14th International Seminar, Wellness Workshop

Because An Outline Probably Needs A Picture

Outlining why and how our Wellness Committee made the transformation to a Unit over the course of three years.

THE COMMITTEE WORK

Developing and Integrating Clubhouse Initiatives

• A Clubhouse community identifies a need.
• Individuals volunteer to work on the initiative based in their units.
• As the work clarifies, working groups and committees form.
• Committees refine and drive the work for the Clubhouse.

Benefits of Committee Work

• Committee work is focused at weekly short (half-hour) meetings.
• Units are willing to make a commitment to this small scale participation.
• Individuals take responsibility for various small projects, bringing work back to their unit for development.

Committee Work at its Best

• Representation from all units creates an effective tool for compiling and assessing clubhouse-wide concerns and goals.
• Developing a large project, such as a Wellness Fair, with the goal of involving more of the community and increasing clubhouse-wide awareness, creates a deep investment and fruitful enthusiasm for the specific project and larger initiative.

A Committee Loses Its Effectiveness When …

• Focusing on the Committee’s agenda necessitates taking time from Unit work.
• The period of time a Unit can support and sustain the diversion from its own work reaches its limit.
• The work balance shifts back to the Unit, and Committee commitment and participation decreases, diminishing momentum and overtaxing remaining participants.

A Unit Is the Ideal Forum for Taking On Initiative Development Because …

• Depth and breadth is a natural outcome of the focused attention a unit gives its work.
• Addressing issues, solving problems, and creating the direction of work together magnifies and clarifies possibilities.
• The interrupted flow of a unit’s daily life allows regular reflection and evaluation.

UNIT WORK OVERVIEW

Our First Three Month’s Wellness Unit Work Includes …

• Transition from Snack Bar to Wellness
• Communication and Public Relations
• Nutrition, Gardening, and Providing Food to the Clubhouse and Residences
• Fitness Opportunities in the Clubhouse and Community
• Research and Education
• Space Development, Deep Cleaning, Greening
• The additional work all Units do

UNIT WORK DETAILS

Clubhouse Communication Work Includes …

• Writing blog entries, articles about our work and advertising classes and events for our newsletters, TV tiles, and house-wide meetings
• Developing reports for our Board and Council; and informational packets, brochures, and presentations
• Devising Farmer’s Market presentations

Community Public Relation Projects Include Networking with …

• Local Farmer’s Markets and Vendors
• City Mental Health Smoking Cessation Program
• Community Gardens and New York Horticultural Society
• YMCAs and Integrative Health Resources
• Health Clinics, Gift of Sight Program, Diabetes Association
• Compiling Information for Grant Writers

Nutrition Projects Include …

• Weekly garden trips to raise organic produce to provide meals at the Farm, in the Dining Room and Wellness Café, Residences, and an in-house Farmer’s Market
• Researching food’s health properties, recipes, techniques, and nutritional value for dishes based on our farm produce and meals cooked from scratch

Fitness Work Includes …

• Developing our gym and mat room, Personal Training program, and information packet; supporting Walking Group, Yoga and Qi Gong classes
• Developing and learning to run beginners fitness programs
• Developing a bike riding project and refining our YMCA project
• Studying and practicing for Personal Training Certification

Research and Education Work Includes …

• Environmentally sound kitchen equipment and kitchen and dining supplies
• Meeting with environmental consultants and experts regarding air circulation and quality, electrical and gas line upgrades for teaching kitchen
• Healthful recipes
• Nutritional values of test foods
• Safe exercising information for fitness program introduction booklet
• Organic gardening techniques and supplies
• Blogging programs
• Participation in Diabetes Symposium
• CPR course for Unit’s members and staff and other gym users
• Partnering with Research Unit on Fitness Project research
• Identifying areas for research data collection and teaching unit members and staff to collect pertinent information
• Community networking with information and service resources

Space Development, Deep Cleaning, and Greening

• Assessing work station needs for kitchen, dining, gym, education, cleaning, office, and production
• Researching equipment and appliances including assessment of LEED guidelines and sustainability
• Assessing and working with consultants to upgrade electrical, gas, built-in fixtures, lighting, and air circulation
• Developing unit project communication tools
• Steam cleaning, storage redesign and usage
• Organic and sustainable garden practices – research and implementation

The additional things all units do

• Provide assistance with community services such as Social Security, Medicaid, Public Assistance; Clinics, Medical Doctors, Dentists, Psychiatrists; Integrative Practioners; Housing; and Transportation
• Assist with moves, schools; and jobs
• Develop goals and strategies
• Liaise for Clubhouse and ICCD opportunities and projects

We Learn to Write Blog Posts …

July 18th, 2007

I enjoy coming to the Wellness Unit because it is so fresh and invigorating. The ideas are great, nutrition, exercise and over all agenda for the clubhouse and our community. I am happy to be part of it. Posted by Sherril

Dennis’s Thoughts! August 9th, 2007

I like coming to the Wellness Unit, it’s very interesting. It gives me something to do. I’ve learned a whole lot about the Wellness Unit in the past month. I’ve learned to clean lettuce from the farm. It has a lot of dirt on it. I’ve also used the food processor to chop up the zucchini for zucchini muffins. I’ve moved a bunch of furniture, today I moved the TV to the Clerical Unit. I think this is a very good unit I’m in and I like it very much! Posted by Alison and Dennis

clubhousewellness.org

We decided to make note of our progress as a Wellness Unit in a format that would be easy to share with our International Clubhouse Community. Our daily work board includes blogging so we remember in the midst of our remarkably busy days to stop and reflect. Please look us up, read our story and share your reaction and ideas by commenting on our blog.