The Team
People who are...strong lift others up. People who are...powerful bring others together. Michelle Obama
Meet our leading ladies. Our Directors, Chapter Leads, and Hosting Heros are members like you, who resonate with our mission and collaborate, each in their own unique way, to enrich our community. Chapter leads welcome new members and initiate in-person events. Hosting Heros offer weekly or monthly events that, over time, create local communities of friends that get to know and care about one another.
Leading a chapter and hosting events brings fun, friends, and purpose just when you may be wondering what your next act will be. It can be a life-changing, life-affirming experience of helping others while helping yourself. And the only requirements are a warm smile, a welcoming nature, and a desire to connect.
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Executive Team
I moved from DC to LA in 2000, after a long career in graphic design. It was hard to find friends as an older woman in a new town, so I started FFF>50. Since then, it has been my passion to knock down the silos that separate us, and facilitate friendships based on the shared experience of struggling to stay vital in a society that often separates and devalues us. Helping women by leading this group has been so rewarding! My mission is to make this a home where any woman can come for fun, friendship, and support.
I retired from the motion picture film processing industry in 2005 and moved from the ‘burbs’ to Los Angeles proper. I joined Meetup in 2007, and became a founding member and co-organizer of FFF>50. When COVID hit, I started hosting online ‘Happy Hours,’ which eventually blossomed into a variety of weekly events. I’ve met delightful women from all walks of life, love to hear their stories, and share my love of movies, philosophy, and politics. These years with the women of FFF>50 have been the most rewarding of my life, and I look forward to many more.
I was looking for places to connect when someone recommended FFF. Since joining, I have a fulfilling and active social life. I host a variety of events for the LA chapter, and as hosting director, I look forward to encouraging and helping other hosts. I’m a retired high school history teacher, a trained docent for the Santa Monica Mountains, and a volunteer at the Natural History Museum. I’ve been on the board of directors for three different organizations. Bringing enjoyment and companionship is greatly rewarding to me.
Chapter Leads
I’m excited to be the Ann Arbor chapter lead and help nurture friendships in our community. It’s rewarding to see new people come together and enjoy the great variety of activities we plan. I’m a retired teacher, married with three daughters, and three grandchildren. I enjoy reading, crafting, yoga and socializing.
Now that I am retired and my children have moved onto their own futures, I enjoy exploring the Cities as an adult. I am always looking for new experiences, adventures, and restaurants and I believe being the Minneapolis Chapter lead is a great opportunity to help me to live an ordinary life exceptionally. I look forward to sharing my ideas with likeminded women, forming friendships and supportive relationships. As the quote from our family’s favorite movie says….Get busing living or get busy dying.
One of my greatest pleasures is a good bottle of wine with good food and good company. I love travel and exploring new cultures. Backpacking opened me to the freedom of the outdoors with nothing more than what I carried on my back. I’m a voracious reader. To me aging gracefully is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being comfortable in one’s skin. Women my age and older who are living some of their best years are an inspiration. I hope to always be a good friend by being of use, being compassionate, and showing gratitude to all.
I started the Berkeley chapter in 2019 after reading the NY Times article about FFF>50. Berkeley grew to over 1,000 members as it fulfilled the need women have for connection. My 30-year career as an attorney, luckily ended in appel-late practice after too many years of civil litigation. I'm also just finishing up a 2-year mindfulness meditation teacher certification, a practice that has been the grounding force in my life for more than 25 years. I love spending time with the friends I met through hosting events in my chapter. I look forward to retiring so I can devote myself to Mindfulness instead of law, and to collaborating with Diana to grow the San Francisco area FFF.
Creating women’s communities that are both supportive and playful is something I enjoy so much that I formed my business around it! I’m the owner of Untamed Pathways LLC, and work as a Women's Holistic Living Coach, Travel Advisor, Retreat/Event Planner, Community Engagement Manager & Writer. I enjoy nature, art, history and culture. I look forward to getting to know you, sharing adventures together and enjoying our lovely community!
Hosting Heros
Women’s groups were a lifeline for me when I moved to Colorado over a de-cade ago. I’m originally from Michigan, then spent 17 years in No. Florida, I’m now proud to call the Denver area home. I look forward to sharing the great variety of activities available here with others. I’m an indoorsy person, so you’ll see me hosting events like movies, museums, crafting, and such. However, the wonderful thing about FFF>50 is that the members can shape the group by hosting any event they desire. I look forward to seeing what Denver members come up with!
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, I recently moved to Santa Fe having spent 30 years in Colorado. I met so many great women through group meetups in Colorado and I look forward to exploring the many activities here in Santa Fe and building new friendships. I enjoy wine and food, music, artisan markets and casual outdoor fun (e.g., walking, hiking, biking) just to name a few, so you will see me hosting events like these. I’m excited to see what other events Santa Fe members want to do for fun!
I left the corporate world and my career as accounting supervisor in 1993 to become an aesthetician, permanent makeup artist, and later a hypno-therapist. After finding FFF in 2018, I began hosting events, first in-person, and then online as well. Through the online events I made friends all over the world as well as right here in my own city. I’ve hosted discussions and classes ranging from Makeup 101, to dispelling myths about Hypnosis, as well as conversations to learn more about one another. Currently, I host a bi-monthly foodie event where we get together and schmooze. FFF>50 truly lives up to it name, and I'm so fortunate to have discovered people I never would have met otherwise.
I hail from the 1950’s midwest, Rockford, IL, to be exact. I’m a cellist, and have played with orchestras in the states, and around the word. I married late in life to an aerospace science. We lived in Madrid, and traveled throughout Europe. While hosting an FFF event, I met a woman who rescues dogs, and that became a passion for me too. Connections you make by hosting and attending events can change your life! Even with dogs and a husband, I find time to play in local orchestras, coach middle school cello players, and host weekly luncheons where friendships are found and communities created.
I love LA, and enjoy exploring it with friends. Hosting FFF events is a favorite hobby, and I have found real friends through the group. A retired non-profit fundraiser, I am on a new path as a yoga instructor, animation filmmaker, musician, and globetrotter.
N.B. Kate won Best Stop Motion Film at the Skeleton Keyframe Animation Festival in 2023. She was the writer, director, animator, composer, and narrator, and it was her first ever attempt at animation! You can watch it here.
Take the Lead!
Founder & Friend-in-Chief, Dale Pollekoff
I moved from DC to LA in 2000, after a long career in graphic design. It was hard to find friends as an older woman, so I started FFF>50. Since then, it has been my passion to knock down the silos that separate us, and facilitate friendships based on the shared experience of struggling to stay vital in a society that often separates and devalues us. Helping women by starting FFF>50 has been so rewarding! My mission is to make this a home where any woman 50+ can come for fun, friendship, and support.
Chief Financial Officer, Lindsie Carlsen
I retired from the motion picture film processing industry in 2005 and moved from the ‘burbs’ to Los Angeles proper. I joined Meetup in 2007, and became a founding member and co-organizer of FFF>50. When COVID hit, I started hosting online ‘Happy Hours,’ which eventually blossomed into a variety of weekly events. I’ve met delightful women from all walks of life, love to hear their stories, and share my love of movies, philosophy, and politics. These years with the women of FFF>50 have been the most rewarding of my life, and I look forward to many more.
Hosting Director, Mercene Carlson
I was looking for places to connect when someone recommended FFF. Since joining, I have a fulfilling and active social life. I host a variety of events for the Los Angeles chapter, and as hosting director, I look forward to encouraging and helping other hosts. I’m a retired high school history teacher, a trained docent for the Santa Monica Mountains, and a volunteer at the Natural History Museum. I’ve been on the board of directors for three different organiza- tions. Bringing enjoyment and companionship is a truly rewarding experience for me.
ANN ARBOR, Irene Heik
I’m excited to be the Ann Arbor chapter lead and help nurture friendships in our community. It’s rewarding to see new people come together and enjoy the great variety of activities we plan. I’m a retired teacher, married with three daughters, and three grandchildren. I enjoy reading, crafting, yoga and socializing.
MINNEAPOLIS, Cathy Anderson
Now that I am retired and my children have moved onto their own futures, I enjoy exploring the Cities as an adult. I am always looking for new experiences, adventures, and restaurants and I believe being the Minneapolis Chapter lead is a great opportunity to help me to live an ordinary life exceptionally. I look forward to sharing my ideas with likeminded women, forming friendships and supportive relationships. As the quote from our family’s favorite movie says: Get busing living or get busy dying.
SAN FRANCISCO, Diana Leon
One of my greatest pleasures is a good bottle of wine with good food and good company. I love travel and exploring new cultures. Backpacking opened me to the freedom of the outdoors with nothing more than what I carried on my back. I’m a voracious reader. To me aging grace-fully is maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being comfortable in one’s skin. Women my age and older who are living some of their best years are an inspiration. I hope to always be a good friend by being of use, being compassion-ate, and showing gratitude to all.
SAN FRANCISCO, Allison Fairchild
I started the Berkeley chapter in 2019 after reading the NY Times article about FFF>50. Berkeley grew to over 1,000 members as it fulfilled the need women have for connection. My 30-year career as an attorney luckily ended in appel-late practice after too many years of civil litigation. I'm also just finishing up a 2-year mindfulness meditation teacher certification, a practice that has been the grounding force in my life for more than 25 years. I love spending time with the friends I met through hosting events in my chapter. I look forward to retiring so I can devote myself to Mindfulness instead of law, and to collaborating with Diana to grow the San Francisco area FFF.
SAN DIEGO, Cara Todd
Creating women’s communities that are both supportive and playful is something I enjoy so much that I formed my business around it! I’m the owner of Untamed Pathways LLC, and work as a Women's Holistic Living Coach, Travel Advisor, Retreat/Event Planner, Community Engagement Manager & Writer. I enjoy nature, art, history and culture. I look forward to getting to know you, sharing adventures together and enjoying our lovely community!
DENVER, Christine Ratcliff
Women’s groups were a lifeline for me when I moved to Colorado over a decade ago. I’m originally from Michigan, then spent 17 years in No. Florida, I’m now proud to call the Denver area home. I look forward to sharing the great variety of activities available here with others. I’m an indoorsy person, so you’ll see me hosting events like movies, museums, crafting, and such. But, the wonderful thing about FFF>50 is that the members can shape the group by hosting any event they desire. I look forward to seeing what Denver members come up with!
SANTE FE, Karen Cooper
Born and raised in Pennsylvania, I recently moved to Santa Fe having spent 30 years in Colorado. I met so many great women through group meetups in Colorado and I look forward to exploring the many activities here in Santa Fe and building new friendships. I enjoy wine and food, music, artisan markets and casual outdoor fun (e.g., walking, hiking, biking) just to name a few, so you will see me hosting events like these. I’m excited to see what other events Santa Fe members want to do for fun!
LOS ANGELES, Heather Dubin
I left the corporate world and my career as accounting supervisor to become an aesthetician, permanent makeup artist, and later a hypnotherapist. After finding FFF in 2018, I began hosting events, first in-person, and then online as well. Through the online events I made friends all over the world as well as right here in my own city. I’ve hosted discussions, classes ranging from Makeup 101, to dispelling myths about Hypnosis, as well as conversations to learn more about one another. Currently, I host a bi-monthly foodie event where we get together and schmooze. FFF>50 truly lives up to it name, and I'm so fortunate to have discovered people I never would have met otherwise.
LOS ANGELES, Whitney Raleigh
I hail from the 1950’s midwest, Rockford, IL, to be exact. I’m a cellist, and have played with orchestras in the states, and around the word. I married late in life to an aerospace science. We lived in Madrid, and traveled throughout Europe. While hosting an FFF event, I met a woman who rescues dogs, and that became a passion for me too. Connections you make by hosting and attending events can change your life! Even with dogs and a husband, I find time to play in local orchestras, coach middle school cello players, and host weekly luncheons where friendships are found and communities created.
LOS ANGELES, Kate O’Neal
I love LA, and enjoy exploring it with friends. Hosting FFF events is a favorite hobby, and I have found real friends through the group. A retired non-profit fundraiser, I am on a new path as a yoga instructor, musician, animation filmmaker, and globetrotter.N.B. Kate’s film was a finalist at the Skeleton Keyframe Animation Festival in 2023. She was the writer, director, animator, composer, and narrator, and it was her first ever attempt at animation! You can watch it here.
Are you ready for your next act? Something fun, easy, rewarding, creative, transformational, no ageism, and no experience needed? We’re looking for you.
These towns are ready to launch. Click here for ignition. We’ll set up a Zoom call where I can answer all your questions. And you can decide if being a chapter lead is right for you.