LOCAL HAPPINESS CLUB MEETINGS

FAIRFIELD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB
We pleased to announce a presentation called: HAPPINESS FOR LIFE, by Lionel Ketchian. Lionel is founder of the Happiness Club and the author of the book, Food for Thought and writes the Be Happy Zone column for the Fairfield Citizen-News. Lionel taught one of the first courses in the United States on Happiness at Sacred Heart University in 1999. He is the Co-host of The Happiness TV Cable Show and has been the Co-host of The Successful Living Radio Show on WICC radio.

We are also happy to present "Holiday Happiness." by Cheryl Burack, the Executive Director of Coordinating Council For Children In Crisis, Inc., a grass-roots community-based organization working directly with vulnerable families to prevent child abuse and neglect. It is the dedicated staff, caring community members and resilient families that, after 20 years, keep Cheryl engaged in the mission of raising children who are safe, happy and healthy.
Date: Tuesday, November 17, 2009 Time: - 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place: At the Fairfield Public Library, Rotary room, 1080 Old Post Road, Fairfield, CT 06824
Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meet some wonderful people using happiness in their lives. Learn to have the peace of mind you need and experience happiness now. Future meetings at the Fairfield Library will be: Holiday Gathering on Thursday, December 3rd, 2009 bring a dish of food or desert to share with others.

Click here for Meetup:
http://www.meetup.com/International-Happiness-Club/?a=wo1_gn

Directions to Fairfield Public Library: (movie theatre is diagonally across the street)
From the west (Westport) on Connecticut Turnpike (I-95)
Take Exit 22 (Round Hill Road) Take a right at the bottom of the ramp.Go straight, under the railroad tracks. Take a right at the light onto Post Road (Rt. 1). Take a left at the first through street. Library is on your left at the corner of Post Road and Old Post Road.
From the east (Bridgeport) on Connecticut Turnpike (I-95)
Take Exit 22 (North Benson Road) Take a left at the bottom of the ramp. Go straight under thruway and railroad tracks. Take a right at the light onto the Post Road. Take a left at the second through street. The Library is on your left at the corner of the Post Road and the Old Post Road.

GREENWICH CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB
GREENWICH CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB
Date & Time: Wednesday, November from 7:00 - 8:30 P.M. to be announced.
meeting to be announced. Place: Greenwich Town Hall - 3rd Floor, Hayton Room, 101 Field Point Rd Greenwich, CT 06830
The group organizers are: Jamie Gerelli & Senia Maymin, MBA, MAPP. Jamie's phone: 203-323-7899 & e-mail: zenkayak@gmail.com Senia's phone: 212-920-0277 & e-mail: senia@senia.com
RSVP via the Greenwich Happiness Club Meet-up group site: http://hobby.meetup.com/31/

GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT FRIENDLY CONNECTIONS HAPPINESS CLUB
GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT FRIENDLY CONNECTIONS HAPPINESS CLUB
The presentation will be: Happiness at 97 Years Young. Trudy always says her three tips for living to 100 are a sense of humor, faith and a positive outlook on life.
Date & Time: Monday, Friday, November 6, from 5:30 PM.
Friendly Connections, is a program of Family Centers of Connecticut. This incredible organization, enables groups of seniors to participate in interactive telephone groups and classes from the comfort of their home, assisted care facility, and even from a hospital. All that is needed is a regular telephone and best of all, there is no charge. The coordinator of Friendly Connections, will enable any senior citizen, anywhere in CT. and Westchester County, to participate in this new Friendly Connections Happiness Club. For more information or to participate and become part of this Happiness Club, call 203-661-8841. You must call in advance so you can be connected by computer to Anne's group, each month.

This is possible thanks to the John H & Ethel Noble Charitable Trust, The Community Fund of Darien, the Kurzrok Foundation and the Old Greenwich Lions Club. For more information: www.familycenters.org
Anne Fasanella, R.N, B.S.N., is the facilitator. annefasanella@yahoo.com

GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT FRIENDLY CONNECTIONS ANNIE'S SING-A-LONG CLUB
Date & Time: Monday, November 23, from 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM.
Place: Anne brings happiness and joy via the telephone to Seniors who may be home bound, in a nursing facility or even senior citizens who end up in a hospital. Now they can all stay connected by a Happiness Family of Friends and by becoming a part of this Sing-A-Long Club.

Friendly Connections, is a program of Family Centers of Connecticut. This incredible organization, enables groups of seniors to participate in interactive telephone groups and classes from the comfort of their home, assisted care facility, and even from a hospital. All that is needed is a regular telephone and best of all, there is no charge. The coordinator of Friendly Connections, will enable any senior citizen, anywhere in CT. and Westchester County, to participate in this new Friendly Connections Happiness Club. For more information or to participate and become part of this Happiness Club, call 203-661-8841. You must call in advance so you can be connected by computer to Anne's group, each month.

This is possible thanks to the John H & Ethel Noble Charitable Trust, The Community Fund of Darien, the Kurzrok Foundation and the Old Greenwich Lions Club. For more information: www.familycenters.org
Anne Fasanella, R.N, B.S.N., is the facilitator. annefasanella@yahoo.com

VERY HAPPY PEOPLE CLUB (VHP) THE TEEN HAPPY CLUB OF NORWALK CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB
The meetings are after school twice each month.
Place: Brien McMahon High School, Norwalk, CT. Admission is free for all Brien McMahon students.
Elaine Ganat RN MS NCSN, is the facilitator For additional info or questions, contact Elaine at in the nursing department by calling: 203-852-9488, Ext. 11218.

WESTPORT CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB
Trainer Ken Coscia will present "Navigating Uncertainty: How To Stay Resilient In Changing Times" Ken Coscia has dedicated nearly four decades to helping people navigate change and create more fulfilling lives through the application of mind-body-spirit techniques. During his 90-minute presentation, Ken will explore the cycles of change, their potential challenges and what we can do about them. He also will include experiential exercises. "Perhaps the most valuable focus for our time is actual awareness of our power to change," says Ken. "The tools for bringing together the conscious and subconscious minds are the most important of our time. If we are going to bring Love, Happiness and Peace to our hearts and our world we have to get out of our heads where knowing it is possible, and into our hearts, where we teach by our words and actions." For more information about Ken, go to www.kencoscia.com
Our meeting will be Sunday, November 1st at the usual time of 6:30 - 8:30 PM.

Westport Happiness Club is inviting all to come to the "Rabbit Hill Barn Dance" Saturday, November 7th at the United Methodist Church of Westport and Weston, 49 Weston Road, Westport, just north of Exit 42 of the Merritt Parkway. Family dance for parents and children under 12 is from 6 to 7 p.m. Adult/teen dance is from 7 to 9 p.m. Live music provided by The Jackson Pike Skifflers of Easton. Professional dance caller Eleanor Fahrney is from Buena Vista, CO. Child care and activities will be provided. Tickets are limited and reservations are needed at $10 per person or $20 per family. Call the church office at 203-227-4707 for further details or to make reservations.

Place: United Methodist Church of Westport at 49 Weston Road, Westport Just north of Exit 42 on the Merritt Pkwy. Admission is free and all are welcome.
Jerry Eyster is the facilitator. For additional info or questions, contact Jerry at 203-292-5298 or e-mail Jerry at: happywestport@optimum.net

SMILING SINGLE SENIORS HAPPINESS CLUB, WESTPORT, CONNECTICUT
Our next Happiness Club meeting presents: "Understanding Happiness," by Richard Ellis, M.D. Dr. Ellis received his BA and MD degrees from Johns Hopkins University. In 1998 he read Dennis Prager's book, "Happiness is a Serious Problem" and became aware of the large number of people living unhappy lives. This motivated him to read a number of other books about happiness and to teach several classes about happiness at Lifetime Learners Institute at Norwalk Community College.
In addition Dr. Ellis has collected many insightful and inspiring quotes for over 20 years. He shares these quotes with his students to help them live more fulfilling lives. Dr. Ellis also attends the Happiness Club meetings and presents his wisdom and thoughts on happiness and his quotes to the audience. As Benjamin Disraeli said, "The wisdom of the wise and the experience of the ages are perpetuated by quotations." Most recently, Dr. Ellis has taught a course called "The Wisdom Concepts" at Lifetime Learners Institute.
Date & Time: Thursday, November 19, 2009 - 6:30 - 8:00 P.M.
Place: The Westport Senior Center, 21 Imperial Ave. Westport CT 06880.
Stacy Enyeart is the group facilitator. Admission is free and the meetings are for people single and over 50 years old.

MILFORD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB
We have a new facilitator for this club. Her name is Joann Dunsing and she is a NLP professional and works with Hypnotherapy. Joanne's e-mail is: JoannDunsing@gmail.com, her website: www.JoannDunsing.com
Her phone # 203-907-7710.
Date We will be announcing new meeting information shortly.
Place: At the The Golden Hill Health Care Center, 2028 Bridgeport Avenue, Milford
Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meetings are the last Thursday of each month.
Joann Dunsing is an NLP professional and works with Hypnotherapy. Joanne's e-mail is: JoannDunsing@gmail.com, her website: www.JoannDunsing.com
Her phone # 203-907-7710.

MADISON CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB
The next presentation will be: Happiness and the Genders! Men and women often have different times in their lives when they feel more or less happy. And wouldn't you know it, their happiness scales tend to move in opposite directions. Let’s talk about what happiness means to each sex, why they experience happiness at different stages and how they can get more in synch. Join Barb Scala, Lifestyle Transition Coach and author of Sanity Savers: Tips for Women to Live a Balanced Life as seen on NBC’s Today Show, for this lively discussion. www.BloomWithBarb.com
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 - 7:00 - 9:00 P.M.
Place: At the E.C. Scranton Memorial Library, 801 Boston Post Road, Madison, Ct. 06443
Tina Garrity is the group facilitator. Tina's e-mail: Ting45@aol.com phone: 203-245-2632. Everyone is welcome; admission is free. Meetings are held on the last Wednesday of each month.

WALLINGFORD CONNECTICUT HAPPINESS CLUB Formerly the New Haven
Date & Time: Tuesday, November, 2009 - 7:00- 9:00 P M to be announced.
Place: Choate Rosemary Hall, Wallingford, CT – Ruuz Rees Building
Admission is free and all are welcome.
Jim & Chris Rinere are the facilitators. E-mail Chris at: crinere@comcast.net For additional info or questions, contact Jim at: (203) 985-5994

DIRECTIONS:
From South/New Haven:
Route 91 North
Exit 14 – Ct. 150/Woodhouse Avenue
Turn Left onto Woodhouse Ave/Ct. 150
Stay Straight onto E. Main Street
Turn Left onto Christian Street (1 mile from exit off 91)
Second Right Hand Turn – Rosemary Lane – (there will be yellow balloons on the street sign)

From North:
Route 91 South
Exit 14, toward CT 150/Wallingford
Turn Right onto E. Center Street
Turn Right onto E. Main Street
Turn Left onto Christian Street
Second Right Hand Turn – Rosemary Lane (There will be yellow balloons on the street sign)

Once on Rosemary Lane, follow the street to the first parking lot on the left. The building – Ruutz-Rees, is the first building on the left. Look for balloons at entrance to building too!

NEW YORK HAPPINESS CLUB
Date & Time: To be announced for November, 2009 from 7:00 PM. 7:30 - 9:00 PM
Place: At Columbia Business School - 1125 Amsterdam Avenue and 115th street, Warren Hall, Room 416(4th floor) Columbia University campus New York, NY 10027 New York http://hobby.meetup.com/7/calendar/9234887/
Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, MAPP, RYT, is the group facilitator. Phone: (516) 425-2851, www.emiliya.com e-mail: mail@emiliya.com Meetings are held once each month.

ANNOUNCING A NEW MEETUP FOR HAPPINESS CLUB NY!
What: Happier.com... meet the founder, learn the secrets
When: November 12, 2009 7:00 PM
Where: (A location has not been chosen yet.) It will be in held in Midtown Manhattan.
Happier.com is an amazing positive psychology based online resource that now has thousands of members over the world! The great thing about the site is that it gives you bite sized chunks of positive psychology. I'm so excited about what these people are doing that I've coordinated for the Founder of www.happier.com.
Come with a pad and paper and leave with specific, scientifically proven ways to becoming HAPPIER!
Learn more here: http://hobby.meetup.com/7/calendar/11730409/ Love and light! Emiliya Zhivotovskaya, MAPP, RYT, is the group facilitator. Phone: (516) 425-2851, Website e-mail: mail@emiliya.com

BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT - BRIDGE HOUSE HAPPINESS CLUB
BRIDGE HOUSE HAPPINESS CLUB MEETING
Bridge House is a Clubhouse which is modeled on the Fountain House model of psychiatric rehabilitation.
The men and women who attend assist with the running of the program, which helps to restore their sense of purpose, dignity and self worth. Members also work at part time jobs, with staff providing intensive supports.
Phyllis Freeman, MS and Lionel Ketchian and are the group facilitators.
Phyllis phone is 203 335-5339 & e-mail: intake@bridgehousect.org
Meeting: First Thursday of each month for a happy hour meeting!
Time: 1:30- 2:30 PM
Place: Bridge House
Address: 880 Fairfield Ave, Bridgeport, CT

STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT - TEEN HAPPY CLUB
Open to all high school students.
For reservations and information contact: Rosalie at: 203 322-9990
Meeting: Meetings are held twice a month on Saturdays
Time: 11:00 - 12:30 PM
Place: Daniel and Grace Tully & Family Health Center
Address: 32 Strawberry Hill Court, Stamford, Connecticut 06902.

UNHAPPINESS - THE PERFECT STORM!

By Lionel Ketchian
BE HAPPY ZONE
January 14, 2009

Are you creating the Perfect Storm in your life? Think about a time when you had a problem that was troubling you, or a situation that was bad for you, or even a person that created a disagreeable condition in your life. This scenario is the first part of the perfect storm.

The second part of the perfect storm is your unhappy reaction to the situation. Why would that cause the perfect storm? The reason is, while your problems may be the gasoline or the fuel for a fire the heat of your unhappiness is the spark that ignites the fuel and creates the fire.

Merriam-Webster's Online Dictionary defines the Perfect Storm as "a critical or disastrous situation created by a powerful concurrence of factors." The perfect storm not only describes weather conditions, it can also be attributed to factors in our thinking and human emotions.

You have a problem, you then become unhappy that you have a problem. When you become unhappy because you have a problem, your unhappiness creates another problem, usually the bigger problem one. The problem becomes bigger than life. It consumes and overwhelms you. You feel there is nothing you can do, because your state of unhappiness directs you to see life in only that way. Once you think unhappily, in terms of the problem and not the solution, you lose your power and ability to deal with the problem.

Take a look at your problem. Do you have a choice about your problem? You do not have to face your problems, but you need to face your choices. That is the power of choice. Knowing you have a choice gives you power. This is far more important than you may realize. The next time you encounter a problem, ask yourself what choices are available to you. You can only make the best choice available to you. But first you need to be aware that the choice exists.

Happiness can allow you to see these choices clearly. In a happy state of mind, you can deal with any problem. With clarity, you can better see what choices you have. This clarity enables you to effectively deal with your problem. List all possibilities regarding what your choices are, than look at the two best choices in this situation, and choose the best one for this moment.

Once you have made that choice, go with it, and let go of the entire situation. You have done everything you can do for now. If you find a better choice in twenty minutes, then select it. In the meantime, your power to choose has accomplished many positive things: You have stopped worrying about the situation you have, started to realize your choices, you have decided to act on those choices. You can cause what you want to happen, as a result of making the right choices. You can create a magnet of positive events, which will start flowing toward you in your life. Your ability to make choices, or better yet, the right choices in every situation, gives you a step up to the best reality for the next moment.

If you have no choice, you will be left with something you do not like. It's not that you really have a problem. Problems have solutions. If you do not have a choice, why make it a problem? If the problem is just a part of life, and you don't accept it, than you will suffer. Your suffering is a result of your reaction to you're own negative thinking. This is also your choice, but you do have another choice … to live and enjoy life. Just Be Happy!

There is no reason valid enough to make you unhappy. You are choosing to be unhappy because you want something to be different. A better choice is, remain happy, then deal with the people, problems, and situations in your life. In this way, you learn to make the best choices and find the best solutions for the things you want to change.

Empower yourself by deciding to be happy no matter what! Choose happiness over everything else. Give yourself the power to deal with life and yourself more effectively. Happiness is a powerful strategy
for those who practice it! Happiness gives you the awareness to realize the choices you have and decide what option is right for you. What is the real power you have in doing this? You have power over yourself, and this is very important my friend, because being happy gives you authentic power.

You have the power to stop the perfect storm of unhappiness. Roll the storm clouds away and bask in the sunlight of the power of happiness!

Lionel Ketchian is the founder of the Happiness Club. He can be reached at PrintLRK@aol.com. The Web site is www.HappinessClub.com.