Q: What is your vaccination and/or masking policy?
A: We do not require our members to mask at events, and instead focus on a culture of prevention through vaccinations and distancing while symptomatic. We cannot require proof of vaccinations as it is not readily provided. We strongly recommend everyone be vaccinated for COVID-19, the flu, and any other vaccinations recommended by your healthcare provider.
If you are experiencing infectious illness symptoms of any kind, even (and especially) if it’s “just a cold”, please do not attend MinneQ events.
You are welcome to wear a mask if you choose and MinneQ has basic surgical masks available.
Q: I use [insert drug here] to manage my chronic pain and/or mental health. Can I take it at MinneQ events?
A: MinneQ is a sober group. This means that we do not allow alcohol or other recreational drugs at private events.
Medicinal usage is a complex topic that is going to vary from one individual to the next, so we aren’t eager to create a blanket policy on the issue. Generally, if you have a prescription and your usage does not impact others, you are welcome to take whatever you need. If you have questions beyond this, please open a ticket to discuss your situation with Leadership.
Q: What is the cost for your events?
A: Generally, our goal is to make our events very accessible cost-wise. All events will list the cost as part of the event announcement.
Many of our public events will cost nothing/cost is the price of your own food purchases.
Private events are generally $10-20/person, sliding scale. This covers the cost of food, drinks, supplies, hosting fees, and more.
Q: What should I bring to the potluck?
A: The key to a good potluck is to have a nice cross-section of meals, snacks/appetizers, desserts and an assortment of flavors for each of those. People sometimes feel guilty for “only grabbing a bag of chips”, but that is equally important to a good potluck as pizza, fried chicken, or a salad. Please bring whatever you feel comfortable providing, and do not spend more than you are able.
Soda, sparkling water, and bottled water are provided.
Here’s some reminders about our potlucks:
- If you are bringing something that is served hot, please have a way to keep it hot for the duration of the event (crockpot, sterno, etc).
- We cannot guarantee Hosts will have room in the refrigerator/freezer, so please do not bring food that must be kept cold (i.e. ice cream/popsicles).
- We ask that all homemade foods have a list of ingredients/any potential allergens/other things people should know.
- No need to label store bought products if they are in the original packaging.
- Aim to feed 5-20. More niche options (like a curry or pasta) won’t attract everyone the way a baked dessert will. Attendees will also be dishing up smaller portions so a meal designed to feed 6 at home might feed 12-15 at a party.
- If your food is served in pieces, please pre-cut serving sizes.
- Please take your leftovers home!
Easy store bought ideas:
- Veggie/fruit trays
- Meat/cheese/crackers
- Fried/rotisserie chicken
- Takeout pizza
- Salty snacks (chips, pretzels, popcorn)
- Sweets (cookies, brownies, cupcakes)
Homemade ideas:
- Chili/soup
- Deviled eggs
- Homemade desserts
- Pinwheel roll ups
- Minnesota sushi
- A Minnesota salad made from either mayonnaise or Cool Whip
- Hot cocoa/apple cider/specialty drinks
Q: What happens if there’s a medical emergency?
A: If you believe someone at the party is experiencing a medical emergency, please alert MinneQ Leadership immediately. Members of Leadership are CPR/first responder certified and are capable of determining if further intervention is necessary.
Q: I just got my period and don’t have any supplies/I have a headache/I’m lactose intolerant.
A: We got you. MinneQ maintains a first aid kit that is available at all private events. Just ask for help from a Moderator! The kit contains:
- Antacids (Tums, Pepto Bismol)
- Diphenhydramine (Benedryl)
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Ibuprophen (Advil)
- Cetrizine (Zyrtec)
- Tampons w/ plastic applicator
- Pads
- Basic first aid (bandages, gauze, antibiotic ointment, and more)
- Narcan
Q: I can come early to help set up!
A: That’s really nice of you, but please ask a Moderator first. We appreciate the help, but sometimes end up with a “too many cooks” situation. If you are interested in helping out on a formal basis, check out Get Involved!
Q: How do I knock? Is there a secret handshake?
A: Our standard procedure is that the front door will be shut for privacy, but unlocked during the event. Please do not knock or ring the doorbell! This is host dependent, and will be specified in invites if it differs from this.
Q: What should I wear?
A: We enjoy a very low-pressure vibe at MinneQ, so generally whatever you’d like! We encourage everyone to come as they are.
If our events are in public, please be cognizant of outing. When out as a group, we will be associated together, and we do not wish to draw extra attention or hatred towards our group. While one person might regularly wear fishnets to the grocery store and consider it normal, not everyone has that level of comfortability in their identity. General rule of thumb: leave the nightclub wear for a different time.
Private events will have the “vibe” specified for each event. Please remember to dress casually for arrival/departure to not draw extra attention to our Hosts. It’s also a good idea to bring a comfortable change of clothes in case you need them. You might get tired of the ensemble you put together, or might just be over stimmed. Having comfortable clothes can be a game changer.
Q: I RSVP’d but now I can’t go!
A: Please open an event ticket to let us know! We understand that life happens and it’s not always predictable. As long as you inform us, we do not hold the cancel against you. Ghosting an invite will place you on the bottom of the priority list for future events.
Q: I have an idea for an event!
A: Awesome–we’d love to hear about it! Open an event ticket on Discord and share the details!
If you want to be involved in more aspects of event planning, you should consider becoming a Helper.