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In 1997 when Karen moved to Rochester, New York (after many moves), she
started Girl*friends as a way to get some of her friends together and to
continue using her Meeting Planning skills, which she missed from her
"prior" life. She had always hoped to get together with different groups
of women, but due to several moves, constrained budgets, busy family
life, etc., planned trips kept getting put off. Gals from growing
up, college, jobs, and different homes were spread out all over the
country. She figured if she planned a weekend each year that she
was sure to be at (and plan!), then maybe some friends could make it.
In addition, she would ask those ladies to bring along a special friend
or two that they don't get to see often enough.
All women need time to connect outside the home. No husbands,
significant others, children (except maybe an infant), bosses,
deadlines, etc. Just time to catch up with other women and sit
back, kick up your heels and relax. Maybe a day at the spa, a
glass of wine, good food, better desserts, antiquing, shopping, outside
activities, or maybe you'd like to hang out inside and catch up on your
reading or knitting.
The first (4) years were at the Equinox
Resort in Manchester, Vermont and the numbers fluctuated from 12 - 20
women. A good time was had each year...Then she decided to try a
new location and the group ventured to the Mirror Lake Inn & Spa in Lake
Placid, New York with 20 women. Again a great time was had!
But the Equinox was definitely missed and the group headed back the Fall
of '03 with a record number of 49 women! The Fall of '04 a small group
of 15 tried the Woodstock Inn in Woodstock, Vermont. It was a
great resort, but the Equinox was missed, so they headed back there for the Falls of '05 & '06 and '07, our 10th Anniversary year. This past fall we enjoyed the Beekman Arms in the Hudson Valley.
Additionally,
in the back of her mind Karen also wanted to do a mother/daughter type
trip. So in the spring of '03 she initiated Ladies 'n Lasses.
The group
had a great time in Chicago that year and the past two years they had a
blast in New York City. In Chicago the group visited the American Girl Store and
saw their live show, Circle of Friends, and ate at the Original
Gino's East of Chicago and RIVA at the Navy Pier. In New York City
they've seen "Wicked" & "Little Women" and "Legally Blonde", and enjoyed their
Friday Night dinners at John's Pizzeria in Times Square and
had a great meal at the infamous "Tribeca Grille" the first
year. And, naturally, in both cites, everyone shopped!
Spinning Divas was "born" while Karen spent many hours spinning at the local gym. Imagining the beautiful Finger Lakes and the wonderful quaint villages that surround the area, she took a highlighter and mapped out her bike road through the Finger Lakes. In addition to a great ride, it was important to her to include wonderful Inns and fabulous food...what better way to end a 30+ mile bike ride!
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All of Karen's past
experience has been in the hospitality industry. A graduate of the
School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University, Karen has worked
as a waitress, front desk clerk, reservations clerk, sales manager and
special events and golf tournament coordinator. But after many
years of working operations, Karen finally realized that what she really
loved about the industry was staying in hotels and eating in
restaurants! She was lucky enough to get a job at Deloitte &
Touche (then Deloitte Haskins & Sells) as a Meeting Planner. The
opportunity to travel the country and visit luxury resorts was
definitely great!!! It was at that time she learned the importance
of organization, good communications and attention to details, which she
knows you will receive on a GO 'N GROOVE trip!
Karen grew up in Montclair, New Jersey, but since then has lived in many places (Exeter & Durham, NH, Rochester, NY, State College, PA, Ann Arbor, MI, Sun Valley, ID, New York, NY, Pittsburgh, PA). She now calls Miami home. Grace (16) and George (14) and her labradoodle, Halle, keep her and hubby, Andy out of trouble... |
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