Our place is now “Mask Optional” for the vaccinated guests. We welcome everyone to this new phase of COVID environment. We request to wear mask if you are not vaccinated. Still, the Oregon Health Authority strongly recommends the mask use in certain situations. Please refer to Oregon Health Authority publication OHA2288K_R03082022

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Earlier this month, OHA announced that the general indoor mask requirement would be lifted by March 31, with the option of lifting it sooner if conditions improved enough.

Originally, OHA announced that the K-12 indoor mask rule would lift on March 31. Feedback from school districts around the state indicated that preparations for the transition could be completed earlier.

By that date, it was expected, 400 or fewer people per day in Oregon would be hospitalized with the virus, a level the state experienced prior to the arrival of the Omicron variant. A recent modeling report by Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) predicted the state would reach that total around March 20.

— Read more on: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/ORDHS/bulletins/30c223b

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First, if you’d like to rent our space and you have specific requirements or preferences around COVID protocols for your group, we are happy to accommodate that.  Just let us know and we’ll work together to make it happen.

Due to recent rules put in place by Multnomah County and the State of Oregon, masks are required inside our space. Exceptions are while eating/drinking or while being filmed or photographed. There are currently no other distancing or capacity requirements–our maximum capacity is 50 people–but if you’d like help distancing your guests from each other, we can help you plan for that.

Contact us here for event space or conference room booking requests, and check our site for event space and conference room rates.

For our own in-person Encorepreneur programs, we are currently requiring that people be vaccinated and show their vaccination cards the first time they attend (as well as wear a mask). We also continue to have some programming online. You can see our events calendar here.

We are in the office more often now, but the schedule often changes to accommodate event space rentals. It’s a good idea to give us a call or make an appointment before coming by to make sure someone will be there: 503-954-2837.

We realize that things are currently in flux and may change again soon, for better or worse, and we will keep you updated if they do.

Thank you for sticking with us through the last 18 months. We hope to see you soon!

The post Events and Programs are Back! appeared first on The Encorepreneur Cafe.

Now that Multnomah County has moved to the “Lower Risk” category for Oregon COVID guidelines. That means that we can host more people in our space and be a little bit more flexible on some rules in some cases. Currently, we can host up to 22 people in our space!

In general, the move from “high” to “lower” risk categories means:

• Most indoor establishments can have 50% capacity
• Up to 8 people can sit together in groups or “pods”
• More able to work in-person in offices

Although we are in the office more often now, we are still open by appointment only for meetings, photo/video shoots, and events. Contact us here for scheduling and check our site for event space and conference room rates.

After taking the Multnomah County Health Department into consideration, we have chosen to require masks in our space for any event where there are people present who are not fully vaccinated. The default rule for our space is that everyone needs to wear a mask. However, if you are interested in using our space for a fully-vaccinated, mask-less event, please contact us to discuss the option.

For the present time, our own programs continue to be virtual and you can find out more about them here. For those wanting to put on their own online events and programs, we provide access to quality web cams, microphones, lighting, and other equipment, as well as online event management services. Contact us directly for a custom quote.

This definitely feels like a massive turning point in the pandemic. We can’t wait to see you all soon!

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As many of you already are aware, on February 12, 2021, Multnomah County’s COVID risk will be downgraded from “Extreme” to the “High” risk category. That’s still not great, but it does feel like good news and a small ray of hope.

What does this mean in terms of what we all can and can’t do? The move from “extreme” to “high” risk categories means:

• Indoor recreation and entertainment is allowed at limited capacity
• In-person meetings and work is allowed if necessary
• Indoor dining is allowed at limited capacity

As through most of the pandemic, we are currently open by appointment for meetings and photo/video shoots, and now we can also host limited-sized social gatherings. If you need to meet with a client or small group in person, we would love to host you in our private, controlled environment. Contact us here for scheduling and check our site for event space and conference room rates.

We continue to work with clients on a case-by-case basis depending on the details of your needs and do our best to accommodate requests as safely as possible.

We also anticipate that most people in most circumstances will continue to meet and attend events online for the foreseeable future. Our own programs continue to be virtual and you can find out more about them here. For those wanting to put on their own online events and programs, we provide access to quality web cams, microphones, lighting, and other equipment, as well as online event management services. Contact us directly for a custom quote.

Please stay safe as we (hopefully) are seeing the beginning of the end of this pandemic. We truly miss all of our clients and wonderful community and hope to see you again soon.

The post Yes we are open! appeared first on The Encorepreneur Cafe.

Zoom is for scheduled meetings with several people. Many people use it to teach classes or host events online, so if you are interested in joining in those things, you will need to download Zoom and create an account. If you want to start your own meeting, you have to create the meeting and then share with the people you are planning on chatting with, either by email or by texting them the meeting name/password.

Getting Started with Zoom–Mobile

Getting Started with Zoom–Desktop

Skype is good for chatting, voice, or video calling. It doesn’t require you to setting up a meeting, although you may need to schedule time with your friends and family so that everyone is available on their computer or smart phone at the same time. It allows you to have a bank of contacts that you can attempt to message or video chat with at any time, as long as they are also on their device.

Getting Started with Skype–Mobile

Getting Started with Skype–Desktop

Make an appointment to practice using Zoom, Skype, or Google Hangouts. For those who want to learn these apps to connect with family and friends, take part in live online events, or teach a class…or for those who just want to have a chat with us! Make your appointment online and we’ll follow up via email with instructions on how to join the meeting.

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Please, everyone who can, stay home and stay safe!

The post Update: March 31 appeared first on The Encorepreneur Cafe.

This means that all programs EXCEPT for Qigong will be cancelled this month. Many of our programs have been postponed, with rescheduled dates still pending. We will be available to our rental clients–for small meetings only–through March.

Qigong will continue nearby, either outdoors at Holladay Park if the weather is warm enough, or on the 3rd floor inside Lloyd Center if the weather is cool/rainy. You can find more details about Qigong here: https://www.meetup.com/Portland-Qigong/

Both Masaki and Erin will be working from home during this time, so feel free to email info@encorepreneurcafe.com or call 503-954-2837 if you have any questions or just want to chat. The closure may last beyond March, so please check back here or on our website for updates.

It is so disappointing to not be able to provide all the programs that we planned for you this month, but many others are experiencing much more dire circumstances. Now is a great time to reach out to neighbors, local restaurants, favorite small businesses, and any seniors in your life to check and see how they are doing. Thank you everyone, and please be kind to each other during this anxious time!

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Please, everyone, stay safe and do whatever you can to help those around who may need support in this anxious time!

The post Update for all of our program participants and event attendees appeared first on The Encorepreneur Cafe.

At this time, we haven’t canceled any of our activities. Anyone who is feeling unwell, coughing, sneezing, or has any other flu-like symptoms, please do not come to The Encorepreneur Cafe. If you have already paid for an event and are exhibiting symptoms, please contact us. We will give you credit to attend another time.

We encourage those who feel it is safe and healthy for them to do so, to please attend! As much as possible, we are arranging our space so participants can avoid close contact. We continue to clean and disinfect daily.

If any of our staff exhibits symptoms of illness, they will be asked to stay home. We will provide pay to our employees who stay home because of illness and/or have ways for them to work from home as necessary.

Thank you and please take care of yourselves and each other!

The post COVID-19 Update appeared first on The Encorepreneur Cafe.