Ho.Ho,Ho fellow club members. I’m so looking forward to the Holiday season. Everyone seems to have their decorations up already and presents (except mine) are getting bought. I’m still a little full from our thanksgiving dinner. Wow there was so much food nobody could have gone home hungry. I’d like to thank all the staff who helped out. I know that it’s a huge job that we all appreciate . I hope everyone has a great holiday. We are having a Christmas brunch at the club and I hope every comes down and joins us.

HAPPY HOLIDAY’S FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

SEASON’S GREETINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT

The Christmas season is upon us now ! Heck, where has the year gone? An-yway, I turned fifty one and celebrated my birthday with family and friends. I also attended lots of turkey dinners last month. It’s surprising that I did-n’t turn into a turkey. But hey everyone likes it too much. This month will bring of course holiday brunch xmas morning. I hope you all can attend. I go every year and I enjoy it. Then I spend the rest of the day with family. The very end of this month we will also our new Year's party at noon. We will ring in the new year early with a toast. So I wish you all very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. See you in 2015.

VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB NEWSLETTER FOR DECEMBER 2014

Volume 47, Issue 11

FROM THE SECRETARY Hello everyone, my name is Paula and I’m your new Secretary for the Valley Social club. Come in and have a coffee or play a game of scrabble or monopoly. Lunch is on Monday Thursday. The food is very good. The evening social is on Thursday nights from 5-7pm. Preparing dinner and playing games is very enjoyable to me. My sewing class is on Wednesday’s from 11-12pm. Learning how to sew on a button and making things is so much fun even the guys are doing it. Getting together at the club is so much fun. Come join us~!

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

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The following people celebrate birthday’s in December. Congratulations to all. Charlie B. Tom B. Ross C. Francis K. Daniel T. Joann T. And a happy belated birthday to Arthur R. for November

LAUNDRY GROUP FOR DECEMBER The following are the dates and towns for laundry group. December 16th Derby ,Seymour, Oxford . December 17th Shelton, Ansonia. Pick up time is aprox. 10am. Please call Mike at 203-732-7089 for reservations.

GROCERY GROUP FOR DECEMBER

The following are the dates and towns for grocery group. December 9th and 23th Derby, Seymour, Oxford. December 10th and 24th Shelton, Ansonia. Pick up time is aprox. 10am. Please call Mike at 203-732-7089 for Reservations.

ROBERT’S ROUND TABLE What do plan when we plant a tree ? A thousand things that we daily see. We plant the spire that out towers the crag. We plant the staff for our country’s flag. We plant the shade from the hot sun free. We plant all these when we plant the tree. By Henry Abby. Submitted By Robert S. ___________________________________________________ CHANGES PLEASE NOTE! JAQUES NEW PHONE NUMBER PLEASE NOTE IS 203-308-3844

OCTOBER WAS A GREAT MONTH

WARMLINE FOR THE HOLIDAYS

ANNUAL MEETING STARTS THE HOLIDAY SEASON.

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The agency’s annual dinner is always the official start of the holiday season here at BHcare. This year we came together at the Race Brook Country Club. As always the accommodations were beautiful and the food was to die for. The evening was filled with laughter and socializing with other members and staff. The high light of the evening was having one of members speak to the guests. David J. spoke so well about the difficult experiences in his life and his new found recovery. David said he was very grateful to the agency and the club in particular for his success. It was great to see one of our own shine.

All of us get caught up in the holidays. Everyone's excited and talking about family and friends, parties and gifts. But the holidays can also be stressful and lonely. If you need someone to talk to, someone who understands we encourage you to call Warm line. Warm line people will listen and care. They are hear for YOU! Call 203-732-2004 . Warm line hours are: Sunday-Thursday 6pm– 10pm Friday and Saturday 6pm-11pm.

Wow was October a wild month for activities! I don’t think we stopped moving especially at the end of the month. We had fun with our friends at Fellowship Place on October 27th. Then everyone dressed up so nice for the Annual Meeting of the center on October 29th for a great meal. We would like to thank Arlene Greco and Diane Wasilewski for helping us with our special assistance fund. We had 17 members attend. Our own David J. was one of the speakers that night and he did a great job. The next day, October 30th, was all about the “Keep the Promise Awards Luncheon”. It was in Bloomfield at St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary. Just a beautiful place to see and the food was great too! Julianne, M. Mike L. Sylvia H. Kathy P. Su-san L. John L. Brenda T. Tanya N. Jacques M. and Phyllis K. all were given certificates Congrats! The next day on October 31st Halloween was our Party and man was it fun with Milford and New Haven there to celebrate also our 34 year in existence! The week was busy and we all needed to catch up on our sleep!

Important: CLRP OR CONNECTICUT LEGAL RIGHTS is here at the club every third Wednesday of the month. If you need Legal Assistance for housing, advanced directives, and landlord issues, please sign up at the club and Helen Mehn’s hours start at 1:30pm.

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WORKING WITH NEW PEOPLE BY TONY K. Hi my name is Tony. I have had the pleasure to work with lots of case managers and social club staff. In Oct. of this year I was Stressed so I asked case management staff to help me out. Staff assisted me by taking me on a walk., letting me vent and taught me some deep breathing exercises which helped a lot. Staff also said I should do something I liked so I went to talk to my friends at the local music store. I want to thank my BHcare staff for Helping me through a stressful day.

PEER RUN SUPPORT GROUPS (WINTER SCHEDULE)

MONDAY-

3-4PM- OVER EATER’S ANONYMOUS - For those individuals in need of support for all eating disorders-Meetings are held in the 1st floor BH care clinic meeting room. WEDNESDAY- 2-3PM-NICOTINE ANONYMOUS-12- Step Group to assist with quitting or Support of quitting your tobacco habit. Located in the Clinic Meeting Room of BHCARE. THURSDAY- 2-3PM-AA MTG. held weekly in the Clinic Meeting Room of BHcare. Everyone is welcome to attend that is in recovery. This is a 12-Step Support Group. 5-7 PM-EVENING SOCIAL- Come to this fun group held at the club for anyone who would like to learn a new game, and learn how to socialize with others in a fun and unique way! The group also shares a light dinner too! Rides provided only after the conclusion of group if needed. Call 203-732-7089 for more information. FRIDAY- 4-5PM- EMOTIONS ANONYMOUS– this nationally advertised program assists individuals in dealing with their day to day concerns and works on a 12-Step Program. For more information on all these groups please call 203-736-2601, Ext.431 and ask for John Dykman. (Revised November 2014)

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We really had a great year here at the VSC! We did so much together. We achieved many goals such as increasing our membership. We did more trips this summer and learned so much from what is around us. The membership did several community projects including the Griffin Cancer Walk to support our members that are battling or survived cancer! The Billiard League is going strong with the great competitions, especially with Fellowship Place that always seems to come down to the last game! Jacques took over the Drawing and Crafting Classes. We have the largest pastel picture collection anywhere! Paula B. did two groups for her first full year and became secretary! Julianne and Sylvia are going strong as President and VP too, a well oiled machine they runs! Mike keeps us all together doing all the things behind the scenes, thank goodness! We did lose some members over the year and we hon-or their memory. We turned 34 years old this year and had a great party with old friends. So we look forward to new adventures and challenges as 2015 creeps to-wards us and what this year will bring! Thanks to a fantastic club and members that make it the best around! See you in 2015! Happy New Year from Phyllis, Mike, and Jacques!

My social worker Leighan picks me up every day. I enjoy meetings my friends at the club I like to do the sewing and arts and crafts which are my favorite Evening social is always fun and my friend Gayle gives me a ride home. I always enjoy sitting in the park and getting some fresh air. My friend Paula and I have tea together and then we do some word search puzzles together.

WHAT A YEAR ITS BEEN! 2014 IN REVIEW!

CONGRATS TO OUR COSTUME CONTEST WINNERS We had 5 winners of our costume contest. The categories were thought up by our Executive Committee and judged by our guest staff Linda S. and Ka-ren E. The winners received some really cool pumpkins that were decorated by our Art Program led by Jacques M. The winners were Best Costume: Lydia R. as a colorful clown, Most Original: Brenda T. Scariest: Ronnie B. Funniest: Dalmatian (Marie/Milford), Weirdest: Shawn M. as a Zombie. Many others dressed up and we would like to thank all who are so creative with their costumes. We also had a raffle and Robert S. and a club member from one of the other clubs won that one that Julianne did. Our Executive Committee of Julianne, Sylvia, and Paula did a great job running the activities and our staff of Mike and Jacque really hustled to make the day complete. Thanks to Deb M. on a great buffet and special thanks to Arthur R. and John L.

THE SOCIAL CLUB TO ME BY DONNA A

ANNUAL HOLIDAY BRUNCH CHRISTMAS DAY MORNING DECEMBER 25, 2014 9-11:30AM FREE TO ALL BHcare Consumers!

Come enjoy a holiday brunch with staff and special volunteers at the Valley Social Club! Mr. and Mrs. Claus will make a special visit to see if you have been naughty or nice too! Sign up at the club please RSVP by December 15th. Sing a few Christmas Carols, eat some great food and spend some quality

time with our family! If you have any questions please call Phyllis Kaplan at 203-305-7895.

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Sign up key *Must sign up $ Money Needed

1 Decorate the club 10-12p

Lunch 12-12:30pm

Let’s Talk 1-2p Drawing Class 2-3 Over Eater’s A. 3-4

2 Breakfast

8:30-10am Bingo 2-3p

3 Breakfast

8:30-10am Gardner Heights Nursing Home

Visit 10am Crafting 2-3

4 Lunch 12-12:30 Executive Mtg.

12:30-1pm Social Hour 1-2

Drawing 2-3 Evening Social

5-7

5 Member run club from

12:00-4pm No craft group No Emotions A.

4-5pm

6 club closed

7 club closed

8 Lunch 12-12:30pm

Let’s Talk 1-2p No Drawing Class

Over Eater’s A. 3-4

(Clinic)

9 Breakfast

8:30-10am Bingo 2-3p

10 Breakfast

8:30-10am Enlightened Lunch 12-1p

Helene-Wellness Talk

11 Lunch 12-12:30 Social Hour 1-2

Drawing 2-3 Evening Social

5-7

12 Stamford Mall shopping 10-2pm

$* Free Lunch

12-12:30pm Crafting Class

2-3p

13 Light House Point

“Festival of Lights” 4:30p * $

14 club closed

15Lunch 12-12:30pm

Let’s Talk 1-2p NO Drawing Class

Over Eater’s A. 3-4

(Clinic)

16 Breakfast

8:30a-10am Bingo 2-3p

17Breakfast 8:30-10

Birmingham Nursing Hope

10-11:30 Branford X-Mas

party 1-4p

18 Lunch 12-12:30 Social Hour 1-2

Drawing 2-3 Evening Social

5-7 Happy Hanukah

19 Free Lunch 12-12:30pm Danbury Mall

10-2pm$* Emotions A. 4-5p

20 club closed

21 club closed

22 Lunch 12-12:30pm

Let’s Talk 1-2p Drawing Class 2-3

Over Eater’s A. 3-4

(Clinic)

23 Breakfast 8:30-10am Bingo 2-3p

24 Breakfast 8:30-10a

Bingo 2-3p Christmas Eve

25 Christmas Brunch 9-11:30 Free to all BHcare clients Merry Christmas

26 Center & club

closed Happy

Holidays! Happy Kwanza

27 club closed

28 club closed

29Lunch 12-12:30pm

Let’s Talk 1-2p Drawing Class 2-3

Over Eater’s A. 3-4

(Clinic)

30 Breakfast

8:30-10am Bingo 2-3p

31 Breakfast

8:30-10am New Year’s Eve Day Party 12-3*

Free!

Phone Numbers (203) Phyllis -305-7895 Jacques-New #308-3844 Mike -732-7089 BHcare 736-2601

Club Hours Monday-Thurs. 8:30-5pm Friday 8:30-4pm Social Club— 203-735-9106

Warm line hours Sun.-Thurs.6pm 10pm Fri-Sat. 6-11pm 203-732-2004

VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB NEWSLETTER FOR DECEMBER 2014