diff --git a/index.php b/index.php
index be24198..6fa192a 100644
--- a/index.php
+++ b/index.php
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ $status_colors = [
                                           data-person-name="<?= htmlspecialchars($person['first_name'] . ' ' . $person['last_name']) ?>"
                                           data-bni-group-id="<?= $col['group_id'] ?>"
                                           data-meeting-datetime="<?= $meeting_datetime ?>"
-                                          data-initial-status="<?= $status ?>"
+                                          data-current-status="<?= $status ?>"
                                           title="Status: <?= ucfirst($status) ?>"></span>
                                 </td>
                             <?php endforeach; ?>
@@ -596,7 +596,7 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
     function updateDot(dot, status) {
         const color = statusColors[status] || 'secondary';
         dot.className = `badge rounded-circle bg-${color} meeting-dot`;
-        dot.dataset.initialStatus = status;
+        dot.dataset.currentStatus = status;
         dot.title = `Status: ${status.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + status.slice(1)}`;
     }
 
@@ -609,7 +609,13 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
                     document.querySelectorAll(`.meeting-dot[data-bni-group-id='${groupId}']`).forEach(dot => {
                         dot.dataset.meetingDatetime = meetingDate;
                         const personId = dot.dataset.personId;
-                        let status = dot.dataset.initialStatus; // Keep default if no record
+
+                        const personRow = dot.closest('tr');
+                        const personGroupId = personRow.dataset.groupId;
+                        const isMember = personGroupId == groupId;
+                        let defaultStatus = isMember ? 'present' : 'none';
+
+                        let status = defaultStatus;
                         if (data.attendance[personId]) {
                             status = data.attendance[personId].attendance_status;
                         }
@@ -630,7 +636,7 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
         const personName = dot.dataset.personName;
         const bniGroupId = dot.dataset.bniGroupId;
         const meetingDatetime = dot.dataset.meetingDatetime;
-        const initialStatus = dot.dataset.initialStatus;
+        const currentStatus = dot.dataset.currentStatus || 'none';
         
         // The person's own group is on the TR element
         const personGroupId = dot.closest('tr').dataset.groupId;
@@ -641,7 +647,7 @@ document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', function () {
         meetingPersonName.textContent = personName;
         meetingGroupId.value = bniGroupId;
         meetingDateInput.value = meetingDatetime;
-        attendanceStatus.value = initialStatus;
+        attendanceStatus.value = currentStatus;
 
         // Show/hide guest survey
         guestSurveySection.style.display = !isMember ? 'block' : 'none';