THE GROVE GATHERING

Gatherings are once/quarter, themed to reflect the seasons and designed with intentionality at their core to connect with like-minded women, support from a place of genuine care and grow together, in business and life.

Save the dates on your calendar now and be on time. The agenda is designed to make the most of every minute.

2025 GROVE GATHERING DATES:

• Wednesday, September 24, 2025, 4-6pm (SAVE THE DATE)
  • Theme- "Set Your Sights" 
  • Location & Host- LOOKING FOR A HOSTESS!
  • NEW: Afterparty- location TBD
  • What to Bring- 30-ish "somethings" to share in the Gift Bags, such as:
    • business cards (yes, they're still relevant)
    • a 5x7 promo card or a larger card folded (consider a special discount code for Grove Gals)
    • product samples (we love these!)
    • bring something that will help others REMEMBER & CONNECT with you afterwards
  • Agenda & Rules of Engagement- review below prior to attending 
• Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 4-6pm (SAVE THE DATE)
  
  • Theme- "Sip, Savor & Celebrate"
  • Location & Host- Debby J's house! 
  • NEW: Afterparty- Holiday Shopping Market & Dinner Buffet
    • (details to follow, product-based vendors are welcome to sell) 

AGENDA- for each Gathering:

• Welcome:
  • mix & mingle, along with beverages and light snacks
  • reminder of vision, purpose and overview for each Gathering
  • review of rules of engagement and agenda
• Theme-Based Connecting:
  • small group connecting, based on a set of prompts related to the quarterly/seasonal theme
  • you'll visit with 2 or more different groups of women for maximum sharing and connecting
• Gathering Together:
  • group sharing about connections made, sharing that surprised and valuable takeaways
• Looking Ahead:
  • opportunities to stay connected
  • set intentions between now and the next Gathering
  • dates and location for the next Gathering
• Closing:
  • a fond farewell, 1 word close and group photo

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT- agreed to by all:

• Connect with Multiple Women:
  • reach outside your comfort zone and say HELLO, everyone is here to mix, mingle and connect
• Practice the Art of Reciprocation:
  • have a mutually beneficial conversation and be mindful to allow both individuals equal sharing time
• Come Willing to Play All-In:
  • connect with the intention of nurturing the connections you make beyond the Gathering
• Let Go of Assumptions:
  • you never know when you need a contact in ANY industry, so be open to connecting with all
• Experience Sharing First:
  • it's easy to give advice, be mindful to avoid "shoulding" on others and share your experience first
• Ask Permission before Giving Advice:
  • if you get the sense someone wants advice, always ask permission first
• Disagree with Grace:
  • challenging ones beliefs can be done in a respectful way. be mindful to do so with consideration.

GIFT BAGS

At each Gathering, there will be gift bags for each attendee!

Gift bags are a chance to share your contact information and/or a promo/flyer about what you're working on with other Grove Gals. It's not just about passing around business cards; it's about sharing a piece of you and your business.

Do you have to bring something? No, however I strongly recommend business cards, at a minimum.

If you drop a sample of your newest product, a promo about your latest program/service or flyer with a special discount code for your Grove Gals- what a great way for people to know more about you and your business!

Keep it Simple, Sister: While we all appreciate professionalism, I know each of you, individually. You value effort and intention over perfection (i.e: nothing to lose sleep over).

VIRTUAL GROUP

Between Gatherings, stay connected on our WhatsApp Group, with a set of guidelines, monitored by your truly, to share announcements, information and updates aligned with the purpose of helping you and your business grow. 

Sign-Up sheet to join will be available at our first gathering on 3/20 and each Gathering thereafter.

Guidelines for Sharing in WhatsApp:

• Respect that this is a non-denominational group.
  • Asking for positive thoughts, good vibes or prayers to a higher power is acceptable. Quoting bible verses and inviting others to a religious service on this platform is not acceptable.
• Sharing is best-received if the sender starts with a greeting.
  • Be sure to start with a simple "Hello" or "Good Morning," before sharing or asking. A greeting sets a friendly tone, and others are more likely to respond.
• This is a complaint-free zone.
  • The Grove is a community of Creators (not Victims). Hold yourself to a high standard. Present challenges with the intention of creating a solution (not venting).
• Feel free to ask.
  • If you're stuck or struggling, you have all the support you need in The Grove. Whether it's hiring, firing or needing copywriting reviewed, all you have to do is ask.
• Privacy is Paramount.
  • Maintain confidentiality and privacy. Refrain from sharing information other Grove Gals share in confidence, especially in relation to their business.
• Participation is encouraged.
  • Everyone has "stuff" going on and other "groups" to manage and maintain. If you sign-up, I encourage you to participate to some degree, consistently. Active engagement helps keep the group dynamic and valuable for all members.
• Conflict resolution and upholding these guidelines is my job.
  • With guidelines being clearly shared, do no be surprised (or offended) when I do my job and uphold them. I don't expect this to be an issue, but it must be said.

Questions about what is/is not acceptable? Call me or text me at 214-477-4502. I'm happy to help!

GET-TOGETHERS

Whether through casual meet-ups, one-on-one connections, Get-Togethers are encouraged, yet never counted. Set a quarterly intention to connect in some way, between Gatherings, with one of your new contacts.

Get-Together Ideas:

• Virtual Coffee or Happy Hour
  • I'm still a huge fan of Zoom!
  • Invite more than 1 (perhaps set a theme?)
• Whole Foods Date
  • Get whatever food you like and every location has a common area for eating!
• Walk & Talk
  
  • Take your connection on the road and walk while you talk!
• What else?

My idea for this group was born after a long (and strategic) hiatus from networking. I was selling a business and chose to pull myself out of the spotlight. As a result, I felt lonely and disconnected. I turned to social media and like so many, I felt myself engaging in addictive behavior (yuck).

I started investing in a way of connecting that felt better, healthier- in person, on Zoom, person to person. And I left every conversation feeling energized and fulfilled!

I joined a weekly networking group in 2023 (my first networking ever outside the event industry) and started meeting incredible women, from so many different industries, who are absolute ROCKSTARS. Once again, the connecting was invigorating!

I realized I wanted to grow my Coaching & Consulting practice based on having in-person connections and engaging in deeper than surface-level conversations.  

INTRODUCING THE GROVE...

With all the connecting I'd done since my long hiatus, I realized engaging with women face-to-face is:

• MORE FULFILLING- when you share physical (or virtual) space and exchange emotions, energy and excitement, you can build real, authentic, deep connections with other like-minded women (from common ground and common values comes trust, support and a genuine care for others)
• MORE EFFICIENT- this sounds real business-y, but it's true- time is our most valuable, non-renewal resource, so why not spend your time investing in real people and real relationships with a 100% guarantee that they'll pick up what you're putting down? (because only 6% of your followers, on average, see your social media posts)
• MORE EFFECTIVE- when you're connecting from an authentic place, you'll start receiving recommendations and referrals from those real people and real relationships, and ultimately, new relationships in the form of clients and sales, aka: what matters most- revenue (because after all, this is a business, Gals)

It's from these realizations and the culmination of years of ideas that The Grove was founded Spring 2024.

MY VISION FOR THE GROVE...

• first, CONNECT- establish common ground by sharing on a deeper level, in real, meaningful ways
• then, SUPPORT- explore common values by expanding beyond business to develop trust and genuine care
• and GROW- from a foundation of common ground and common values, becoming part of a community where you gather,  recommend and refer with ease, because you care about the woman behind the business

The cornerstone is connection. Knowing, trusting, and liking each other on a human level makes doing business together easier and more enjoyable. It’s about establishing the common ground— backgrounds, experiences, values or passions— that lays the foundation for authentic and effortless support. From here, helping each other grow becomes second nature.

Imagine being part of conversations that naturally lead to, "I know the perfect person for you!" That's my vision for The Grove: a community where growth, both personal and professional, happens effortlessly, thanks to the foundation of meaningful relationships.

"As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands-

one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

-AUDREY HEPBURN