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Frequently Asked Questions
Search the FAQ database:
or browse below:
| 1 | What is the Dining and Activity Network? (Home Page) |
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"DAAN" is basically at heart a "General Social Club" for all of Melbourne. It was first established in June 2001. It arranges a
variety of small group social events - like dinners, games of golf, tennis or cinema visits etc. It takes advantage of the web and e-mail to simplify
this. Think of this site and the network as a kind of "self-serve" social organiser. The mood is casual, relaxed and friendly - it is an ideal way to meet new people and widen your social circles beyond just those people you meet at work and the local neighbourhood. More specifically, the network does the following: - presents a wide variety of events in different age groups which take advantage of the great restaurants and lifestyle of Melbourne- emails everyone once a week (Tuesdays) to let them know what is coming up - confirms the event by email with those who have booked in. (by Friday 1 pm for weekend events, and by 6 pm the night before for weekday events) You receive this initial email explaining the club, plus a "one off" copy of the Events calendar for the past 12 months so you can see the sorts of things we do. After that you are given a FREE membership for ONE MONTH to enable you to go to a few events to get a FEEL for the club. It's well worth it - many have found it to be the best decision they have made for some time. There are over 600 members from many different backgrounds and walks of life. It is open to both singles and couples: it is very much a SOCIAL club - not an introduction agency, speed dating or matchmaking service. The Network encourages members to submit and host their own events at their favorite venues (for which they receive two months extension on their membership, or longer for more involved events - e.g. 8 months for throwing a "house party") Events are held at a wide variety of places, and we encourage you to book by clicking on the link in the email you receive. Pricing is straight forward. The cost is simply $148 all up. (the price for "couples" is $222 for both) This encourages you to 'plunge in' and just enjoy socialising. Full Membership entitles you to go to as many events as you like. Once you are at the restaurant/venue you will know our table by an enquiry for a booking made in the name of "Shepherd" (Greg Shepherd is the Dining and Activity Network Manager). It is assumed that a lot of people participating in the club will - at some stage - contribute events to the calendar. This is not a big deal really. It just involves filling in the "Submit Event" form with the details of say one of your favorite restaurants, picking a time and date that suits you, ringing the restaurant (or whatever necessary) to make a booking and then turning up on the night. For each event contributed you get an extra two months membership. Please send us feedback about anything - likes or dislikes - on this site (and club). To: feedback@diningandactivitynetwork.com Greg Shepherd - Manager
P.S. The website behind this home page - once you access it with your password - is one of the most secure, interactive and functional around. There are approx. 7,000 lines of programming to make the club work as seamlessly as possible in streamlining the organisation of events. It is hosted on a totally secure server with automated rock solid back up procedures (to an offsite location twice daily), firewalls and anti-virus protection. The e-commerce component - processing membership fees - is hosted offsite by the Commonwealth Bank on their own secure server. |
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| 2 | What is the is the network about? - in a nutshell (About Us) |
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You'll enjoy being part of the network - getting out and about - dining and doing all sorts of different things We encourage as much freedom of choice as possible in the club. And feedback to us at Elm st about how events have gone - or any technical problems you experience with the website. We are keen to get suggestions from members about great things to do around Melbourne. To submit an event, simply click on the "Submit Event" menu item after you log in and fill in the form. The event will appear on the calendar on the nominated date. (your membership subscription is extended by two months for every event you host) Emails are sent out once a week (Tuesday mornings) detailing upcoming events so you can organise your social calendar in advance. Most restaurants need advance notice of bookings though, and we ask that you book into an event by 6 pm on the evening prior. (and by 1 pm on Friday for weekend events). This keeps everyone in the picture about exactly what is happening. The weekly email allows you to click a link directly opening up the booking page on the website itself. Once you have booked in you immediately get a "Provisional Confirmation" email - letting you know your booking has been received. "Final Confirmation" is sent out after the deadline for the event has expired - by 6.05 pm the night before for a weekday event and by 1.05 pm Friday for weekend events. Most of the events are smallish gatherings of 5-15 people around restaurant tables - events are either "open age" or classified by age groups (a general guide only - feel free to cross age groups if you like an event). The thing is... this network is a way of widening your social circles. Adding to the range of people you know - beyond just those you come into contact with at work or elsewhere. The second you join, you open up many possibilities for personal growth - not to mention "fun" - with a whole bunch of different and interesting people. Feedback from participants: "Hi there, Just giving you some feedback regarding my first night out with dining and activity network................ When I arrived I asked for the "Shepherd" table and was immediately welcomed and greeted by the people already there. I believe about 14 of us were there and I was surprised at how well we all got along. Anyone from the outside watching would have thought we were all old friends catching up! (Less emphasis on the "old" part). It was interesting to learn of all the different walks of life we come from etc. The atmosphere of the place chosen was lovely and the food was delicious and reasonably priced. Before leaving, which was around 10.30 p.m. ,once again I was reminded to join in on Wednesday night if possible, which I thought was lovely. All in all, a fun and enjoyable evening for all of us. I look forward to meeting more people, at other venues. Enjoy your day! Ingrid R :-) Thought i might let you know that I met someone at a dinner throught the network about a month ago and that has been great. i am actually pretty busy with him so would like to be taken off the email list. I still have a message on my email i can send to friends and have sent info to a few people. Have a good day, yor network is a great idea! Regards, Jane C. Hi, Just a note to say - DAN is such a great concept. I am having so much fun with the group at the moment. And some of the ideas for events are just great. Keep on going ! It will get bigger and better and more diverse. Julie The Deck lunch at Brighton was a lively affair.....lots of interaction, banter and friendly people. Thanks Michelle! Caroline I thoroughly enyoyed Friday night at Smith St , both at the bar and cafe;and it struck me that sometimes it's worth saying the obvious, which is that I get so much pleasure out of my membership of D&AN ; I also appreciate the personal resources that you are prepared to put into the group - being on the end of the phone at all times etc. Thank you, Liz Hi I had a terrific time at Phil's place last Saturday. Lots of lovely people were there and there was lots of eating, drinking and merrying all round!! Phil is a lovely guy and he made everyone feel very welcome in his fabulous home. Dianne C. Re: Video Night at Duncans This was my first activity I did with you. I had a great time. Duncan has the "coolest" place, and his choice of film/video clips were perfect. It was also good to actually have some sort of entertainment/activity rather than relying on the "old big mouth". I sat back, relaxed with a glass of red, and was entertained for hours. Many thanks to Duncan, and an evening well planned. Cheers, Sally. Hi Greg, Just a few words to say what an enjoyable weekend it was again. Soul Mama's was a great venue-consensus opinion. Company was very good and lots of talking- you just have to be very careful where you sit as we had an arctic breeze washing over us as we sat with our heavy coats on[Helen had 2 heavy coats on!!!!!] I'm in the process of finding out if they are open for lunch/brunch as there is interest in walking around the Bot. Gardens and following up back at S. Momma's on a Saturday. Helen's event was fun- we laughed so much my cheeks hurt and Jen kept crying! Helen was very gracious and we had a lovely afternoon tea which finished at 7pm, I think. We were the dreaded guests that didn't want to go home! Robert told jokes and we ended up threatening to hold a roast for Duncan, as we learnt so much about him. Rosalie Subject: Icon & A Bar Called Barry - 20's/30's event This was a great night, the people were friendly and relaxed. Had such a fantastic time dancing till the wee hours of the morning. I'm glad I joined. Thanks, Lisa D" |
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| 3 | What sort of events are organised? |
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Melbourne is an exciting and vibrant
city (one of the world's most "liveable", as we all know of course) and there is so much going on - it's great to share our knowledge around.
Events do not just have to be cafes/restaurants... they can include bookings
to the theatre, opera, concerts, sporting activities (either as a spectator
or participant), visits to galleries, picnics, house parties, canoeing trips down rivers with kids, trips os to exotic destinations and educational
events. Anyone who joins is able to "put on an event" - this will generally be after they have got the hang of what is involved. When you do submit and host an event (at least three weeks in advance) you receive an extra two months membership added to your account. (OR "four months" for a complete day long event, or "eight months" for a "house/home" party, lunch or BBQ). Feel free to call Greg Shepherd anytime on 0411 961 338 if you have "ideas", and just want to discuss the possibility of turning them into "events". And, of course, it's a good idea early on immediately after joining to go to quite a few events to really get into it. Some will be absolutely fantastic, some good and some indifferent. Just get out and about and keep an open mind about things. |
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| 4 | How much does it cost? |
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The cost is simply $148 for 12 months membership - a reminder email is sent out 2 weeks prior to expiry to keep your membership current. As of July 1st, 2009 anyone who is interested in finding out more about the club is invited to FULL MEMBERSHIP for a period of ONE MONTH for FREE. Simply call Greg Shepherd on 0411 961 338 anytime. Full Membership entitles you to go to as many events as you like for that period. You can pay your membership online (credit card over our secure server). Or - if you prefer - you can ring your credit card number through 9 am-9 pm Mon-Sat on 0411 961 338 - or send in a cheque made out to The Dining and Activity Network to the office at 5/5 Elm St North Melbourne 3051. Or you can transfer the amount online to account number 063262 1024 3414 - record your full name along with the deposit. Membership entitles you to go to as many events as you like - there are no other charges. |
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| 5 | Who can join? |
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The club is open to anyone over the
age of eighteen. You do have to be reasonably friendly, open and welcoming to make
a success of it. The only real requirement of the club is that you have internet access to receive emails and to use a browser. The emails (no attachments) are sent twice a week letting you know what is coming up. You can unsubscribe from receiving the emails at any time. We can help give basic advice about internet providers and software pointing you in the right direction if you need it. If you don't have internet access at home then you can still book into events via an Internet Cafe or your local library. You can easily set up an email address online as well at Yahoo, Gmail or Hotmail etc. to check the weekly bulletins about what's on.
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| 6 | Is it a singles club? |
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It is a "social" club. It is open to both couples and singles. There is a 50% discount for a partner to join as well - thus $148 for one to join, and $222 for both ($148 + $74). It is oriented towards the development of a wider community of platonic friendships and activity - but, of course, the complete range of relationships spontaneously develop from such activity: acquaintances, friendships and, quite naturally, partnerships. It is designed to encourage members to mix widely and meet lots of different people.... it will inevitably lead to personal growth and enjoyment. At the same time, of course, going out regularly will increase your chances of making friends and perhaps meeting a special "partner" - generally after getting to know them over time. |
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| 8 | What about confidentiality? |
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All information provided to the Dining and Activity Network is treated with the utmost confidentiality. No information submitted will be provided to any third party under any circumstances whatsoever. User names (your email address) and passwords are expected to remain private and should not be given out to any other party. |
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| 9 | How should I approach my first event(s)? |
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WARNING: The following advice may seem excessively patronising. That's OK, read it anyway and mutter to yourself "well that was bloody patronising..." after you've done. Joining a club like this is an excellent step to take if you have reached a phase in your life where old social networks have changed or you feel that the same old circle of friends are getting a bit predictable (don't tell them that). Every person who undertakes an action like this has to show a certain amount of willpower and courage. And it's only natural to feel a certain amount of nervousness. The best advice really is to just turn up and "be yourself". The chemistry of the people at the table for every single event will be different. It is up to everyone to make an effort to chat. Take it in turns to bring up different topics of conversation. Weather (a great start , never go wrong there... in fact you can even return to this topic at any stage of the evening to get you out of a lull). Where'd you park? (always useful information...), the restaurant decor (all right yeah). Now we're scratching for ideas.. OK then, celebrity gossip movie stars ... What's in the news, things you did today - shopping, laundry, ironing, house renovating, gardening whatever (it sounds trite... but it's all part of tentatively establishing rapport). hobbies... a really good topic worth exploring in some depth. The club - how it runs, things worth putting on the calendar..... What do you do for a living?..., your boss's quirks - good and bad and the general "vibe" at your workplace. Other jobs you've had - including part-time and casual work. The first job you ever had etc... Movies you've seen, books you've read (especially interesting are the novels/plays/poetry you read and studied in English at school), websites you've surfed to, great holidays you've had, countries you've been to and places you've seen, where you grew up and what sort of childhood and "teenage-hood" you had (this can be very fascinating). Footy (but be prepared for football atheists). Which suburb you live in (why not?)... Your usual stamping grounds.... Where you grew up. Television shows you've caught lately, websites you find ineresting and/or useful.... Politics ... Family connections. Religion.... The meaning of life!!! Listening is as important as talking. Do not be afraid to ask lots of questions (in general people do not ask enough questions - fearing to offend, but I encourage everyone to "go for it" - you will learn heaps). Go to as many events as possible in the first few weeks. The fact is there will be some good and some not so good events - some where people "click" fantastically and some where they don't (let us know about these... please). But most will be in between. One common problem is that people often bring high expectations to their first event that they will meet their "soulmate" straight away... please don't expect this.... Just enjoy socialising and meeting a bunch of new people... be polite and nice and don't try to over-impress. What you bring to each event in the form of positive energy - preparedness to chat, smile, be warm and friendly - will be what others remember and appreciate. And here's an overview of interesting conversation topics: http://www.wikihow.com/Come-Up-with-Good-Conversation-Topics |
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| 10 | How do we pay the bill at the end of the night? |
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At the end of the evening nominate amongst yourselves the one person at the table - perhaps the one whose job has most to do with maths or accounting, or even just the one who volunteers - to take responsibility for itemising the bill... Another person can assist him or her by ticking off the items as they are added to the list. Get a consensus from the table about the level of service, and thus size of tip (if any) merited... and add that to individual amounts. Voila, problem solved. There is no doubt this is a bit tricky the first time you do it, but you'll get the hang of it. By the way, it is club policy that no-one leaves for the night until the "BILL ADDS UP"! I suggest that everyone think in advance before they go out for the night and pack cash (including small note denominations and gold coins) to help. I advise people to avoid using credit cards if possible - they tend to make things messy. |
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| 11 | Who organises the network? |
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The network is administered by The Appleseed Productions - a web/video development company based in North Melbourne (ABN 79 355 373 451) which is responsible for technical issues arising from the operation of the website. If you want to have a look at us - click
here. The network is run as a commercial operation, but we strive to make the program of events and activities in the club as democratic, participative and interactive as possible. We are attuned to feedback from the members about anything and everything associated with the running of the club and the development of the site.
Appleseed is the company established by Greg Shepherd - the Principal of The Dining and Activity Network. His background (in brief) is (1980-89) secondary school teaching: English, History, Drama and English Literature - the last five years as Head of the English Department at a private school in the Western suburbs of Melbourne - http://www.westbourne.vic.edu.au. In 1990 he established Appleseed Productions - www.appleseed.com.au and - www.apscommunicatons.com.au - to produce (script, film and edit) and distribute educational and training video programs. David Sheludko is the overall Chief System Administrator for the site - he is currently undertaking a triple degree in Music, Science (Astrophysics/Quantum Mechanics majors) and Computer Science at the University of Melbourne. Andrew McGlashan is the Chief Technical Officer (http://www.affinityvision.com.au ) who assists when immediate issues to do with the server, systems or network need to be attended to. Direct emails can be sent to info@danwk.com - or by text or phone with Greg Shepherd on 0411 961 338. If something needs to be attended to personally or urgently, don't hesitate to ring him at pretty much any reasonable time - (9am-9pm) M-F, or at weekends (10am-8pm). It's usually answered "live", but sometimes switched on to messagebank. Other points of contact are: greg.shepherd3 on Facebook or gregsmelb on Twitter. |
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| 12 | What's this about weekly emails? |
| The main communication methods for the club are based on this site and our e-mailouts (Tuesdays). Access to the site is via your user name (email address) and password. This site is designed to streamline the process of accessing information about what's on and booking in. | |
| 13 | Do I need to book for an event? When do bookings finish? |
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Most events require booking. The weekly Wednesday night La Fiamma event (7 pm, EVERY Wednesday night - 682 Warrigal Rd, Chadstone) is the exception, because the restaurant is big enough and flexible enough to not require definite booking numbers.
Booking (clicking on the link for the event in the email) should be done by 6 pm on the night before the event (for Monday to Friday events) and by 1 pm Friday for weekend events. In most cases there are specific limits set on the number of people accommodated at the one venue. Just a little tip - don't be too hung up on the numbers of people going to an event - some of the best events you will experience will be smallish events of even two, three or four: where people let their guard down, be themselves and establish deeper levels of friendship. That is often where "intimacy" (that most wonderful sense of connection which often leads on to deeper friendships and more) develops more naturally. |
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| 14 | What time should I arrive for events? |
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A very important requirement of the club is for members to be punctual for the starting time of an event. It is not expected that any participant should arrive any more than 15 minutes late. Allow for plenty of time, particularly for parking which can take longer than anticipated. |
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| 15 | How will I recognise the host or other members at an event? |
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If it's a restaurant, just ask for the table booked in the name of "Shepherd" - or the host may write in their own name in the description of the event. In most cases also he/she will supply a mobile number for easy contact. Or, if all else fails, ring 0411 961 338 to get a direct line to Greg. On the Wednesday night "La Fiamma" event, just ask at the bar for the social club - though in most cases it will be pretty obvious. |
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| 16 | What's hosting all about? |
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It's generally assumed that most members of the club will submit and host events at some time, after they have been to a few. This is part of the rationale of the club. And it means that people within the club look out for great places to go and things to do. To host an event firstly you need to nominate the venue, address, date, time on the 'Submit Events Form' (accessible once you have logged in). This automatically loads the event on the calendar, and adds two months to your membership expiry date. (as long as it's submitted at least three weeks in advance). You get four months free membership for hosting a "day out" (or trip away) and eight months free membership for hosting a "party". Then, you need to book the venue, turn up on the night or day, and simply say "hello" to everyone.... and make them feel welcome. Just keep an eye out for people as they they arrive so they're not ignored, and are actively introduced around. It's desirable also that you fill in the feedback form emailed out after the event just to give us some feedback - about the venue, service etc. |
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| 18 | Terms and Conditions |
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The Dining and Activity Network operates as a service for adults only, to become a member you must be at least 18 years old.
The term "member" simply means an individual who has agreed to receive the regular weekly email containing notification of upcoming events. Members can "unsubscribe" from this service at any time by clicking on the "unsubscribe" link in the email. The Dining and Activity Network is primarily an organisational service for its members. Its prime function is to list and publicise times and places for meeting points which may take the form of dinners, brunches, lunches and activities. Events may be "hosted" or "unhosted". Hosting of an event does not imply any warranty as to the quality of the venue or the nature of the participants in the event. All members are expected to participate in the network in spirit of friendliness. The value of any of the events on the calendar depends on the rapport generated by the members participating - basic manners, good humour and tolerance are essential. Any behaviour which makes any member feel uncomfortable should be communicated to the administration immediately. All members acknowledge that their participation in any of the activities posted by the club is undertaken entirely at their own risk. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the state of Victoria, and the nation of Australia. Privacy Statement We only gather details from subscribers that are helpful in co-ordinating events and informing subscribers to the network. This includes, but is not limited to: names, email addresses, phone numbers, age, occupation. Members are encouraged to choose a password which is different to that used for other sites, as this password is sent unencrypted in plain text emails to the member as a method of verification. |
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| 21 | How should I dress for most events? |
| Dress appropriately for the event. If it's an outdoor event, dress to suit the weather, including suitable footwear. For most restaurants it's probably a good idea to dress "up" without going over the top. | |
| 22 | How does the site remember my password? |
| The site stores your username (email address) and password in a small text file on your hard disk. This file is called a cookie and is usually stored in a temporary directory with many other cookies, each from a different site. If your browser settings have been set to "do not accept cookies", this feature of the site will not function. Similarly, if you delete the cookie the site will no longer remember your password until you login again. For more information, please email techsupport@diningandactivitynetwork.com | |
| 24 | Why do I get a login failed message? |
| The most likely cause of this is an incorrect email address or password. BOTH the email address you entered when you signed up and your password are case sensitive, i.e. "SomePassword" is different to "soMepaSSword". This is the cause of 99% of login errors, and can be easily resolved by getting your password sent to your email address by the site. (Click the "Forgotten your password" link on the home page, or on the techsupport page). If you've copied-and-pasted your password from that email and are still getting an error, please use the techsupport link on the Support page to let us know, and we'll try to get to the bottom of the problem. Often, this will involve changing your cookie settings to explicitly allow cookies from the site, as without cookies the login cannot function. If you need help doing this, please contact techsupport@diningandactivitynetwork.com . | |
| 30 | How do I see who is booked into my event? |
| Login to the DAAN website and click on the "My Events" button. Scroll down to the "Events I'm Hosting" section, and select the event for which you want to see the bookings. | |
| 31 | What is the club motto? |
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The club motto - quite simply - is:
"LIFE is a 'Participation Sport'" If you have any thoughts on the motto, please feel free to ring the manager - Greg Shepherd anytime at all on 0411 961 338. By the way.... a really worthwhile enterprise worth considering is: And a couple of websites/movements really worth reviewing are: http://www.wiserearth.org and http://www.changingthedream.org.au/ |
