Finding Friends & Mentors

Discover members who share your skills, interests, or experiences—whether you’re looking to lend a hand, find a guide, or simply make new friends.

1. Click on Live‑Link Skills & Interests #

Every multi‑select item on a member’s profile—Skills I Can Share, Skills I Need Help With, Travel Interests, Creative Arts, etc.—turns into a live link.

1. Visit any member’s profile.
2. Under their relevant field (e.g. Skills I Can Share), click “Public Speaking” (or any skill/interest you both share).
3. You’ll land in the Members Directory filtered to everyone who chose that same item.

This one‑click method is the fastest way to zero in on peers who match you in specific dimensions—perfect for finding a mentor or reciprocating support.

2. Use the Affinity Search Bar #

At the top of the Members Directory, you’ll find our Affinity Search bar—your custom search tool for profile‑field filters. Right now it includes:

• Location (Metro / Region)

As we build, you can add more fields here. We recommend including:

• Skills I Can Share / Skills I Need Help With
• Connection Goals (e.g. Meaningful Companionship)
• Travel Interests
• Life Experiences (e.g. Retirement Status)

How to Search #

1. Go to Members → All Members.
2. In the Affinity Search bar, choose a filter (e.g. pick your city from Location).
3. Click Search—the directory will refresh to show only matching members.
4. Combine multiple filters (once available) to narrow down, for example:
   • Location = “Portland, OR”
   • Skills I Need Help With = “Public Speaking”

When you’re ready for more filters, just let me know which fields you’d like in Affinity Search and I’ll guide you through the setup.

3. Apply Directory Filters #

Below the search bar, you’ll see standard directory filters you can toggle on or off:

• Sort by: Newest Members, Most Active, Alphabetical
• Filter by:
  • Availability (Mornings, Evenings, Weekends)
  • Preferred Interaction Modes (Video Chat, In‑Person)
  • Group Size Comfort (Small, Large)

To use them:

1. Click a filter category.
2. Tick the option(s) you want (you can select multiple).
3. The directory updates instantly.

These filters work alongside the live‑link clicks and Affinity Search bar—mix and match all three to pinpoint exactly the friends, collaborators, or mentors you’re after.

4. Next Steps & Tips #

• Start broad, then refine. Maybe begin with Location alone, then add Skills or Interests as you explore.
• Bookmark your searches. Copy the URL once you’ve dialed in your filters—come back anytime to update or revisit.
• Suggest new fields. As your community grows, let me know which profile fields you’d like added to Affinity Search; I’ll walk you through enabling them.

With these tools—live links, Affinity Search, and directory filters—you have everything you need to find the perfect match for friendship, mentorship, or shared adventure. Happy connecting!