Encounters Newsletter - July-August

July/August 2016
A Publication of the
Thomas M. Wernert Center (TMWC)
For Mental Health Recovery and Support
NOMINATION FOR MEMBER ELECTED TMWC BOARD OF TRUSTEES
SET FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2016 AT 12:00PM
By Brian O’Connor, Board President
Per the TMWC Code of Regulations that was revised in 2011, in September of each year, a meeting will
be held at which time nominations from the floor will be accepted for the open Member elected Board of
Trustee position.

Individuals interested in this position must express their interest (verbally or letter) to any Board of
Trustee two weeks prior to the nomination that will be held Friday, September 9, 2016 at 12:00pm.

Individuals must complete the following classes prior to being nominated: Leadership and Peer Support. Prior board, committee, or work (employment) experience may be substituted for these classes. The Nominating Committee will determine if the work experience and leadership skills are sufficient by way of resume or interview process.

Individuals need to attend at least one TMWC Board meeting to observe and get an idea of how the
Board of Trustees operates before being interviewed in person by the Nominating Committee. Meeting
with the Nominating Committee will take place prior to the Member elected election that will be held
Friday, November 11, 2016 at 12:00pm during the Annual Meeting.
TMWC Board of Trustees meetings are held the fourth Tuesday of each month at 4:30pm unless otherwise announced. Meetings before the November Member elected election are scheduled for: July 26, generally there is no meeting held in August, September 27, and October 25.

Individuals should be prepared to discuss with the Nominating Committee the leadership skills they
bring to the Board of Trustees, recovery skills and attributes, and their activities at the TMWC.
Any Board of Trustee is required to be on a minimum of one of the following committees in addition to being on the Board of Trustees: Strategic Planning, Finance, Fundraising, Nominating, Executive (If applicable), Personnel, and Policy.
The Board of Trustees is a coordinated effort of professionals from the community and individuals from
the mental health community who work together sharing their personal expertise while maintaining the
mission and vision of TMWC. It is important to have a belief and respect for people at all levels of recovery. The Board of Trustees are seeking passionate people who are responsible and willing to make a serious commitment to this volunteer position. This position is a minimum two year term and requires regular
attendance at the Board meetings.
TMWC’s success is; in part, dependent on the selflessness of the people who currently serve on the
Board of Trustees as well as those who have served in the past. With that in mind, the Board of Trustees
need to attract individuals who are in good standing with the center and are successfully managing their
recovery.
Page 2
NEIL’S NEWS by Neil Powell
Summer has arrived! This means that most of our events will take
advantage of the great outdoors and all Mother Nature has to offer.
At the center, we have several activities to participate in ranging from root beer float parties, to outdoor drum circles, to splash parties with water balloons, super soakers, and games where winners
get to dump a bucket of ice water on ME!!! You also will not want to
miss our uniquely themed Ilse’s Café events: Poetry Readings where
you can read your favorite poems (share your own, or write a poem
on the spot if you feel adventurous); Secret Santa for Christmas in
TMWC members enjoying outdoor fun in the July (FAMILY NIGHT); and in honor of the anniversary of the release
sun! Come join us—we’re waiting for you!
of The Wizard of Oz, the club room will be turned into a magical
Technicolor land! Members and family members are encouraged to dress as their favorite Oz character while we enjoy watching the classic 1939 film on our big screen.
Lastly, our members have voted on the following outings: Cookout with outdoor games at a
park, African Exhibit at the Zoo, Putt-Putt, and a Mud Hens Game for those who weren’t able to attend in May. Please remember that the names of members who are interested in outings are put into
a hat and drawn at random. Look at Activities/Outings insert for more detailed information on the outings and activities you are interested in. Sign up for activities is at the beginning of every month.
Keep on the lookout for fun outdoor games at random throughout the summer!
TMWC Program Adjustments by Katie Phillips, PEP Coordinator, CPS-MH
In planning our programming for fiscal year 2017 (July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017); we looked
very carefully at our current programs to see if adjustments to scheduling would allow more flexibility.
We want to continue our most popular support clubs; have room for the Peer Enrichment Program
classes, as well as activities and outings for our members to have a more balanced calendar of
events.
We rearranged the calendar so now Stress Busters will move to share Tuesdays with Anger
Awareness alternating every other week at 11am. Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) Support
will now alternate every other week with Highly Sensitive Persons (HSP) Support on Wednesdays at
3pm. Dual Recovery Anonymous (DRA) will continue at 3pm on Wednesday and at 11am on Friday.
On Thursday we will continue Living Well at 11am and Diabetes Support at 12pm. Get Fit Club will
also continue weekly on Tuesday at 12pm. Wellness Management Recovery (WMR) Support is being discontinued, but key parts will be incorporated into other support clubs. Let’s Move and Yoga
will be incorporated into daily exercise after morning meetings.
When you look at our July/August calendar, you will see small changes that will make a big
difference! As always, we ask for your support in this transition and welcome any comments, concerns or ideas. Please check out the Support Club Topics insert page,
which now includes details of activities and outings.
Reminder: Members, care givers, and group home operators please
pack lunches and snacks Monday-Thursday and particularly on
Wednesdays when TMWC is open until 8pm. Please read the calendars carefully as we may provide a snack or treat based on scheduled
activities; however, this is not a regular occurrence. The only scheduled meal provided by TMWC is every Friday at the Supper Club, which is served at 1pm.
Katie’s Korner
Hello everyone! WOW, have we been busy here at TMWC and members
have accomplished so much! We have had four class graduations and our super
support clubs are rockin’ and rollin’! We are so proud of our members who have
graduated and are utilizing the recovery and health skills they have learned!
Upcoming classes include: WHAM: Wednesday, July 13-September 21 from 13p; Eat Healthy • Be Active! Tuesday, July 19–September 6 from 2-3p; WRAP
101: Monday, August 1-September 26 from 12-2p.
First Graduating WRAP for Diabetes include left to right: Katie P,
facilitator, Stephanie B, Tammy H,
Onnie R & EvaMae Lavoy. WRAP
helps prevent diabetic crises.
Page 3
by Katie Phillips, PEP Coordinator, CPS-MH
Peer Support Graduates include: back
row, left-right, facilitator Maxine P, Yolanda H, Laurie S, & facilitator Lisa S; front
row, left-right: Stephanie B, Dorothea O
& Tony B.
Food Management 102
Graduates, Back Row, LtRt: Warren F, Michael E,
Anthony C; Front Row, LtRt: Tammy H, Stephanie B,
Onnie R & Jennifer M.
Leadership Graduates include: back row,
left-right: Andy W, Warren F, and Mike E,
& Brian O (Refresher grads) Front: Tony
B and Onnie R (Refresher grad).
Good
Work
Everybody!
Upcoming Forums- by Lisa Stewart, COTA/L, CPS-MH
At the TMWC, we strive to connect with people in the community that may help us learn and
grow. One way that we do this is to schedule guest speakers to share information with us on Fridays
before Supper Club.
On July 22nd, we are pleased to welcome Linda Alvarado-Arce, Executive Director at the
City of Toledo, Board of Community Relations. She will be presenting information on Cultural Diversity. Information will include how diversity makes us beautiful, some ways that various cultures interact, and communicate the differences in physical and mental boundaries, etc.
On August 19th, we welcome back David Nalls, CDCA, from New Concepts Behavioral
Treatment Program. David will be sharing his knowledge and personal experience with Alcohol and
Other Drugs (AOD). His powerful testimony demonstrates that recovery from substance abuse is
possible. He will also share with us community resources that can aid in our recovery.
Please join us on both dates to learn more on these topics. We look forward to you joining us after
the forums for our weekly Friday Afternoon Supper Club at 1pm!
WHAM Training-New Opportunity for Members by Lisa Stewart, COTA/L, CPS-MH
On January 28-29, 2016 Katie Phillips and I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in
WHAM (Whole Health Action Management) Facilitator training in Columbus, OH. WHAM was developed by the SAMHSA-HRSA Center for Integrated Health Solutions. WHAM is a peer support group
that encourages individuals to engage in holistic self-management through goal setting. Evidence
based in both mental health and substance abuse recovery, this group is designed to utilize the support from peers to work toward and achieve whole health goals. A formula is provided to assist group
members in setting goals, and the goals are set in one week increments. Each week, participants
return to the support group to discuss whether or not goals were met, and as peers discuss ways in
which we can help each other to successfully meet our goals. Katie and I are very excited to share
what we learned with both members and staff. We would like to thank OhioMHAS (Mental Health
and Addiction Services) for sponsoring this opportunity, the staff at the TMWC for helping to cover
programming during our absence, and the members for their continued support.
We are proud to announce that the TMWC’s first WHAM Class will be starting Wednesday,
July 14. There will be a 3 week class (two hours, once a week) followed by an 8 week support group
(one hour, once a week). We have had a large number of people express interest in taking this class,
and Katie and I are looking forward to sharing this opportunity with you!
Th o m as M. W erne rt Cen t er
Fo r Men tal Health Reco v ery & Su p p o rt
208 W . Wood ruff
To led o , OH 43604
Main Ph: 4 19.24 2.3000
Fax: 419.24 2.0750
Web site: ww w.we rne rtce n ter.o rg
Em ail: k skinne r @we rn e rt cen ter.o rg
Non Profit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Toledo, OH
Permit No. 175
THE MISSION
“To improve the quality of life for persons living with mental illness through
peer-driven and focused programs
which address recovery through education, peer support and advocacy.”
Return Service Requested
VALUE STATEMENT
The Thomas M. Wernert Center is dedicated to fostering growth in our members
living with mental health challenges
through peer support and by enhancing
recovery with opportunities for education
and socialization within a safe, welcoming and diverse atmosphere of trust and
mutual respect that leads to a meaningful
life.
Board of Trustees














Brian O’Connor, President
Community Volunteer
Pete Cook, Vice President
Community Volunteer
Brian Hansen, Treasurer
ProMedica
EvaMae LaVoy, Secretary
Community Volunteer
Candace Tavormina
Community Volunteer
Deb Angel
Community Advocate
Paul Lewis
Community Volunteer
Gwen Jones
Harbor
Carol Fingerhut
ProMedica
Chuck Thayer
Community Volunteer
Darla Newhouse
Community Volunteer
Mike Edminson
Community Volunteer
Lisa Urrutia
Medical Mutual
Reed Hauptman
Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick, LLP
Encounters Editor in Chief:
Katie Phillips, Peer Enrichment
Program (PEP) Coordinator, CPS-MH
SUPPORTED BY
Thomas M. Wernert Center Membership Application
YES! I want to become a member of the Thomas M. Wernert Center For Mental Health Recovery and Support, an Ohio Mental Health & Addiction Services Certified Consumer Operated Service.
___ Receiver of Mental Health Services
Suggested membership fee—$5
___ Provider—$10
___ Family- $15
___ Patron - $25
___ Sponsor- $50
___ Honorary- $100
___ Organization- $500
___ I would like to be placed on the Thomas M. Wernert Center mailing list to receive the
Encounters newsletter
Name___________________________________________________________ Date______________
Address___________________________________________________________________________
City__________________________ State____________________ Zip_______________________
Send Payment to : Thomas M. Wernert Center ·208 W. Woodruff ·Toledo, OH 43604
The Thomas M. Wernert Center is a 501 (c)(3) organization. All memberships/donations are tax
deductible, based upon IRS guidelines.