After years of general fatigue, a myriad of tests without an answer, a catheter was inserted through my hip eventually winding its way to my heart, discovering two blocked arteries. After successfully re-opening them, I set out on difficult cardio-rehabilitation to regain heart fitness. During the next three months (including a leave of absence from work), I set out to restore my physical, spiritual and emotional well being. This speech details a 3-month journey of rediscovery the things that nourish and nurture each of these three areas — a thirst for learning, unearthing my dormant creativity and all things WordPress.
I set out to become more mindful of the things that bring me positive energy including truly engaging in the Community — 4 WordCamps, 16+ WordPress Meetups and Events, designed a Wapuu, and a website build/brand to give back. From Castaic north to Palmdale (northernmost Los Angeles County), east to Riverside and all ports of call in-between (Pasadena, Whittier, Hollywood, Downtown Los Angeles) learn what makes good clubs while finding a network of common minds and colorful characters and gain inspiration to start the WordPress Santa Clarita Valley Meetup, over 8,000 Miles later.
In this presentation, you’ll learn:
- What are the benefits of attending WordCamp?
- Why join a WordPress Slack Channel?
- Why volunteer to help at a WordCamp (experience being on both sides of the table)?
- What is a WordPress Meetup?
- What are the ‘five rules’ of hosting a WP Meetup?
- How to get started? From visiting your local WordPress Meetup to even starting your own.
- How to harness the energy from attending a WordCamp in your WP Meetups?
- What are the benefits of attending a WordPress Meetup?
- What is WordPress.tv?
- What are my favorite WordPress podcasts?
- Who are the faces of WordPress Community?
- Learning resources – Codex, videos and more.
- Why would I do something so crazy (deal with LA traffic)?
- My takeaways or goals (get better at WordPress, start a local Meetup, etc)