[events-manager] cannot make exclude category work

hi
i’ve read thru all the posts that advise adding $args = array( ‘category’ => ‘-135’ ); to events-list.php

i’ve tried it with this format, too $args[‘category’] = “-135”;

i’ve tried [events_list category=”-135] on my page,
i’ve tried both simultaneously and individually…

nothing seems to want to let me exclude category 135 – which i only want available for members – from the main calendar.

i’ve easily made a category page for this category 135 that is only visible by members… this is the last piece of my puzzle.

any more suggestions??