Rescheduled: Happiness Camp PDX 2014 on Nov 22, 2014 from 10am to 1pm at the Portland Happiness Center

Date: Saturday 22nd November
Time: 10:00am - 1:00pm
Location: Portland Happiness Center, 
                737 SE Sandy Blvd, Suite 4, Portland, OR 97214 (map)
Tickets: By invitation (use Contact Form)
Includes: People, space, flip charts & Post-it notes, and a whole lot of happiness!



Happiness Camp PDX (Meetup, Facebook) has moved!! It will now be held on November 22, 2014 at the Portland Happiness Center from 10am to 1pm.

This is an unconference to explore the meaning and create abundance of happiness in relationships and families. An unconference is a participant driven meeting where topics and information is shared through a self-generating event. The conference is created by the attendees through topic and format suggestions that are then voted on and assigned into the conference space that is available. Happiness Camp will include and create presentations, panel and open discussions on what it means to have Happy Relationships and Families, and how have people found and created happiness in their lives and with their loved ones.

The cost is free but by invitation only. Space is limited to 30 participants, so please use the Contact Form to make your case to join the group!

Happiness Camp Featured Participants

Featured Participants

Richard Appleyard, Tech Guru & Coach

Richard is a Holistic Tech Guru by day, and one half of Operation: Hot Couple by evening and weekends! Richard went through his life-changing event in 2011 when he realized just how much he was the cause of his own misery and unhappiness. He completed a weekend workshop (Landmark Forum) and created a vision for v2.0 of his Life - passion (in his marriage), health and financial independence (full self-expression in work and life). From that was created Marriage 2.0 (a passionate partnership with Jennifer), Operation: Hot Couple (losing over 100bs together through nutrition/ exercise) and That's Brilliant (a creative company he and Jennifer founded). Richard is an IT Manager at the City of Portland, continues to work on creative projects in his spare time, and currently coaches in the Landmark Self Expression and Leadership Program.

Rodrigo, Happiness Coach

Rodrigo Baena is a happiness coach who was profiled in The Oregonian for his work on making Portland, OR a happier place. He is constantly initiating new ideas outside his coaching practice to create and promote more connection between people. He has founded the Portland Happiness Center and holds regular MeetUp events there.

Ann Witsil, Faciliator

Ann is the founder and principal of Catalyst Strategies, For more than 25 years, she has helped management teams and organizations achieve their greatest potential through collaboration, innovation, focused communication and commitment. Ann believes that engaging diverse perspectives helps build a culture of open communication and continual learning which fuels both individual passion and group achievement.

Kellie Poulsen-Grill, Speaker & Author

What you need to know is that 'Kellie Speaks Happy'. Full of energy and fun, "The Whirlwind Woman" is an expert on many aspects of life.  She speaks with a focus on love, loss, life, parenting, songwriting, publishing (both music and book publishing) and "How to Achieve Greatness After the Loss of a Loved One". She also shares about her love story with her husband Dave, and an inspirational, non-fiction book entitled "Send Me A Sign" (Whirlwind Publishing). Kellie also runs Happy Success Ranch Retreats in Wilsonville, Oregon, that take you on a refreshing and amazing journey and leave you energized, inspired and motivated to experience a life filled with more vibrancy, authenticity, integrity, intimacy, spirituality and freedom.

Jennifer Strait, Speaker & Artist

Jennifer is a Public Speaker, Toastmaster, Professional EmCee, and an avowed nemesis of Autopilot Living. She loves to inspire others to think outside of the box, to help them tap into their inherent creativity, to reach beyond what they think they know, and to embrace the idea that Art changes Lives.
Favorite phrases: 'Consider the possibility...' 'Just so that we're clear...' 'What is your ultimate intention?' and 'Your way got you to where you are right now...you want to stay with that?'
Jennifer is a former professor of Clothing & Textiles, a coach, and an accomplished artist. She is also the other half of Operation: Hot Couple!

Happiness Camp Schedule-current draft as of 10/12/14

Here is the current schedule for the Happiness Camp PDX event:

• 9:00 am Check-in & Networking (coffee and tea available)
• Network with other participants
• Brainstorm topics, complete suggestion sticky notes
  
• 9:30 am Welcome & Orientation (Richard, Jennifer & Ann)
• Review the vision and case for action for Happiness Camp
• Review the "-Camp" unconference format and ground rules
• Make any changes/ additions to the agenda/schedule
  
• 9:45 am Develop Topics & Sessions Plan (all participants)
• Final chance to add topics, formats to the Wall
• Review suggestions, consolidate similiar topics, session formats
• Participants vote on their top sessions
• Schedule top session into schedule, review conflicts, logistical issue
  
• 10:15 am --BREAK-- (10 minutes) Divide room
  
• 10:30 am Session One (45 mins. - two possible sessions to choose from)
  
• 11:15 am Session Two (45 mins. - two possible sessions to choose from)
  
• 12:00 pm --LUNCH-- (lunch served - build your own sandwich and soup, coffee, tea)
  
• 12:15pm Lunch Session (45 mins - )
• Report out morning sessions, discussion
• Ideas for the Happiness Camp community
  
• 1:15 pm Session Three  (45 mins. - two possible sessions to choose from)
  
• 2:00 pm Session Four  (45 mins. - two possible sessions to choose from)
  
• 2:45 pm Closing feedback session (all participants)
• Report out afternoon sessions, discussion
• Next steps for the Happiness Camp community
• Next meeting arrangements
  
• 3:30 pm Wrap and clear-up
• Post event networking, discussion
• Clear, pack-up the space
  
• 4:00 pm No-host after party in The Sports Pub

There no key to happiness. The door is always open. -- Mother Teresa

"There no key to happiness. The door is always open." -- Mother Teresa

We were driving to work the other morning along the main drag into downtown from SW Portland. As we passed by one of the large billboard outside a religious establishment, our daughter mentioned how most of the time the quotes were not inspirational but rather judgmental. However, there was one exception that she noticed and remembered..."There is no key to happiness. The door is always open."

This quote stuck with me the whole day as I shared it with others. A simple truth. Happiness can be found at any time. There are two steps. A simple choice (rather than a complicated mechanism like a lock) and a simple action (to step over the threshold and into happiness). Although these steps are simple, they may not be easy. Many of us get stuck and are at some level aware of it, but more often we are completely unaware (i.e., we actually make the door invisible).

In the first step, we are stopped by choices we are unaware of that keep us unhappy (i.e., mistakenly going in the opposite direction to the doorway) or by thinking that we do not have a choice (i.e., actively slamming the door shut, and sticking a lock of our own on it). In the second step, we are stopped by choosing only to look through the doorway, admiring the view of happiness but not daring to make the step forward (i.e., settling for the status quo believing that happiness could never be possible for us, or being fearful of the steps we have to take to be happy).

One step you can take "through the doorway" is to come join your peers and experts as we look into these barriers and decisions we make around happiness at Happiness Camp PDX on Saturday 1st November (Facebook, Meetup, Tickets). Reserve your place now, space is limited.

Realize happiness is available to all of us at any time. We just have to remove the barriers WE place around the doorway, and make that step through.