The idea to form a Girlfriends Networking Club occurred to Lille` Mc Ghee-Queen, its founder, in
a dream that she had one night while lying in bed at a Northern California Hospital – October 2005.
Just two nights before, she had been rushed into the hospital emergency room via ambulance because of a severe asthma attack and shortness of breath. Before leaving the hospital days later, she had a Vision Plan to create a unique and friendly Girlfriends Networking Club – a Club that would be sensitive and supportive to the needs of females throughout the San Francisco Bay area. Once released from the hospital and in the comfort of her home, she immediately put her dream – the 2005 Vision Plan – into action.
In prior conversations and networking events, Lille` had learned that many women in her professional, business, and social circles were from other parts of the country. Most of them had small to medium-sized families in Northern California, while others had no family at all. Her family was rather small; a spouse, one son and one grandson. Migrating to California, blending into its culture, and developing trust, quality friendships/relationships in Women’s & Men’s Groups, proved to be difficult. Women’s voices were generally overpowered in mixed-gender group business and social settings. A significant “unknown” change was lurking in Lille’s future…READ ON!
2005 HEALTH CHALLENGES …
Lille` spent several days and nights during the year 2005 in two different hospitals – one for repeated asthma attacks and the other, for fainting and falling down at a California blues concert. She became dehydrated at the concert, fell to the floor, split her chin and lip open, rushed to Stanford University Hospital and stayed overnight as a patient. Surgery was performed the next day…
The details of Lille’s serious fainting accident, surgery, medical follow-up treatments, are fully described in her 2005 anthology, T.E.A. On The Patio. Her short story, The Fall of A Queen: Soaring In Silence, begins on pages 60 – 84.
At this point in life, Lille` felt compelled to – not only tell her story about what was transpiring with her health – but to implement her Vision Plan into action once she was out of the hospital. It became her mission, responsibility and passion to find something “positive” inside of her health challenges. The Girlfriends Networking Club – a Women’s support group to empower others – was born in 2006. There was no time for self-pity but an opportunity to put closure to the Year 2005 health challenges; to tap into her creative talents, spiritual intelligence, and spread her wings and soar into excellence...
BOTTOM LINE…Lille` turned her health-challenging conditions from “asthma” to “awesome.”
On January 1, 2006, Lille` sent out an invitation to her friends and women in the community asking them to join a unique “Women’s Club.” The response was favorable. Each invitation stated the purpose, benefits, costs and member’s leadership expectations.
On January 14, 2006, the FIRST Girlfriends Club meeting was held at The Villages, Golf and Country Club Restaurant (Evergreen District), San Jose, California. Although it was a very cold and rainy Autumn Saturday afternoon, four females were present to make the beginnings of The History of The Girlfriends Networking Club – California. Today, the Club is continuing to soar without boundaries with members (30-something to seniors), from varied cultures, backgrounds and interests, but all with a single focus; “to empower each other to excel” with their skills, intelligence, wealth and unlimited talents…
Lille shares her story in 'The Joys of Wisdom, Wealth & Girlfiends", an explosive new work of art! She takes you on her personal life journey from the East and West Coast, and back to North Carolina, her place of birth where along the way she unfolds her life experiences through poems..quotes...short stories.. "The Joys of Wisdom, Wealth & Girlfriends" can be ordered through McGhee_Queen-Associates, PO Box 360 823, Milpitas, Ca 95036. You won't want to miss reading this!
