Keynote Speakers 

How to change your luck in 7/10's of a second

On a sunny fall day on a bridge in New Jersey, John Curley heard a stranger yell one word at him that changed his life forever. John now travels the US masterfully retelling this riveting, humorous, and life-affirming story. The audience will learn that what happens in the first 7/10’s of a second when meeting a person can determine in which new direction their life can move. By using personal stories and scientific research, Curley weaves a spell binding life story that will leave the audience with a refreshed perspective on their interpersonal relationships. Do you know the word, John heard? Come hear his humorous retelling of that life-changing moment.  Presented by John Curley • Wednesday, May 2

Making a difference:  Inspired to adapt

Rachel Coleman is one in a million, statistically speaking of course.  One in one thousand children are born profoundly deaf and one in one thousand children are born with spina bifida.  In 1996 Rachel’s daughter Leah was born profoundly deaf and four years later, her daughter Lucy was born with spina bifida.  Inspired by her children’s needs and challenges, Rachel has been instrumental in putting sign language into the hands of infants and toddlers, both hearing and deaf.  Learn how Rachel has become a mentor, advocate, and role model for countless families across the country who are raising children with diabilities, and how her Signing Time television show has made a difference in both her family’s life and others’.  Presented by Rachel Coleman • Thursday, May 3

Happiness, Stress, and Leisure

John de Graaf, Executive Director of Take Back Your Time, presents a humorous, big picture talk about the connections between happiness, stress, leisure and environmental sustainability.  For Thomas Jefferson, the pursuit of happiness depended on leisure and modern science is confirming that. The UN has called on all nations to measure happiness rather than GDP and Seattle activists are leading a national campaign around that theme.  They are finding that Americans’ lowest scores on their happiness survey are in the areas of “time balance” and “environment and access to nature.”  100 years ago, President Taft advocated 2-3 months of vacation for all Americans, but we now have the shortest vacations in the world and many companies are cutting vacation time altogether.  It’s time to change our priorities!  Parks and recreation professionals can make a difference!  Presented by John de Graaf • Friday, May 4