ELF stands for “Enjoying Life with Friends”.
Read the remaining FAQ's then send us an email afterwards by clicking the "CONTACT US" page and filling out the contact form. Please use your first and last name. We will then send you our intake questions which are simply for us to learn a little more about you and your availability etc. Once we receive the questions back from you, we will arrange an initial meeting with you in a public place in Langley. You can bring someone else with you to the initial meeting if you feel more comfortable. Please note we do not disclose any group meetup addresses until after you become a member.
Yes. ELF Meetup is based in Langley, BC, but people in surrounding cities that border Langley are welcome to join. With past experience, we now realize that our group is best suited for people who live more locally.
No, unfortunately not at this time.
No, you will not get removed due to age once you are in this group. We want the group to feel like family but at the same time we hope that you eventually find friends in the group that you spend time with outside the core meetups which is the goal.
The purpose of the initial meeting is simply to meet in a neutral, public setting and ease any social pressure. I'll explain how the group works and what members can expect at weekly meetups and answer any questions. As the group host, it's important for me to make sure we add the right fit for the current group dynamics. We aim to keep the group balanced, so sometimes spots may open gradually based on age range or group needs. Plus, having the initial meeting makes it much easier to come to your first meetup. It is a HUGE help for those with social anxiety. Nobody can attend a group meetup without the initial meeting first, which only takes about 30-45 minutes. Please note that completing the intake questions and attending the initial meeting does not guarantee placement/immediate placement in the group.
We are a very new group. However, due to group growth, we decided to offer some new options to help some new members feel even more comfortable. New members can choose to meet in a smaller group setting with 3-6 people to begin with before easing into the rest of our group. Almost all of our members are either students and/or have jobs/careers, so weekly turnout can vary. Our standard weekly core meetups range from approximately 12 to 15 people.
No, there isn't a fee to join the group. However some of the events/activities we decide to do may have a cost associated with it. We will let you know in advance if there is a cost involved. We try to keep events low cost or no cost because some people are students. We may also ask if you can contribute something if we do a potluck or snacks for game nights. We are not a funded group.
Keep an open mind. The point of the core weekly meetups is to get to know the people in the group better. The activity we do is secondary. There are also self-lead hangouts that happen outside of the weekly meetups. The goal is to get to know the members better in the core weekly meetups and become comfortable enough to attend self-lead meetups that members initiate.
One of the best ways to help is to spread the word about the ELF Meetup group. Talk about it, share it, put it on your social media. If you have a business or an idea that our group could benefit from, maybe you own or know a cafe or restaurant we could meet at with menu discounts, an art/craft you could teach us. If you know of an event coming up that might be a fun idea for our group, reach out to us. If you feel there are other ways you can help, reach out anytime. We encourage the community to help however they can. Since we are a very local meetup group, we rely on word of mouth.
Nope, not unless you want to. I will introduce you to the people in the group at first. Usually there will be something I might mention about you to the others that sort of breaks the ice. Maybe you just recently moved here, landed a new job, started a new career or finished school. I will casually engage everyone in the activity we are doing so you aren't feeling the pressure. Some people might be more extroverted and some will be more introverted. It helps having the mix of people so that things start to happen naturally. I am the glue that keeps everything together until people naturally start to connect. It works... but we understand it takes longer for some people and that's okay. Frequent turnout is key.
That’s completely okay- you’re not alone. Many of our members can relate. We create a space that’s understanding and patient. This is why I am a support person for this group. Some of our members have an easier time connecting with people which helps with the dynamics of the group and some take a little longer before they feel more comfortable. Everyone in the group is looking to make connections, build friendships and have fun, they just need the right environment. This is NOT a typical meetup group where you just show up and have to figure it out on your own. As your host, I play a pivotal role and help the social aspect of the group.
No, it’s not therapy but members have expressed that it does help their mental health which is great. This is simply a friend/social group for connection and friendship, though we’re very understanding of people who experience social anxiety. Please note: Drugs, vaping, smoking or alcohol use during our core group meetups will not be tolerated and we do not encourage use in general.
Once we have a meetup date in mind, we will post it on our website and on our Instagram story/highlights, so be sure to follow. Meetup dates will be posted but we do not post what we are doing or where it will be. That info is for our members only. Meetups are usually every week.
We do post our activities sometimes but our members faces will NOT be posted for any ELF meetup social media.
Let’s make this easy for you! If you are one or more of the following, this group could likely be a good fit for you. Contact ELF Meetup if you are independent, physically and intellectually abled but;
You may be shy and would like some help connecting with your peers.
You may have social anxiety and find typical social situations hard to navigate.
You may feel a little awkward in social settings.
You may have some difficulty with small talk or starting and maintaining conversations.
You may struggle to either make connections or build and maintain friendships.
You spend too much of your free time alone and would like to spend time with your peers and make deeper connections.
The only communication with your friends is on social media/online and never or very seldom see them in person.
You never or rarely get invited to do things with your peers but want to have fun and engage in more social activity.
You only spend time with one person, such as your boyfriend/girlfriend or your immediate family but would like to make other healthy connections with your peers.
You take longer than the average person to come out of your shell and people may not take the time to get to know the real you or they may get the wrong first impression of you.
You may be new to the area and struggling to meet new people.
Your parents keep telling you that you need more social life and to reach out to ELF Meetup group. (This one should probably be at the top of our list because we here it all the time lol)