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DreamWeaver

Erin is Back by Pete S.

Erin is back at her Transitional employment placement at Easterseals MORC in Southfield as a clerical support staff. She started working in July 2025; however, at the end of last year, Easterseals MORC decided to go paperless, and Erin’s job had to be paused. Office manager worked with Lyndsey, Clubhouse director, to reconfigure the work. After some time, Erin was able to go back. Erin reports having no problem in learning new tasks, and she was able to work without much support.

Dreams Unlimited Clubhouse along with all other accredited Clubhouses throughout the world provide what is known as Transitional Employment (TE).

Transitional Employment is for members who have been in the job market before, or those who have never had a job before and would like to work. Transitional Employment is a temporary job placement program that helps you gain skills, experience, and the confidence you may need to enter the workforce on your own. If you have had a job before or you never worked, TE helps you gain the skills and confidence needed to reenter the workforce.

The Clubhouse creates the TE position, works with the employer and negotiates for you. The member placed in the TE has a generalist who acts as a placement manager, training and supporting the member. The TE job lasts from six to nine months, and the work hours are between 12-20 hours per week. Clubhouse is always working on creating new TE positions in a variety of industries in order to meet member interests and needs. If you are interested in Transitional Employment, see your generalist.

Transitional Employment by Betty R.

Giving Tours at Dreams by Karen B.

Giving tours at Clubhouse is an important task because we are letting the potential member know what Clubhouse is all about. Tours start at the front of our Clubhouse explaining to the potential member or new staff member about Easterseals MORC (our auspice agency).

Dreams is split into two units Hospitality and Member Services, and each unit has their own tasks that need to be completed each day. Completing those tasks helps members gain job skills and confidence! Each task is important, and there is a task for everyone.

All colleagues must work together for the Clubhouse to function. Hospitality Services Unit works on the kitchen and dining room tasks here at Clubhouse, and our Member Services Unit focuses on the clerical and maintenance tasks.

The tour continues with the employment room, where members help other members find jobs, do mock interviews with each other, help each other with resumes, and do job searches on the computers. I always like to point out that ALL are welcome here: all races, genders, ages, religions, orientations, beliefs, and abilities. However, a potential member needs to be 18 or older and have a mental health diagnosis to be a member.

Next, I tell them about our social recreation activities. Dreams plans one Saturday activity each month and a weekly evening activity. We don’t just do the work-ordered day here (which is the time we are doing our tasks), but we also have fun! Our Valentine’s Day party and Halloween party are an especially big hit here! In addition, we are open for most of the holidays and make it a point to celebrate together.

At Dreams, we love to make new members feel accepted and welcomed, so we offer a free cup of coffee and a free lunch on their first day. In addition, new members are paired up with another member for the first couple of days here to show them how to navigate the Clubhouse. Maybe you would like to learn how to give a tour of our Clubhouse and expand our membership? Maybe you would like a tour? Let us know, we’ll be here for you!

Advisory Board Member Interview - Maria Beam

What is your background?

I’m a social worker by trade and I became the chair of the social work department at Oakland University. I’ve been with Oakland University for 17 years.

What qualities do you bring to the Advisory Board?

I do a lot of nonprofit development, research evaluation, and my connection to Oakland University can support the work of Clubhouse.

How did you find out about Clubhouse?

I was aware of Easterseals MORC but wasn’t formally introduced to Clubhouse until I met Cam Hosner. I then came for a tour and decided I wanted to become a part of it and joined the Advisory Board.

What do you like about Clubhouse?

I see a sense of community and relationships between members. It’s empowering for the members. They benefit from a better quality of life and increased socialization. Tell us something unique about yourself.

I love photography and taking a lot of pictures of my family.

Jake C. is Chicago Bound

What in the Member Services Unit did you like doing the most?

Putting out the Newsletter and implementing the new POS system.

What did you like most about Clubhouse?

It was a second family; learning new things and watching the members grow their confidence.

What would you say is your biggest accomplishment being a part of Clubhouse?

Obtaining the Namaste TE and attending the Clubhouse International Conference.

What will you be moving on to doing?

Moving to Chicago to get my Master’s degree in Physical Education and substitute teaching until I get my Master’s and become a teacher full time.

What will you miss most about the Clubhouse?

The Joke of the Day and Karen B.’s “OK Bye” You will come back and visit us, right?

Absolutely, whenever I’m back in Michigan.

Dreams recently had the absolute pleasure of connecting with Mary Lynn Callaghan from the Royal Oak Woman’s Club, and what a meaningful connection it has been. What began as a simple phone call sparked by genuine interest in our program quickly grew into an in-person visit, a thoughtful tour, and an incredibly generous act of giving.

With such kindness and intention, the club donated 500 servings of healthy food options for our Snack Shack and encouraged us to use the proceeds to support and enrich our social activities.

It is partnerships like these that truly bring our community to life. We are deeply grateful for their generosity, their spirit of giving, and the care they have shown in supporting our members.

Strategic Planning by Gregg S. and Lyndsey S.

Our entire Clubhouse, along with the Advisory Board, had a group meeting April 28th, 2026, facilitated by Cameron Hosner, Director of Business Development & Strategic Initiatives, Easterseals MORC, to discuss our progress and brainstorm our opportunities and threats as a Clubhouse.

Dr. Maria Beam, Director of Social Work, Oakland University, and Kayleigh Sheehan, graduate student at Oakland University, presented the results of our surveys of external, current, and potential stakeholders. Gregg S. and Lyndsey S. presented our Organizational Profile, a summary of our Clubhouse statistics for the last two years, and current statistics year to date.

Once these items were presented, we brainstormed the opportunities for growth and improvement, as well as the threats for the same. We will compile the results for next month’s meeting and concentrate on our strengths and weaknesses.

Royal Oak Woman’s Club by Adam S.

Health and Wellness

Walking by Dan M.

Sometimes it can be hard to exercise, hard to get started, or hard to keep it up. That is why walking can be a good starting point.

I like to walk 10 minutes a day to relieve tension and stress. It also helps with my outlook and helps with my attitude. If you are thinking about starting a new activity, walking is perfect. If you make it a part of your daily routine, it can add years to your life. I try to walk two miles to the clubhouse from my apartment.

I suggest you wear comfortable shoes because it is recommended that you walk 4,000 to 5,000 steps a day. Start slowly and increase your pace as you go. You don’t know how much it helps, but it is a fantastic way to a healthier you. Walking also helps boost your metabolism. It also helps relax the muscles in your body.

To stay on task, I participate in walking with the Dream Steppers walking group. We count our steps daily and put them in a chart. The chart is made for Dreams participants. I feel excellent in participating in this activity. It encourages you with motivation by participating as a group for wellness. We tally our steps, and once added up from all the members, we select a destination in the world and celebrate with a meal from that destination. It is excellent to walk in the spring. The temperature is pleasant and people feel motivated to begin a daily walking routine

An excellent way to achieve your goal is to encourage friends and family to walk with you. This motivates you and can encourage others to participate in a healthier lifestyle. One step can lead to a difference in your physical and mental health.

Learning Canva - A Creative Endeavor by Shayne R.

I used to use PowerPoint to create slide shows for all different Clubhouse needs. Recently, I’m having a nice time playing around in Canva. I highly recommend checking it out sometime. I am learning some beautiful things and it allows for my creativity to bloom. Tell you the truth, I don’t want to leave Canva. It’s really amazing, it is easier to use than PowerPoint, and it is very intuitive. I use it to make lunch combo signs, sign-up sheets and more. I encourage you to try it out, and ask me for help if you need it.

left are some of Shayno’s Canva creations.

Pictured

Ingredients:

Burger

1 Lb Ground Beef

1 Tsp Garlic

1 Tsp Worchestire Sauce

Kosher Salt

Freshly Ground Black Pepper

Salad

2 Heads Romaine Lettuce (Chopped)

1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese

1 Cup Grape Tomatoes (Halved)

Dill Pickle Chips (Quartered)

¼ Red Onion (Sliced Thin)

1 Tsp Sesame Seeds (For Garnish) Salad Dressing

2 Cups Mayonnaise

2 Tbsp and 2 Tsp Mustard

2 Tbsp and 2 Tsp Dill Pickle Juice

6 Tbsp and 2 Tsp Ketchup

2 Tsp Onion Powder

2 Tsp Garlic Powder

2 Tsp Paprika

A Clubhouse Favorite

In a medium skillet, over medium heat, add ground beef, garlic powder and Worcestershire sauce and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until no pink remains, 8 to 10 minutes. Make dressing: In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, mustard, pickle juice, ketchup, onion, garlic powder, and paprika. Assemble salad: in a large bowl, toss together romaine, cheddar, tomatoes, pickles, and red onion. Drizzle with dressing and garnish with sesame seeds.

New Member Update - Gregg S.

In accordance with the Clubhouse standards and Dreams shared community values of admitting all colors, all creeds, all religions, and all genders, please extend a warm welcome to our newest member Tom Turkey. We had a little trouble filling out his paperwork, and we are waiting for him to choose a generalist. He is interested in working in MSU, as he wants to avoid the kitchen.