Menlo Park Area Women Better than 50

We intentionally keep our membership small so we can truly connect and build meaningful friendships. If you are primarily seeking an occasional activity group, this may not be a good fit. Our focus is creating a warm, supportive circle of women who value having fun while forming new and lasting friendships. We welcome women over 50 who are ready to engage, participate, and help create a positive, encouraging atmosphere. If you have a sense of adventure and are open‑minded, kind, friendly, and enjoy uplifting others, you will feel welcome here.

A clear self‑photograph is required for membership. Residency in Menlo Park is not necessary, though many of our events are held in the surrounding area.

Our activities cover a wide variety of interests such as dining at local and wider Bay Area restaurants, book discussions, museum visits, arts and crafts, game nights, new and classic films, history-based activities, nature walks, daytrips, weekend trips, and many other cultural and educational experiences. We also host more informal gatherings, such as afternoon tea or casual coffee meetups.

While most events are held in the mid‑peninsula, we regularly explore San Francisco and other Bay Area locations. We also offer our Discovering California series, which features short statewide excursions, and our Discovering San Francisco series, which highlights distinctive attractions and experiences within or around the city.

© 2022-2026 Menlo Park Area Women Better Than 50 – all rights reserved including content, descriptions, rules, ideas, photos, and statements.

********THIS IS HOW WE MANAGE OUR GROUP**********
While our group is managed in a relaxed and friendly manner, we believe it’s important to be upfront about our expectations. All prospective members are asked to review and agree to the guidelines below, and to follow them when engaging with the group.

• Membership in this Meet-Up group is at the complete discretion of the Organizer.
• We do not allow membership in this group for people who are organizers/co-organizers/event hosts/leaders for other Meet Up groups.

1.  Non-Participation/Inactive Members

• In order to keep our membership list manageable and small enough for our members to get to know each other I try to keep the membership list down to 55 or so members who participate on a regular basis.
• I periodically drop members who do not participate.
• Non-participation could mean at least the following:
• ---Signing up for events then dropping out before the event date
• ---Not attending an event since joining this group
• ---Not attending an event in two months or more
• Please note that signing up for an event and then withdrawing before the event date does not count as participation.

2.   Wait Lists

• Our Attendee lists usually tend to fill to capacity quickly.
• Many of our event slots are taken even before an official announcement goes out to all members.
• Therefore, checking our Meet Up site on a regular basis for new events is the best way to get on the Attendee List without first going through a Wait List.
• If you see an event that you would like to attend but there is a Wait List - please sign up anyway. Our Wait Lists usually move quickly.
• If your name is on a Wait List check your Meet Up messages frequently, especially as the event date nears. There is a good chance that you will be notified that your name has been moved to the Attendee List.
• If your name is moved from the Wait list to the Attendee List and you do not show up for that event, you will be counted as a No Show for that event.
• If your name is on the Wait List and you no longer can go or want to go be sure to move your name to the Not Going list.

Late Arrivals, Late Cancellations, and especially No Shows for events are not fair to the organizers, restaurants/other venues, and most importantly our Meet Up friends.

3.  Late Arrivals - Punctuality

• If you are more than 10 minutes late for an event, and you are signed up for a future event, the Organizer will move your name to the end of the Wait List for that next event.
• Walking events start exactly at the time listed on the invitation.

4.  Late Cancellations

• If you cancel your RSVP late (with less than 72 hours before the event day/time) and you sign up for a future event - the Organizer is going to move your name to the end of the Wait List for that next event.
• If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice your name will be marked as a No Show.
• More than one Late Cancellation will likely result in removal from this Meet Up group.

5.  No-Shows

• If you are a No Show for an event - no matter which event - you will very likely be dropped from this Meet Up group immediately following the event.
• A No-Show is when a member fails to show up for an event when her name is listed on the "Attendee" list for that event.
• A No-Show also occurs when a member who is on the "Attendee" list for an event cancels her RSVP with less than 24 hours' notice.

6.   Cell Phone/Electronic Device Etiquette - Zero Tolerance Usage During Events

• We would like you to be fully present, attentive, interactive, and polite to your Meet Up friends during our events.
• We ask that you please put your cell phone away (off the table and out of sight) during our events.
• Looking at other electronic devices (such as watches etc.) can be equally distracting and counterproductive to our goals.
• “Having a phone out and present during a conversation interferes with your sense of connection to the other person and the quality of the conversation.”
• Looking at your cell phone/electronic device (checking texts, typing, searching the web, viewing/showing others your phone/taking photos, making or taking phone calls, etc.) while people are trying to talk can be distracting, disrespectful, and rude.
• Stepping away from the group to check your phone/electronic device is perfectly fine as long as your phone/device is put away (off the table and out of sight) when you return to the group.
• Members who cannot or will not put their phones/devices away during an event may be dropped from this Meet Up group immediately following the event.

7.  Restaurants - Dining Experiences - Payment

• Please plan to pay cash whenever you attend a restaurant event.
• There almost always will be one check for the table (instead of your own separate check).
• You will keep track of the cost for each of the items you order.
• The percent to be paid for the tip will vary by restaurant.
• Always count on at least 20% - sometimes restaurants may ask as much as 24% or more for group reservations so please be prepared.
• Many restaurants now also add on additional charges for various reasons.
• Restaurants also charge tax.
• You will figure what you owe then add Tip then add Tax then add whatever other charges the restaurant may require.
• If you are rude to or difficult with restaurant staff - you will be dropped from this Meet Up group.
• If you try to go around the Meet Up Event Host and talk to restaurant staff directly about why you can't have your own individual check, why you can't pay by credit card, or any other grievance you may have - instead of going through your Meet Up Event Host - you will be dropped from this Meet Up group.

DISCLAIMERS AND OTHER INFORMATION
The Organizer and/or Co-Organizer and/or event host(s) are not responsible for members. Each member assumes full responsibility for their own health, safety, wellbeing, and risks at all times for any event no matter the event.