TAKEN FROM A RECENT ARTICLE:
Lisa Weber Stafford, a native from New Orleans, Louisiana has launched the Secret Women’s Society to the public and is now going nationwide and moving quickly to secure the future of all women. Her mission is to make all women wealthy, empowered and secure. “This was a small private club for close friends and family, she says, and it grew and grew and is now open to all women who want to connect with other women; as well as, have financial freedom and independence for life. Let’s face it, women need other women. When we come together, we are strong”. We become synergistic (for us 1+1=3).
"NOPE! I am not a victim of hurricane Katrina”, Lisa States. “I have merely been affected by the great storm. I am stronger than ever. I am only a victim if I choose to be. I have always lived my life by making lemonade out of lemons, if that is what I am dealt”.
"The Secret Women’s Society was originally created in 2004 in New Orleans. We were a few girls, (O.K. women) sharing happy hour and stories while taking turns cooking for each other; however, we have grown and changed our format since then. The change came when all of my family and friends scattered after hurricane Katrina", she states. "I started writing via email, motivational and self reflection messages to keep us all connected since we couldn't meet with each other like we used to.
"I’ll never forget the first one that I wrote" Lisa states. " I told all of them to look up at the sky and know that we are all underneath the same beautiful sky. I went on to say that we are not far and we will always have each other. Everyone was so moved and wrote back saying that they needed to hear that. I started to hear from people that I didn't even know, who emailed me with testimonies of how the message of the day has changed their life in one way or another. From then on it was like magic, Lisa says with a glistening smile. I had to continue to give this to them. More and more people wanted to be connected. They brought on more and more friends. We all needed to stay grounded and positive and have some type of hope. People lost their jobs, families, friends, pets, homes, you name it. Life wasn’t as we knew it. The women were really into this daily message thing". Women from different States started coming on board. That is how quick and contagious we are as women.
"I thought HMMMMMMMM. We’ve got something here. Why not start a unique womens organization where women from all over can partake in the empowerment and build wealth for all women of the organization? The Secret Women’s Society was REBORN. I changed the format and made it a financial club for women with a twist. We still connect daily via email but we also help other women to gain financially. We now network with all women; as well as, women’s groups and offer them an opportunity to be a part of this unique organization with a wealth empowerment program that surpass all others. Women are strong but we are stronger together. A lot of women are their own providers. We needed something that a bank couldn't even offer (a lot of return on a tiny investment in ourselves)" Lisa says with a stern grin and lifted eyebrows.
We are now serving as an outlet for women to become empowered. Most of all, every member is moving forward financially by sharing in the wealth of the organization. We are one big money tree offering our branches to whoever wants to connect. Lisa goes on to say "we are also going to be incorporating a business page on our website so that members can advertise their businesses while offering other SWS members discounts. We also have a MEMBERS ONLY advice page, because all women need other womens advice from time to time". Lisa is focused and she is determined.
"You must be nominated or invited by a member to join. All members are assigned an activation code # and receive a generous referral fee for each woman that they bring to our Society. That’s it. No levels, nothing complicated, just shaking hands and allowing the next woman to get connected. A simple concept for all women to be wealthy and happy is my mission", states Lisa.
"I will not stop until women get it", she says. "Let me put it this way. What if it was a LAW that all women had to be a part of this social network? The Answer? All women would be wealthy. Well, it’s not the LAW, but it IS our choice. Imagine that".