Angie S.
Trevor W.
I am an outgoing person. I love
to help people whenever I can. I
love animals-- especially my dog,
Lola.
Inside this issue:
Employment Is Empowerment
In Memory of David
H.
At the Movies…
Mary Anne’s Exit
Interview
Mary Anne: Joy Is
The Key
Literary Page
Crossword Puzzle
Organization
A Common Struggle
2
2
2
3
3
4
5
6
6
How did you hear about the
Clubhouse?
A good friend of mine works for
CNS, and he let me know that a
position opened up at Visions
Clubhouse. He thought that I
would be a good fit.
Can you describe your job here
at the Clubhouse?
What are your hobbies, or things
you like to do in your spare
I show and give support. I was
time?
here on St Patrick’s Day, and we
had a bake sale. Several memI love to play soft ball, go campbers helped bake, and we made
ing, bowling, going to the movies, rice crispy treats. It was a great
and hanging out with the family.
success.
What kind of work have you
done prior to coming to the
Clubhouse?:
I have worked in the substance
abuse and mental health field for
just over 11 years. Before that, I
worked construction and as an
auto mechanic.
Trevor W.
Would like to share something
about your own recovery?:
The best thing that I can say
about my own recovery is that I
must remain teachable if I am to
grow on this life long journey.
—Joe E.
Wearin’ of the green
Volume 1, Issue 56
Page 2
Employment Is Empowerment
When I’m finished with my work for
the day, I get lunch at the restaurant
for free! It’s one of the perks of the
job.
My name is Angie S., and I have been
working part-time in a Transitional
Employment Position (TEP) at Buffalo
Wild Wings (BWW). My hours are
Tuesday and Thursday from 8 a.m. to
12:00 p.m.
I like working at BWW. The other
employees and my supervisors are
very nice. We are like family.
I work in the dining room wiping
down all of the tables and chairs,
cleaning windows, dusting, wiping the So, if you come to BWW, you just
menus, and disinfecting highchairs and might see me there!
—Angie S.
booster seats, gaming systems and
vending machines. I also do light janitorial work. My purpose is to get the
job done.
In Memory of David H.
Visions Clubhouse is sad to announce the passing of one of our
members. David H. died in March,
2016. David had been a long-time
member of Visions Clubhouse, and
loved Visions Clubhouse fiercely.
He was one of those members who
actively participated in the work
order day. If he saw a need, he took
care of it. If he saw someone in
need, he was there to help.
You may recall several months ago,
David told the stirring story of his
life and recovery. Life had not been
easy for David. Many times it had
knocked him down, but David was
the kind of person who got back up
time and time again. He faced life’s
adversities, and didn’t back down.
He took them on one at a time.
To his friends and family we offer
our condolences. To our fellow
members we offer to share our
memories of the time he spent with
us. To David we offer our thanks
for being there for us. For sharing
with us. For working with us. We
will miss you greatly.
—Queen Hyun (Shanel L.)
David H.
At the Movies...
On Saturday, March 12th, Carlotta &
Keon took a group of us to the AMC
Movie Theater at Great Lakes Crossing. Among those who went were
John Sim., Shanel, Colleen B., Pam,
Julie, Chris G., Richard W., Ann R.,
Shelley, Karyn and Patrick. We saw
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot and it was a
good movie.
The film was a dramady about a news
reporter going undercover in Afmore in the near future.
ghanistan during the war on terror.
—John Sim.
At some point in the movie, the
news anchor meets a journalist who
took her under her wing.
Everyone said they enjoyed the
movie, including myself. We all
appreciate Carlotta and Keon for all
the movie outings they take us on.
We are hoping to go on many
Volume 1, Issue 56
Page 3
Mary Anne’s Exit Interview
On her last day with us Mary Anne sat down for a farewell interview.
Q. How long have you been with the clubhouse Mary Anne?
A. Five years.
Q. What were your job duties?
A. I coordinated education. I also oversaw the Thrift store, tours, orientation, and tutoring.
Q. Is there something special that you will take with you?
A. The value of team work.
Q. What will you remember most about the clubhouse?
A. The work environment dynamic.
Q. What are your retirement plans?
A. Clean the house, go to the library, return to miniature water color painting.
Q. Do you have any parting words of wisdom or advice that you would like to leave us?
A. Recovery is making an effort to get to where you want to go by participating in where you are today.
There is hope for all of us all. We have very important choices to make every day. Thank you CNS, and Visions
Clubhouse!!!
—Joe E.
Mary Anne: Joy Is The Key
I used to complain a lot about my life
being so bad, but Mary Anne has
helped me to see that I could have
had it worse. In discussing this article with Mary Anne, and interviewing
her, I realized that she is a real survivor. It occurred to me that no matter what has happened in the past,
we can choose love and joy for ourselves.
have had misunderstandings of religion, and our concept of God. God
is love and life, first and foremost. If
our religion does not tell us that, we
should be glad to learn it later on. It
is one of the most important things
in life to know.
Negative things happen to us all, and
negative programming has been part
of nearly everyone’s life. Once we
She tells me how she appreciates the become adults, we can learn the
present moment, and the love of
most powerful truth of all: God loves
God that is available to us all. She
us, and is the source of all life, love,
keeps her focus on these very basic
and joy. We don’t have to blame
things (unlike me, who complicates
others because we all have our probeverything). We have both gone
lems and challenges in life to meet.
through many things in life that were Some of us are more successful than
sad, tragic, and even abusive. We
others.
Becoming a CNS consumer, and
later an employee helping others, is
the most visible sign of her success. It shows that there is hope
for us all. We have very important
choices to make for ourselves every day that can affect those around
us for good or bad. She can offer
solutions to problems knowing
that whatever she says comes from
a pure heart full of joy, and a very
real connection to God.
We can thank God for showing
himself through our friend, Mary
Anne, who allows him to work
through her every day.
—Eugene M.
Volume 1, Issue 56
Page 4
Literary Page
Spring
Spring has sprung—
We are still young…
and happy as can be.
Colored flowers, and gentle meadows
as far as you can see.
Critter jitters, and nature calls
The wetlands sing with glee.
Sunny skies, and bluebell eyes,
and perfume from the trees.
The tricks of forests
reveal a chorus of crickets from the mist.
April is Poetry month
Love, laughter, and then ever after
Never to be missed.
When Spring has sprung…
we are still young, and ever to be blessed
What’s special here?
We start to cheer,
and why has it been guessed?
To filter love from up above
is anyone’s opinion.
What’s special at this time of year
is nature has dominion!
—Jeff B.
Jeff B.
Volume 1, Issue 56
Page 5
Crossword Puzzle
Visions Clubhou
se
Visions Clubhouse is a unique place
located in Pontiac, Michigan. It is
founded on the clubhouse model
of psycho-social rehabilitation and
uses the principles of membership,
contribution, positive expectations,
and mutual interdependence.
185 Elizabeth Lk. Rd.
Pontiac, Mi. 48341
Phone: 248-335-8710
Fax: 248-335-1417
A Common Struggle
A Common Struggle
by Patrick J. Kennedy and Stephen
Fried
During this period his addiction
and mental illness were growing
out of control. He was drinking in
public, and reliant on painkillers
Patrick J. Kennedy is the youngest of
such as OxiContin. In May, 2006,
Senator Edward and Joan Kennedy’s
a bad mix of prescription drugs
three children. His book documents In 1984, he suffered a skull fracture
caused him to black out while drivhis own journey through his mental
ing. He prepared a statement exfrom an auto accident. He started
illness, addiction , and work regarding acting differently, and he attributes
plaining the truth about his strugmental health legislation and public
gle, and re-entered rehab. He atthis to the onset of mental illness.
awareness.
He graduated from high school, and tributes his ultimate recovery to
his wife, Amy. Kennedy writes with
wound up doing his first stint in reThe book begs the question: How
hab after a drug-filled weekend with candor about the dynamics of
can one born to wealth and privilege friends. While attending Providence mental health . He uses his story as
understand the common struggle
a backdrop to tell the history of
College he was diagnosed with a
regarding mental health and addiction tumor on the vertebra of his neck. In mental health awareness. In this
recovery confronted by the rest of
way he makes it A Common Strug1988, he was elected to the Rhode
us? The answer is he does this quite Island State Legislature. While serv- gle.
well. He is totally honest about the
ing in the state legislature he entered
challenges faced by both his mother the Kennedy family’s battle to
Kennedy has since left Congress
and father who also suffered from
achieve parity in research and treat- and dedicates his life to mental
mental health issues and alcoholism. ment from mental illness and devel- health awareness and addiction
Kennedy claims that he first became opmental disabilities. In 1995, he
recovery causes. Two thumbs up!!
exposed to prescription drug abuse
—Joe Evan
was elected to the U.S. House of
while suffering from asthma as a
Representatives where he sponsored
child. He was treated with Prednithe passage of the Mental Health
sone. Prednisone is addictive with
Parity Act which put mental illness in
side effects such as severe depression the same class and medical illness.
and changes in personality or behavior. Because of this Kennedy enjoyed
the extra attention he received from
his father, the emotionally closer of
his parents.