VALLEY SOCIAL CLUB NEWSLETTER

Volume 65, Issue 6

HELLO FROM YOUR EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE!

The Valley Social Club had a busy month with May is Mental Health Month.
We are looking forward to a nice summer with many picnics. We hope to
take walks on the beach and have some seafood too! We worked really
hard on our afghans for the BHcare Picnic and we are hoping it makes a
difference towards our fundraising efforts. Paula B. Julianne M. and Debbie
B. worked all winter on seven afghans total. We also started a crocheting
group which is attracting new members. Christine D. started last month a
multi-media journal on Fridays with five members participating. There are
some changes to Connecticut Legal Rights Project you should know about.
They had major budget cuts and will no longer come to our club. This is
hard since many clients of BHcare use them. They suggest using Conn.
Legal Aide instead if you have landlord, money, housing issues in the
meantime. You can still call them however, their number is 1-800-262-
5077 and they will send you an application. They will call you back once
they receive it! We would like to thank Helen Mihms for helping us all
these years, you will be missed by everyone! By Paula B. and Julianne M.

I hope everyone will enjoy the summer fun I have planned. I am looking
forward to mine! I would like to thank everyone for a great May is
Mental Health Month it was great that we could get together with multiple
clubs. I wish I could say I will be around more in the coming months, but I
will see some of you at different times when I can. Great job to Phyllis and
Jacques, I know it cant be easy, but were with you 100%!!! Thats all!!
Keep it light and easy, stay cool! Your VP Sylvia H.
 Day of Hope - Poem Contest
BY Mary Van E.
My Social Club

Tick Tick Tick

A rollercoaster car climbs to the top

A teeter at the top
Gripping the safety bar
And squeezing my eyes shut
Sweat and dread drip off my brow
I turn my head as though I could stop at will
SWOOSH!!!!
Over I go
Stomach in my throat
I want to get off
I end at the bottom
Laughing and want to go again
My social club has taught me
To be brave
To open my eyes
To laugh
To cry
To scream
To throw my hands up
And enjoy the ride

The Day of Hope event ceremony was a success at the Valley Social
Club.
The place was full with both, Valley and Shoreline consumers.
Our guest speaker, Kristie Barber Executive Director, Regional II
Mental Health Board and Co-Chair Keep the Promise (KTP),
Inspired everyone with her speech.
Every participant of the poetry contest received a gift.

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 Day of Hope - Poem Contest
By Margaret S.
My Social Club
-Many days ago I was introduced to a group of people who were
the same as me.
-Years have gone by since Ive had any friends, alone with myself, feelings and
pains.

-So bottled up everything I kept in my head, I felt like a sprinkle with a bunch of
rain.
-Once in a while I would walk by the door back and forth until the next day.
-Chancing I might actually get the courage up to walk in a say:
-Im here and I dont want to be alone anymore and stop this chase.
-Always knew and felt a certain warmth and belonging to this place.
-Living alone is a hard enough struggle out here.

-Christ is my Savior but my friends from my social club on earth we will always be
there.
-Life will always have its ups and downs.
-U can always count on your friends to turn your days around.
-Before I end I must say I can always come to my club, have someone who will be
there for me.
Day of Hope - Poem Contest
BY Christine D.
My Social Club

I was sitting in the park

Looking at the flagpole
It was getting kind of dark
I wanted to crawl in a hole

I feel despair
I know I cant do drugs
The social club is like a light over there
All I need is friendship and hugs.

I held my breath as I walked in the door

Fear melted with their smiles
They showed me what was really in store
Then I wanted to stay for quite a while
Theres no place Id rather be
And theres no faces Id rather see.
 MUSIC A WAY OF EXPRESSION BIRTHDAYS!
A tong of nations each expressing a
JOHN L.-6/4
mood, story, complaint teasing society for
the better or worse. Questioning or MATT G. 6/15
confirming love. Raising philosophical STEPHANIE J. 6/27
matter of the mind, body and soul.
Nature, heavenly powers. Stress.
Detoxification music instruments play a
course in sound, rhythm, beat and tone.
ALTO catches beats of listeners heart. A
sensation of blood rushes internally so
that it makes us feel inwardly and
outwardly, emotionally special.
We can catch a good beat and further
NAMI WALK BY JOHN L.
more dance. A body of expression, mental
relaxation, classically. Music is the Four club members and two
universal dedications for the past, present staff walked at the May 20th
and future. An array of different cultures NAMI WALK in Hartford. The
of music, all for the betterment of the walk was a nice walk. We
human psychology. Moving us around the walked all around Bushnell
states of mind and around the globe, as Park three times! The
we celebrate the gain, weight and loss of weather was cool but sunny.
life and all it has to offer. Music as the We had a splendid time and
best expression of lifely affairs. Amazing got lots of exercise. We
and strong as well as the best humbly thank John D. and
mental stimulation known to man. Kim T. for taking us!
MUSIC!!
By Aisha Q. aka Aisha Ali K.

ROBERTS CORNER SUBMITTED BY ROBERT S.

BY MARGARET E. SANGSTER
Never Yet was a springtime
Late though lingered the snow
That the sap stirred not
At the whisper
Of the south wind
Sweet and low
Never yet
Was a spring time
When the buds forget to blow

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IN MEMORY BY PAULA B.
Pat Mc. worked at BHcare for 27 years and passed on May 3, 2017. Pat
was a Vocational Counselor, DDS Program Manager, and staff for DVS
(Domestic Violence). He was a mentor to many. He was well liked and
respected by club members and co-workers.
Pat always played Santa Claus with his wife Joan as Mrs. Claus at our
Annual Christmas Brunch. He always made us happy. Pat always took the
time for anyone who wanted to talk. He always had a smile on his face
and a caring heart. He was a long time board member for the Masters
Table. He always served us more than we could eat. He will be missed by
all who were lucky enough to know him.
__________
In Memory of Tanya N.
Tanya died on May 13, 2017. Tanya was an amazing person. She loved
Hello Kitty. She had a lot of purses, wallets, and jewelry. She was a
favorite of My Sisters Place in Ansonia. Last year she was in the Spring
Fashion Show and because of this MSP is naming this years show on May
24th , from 5-7pm ,after her. Every Tuesday she played Bingo at the club.
Tanya was a character who enjoyed life! She will be truly missed!
__________
In Memory of Maggie E.
I first met Maggie around the corner from where I live. She loved her
Maine Coon cat and planting in her back yard. When she left Derby and
moved to Shelton, I still hung out with her. Maggie loved Bingo at the
VSC. When the number 4 came up for good luck, she said Before and
After every time! I will miss her because she was one of a kind!
___________
In Memory of Dannie C.
On April 30th we lost Dannie C. He was another avid Bingo Player at the
VSC. He was a caring person who was always sharing pizzas at Gardner
Heights in Shelton where he lived. His friend Susie L. also lives there and I
am sure she misses him! He loved watching any movies he could get his
hands on. I bet you would not know he was a cashier at Target for seven
years. His last job was measuring pants at MSP as a volunteer! He would
always buy candles he could not burn at the nursing home.
That made me always chuckle! He said he would give them
as gifts to those he cared about!
WE WILL MISS YOU ALL!

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GETTING TO KNOW OUR CLUB
MEMBERS! CATHY B. BY Paula B.

I worked in the Bakery Department at Stop & Shop in

Seymour. I was put in charge of opening the bakery and putting the ovens
on. I really enjoyed working there but unfortunately I wasnt able to stay
there because of knee problems. I had to get surgery and decided after that
not to go back. It was a good job!

THE OPEN DOOR CLUB BY Paula B.

We recently went to a Spring Dance at the Open Door

Club in Milford, as part of May is Mental Health Month.
Phyllis was our DJ, and there were many on the dance
floor all afternoon. As always there was plenty of food. I liked their back
room because it was decorated with art work and one stood out to me.
They did an art project with twigs that were glued onto buttons. I love
buttons! This fascinated me because I started sewing when I was in high
school! We all had a good time with our friends from Milford!
______________________________________
BRANFORD ART SHOW BY JOHN L.
The club attended The Annual Options Club Art Show at
the Johnstone Library in Branford on May 12th from
5-7pm. It was a lovely show. The art work and photos
were wonderful. We enjoyed gazing at the exhibits. It was
a nice trip. We thank the club members and staff for
inviting us and for Jacques M. for taking us!
______________________________________

My Social Club BY Patrick C.

I spend most of the time alone at home. When I go to the club I socialize
with the members. I use the computer, I watch TV, I play scrabble, and
play pool with my peers.
When I stay home I feel depressed, since there is no one to talk to during
the day. The social club makes a big difference for me in my daily routine.
I thank BHcare for having a club like this for us members to go to on a daily
basis.
 VSC CALENDAR FOR JUNE 2017

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

Phone Numbers: Sign up Key Club Hours ***REMEMBER TO 1 2 3
203- $- Money needed Mon - Fri CALL IN IF YOU CAN Lunch 12-12:30
Free Lunch Friday CLUB CLOSED
*- Must Sign Up NOT MAKE THE Milford health fair
Club -735-9106 8:30-4:30 12-12:30 TODAY
Center-203-736-2601 F - Free ACTIVITY YOU SIGNED 1:00-3p*
Closed Weekends Movies 1-3p
Plus 1163 for Jacques * remember to call if UP FOR! Evening Social 5-7*
you are not coming in! CALL 203-732-7089

4 CLUB CLOSED 5 Crochet Group 6 Breakfast Club 7 Breakfast Club 8 Lunch 12-12:30p 9 10
TODAY 10-11 free ! 8:30-10a 8:30-10a Health Workshop Free Lunch Friday CLUB CLOSED
______________ Lunch 12-12:30p Nolan Field Bring $ for ice cream! 10:30-11:30a 12-12:30 TODAY
Jaycees art Show 10:30-11:30a** Executive Mtg. Art Class 2-3p Beach Walk 12:30-
Lets Talk 1-2p
(see Jacques) 12:15-12:30p Evening Social 2:30p*$
Art Class 2-3P Bingo 2-3p
Shelton 5-7p*Free (weather permitting)

11 12 Crochet Group 13 14 15 16 17
CLUB CLOSED 10-11 free ! Breakfast Club Breakfast Club Lunch 12-12:30p Free Lunch Friday CLUB CLOSED
TODAY Lunch 12-12:30p 8:30-10a 8:30-10a Art Class 2-3p 12-12:30 TODAY
Movies 1-3p
Rain date for Me Work 10-11a* Riches Farm in Evening Social
Lets Talk 1-2p
Jaycees art show Bingo 2-3p 5-7p*Free
Art Class 2-3P Oxford $*
Shelton

18 CLUB CLOSED 19 Crochet Group 20 21Breakfast Club 22 Club Closed all day 23 24
TODAY
10-11 free ! Breakfast Club 8:30-10a to attend: Free Lunch Friday CLUB CLOSED
*Masters Table
Lunch 12-12:30p 8:30-10a Pool Tourney
Tom Parsons Picnic 12-12:30 TODAY
4-5:30pm at Leave 9a, return by River Walk 1-3p
Assumption Church Lets Talk 1-2p Nolan Field 12-3pm* 4pm** (Weather permitting)
No Rides Provide Art Class 2-3P 10:30-11:30a** No Evening Social
Happy Fathers Day! Bingo 2-3p

25 26 Crochet Group 27 28 Breakfast Club 29Lunch 12-12:30p 30

10-11 free ! Breakfast Club Art Class 2-3p
CLUB CLOSED 8:30-10a Free Lunch Friday
Lunch 12-12:30p 8:30-10a 12-12:30
TODAY WII TOURNEY Evening Social
Nolan Field Movies 1-3p
Lets Talk 1-2p 5-7p*Free
10:30-11:30a** 1-3PM*
Art Class 2-3P Bingo 2-3p
Club Dinner 3:15-4:30