diff --git a/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/recovery_meetings/ae_idaa_comp__event_obj_li.svelte b/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/recovery_meetings/ae_idaa_comp__event_obj_li.svelte
index b2113dc7..4c6fa157 100644
--- a/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/recovery_meetings/ae_idaa_comp__event_obj_li.svelte
+++ b/src/routes/idaa/(idaa)/recovery_meetings/ae_idaa_comp__event_obj_li.svelte
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ let {
 }: Props = $props();
 
 // *** Import Svelte specific
+import { onMount } from 'svelte';
 
 // *** Import Aether specific variables and functions
 import { ae_util } from '$lib/ae_utils/ae_utils';
@@ -37,54 +38,81 @@ import {
     idaa_slct,
     idaa_trig
 } from '$lib/stores/ae_idaa_stores';
-import { db_events } from '$lib/ae_events/db_events';
-import { events_func } from '$lib/ae_events/ae_events_functions';
+import { api } from '$lib/api/api';
 import MyClipboard from '$lib/app_components/e_app_clipboard.svelte';
 
+// Favorites are stored in a dedicated data_store record (code: idaa_meetings_favorites,
+// scoped to the IDAA account_id) so toggling never touches ae_event rows or their
+// updated_on timestamps. Structure: { [novi_uuid]: [event_id, ...] }.
+// One shared record per account — known race condition if two members toggle at
+// the exact same moment (last write wins). Acceptable for ~1000 members.
+let ds_fav_id = $state<string | null>(null);
+let ds_fav_json = $state<Record<string, string[]>>({});
+
 // Tracks event IDs currently being toggled to prevent double-clicks
 let favorites_in_progress = $state<Set<string>>(new Set());
 
+onMount(async () => {
+    if (!$idaa_loc.novi_uuid || !$ae_api?.base_url) return;
+    try {
+        const result = await api.get_data_store({
+            api_cfg: $ae_api,
+            code: 'idaa_meetings_favorites'
+        });
+        const rec_id = result?.data_store_id || result?.id;
+        if (rec_id) {
+            ds_fav_id = rec_id;
+            let raw = result.json ?? result.json_str ?? null;
+            if (typeof raw === 'string') {
+                try { raw = JSON.parse(raw); } catch { raw = {}; }
+            }
+            ds_fav_json = (raw as Record<string, string[]>) ?? {};
+        }
+    } catch (err) {
+        console.warn('[favorites] Failed to load favorites data store:', err);
+    }
+});
+
 function check_fav(event_obj: Record<string, unknown>): boolean {
     const my_uuid = $idaa_loc.novi_uuid;
     if (!my_uuid) return false;
-    const mod = event_obj.mod_meetings_json as Record<string, unknown> | null | undefined;
-    return Array.isArray(mod?.favorite) && (mod.favorite as string[]).includes(my_uuid);
+    const my_favs = ds_fav_json[my_uuid];
+    return Array.isArray(my_favs) && my_favs.includes(event_obj.event_id as string);
 }
 
 async function toggle_favorite(event_obj: Record<string, unknown>) {
     const my_uuid = $idaa_loc.novi_uuid;
-    const obj_id = event_obj.id as string; // Dexie primary key (same value as event_id)
-    const event_id = event_obj.event_id as string; // V3 API UUID
+    const event_id = event_obj.event_id as string;
 
-    if (!my_uuid || !event_id || favorites_in_progress.has(event_id)) return;
+    if (!my_uuid || !event_id || !ds_fav_id || favorites_in_progress.has(event_id)) return;
 
     favorites_in_progress.add(event_id);
 
-    const current_json = (event_obj.mod_meetings_json as Record<string, unknown>) ?? {};
-    const current_list: string[] = Array.isArray(current_json.favorite) ? [...(current_json.favorite as string[])] : [];
-    const already_fav = current_list.includes(my_uuid);
-    const new_list = already_fav ? current_list.filter((u) => u !== my_uuid) : [...current_list, my_uuid];
-    const new_json = { ...current_json, favorite: new_list };
+    const current_user_list: string[] = Array.isArray(ds_fav_json[my_uuid])
+        ? [...ds_fav_json[my_uuid]]
+        : [];
+    const already_fav = current_user_list.includes(event_id);
+    const new_user_list = already_fav
+        ? current_user_list.filter((id) => id !== event_id)
+        : [...current_user_list, event_id];
 
-    // Optimistic IDB update — liveQuery reactively re-renders the card instantly
-    await db_events.event.update(obj_id, { mod_meetings_json: new_json });
+    const prev_json = ds_fav_json;
+    const new_full_json = { ...ds_fav_json, [my_uuid]: new_user_list };
+
+    // Optimistic update — ds_fav_json is reactive $state, so check_fav() re-evaluates
+    // instantly everywhere it's called (derived list sort + each block template).
+    ds_fav_json = new_full_json;
 
-    // NOTE: This PATCH triggers ae_event.updated_on to update (MariaDB ON UPDATE
-    // current_timestamp() fires on every row write). Side effect: starring a meeting
-    // shifts its position when sorted by updated_on, and admins see a spurious "last modified"
-    // timestamp. Long-term fix: either bypass ON UPDATE for this specific write (pass
-    // updated_on = updated_on in the SET clause server-side), or store favorites in a
-    // dedicated per-user table that doesn't touch the event row at all.
     try {
-        await events_func.update_ae_obj__event({
+        await api.update_ae_obj({
             api_cfg: $ae_api,
-            event_id,
-            data_kv: { mod_meetings_json: new_json },
-            try_cache: true
+            obj_type: 'data_store',
+            obj_id: ds_fav_id,
+            fields: { json: JSON.stringify(new_full_json) }
         });
     } catch (err) {
         console.warn('[favorites] API persist failed, rolling back:', err);
-        await db_events.event.update(obj_id, { mod_meetings_json: current_json });
+        ds_fav_json = prev_json;
     } finally {
         favorites_in_progress.delete(event_id);
     }