Meeting Highlights - July 28, 2020

Managing Stress During COVID-19 Marian Meadows, LCSW - Castro Valley USD Marian Meadows, Coordinator of Behavioral Health Services for the Castro Valley Unified School District and the Wellness Center at Castro Valley High School, provided an excellent overview of the stressors during the pandemic and productive ways to combat stress.
Managing Stress During COVID-19
Marian Meadows, LCSW - Castro Valley USD
Marian Meadows, Coordinator of Behavioral Health Services for the Castro Valley Unified School District and the Wellness Center at Castro Valley High School, provided an excellent overview of the stressors during the pandemic and productive ways to combat stress.  Her presentation focused on
  • Definitions & Types of Stress
  • Examples of avoidable and unavoidable stressful scenarios
  • Strategies for reducing stress
  • Resources
Marian began by defining stress as a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances. She then detailed the hierarchy of stress before explaining the types of stress.

Strategies for Reducing Stress

After reviewing what stress is, what causes stress, and the types of stress people are facing due to COVID-19, Marian offered the following strategies to reduce stress:

  • Monitor stress levels and INTERVENE
  • Exercise regularly (at least 30 mins a day)
  • Sleep (est. 8-9 hours each night)
  • Eat healthy
  • Avoid illegal drugs, alcohol and tobacco
  • Decrease negative self-talk
  • •Learn to accept compliments; feel proud of achievements
  • Set goals – break tasks into smaller segments
  • Don’t be afraid to ‘walk away’ and take a ‘breather’ during challenging situations
  • Find a trusted individual to talk with
  • Utilize deep breathing and positive mantras: “I can handle this…” or “I will not let this get me down…”
Marian shared this graphic with 50 Ways to Take a Break.
Resources for Dealing with Stress
Before concluding her presentation, Marian provided the following list of resources that can help individuals deal with and reduce stress:
She also suggested the following app as useful in addressing stress:
  • GPS for the Soul
  • Calm.com
  • Headspace
  • My Mood Tracker
  • Pacifica
  • Buddha Board
  • Happify
  • Breathe2Relax
  • Personal Zen
Prior to the meeting Marian provided a very informative, four-page handout on coping with stress.  Click here to access it.
Announcements
Announcements regarding Club activities and events included:  
  • President Gary Howard recognized Rotarian Mark Poniatowski as Rotarian of the Month for July for spearheading the Racial Discrimination Forum.
  • Racial Discrimination Forum will meet via Zoom on August 5 at 6:00 pm.  Please contact Mark Poniatowki for details.
  • President Gary Howard announced that his Monthly President contribution will be given to Castro Valley Science for its work with the Science Olympiad that it supports with great success in the CVUSD schools.
  • Todd Anglin with an emotional testimonial from Carol Bigelow updated the Club on the iPads for nursing homes in Castro Valley.  Click here for more information and how to donate to the project.
  • President Gary Howard announced that the Club has received its District Designated Funds (DDF) and will be donating $15,000  to support COVID-19 work Eden Medical Center
  • Details will be coming soon regarding the Virtual Beer Tasting at August 18 at 6:00 pm.  Contact Cliff Sherwood for more information.
  • Watch for details regarding the Backpack Project for Caastro Valley USD and Redwood Christian Schools.  The backpacks will be assembled outside with appropriate social distancing and other safety protocols.
  • Don't forget to click here to check out the Castro Valley Virtual Car Show.
  • Prior to the speaker's presentation, the Club was treated to an outstanding soft jazz presentation by CVHS student Christian Decano, who is the Drum Major for the CVHS Band.  Band Director Steve Hendee described the program.
Upcoming Meeting                                   
 
August 4 - Racism in the Bay Area - Stephen Menendian - 12:00 Noon
 
Nationally known Stephen Menendian is the Assistant Director and Director of Research at the Othering & Belonging Institute, and oversees the Institute’s burgeoning research initiatives and ongoing projects. In particular, Stephen leads the Inclusiveness Index initiative, fair housing policy and opportunity mapping project with the Equity Metrics team. Stephen’s research focuses on the mechanisms of inter-group inequality, “othering,” structural racism, and the design of effective equity interventions as permitted by law.  Read more here.
 
Access the meeting on Zoom at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/240179056
 

The list of Upcoming Event, registration for the events, and the Zoom access link are always posted on ClubRunner under Upcoming Events.  Please RSVP help us plan for the events, by sending your RSVP.  Guests are always welcome.

Russell Hampton
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