Fall 2014 Newsletter.docx - Survivors of Mental Illness Club

Fall 2014 Newsletter
SOMI “Sports” Green in honor of:
Mental Illness Awareness Week
October 5-11
4351 Midmost Drive
Mobile, AL 36609
Monday thru Friday 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
(251) 342-0261
www.somiclub.org
Green Ribbon Week
To end “Mental Illness Awareness Week”
SOMI Club members ate lunch at Chipotle
Mexican Grill. Members got the chance to
visit the restaurant that provides donations
each week of cooked chicken and steak.
Chipotle’s is part of Harvest Food Donation - a program for
restaurants to “redirect excess prepared food to hungry
stomachs rather than landfills” through donations to
charitable organizations.
SOMI Club members who live independently are extremely
grateful for the donations of cooked chicken and steak they
receive each week from Chipotle’s. It is a generous and
much needed gift for our members living on minimal
incomes.
Thank you, Chipotle’s!!
HOPE
is that little voice you hear whisper --“maybe”
when the entire world is shouting “no!”
Pictured below, Program
Coordinator, Susan Baker, is seen
busily making green ribbons for
SOMI members to wear during
Mental Illness Awareness Week.
Each year the first week of October
is designated as Mental Illness
Awareness Week. Many SOMI
Club members used their green
ribbon as an opportunity to start a
conversation, educate and bring
awareness to our community about
mental illness and the hope of
recovery.
Susan did a great job teaching
SOMI members that many famous
people lived with a mental illness
living successful and productive
lives.
FALL 2014
SOMI CLUB NEWSLETTER
Good grooming and More!
Manicures
Ms. Destiny Thomas gave manicures to several SOMI
members. Pictured are Robert, Spencer and Jeffery
enjoying the wonderful experience of getting their nails
cut and filed after soaking their hands. Many enjoyed
the “primping” and fun that was on the “menu” all
morning long
Computer Lab Learning
David Hardee teaches SOMI members how to set
up and use an email account as well as a
Facebook page. In the lab, made possible by
AltaPointe Health Systems, you will find
members surfing the net, checking email or filling out online job applications.
David helps members with anything needed - from the basics of turning on the computer to learning the
keyboard or finding information on the Internet. David is available to help members between
9 and 11:00 a.m. Monday through Friday.
The computer lab is also open in the afternoons from 1:00-4:00.
Etiquette Class Graduation
“Miss Manners” (Mother Helen) taught etiquette to a
class of SOMI members. Class was limited to six
people for a six-week class that culminated in a
presentation of Certificates of Achievement at Outback
Restaurant. Good manners, good food and great company rounded out
this learning session. (Pictured are Robert W., Robert G., David H.,
Mother Helen, Fransetta, Laura T., John C. Spencer G. and Paul I.)
2
FALL 2014
Help for
Members
SOMI CLUB NEWSLETTER
SOMI Club helps members to live better by lending
assistance when needed for things like voter registration,
resumes or completing job applications.
Here Director Connie Ewing, helps Robert fill out his
voter registration form.
James Hamilton’s “Wellness Class” enjoys a deliciously healthy snack of
vegetables, fruits, nuts and cheese while they discuss dealing with their own
wellness and recovery.
James teaches an organized class where afternoon members study and learn
how they can contribute to their own progress of staying in recovery from
mental illness or substance abuse. Lively discussions often punctuate the
exercises in the workbook that is provided.
The class meets at 2:00 pm each Thursday in the SOMI Club conference
room.
Halloween Festivities
SOMI Club has grown in membership and we don’t have enough
room for everyone to come every day.
So that no one would miss the Halloween party, we scheduled
TWO!!
Wednesday and Thursday of Halloween week came filled with blue
skies and mild temperatures.
.
SOMI members enjoyed lots of fun games and activities throughout
the morning which included a hoop shoot, badminton, face painting,
craft painting, horseshoes, relay races, musical chairs and of course
cupcakes and punch!
The winners of the “Cherry Tomato” Relay Race won 150 points to
spend in the SOMI Club store! Second place team won 100 points
each, third place won 50 and fourth place 25.
3
FALL 2014
SOMI CLUB NEWSLETTER
A Note from Susan Baker…..
SOMI Club Bursting
with Artistic Talent!
Spades Card Playing Competition
carWhere are all the women?! SOMI Club’s
membership is predominantly male and this was
puzzling to me.
Times are a changing, though! I am delighted to
report that in the past two months SOMI has
welcomed eight new female members. Amongst
the new female newcomers are some very good
and competitive card players.
Recently someone commented that the reigning
“King of Spades”, Mr. Willie Pettaway has been
getting “set” quite often lately.
Rock on ladies, rock on!
Anthony and Cortney show off their two different
artistic styles from art classes taught by Activity
Coordinator, Dee Jordan. Dee helps SOMI
members find and develop their own unique style
of art expression.
Willie, Cortney, Edwin and
Loreal go head to head in a
fierce card game.
Yo-Yo Quilting!
Handmade Greeting Cards
Pictured above are Laura and Loreal as they work
on their “Yo-Yo” quilting in the Arts & Craft room.
Activity Coordinator, Susan Baker, planned the
ongoing “yo-yo” activity.
At my house, we made each other’s greeting
cards. (Sorry, Hallmark – too sappy!)
Ask long time SOMI Club member Lorenzo
Rivers; he will likely tell you that his
handmade cards and bookmarks are enjoyed
by his family and friends.
Yo-yo quilts are not traditional quilts because they
do not have a layer of batting and a fabric backing.
The yo-yo, a rosette made from a circle of fabric,
makes its own backing and creates dimension that
mimics the effects of a light batting. The ability to
use small scraps of fabric to make yo-yos made
these quilts popular in the Depression-era 1930s.
They were thrifty to make, yet pretty and utilitarian.
Today, yo-yo quilts are a favored quilt-on-the-go
project because the rosettes can be made and
stitched together by hand.
Lorenzo, who has lived without sight for 27
years, personalizes blank cards and dictates a
brief note for someone to write for him.
His favorite artwork: blue stars and a scenic
sailing boat.
Susan Baker
4
FALL 2014
SOMI CLUB NEWSLETTER
Bongos, Rhythm and the Effect on
Mental Health
Did you know that music is the only activity that uses
all areas of the brain?
A brief article from the Summer, 2010 BP Magazine
said, “Hands down, rhythmic drumming lowers
stress and boosts mood, and may even benefit the
immune system. Psychotherapist and author of The
Healing Power of the Drum (White Cliff’s Media, 2000),
Robert Lawrence Friedman, PhD, says drumming
has “the power to relax the tense, energize the tired,
and heal the emotionally wounded.”
To get the most benefit to beating a drum, Friedman
suggests joining a drumming circle. He said even a
short session can:


Donations for Christmas
Increase Alpha brain wave activity associated
with calm and relaxed states
Release body tension, emotional stress, mental
frustration and pent-up anger

Improve attention span and concentration

Promote play and community bonding
SOMI Club members have decorated discarded
cylindrical plastic tubes with tribal-themed decorative
paper that mimics the seven motifs found in nature.
(See A Method for Creative Design, by Adolpho BestMaugard) The original purpose of the containers was
to test the integrity of concrete and were given to
SOMI by Thompson Engineering.
Vincent Bell, a Latin percussionist and SOMI
member, plans to lead the morning group in a “bongo
session” under the pine trees in the outdoor area.
The afternoon members have completed 27 bongos so
that more members will have an opportunity to
participate.
Susan Baker
5
Please consider donating to SOMI Club this
Christmas.
Most SOMI Club members live on disability and
food stamps. Little is left over each month for
clothing or personal care products.
Here is a list of things our members would
appreciate receiving for Christmas:

Gloves, stocking caps or scarves

Personal grooming items such as razors,
shampoo, lotion and toothpaste

Socks

Wal-Mart gift cards

Fast food restaurant gift cards
Donations can be dropped of at SOMI Club
Monday thru Friday from 8:00 am until 4:00
pm.
ONE…
One tree can start a forest;
One smile can begin a friendship;
One hand can lift a soul;
One word can frame the goal
One candle can wipe out darkness;
One laugh can conquer gloom;
One hope can raise your spirits;
One touch can show you care;
One life can make the difference…..be that ONE today
4351 Midmost Drive
Mobile, AL 36609
FALL 2014