Frequently
Asked Questions Click a question to view the answer! Use
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What
is The Lunch Club?
Who started The Lunch Club?
Why is this called "The Lunch Club?"
What are Lunch Club gatherings
like?
What can
I expect to experience at The Lunch Club?
Is there a fee
to belong to The Lunch Club?
How much do gatherings
cost? What's Included?
Is The
Lunch Club a Singles scene? Can I get a date?
Are there any rules?
Are there
regular attendees? How big are the events?
How long do the events last?
How do I sign up for a gathering?
Why
do I have to RSVP for gatherings? Why is punctuality so important?
What are the ages of the
members?
How does the bill work?
Can I bring some friends?
Is The
Lunch Club affiliated with any organization?
Is The Lunch Club a business?
New
Member's Guide to The Lunch Club
Joining the Premium Membership
Canceling the Premium Membership
Policies & Disclaimer
What is your
Refund & Credit Policy? >> Privacy
Policy
Disclaimer
What
is The Lunch Club?
Established in December
of 2001, The Lunch Club is an organization dedicated to bringing together
open-minded young professionals who desire to make
friends and have a sense of community. We host all kinds of gatherings all week long
for "strangers" to come, sit down and meet. Thousands of friendships and relationships have
been created in this very relaxed atmosphere. We have no agenda other
than to allow people to have good conversation, enjoy each other's company,
make new friendships and connections with each other.
Our
gatherings range from parties, happy hours, game
nights, bar hops, scavenger hunts, art gallery tours, museum trips, live music, brunches, dinners, movies, dim sum and many many others - just about anything you can think of. And we're always thinking of new ones. We always introduce you to the other members at our events.
Please take the time to
read our Mission Statement.
:-) By coming to The Lunch
Club, you help it continue to exist as a resource for all New Yorkers
to meet new friends and create community. Who
started The Lunch Club?
Some guy named Jared Nissim.
He toiled from home as a Technical Writer and for the longest time sat
around "working" all day while all his friends were at the office.
Back in December of 2001, he came upon Craigslist
and discovered the Activity
Partners section. He decided to place an ad inviting total strangers to join him for lunch. The response
was enormous and continues to be. Now Jared spends all his time organizing
Lunch Club gatherings and working on ways to expand this little endeavor
that began with having lunch. He's also a musician (such a rare thing
to find in New York). To find out more about
our mission and how The Lunch Club got started, read About
Us!
Why is this called "The Lunch Club?"
The club started out with regular weekly lunch gatherings, and for a long time, that's all it was. In its early days, it became known as "The Lunch Club" for this reason. But over time, we have expanded the range of things we do, and we've evolved into a full-fledged social activities organization, with just about every kind of event you can think of. So, we're not really a "lunch club" anymore. But the name stuck, and we got a lot of press, so we decided to stick with it. Plus, we do a lot of food related things, so the name does fit in many ways. We've thought about changing it many times over the years, but we suspect we won't. What
are Lunch Club gatherings like? You will always meet someone
new at The Lunch Club. Each gathering is a different and unique combination
of people and fun activities. Your experience with us depends entirely on your willingness
to reach out and get to know someone new. We're kind of like a swimming
pool - it's up to you what you do once you get in the water! What
can I expect to experience at The Lunch Club? It all depends on what we happen to be doing that day. But the people are always very friendly, and we always introduce you. You'll probably spend the first 10 minutes
or so making the initial introductions with everyone. You may find yourself
talking to people about what you do, where you live and where you come
from. At this point, your experience depends entirely
on how much energy you put in to getting to know the people around you.
Take initiative and bring up interesting conversational topics! The mood is very pleasant
and our vibe is totally relaxed. If you come consistently,
you will definitely get to know a lot of members. When you get home, you
can check the Completed Events section of this site and see the list of
people you met, view their profiles and keep in touch. It's very easy! Is
there a fee to belong to The Lunch Club?
You can select from several Unlimited Membership options that entitle you to an all-access pass to our entire calendar of events. Unlimited Membership is as low as $15 per month, depending on the plan you select. Learn more here >>
If you prefer to pay per event, most events have a club fee of $10 in advance or $15 at the event, unless otherwise noted. We accept Visa, Mastercard, AmEX or Paypal. Cash only at events.
How
much do gatherings cost?
Again, it all depends on the activity we are doing. Aside from membership fees, you just pay for what you eat and drink, or your ticket to whatever attraction we are visiting. We do our best to accurately set pricing expectations in the event posts. Is
The Lunch Club a Singles scene? Can I get a date?
The Lunch
Club's purpose is to get people meeting each other. Our gatherings
do not have the "singles scene" vibe. It's not about meeting just one person, but about being
a part of a group. Of course, if you meet lots of people and there is a romantic outgrowth from that, we would be delighted. In fact, many marriages and babies have sprung from the club. Are
there any rules? Yes
- just a few little ones.
- An RSVP to attend
means that you are definitely joining us. If you sign up for a gathering,
please consider it a commitment to attend and come on time. This is the cornerstone of what makes The Lunch Club work.
- There is no solicitation
or promotion of events, products or services of any kind permitted
at Lunch Club gatherings or on our website. All such content will
be deleted.
- It is not permitted
to pass out fliers, promotional products or pamphlets of any kind.
- It is not permitted
to gather people's email addresses for the purpose of sales, promotion
or recruitment for organizations or multi-level-marketing companies.
- Take the initiative
to introduce yourself to everyone. And, if someone approaches you
to strike up a conversation, respond in kind.
- Do your part to maintain our community
vibe!
We appreciate your cooperation. Please be sure to read
the Terms of Membership when you join the club! Are
there regular attendees? How big are the events?
The Lunch Club has become
a source of new community and friendships for hundreds of people. The size of the group is quite random and can often be either
huge or a bit more cozy. Smaller groups are more conversation oriented,
while the larger groups provide more of a party-like atmosphere. Both
are quite nice. If you come often, you will start recognizing the other regular members. How
long do the events last?
Relax and
hang out for a while! It's time spent with great people in a chill
environment with no agenda. Either way, please commit to staying until
the bill has been paid and everything is "squared away."
How
do I sign up for a gathering?
Check the Events section for things that interest you. If you would like
to attend something, please login & RSVP no later than 1 hour
before the start time. By RSVPing, you are making a commitment to attend.
Please take your commitment to attend seriously since we are expecting you.
It is better not to RSVP
until you are sure you are able to come. If for some reason you need to
cancel your RSVP, please do so as soon as you know. You
can cancel the same way you sign-up. Why
do I have to RSVP for gatherings? Why is punctuality so important? If you come without
letting us know, we might not be ready for the unexpected numbers. So
please RSVP if you plan to come. And please come if you RSVP. Cancellations
and no-shows cause us difficulties. Punctuality is very important because
once we sit down, the seating arrangements take shape. Please
arrive on time to make sure you get a seat that you
are happy with. What
are the ages of the members?
Most tend to be in their
20's and 30's. Our events are geared toward young professionals.
How
does the bill work? When the
bill comes, it's up to you to figure out how much you owe. Please include
a 20% tip and 8.75% tax. Kindly make the money collecting process smooth and easy. It's the honor system,
so make sure you pay what you really owe - and if there is any question,
kick in an extra buck to be sure. Can
I bring some friends?
If your friend would like to come, please ask him/her to sign up and read
the Frequently Asked Questions so he/she understands what kind of club
we are. If you do come with a friend, we suggest you sit separately at
the gathering, giving you both a chance to meet new people. Is
The Lunch Club affiliated with any organization? No.
But it seems we've become a bit of an organization ourselves. Is
The Lunch Club a business? We
prefer to call it an endeavor. But, yes, we are. What
is your Refund and Credit Policy? For pre-paid events that
are not sold out and do not involve tickets or supplies
that The Lunch Club must purchase on your behalf, you may cancel for a
full refund up to 48 hours prior to the event. You must apply via email
for your refund or credit - just canceling your RSVP is not sufficient.
If you cancel up to 48 hours before an event that you have paid for, you
may apply your payment to a future event, if you wish. If you cannot attend
an event that you paid for, you may send someone to take your place. Refunds
will be issued only after the conclusion of the event, and only if your
email request was submitted at least 48 hours before the event is set
to begin. For events that
are Sold Out, we cannot issue refunds. You may, however, send someone
else to take your place. We’re very sorry, but we cannot issue
a refund for cancellations within the 48 hour period prior to an event,
or if you do not show up for an event that you paid for. Also, we cannot
apply your payment toward a future event, if you do not cancel up to 48
hours before the event that you paid for. When you purchase a spot for
an event, it is for that event only. Your purchase is not transferable
to other events. Please consider your RSVP and payment a commitment to
attend that particular event. Monthly Membership - If
you purchase a Lunch Club Monthly Membership, you can cancel it at any
time and you will not be billed again. However, once you purchase a Monthly
Membership, or the membership is renewed for an additional month, your
purchase is non-refundable and cannot be pro-rated if you cancel before
the end of the month. If you need to cancel your Monthly Membership, simply
login to your Paypal account and in your History, you will see a "Subscription
Creation" entry for The Lunch Club. Just go into that record and
select Cancel Subscription. NOTE: If you cancel your Monthly
Membership before the end of your 30 day subscription, you will not be
entitled to further Monthly Member discounts beyond the date of cancellation.
Additionally, if you prepay for an event while you're a monthly member,
but then cancel your monthly membership, The Lunch Club reserves the right
to charge you the difference between the monthly member and regular member
cost for that event. If The Lunch Club is required to make advance
purchases on your behalf to facilitate the event, no refund or credit
will be issued. The Lunch Club takes no responsibility for the quality
of the food, drink, products or services that are provided by 3rd party
vendors that The Lunch Club may choose to incorporate into an event. For
instance, if you don’t like your meal at a certain restaurant, we
still have to pay for it, and therefore cannot issue refunds in such situations.
Otherwise, we cannot issue refunds in general.
Thanks for understanding!
Privacy
Policy The Lunch Club has a firm
commitment to protecting the privacy of the information collected on this
Web site. The information collected on this site is not shared with nor
available for use by the Web site host and the site has security measures
in place to protect the loss, misuse and alteration of the information
under its control. We do not disclose information that you may give us
to any outside parties, unless required by law. If you have any questions
about this privacy statement, the practices of this site, or your dealings
with The Lunch Club, please contact us. Disclaimer The Lunch Club (particularly Jared Nissim)
assumes zero responsibility or liability whatsover for anything that happens
as a result of anyone's involvement. Membership in the Lunch Club is without
obligation on our part or yours. We reserve the right to terminate membership
for any reason. By becoming a member of The Lunch Club you agree to waive
any and all right forevermore to bring legal action against The Lunch
Club or Jared Nissim due to circumstances resulting from your involvement
with The Lunch Club. Essentially, since The Lunch Club is open to the
public, anyone can attend. We cannot be held liable for the behavior of
individual members or the results of their actions. Not that anything
bad has ever happened, but we need to say it just in case! Jurisdiction This Web site shall be
governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of New York, USA,
without regard to its choice of law rules. Ownership This is just legal stuff:
The Lunch Club is wholly owned and operated by Conscious Creations Inc.,
a registered New York State Corporation (president & CEO is Jared).
"The Lunch Club" as well as "Because eating alone is boring"
are both federal trademarks owned by Jared Nissim. All written materials
on this site are Copyright 2001-2004 Jared Nissim.
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