JAN 3 at 4:30p.  Poggio Sausalito

(When the weather warms and dries back up, we’ll try to go back to Bar Bocce as a regular meeting spot….)

Please RSVP 48 hours ahead, if you can, so I can confirm headcount with the restaurant. They will not seat us until at least half of us are there so if you want to come, please let Linda know if you can get there at 4:30p, or what time she can expect you? PLEASE NOTE: I realize it is holiday time and people are busy. So… If I don’t get at least 8 RSVPs by Nov 4 at NOON, this month's event will be canceled.

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Please, please, if you are emailing Linda, please use this subject line: MEA BayNorth + SF First Friday. You are also welcome to TEXT Linda but pls also reference that subject line!

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We have a table booked for 12 ppl at the moment, for drinks and light bites. Since we’ll occupy the table for a few hours on a Friday night, if you are going to come, please be prepared to participate in at least a minimal amount toward our bill, including a 20% gratuity + 9.5% tax.   I have pre-ordered a few appi's for the table, to start us off. Everyone can order their own drinks or even a full dinner… It worked pretty well last month.  

Join us for our monthly virtual gathering! Each meeting will have a consistent format with room for organic third vault conversations

Meeting Format:  

1. Welcome / reflection - 5min

2. Get to know a Chapter member - 10min

3. Break Out – with conversation starter –15 mins

4. Presentation on Selected Topic - 10min

5. Break Out – with conversation starter on same topic – 15 mins

6. Closing - 5min

Please mark your calendars for January 7th at 10 am ET for a brief introductory call. We’re currently in the process of developing our plan for 2025, and your feedback is vital to shaping the future of our chapter. During the call, we’d love to hear your ideas for events, gather suggestions for locations, and ask for volunteers to help bring our plans to life.

Thank you for joining us on this journey - let’s make our Toronto chapter inspiring, engaging, and fun!

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…AND A SEXY START TO 2025

To kick off the New Year with a bang (so to speak) our first Zoom meeting addresses the topic of Sex – specifically how to find great sex in midlife – with guest speaker Suzanne Noble.

Let's kick off 2025 with an eye on Acts of Services! For this month's virtual event, we invited a very special guest, Bonnie Davis, to come and talk about her year-long "50-for-50" project. We hope it inspires you and helps you set your intentions for a meaningful 2025. Read on for a bit more about Bonnie and her project:

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‍I enjoy cake, parties, and celebrations—just not when they're about me. Growing up in a "birthday family," milestones were a big deal, especially those that end in "0" and spark thoughts like, "How am I this age already?" and "Where did the years go?" As my own milestone approached, I wanted it to be memorable, but without the focus on me.

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‍Rather than opting for lavish celebrations or extravagant gifts, I craved something more meaningful. That’s when I embarked on a journey that I called “50-for-50”—a year of volunteering with friends, family, colleagues, and anyone willing to join in. It was an extension of a previous project I called "40-for-40."

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‍This is the story of how, with the help of dozens of amazing people, I celebrated my 50th birthday by giving back. Together, we found joy in service, learned about incredible nonprofits, and created lasting memories through meaningful contributions.

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Bonnie Davis is a Speaker, Executive Coach, Culture Consultant, Writer, and co-owner of HuWork.

She partners with organizations, teams, and leaders to create more human-centric workplaces, where empathy and authenticity lead to productivity, profitability, and innovation. Bonnie doesn’t just talk about our ever-changing world of work—she creates action. Bonnie’s work revitalizes culture, develops leaders, engages employees, and enables teams to work better together. www.huwork.com

Thursday, January 9

12:00-1:00pm

You’ll receive a Microsoft Teams invitation to join the call; the link can also be accessed here.

We’ll take a deeper dive in our breakout groups on this MEA topic:

Skate legend, entrepreneur and filmmaker takes on fear.​ Stacy Peralta shows us how to move forward in the face of distraction and uncertainty, roll with failure, find the energy to begin again, and asks, “what’s the one and only thing that belongs to you?” Video here. ​

SAVE THE DATE to kick off 2025 together with a special Happy Hour at my house in Delray Beach on Thursday, January 9th from 5:30-8:00 PM.  Stay tuned for guest speaker info and details from co-host Julie Levi and I next week.

Join Bi-Monthly Chapter Calls. Our first 2025 chapter call will be on Thursday, January 9 from 5:30-6:30 PM.  Chapter calls will focus on connection, and content from MEA workshops and online events as well as updates on topics relevant to chapter members. Watch for a Zoom meeting invite in your email within the next few weeks.

Help us plan our 2025 calendar, identify potential speakers and activities, and learn about your interests -  please complete this short survey specifically for our New Mexico alum. We really need your input!

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We will host a special annual planning meeting with Leslie Bartlett and a brief introduction meditation by Teddi Dean on January 13, 2025 at 9:30am -11:30am EDT.   ( We have allowed up to 2 hours for the meeting if we need the time.)

As we embark on an exciting journey into 2025 together, please attend and share your thoughts, ideas, suggestions, resources and maybe even consider joining a committee that will help us create a truly wonderful year for the NY Metro MEA Alumni community.   There are so many wonderful alumni here in our area, let's find ways to interact, be curious and continue learning  together!

Join us for our monthly virtual gathering!

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Wednesday, January 15th 12-1 CT 

The link for the calls: zoomwithjannfreed.com

 You do not need to RSVP. Just join us if you can. 

Join us for this month's gathering!

Each month, use the same link to join:

https://meet.google.com/rpv-hqdd-xos

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Please save the date for our first MEA Austin alumni event of 2025 on Saturday, January 18, from 4-  7pm at The Fareground located at 111 Congress Ave. This is a fun location with something for everyone including five eateries as well as coffee, mocktails and cocktails. There are a few parking garages located nearby as well as street parking. Rideshare is encouraged if you plan to enjoy adult beverages. Feel free to bring an "MEA curious" +1. Your RSVP is appreciated by January 4.

Quarterly PNW Chapter Meeting Schedule (Times are friendly for Mountain & Pacific Time Zones)

Virtual Happy Hour:

January 22, 2025 @5:30 MST

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0ucuCgrj0iGdByyae8r4Ke0XfM0wGXR1Qy

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• Date: Tuesday January 28.
• Time: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Eastern Time (12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Atlantic).
• Master Class Resource: Jill Nykoliation with "Build Your Portfolio Life"
• Meeting Format: 30 minute intro by the resource followed by a 30 minute facilitated Alumni discussion.

Join us!

A meet-up is scheduled in LISBON on Saturday 1 February

It will be a lunch meeting at the Estoril Vintage Hotel (R. Alfredo da Silva 61,Estoril).

If you wish to attend, please join the Lisbon IRL Meet Up group in theWhatsApp community for more details – and be sure to RSVP so that a place isreserved for you.

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Join us for our monthly gathering!

First MEA Boston Gathering!

Tuesday, February 4, 2025

7:30 – 8:30pm

Time zone: America/New_York

Video call link: https://meet.google.com/vda-qqyq-eez
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RSVP not necessary, just show up!

We hope you'll join us for the first ever meeting of the new Boston chapter of the Modern Elder Academy.  We'll introduce ourselves, have us respond to some third vault questions about where we are on our midlife journey, and begin to plan our first in person get togethers.  We look forward to getting to know each other.

Please join us if you are interested in connecting with other MEA alums and developing our MEA community here in the Boulder area.                

Reframing Transitions

When: February 5th, 4-6pm

Where: Jack Williamson’s home in Lafayette, CO
 -Address will be provided to RSVPs-

What: Transitions–you’re probably in one, just navigated one or a new one is just around the corner. Let’s talk about how we are framing and reframing our transitions.

*Light refreshments will be served. Please bring your own beer or wine. Out to dinner together in a local restaurant: 6:30 pm if you’re able to join us.

RSVP: jackwco12@gmail.com

Join us for our monthly virtual gathering! Each meeting will have a consistent format with room for organic third vault conversations

Meeting Format:  

1. Welcome / reflection - 5min

2. Get to know a Chapter member - 10min

3. Break Out – with conversation starter –15 mins

4. Presentation on Selected Topic - 10min

5. Break Out – with conversation starter on same topic – 15 mins

6. Closing - 5min

FEB 7 at 4:30p.  Poggio Sausalito, or TBD, maybe SF

(When the weather warms and dries back up, we’ll try to go back to Bar Bocce as a regular meeting spot….)

Please RSVP 48 hours ahead, if you can, so I can confirm headcount with the restaurant. They will not seat us until at least half of us are there so if you want to come, please let Linda know if you can get there at 4:30p, or what time she can expect you? PLEASE NOTE: I realize it is holiday time and people are busy. So… If I don’t get at least 8 RSVPs by Nov 4 at NOON, this month's event will be canceled.

‍

Please, please, if you are emailing Linda, please use this subject line: MEA BayNorth + SF First Friday. You are also welcome to TEXT Linda but pls also reference that subject line!

‍

We have a table booked for 12 ppl at the moment, for drinks and light bites. Since we’ll occupy the table for a few hours on a Friday night, if you are going to come, please be prepared to participate in at least a minimal amount toward our bill, including a 20% gratuity + 9.5% tax.   I have pre-ordered a few appi's for the table, to start us off. Everyone can order their own drinks or even a full dinner… It worked pretty well last month.  

Join us for this month's gathering!

Each month, use the same link to join:

https://meet.google.com/rpv-hqdd-xos

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• Date: Tuesday February 25.
• Time: 11:30 am to 12:30 pm Eastern Time (12:30 pm to 1:30 pm Atlantic).
• Master Class Resource: Jill Nykoliation with "Design Your Year With Intention"
• Meeting Format: 30 minute intro by the resource followed by a 30 minute facilitated Alumni discussion.

When: February 26th, 4pm - 6pm ET

Where: Leslie Bartlett's home (address given to RSVPs)

RSVP: Register here.

Note, we will need to limit this to the first 20 alumni who register so register soon!

We live in interesting times.

Whether it's one of life's many transitions, a crisis of purpose, or situations that challenge our abilities to determine the right course of action (what Bruce Feiler calls "life quakes"), we are routinely forced to adapt, reorient, and start over again as we seek to live a good life. In this workshop, I will share a few ideas that have helped me help a lot of people in my "encore" career.

You will:

• Learn a unique way to practice Gratitude that will elevate your baseline sense of wellbeing;
• Complete an exercise that will heighten your awareness of the many resources you possess,
  and;
• Learn to use a simple tool to focus on those things that will bring you more happiness,
  fulfillment, meaning, and joy.

Join us for our monthly virtual gathering! Each meeting will have a consistent format with room for organic third vault conversations

Meeting Format:  

1. Welcome / reflection - 5min

2. Get to know a Chapter member - 10min

3. Break Out – with conversation starter –15 mins

4. Presentation on Selected Topic - 10min

5. Break Out – with conversation starter on same topic – 15 mins

6. Closing - 5min

Join us for our monthly gathering!

Thursday, March 13

12:00-1:00pm

You’ll receive a Microsoft Teams invitation to join the call; the link can also be accessed here.

We’ll take a deeper dive in our breakout groups on this MEA topic:

How to manage change in our hyper-connected world. Crush. founder Janis Nakano Spivack’s rapid-reset methodology taps your authentic intelligence so your choices are better suited for what works for you, rather than what people tell you you should do. Here’s the video.

• Date: Tuesday March 25
• Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm Eastern Time (1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Atlantic).
• Master Class Resource: Resource/topic to be confirmed. Stay tuned!
• Meeting Format: 20 minute intro by the resource followed by a 40 minute facilitated Alumni discussion.

MEA MIDATL ANNUAL EVENT – Brunch & Cherry Blossoms in DC

We are planning a repeat of this wonderful event to bring together MEA alums from across the MIDATL region for brunch and discussion on the DC Wharf – in prime-time cherry blossom season. Watch for more.

Date: Sunday, March 31, 2025
Time: 11:30-3:00 PM
Venue: watch for announcement

RSVP: christinezmuda@outlook.com

Join us for our monthly gathering!

Join us for our monthly virtual gathering! Each meeting will have a consistent format with room for organic third vault conversations

Meeting Format:  

1. Welcome / reflection - 5min

2. Get to know a Chapter member - 10min

3. Break Out – with conversation starter –15 mins

4. Presentation on Selected Topic - 10min

5. Break Out – with conversation starter on same topic – 15 mins

6. Closing - 5min

Join us for this month's gathering!

Each month, use the same link to join:

https://meet.google.com/rpv-hqdd-xos

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Quarterly PNW Chapter Meeting Schedule (Times are friendly for Mountain & Pacific Time Zones)

Virtual Evening Wrap Up:

April 16, 2025 @8:30 MST

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZIkdeqsqTIoG9KJqqD1yULMub35lmfrU1Wq

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• Date: Tuesday April 29.
• Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm Eastern Time (1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Atlantic).
• Master Class Resource: Resource/topic to be confirmed. Stay tuned!
• Meeting Format: 20 minute intro by the resource followed by a 40 minute facilitated Alumni discussion.

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Join us for this month's gathering!

Each month, use the same link to join:

https://meet.google.com/rpv-hqdd-xos

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• Date: Tuesday May 27.
• Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm Eastern Time (1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Atlantic).
• Master Class Resource: Kari Cardinale with "Understanding the Triple Threats in Transitional Intelligence (TQ)"
• Meeting Format: 20 minute intro by the resource followed by a 40 minute facilitated Alumni discussion.

Join us for our monthly gathering!

Join us for this month's gathering!

Each month, use the same link to join:

https://meet.google.com/rpv-hqdd-xos

‍

• Date: Tuesday June 24.
• Time: 12:00 noon to 1:00 pm Eastern Time (1:00 pm to 2:00 pm Atlantic).
• Master Class Resource: Kari Cardinale with "Exploring the Power of Glimmers in Transitional Intelligence (TQ)"
• Meeting Format: 20 minute intro by the resource followed by a 40 minute facilitated Alumni discussion.

Join us for our monthly gathering!

MEA Alumni 2025 Summer Camp in the San Juan Islands August 15-17, 2025

The Seattle Alumni Chapter of MEA is organizing a Summer Camp next August on San Juan Island. All MEA alumni and their friends and families are welcome. If you want to join us, we recommend making a reservation ASAP, by end of October -- Lakedale is very popular in the summer and likely to sell out.

When: August 15-17, 2025

Where: Lakedale on SanJuan Island

What: Water sports, circle, yoga, meditation, crafts, hiking, fireside chats, games, and more!

Cost: Everyone is expected to cover their own costs for lodging, transportation, and food. We also ask each person to contribute to the "collective effervescence" by offering their talent, skills, and wisdom to the programmatic offerings (e.g. lead a morning yoga, hike, game, or circle). This is 100% volunteer run.

RSVP: Registration involves two steps –

1. Book your desired accommodations at Lakedale (many budget and lifestyle options: campsite, canvas tent, yurt, lodge room, cabin).
2. Email measeattlechapter@gmail.com to let us know that you'll be attending so that we can keep a good headcount. (subject line: Summer camp)

BIG THANK YOU to Sheila Tallmon, the amazing former camp director, who is organizing the weekend and Seattle co-leaders Aaron Hurst, Marcy Porus-Gottlieb and Val Courtney.

Hope to see you there next summer!

Quarterly PNW Chapter Meeting Schedule (Times are friendly for Mountain & Pacific Time Zones)

Virtual Happy Hour:

‍August 20, 2025 @5:30 MST

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0pc-ysqjMqEt2tqdASY8bnYDH6yvVsHo5s

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Quarterly PNW Chapter Meeting Schedule (Times are friendly for Mountain & Pacific Time Zones)

Virtual Evening Wrap Up:

November 19, 2025 @8:30 MST

Zoom Link: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAod-yppjkrG9RApO1hQIKso0Qy3rHxGzM_

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