This is a Meetup for those of us affected by the job market to find support and the opportunity to be reinvigorated to enjoy life in spite of the difficulties created by unemployment.

See us in the News:

Happy Hour Interviews-NeonTommy/USC:

http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/12/job-seeking-horror-stories-enliven-support-group-sessions-unemployed

OUR Member Ann NG, NeonTommy Interview with Video: http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/12/ann-ng-jobless-two-years-not-losing-hope

Happy Hour Interviews - NPR (KQED) by Roger Rudick: http://www.californiareport.org/archive/R201111181630/e

My Interview: http://www.neontommy.com/news/2011/12/dani-zandel-i-wouldn-t-turn-down-any-opportunity

SEE OUR CALENDAR OF EVENTS!

The purpose of this group is to provide info and opportunity for those who want to be back in the full time working world, complete with a supervisor and benefits, in a social setting that allows for relationship building and networking .TO BE CLEAR: THIS GROUP IS NOT FOR HOME BASED ENTREPRENEURS RECRUITING NEW MEMBERS OR SELLING PRODUCTS.

To that end, as your organizer, I will share opportunities to learn new skills, network, and just go out and have fun. There may be events that are heavy on information and others that are heavy on social opportunity. In the end, this Meetup group will be what it's members make it, as the organizer is merely a facilitator!

Relationships can only be built by getting to know one another in person. Please only request to join this group if you plan to come out from behind your computer and meet us.

Anyone may join, but to prevent SPAM and for the virtual safety of our members, organizer will be screening profiles for complete answers to profile questions with a headshotphoto included.

About your organizer: I created the Westside/SouthBay Unemployment Support and Survival Meetup in January 2010 - 6 weeks after the loss of my job - because I wanted to meet people who could understand my situation. Until the holidays, I had been working a 60 hour per week job that I hated, and juggling it with a full-time course load as a student. My social circle was VERY small because of my lifestyle. One of my closest and best friends disappeared as times became the worst, and the loneliness of all of these situations at once hit me very hard.

As down as that may seem, I was (and am) determined to create a life of sunshine, and am looking for people to share it with.

By now you may have tried to look up Westside/SouthBay Unemployment Support and Survival (or, you may have been a member). It no longer exists on Meetup because I did not want to pay the full renewal price for the organizer dues. What I wanted was to start fresh and have people join the meetup who will take an active participation.

My promise to you is to offer events for which I can participate or know there will be other people for you to meet in attendance. As I load in events, you'll notice some that may conflict, some may be open to the general public, and I may not be able to be in more than one place at a time. As this group grows, I hope to meet and be able to designate assistant organizers who will be just as happy to meet everyone and play introduction host as I am.

My goal is to provide as many opportunities for education, networking, and relationship building as possible. I know that events will be created at times or places for which there will never be 100% membership participation.

You are invited to suggest events to enhance this group.For the sake of your inboxes, please email your suggestions to me and I will contact you for more details.

Again, I request that if your intent is to NEVER come out, please do not request to join. Relationship building only works when people can get to know you. People can't get to know you if you never come to events.

Some additional notes: Please RSVP only if you plan to attend an event. "NO" RSVP are discouraged.The exception is if you have rsvp'd "YES" for an event and your availability changes. I reserve the right to limit or remove members who RSVP "YES" and no-show for two events. I will periodically evaluate the participation level of members and remove people who are stagnant. I also reserve the right to remove recruiters for Multi-Level Marketing jobs and products. This note will be included in all event announcements.