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Hi, I'm Kezia. Yeah, a stroke survivor and member of bind.
And hi, I'm Carrie, a stroke survivor, and also a member of bind. And today we thought it would be fun to go ahead and start the new year with the recap of all things by BIN brain injury network. Um, what we've accomplished in 2023 and what we can look forward to in 2024. So with that, we have our fearless leader and executive director, Brian White. Welcome Brian.
Thank you.
Also last year. saw our 11th year as a nonprofit. And almost two full years producing this podcast. woohoo. How do you think we're doing?
Well, let me tell you, I think we're doing great. We continue to grow and expand. Um, our reach. I am really the main purpose of the podcast is to develop awareness throughout our community. So. The first year we were doing this, we had a thousand downloads in that year. And in the second year, we've added an additional 1500. Uh, and by the time we get to the actual two year mark, We may actually be around 3000. So. We do continue to expand. We've.
We've grown our followership by about 140%, which is really outstanding. And, um, We've grown. Um, our number of episodes every week, we just keep making more and more and more. So. Yeah.
Yeah. I also want to make sure that people know that the podcast isn't really the only social media. Uh, platform that we use, and it's not the only presence of the Brain Injury Network. Um, which we will continue to say BIN, um, just so people know. So the Brain Injury Network also has Facebook. And an Instagram account. And all of that. I think it's important for people to know that it's brain injury survivors that run that show.
So how does the brain injury survivors, um, contribute to that being present and being. Produced.
Yeah, it remembers that work in the media and merch area. The media and merch unit. Um, Work on. Developing the actual posts. So they write the content, they get the backgrounds and the pictures together. And. Back up a little bit that. We have a monthly planning session between both clubhouses. And they decide who's going to post. What messages on what day? And how that relates to the clubhouse. So it's really all driven by the membership. And, uh, it's been very successful.
We've seen a growth, not only just in our social media followership. I about 5% this past year. But we've seen a growth in new donors. Uh, more money coming in and on particular days, like North Texas giving day and things along those lines.
So. Both clubhouses, do that BIND Plano and BIND Fort Worth, correct. Take part in doing those posts,
correct? Correct. Okay. Or more accurately said BIND and BIND Fort Worth.
And in the Plano now, cause that's still hard. I'm getting used to doing all that. BIN is the hardest part for me. Um, but also I'm speaking of BIN members have also started creating merchandise for us for things that we do, like our Synapse laps coming up, but we've also helped other nonprofits. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
Sure. We're part of a, uh, an Alliance here in Texas called Clubhouse Texas that involves about. I think it's 14 club houses, most of which are Mental Health Clubhouses. And for their annual Capitol day this year. Uh, we produced all of the t-shirts for the NAMI walk to the Capitol. So that's the. Uh, National Association of Mental Illness. And. I think we produced almost 400 t-shirts for that. And we also did another kind of fall gala for a local clubhouse here. Called Prelude Clubhouse.
And we produced their fall t-shirts as well. So we, we want to continue to expand that and support our other nonprofits in the area. So if anybody's interested in having t-shirts or tumblers or coffee mugs or hats or anything like that produced. Um, contact us here at BIND and we'll, uh, We'll work on getting your order filled.
Yes. I also just want people that are watching us on YouTube. Our shirt was all created by members and I think it's just a new, like skill. Something that we learned that we probably wouldn't have learned had we met been through this experience. So I think they're super great. And it's something new to learn about. But, um, so now that we've talked about who I need 2023 and all the great things. You know, we've gone through and been successful at.
Um, it does sound and it really has been that we've been busy. We've been very busy. It has been like a really exciting year, actually 2023 it was challenging. Um, can you give us like a quick review overall? About like our major events. In 2023.
So, uh, historically we've had a walk here in our office park called Synapse Laps. And last year we were lucky enough to partner with Toyota Music Factory in Irving. And they. Um, basically gave us their facility to use. And so we wanted to make it a much bigger event and more of a fundraising kind of thing than what it's been in the past. So we had set a goal for that to double our participation. And historically here at the office park, we had around a hundred people coming out every year.
So we were looking for 200, well, we got 250 people this year. And thanks. In no small part to our clubhouse partners and a presenting partner for the event. Um, Lone Star Neurology. We raised over $20,000 for that event. So this year we have a goal again, to double the participation again this year, and we've added a run component to that as well. Uh, another thing we did here in May and June, we basically. Kind of gutted everything out, remodeled the Plano clubhouse.
So, uh, Home Depot Foundation gave us a grant for $13,000 Worth of material. They brought in their pro division people and helped us basically over a period of two or three weeks kind of. repaint, we tore out some walls, put in new flooring, new appliances, just kind of really stem to stern. That was a monumental project that involved over a thousand volunteer hours in three weeks. So, we also had North Texas giving day, which is our fall fundraising event from Community Foundation.
And we set another record this year, we raised over $33,000 this year and we added 21 new donors to that event. So that's really huge. And I tie that back to our social media. Um, we attended the ah IBICA conference, which is the, uh, Brain Injury Clubhouse. Uh, National conference and we participated in Virginia Beach with, I think it was. Something like 14 other clubhouses and really got expanded. Our network had to meet a lot of the people for the first time for myself, especially.
And, uh, it was really a good exchange of information. We redesigned our website again, to make it more SEO friendly and to try and continue to, to make it more appealing for people to use and easier for people to use. We hosted an annual auction. Historically we did the auction with the gala. We dropped the gala component because it's not really working any longer. We weren't getting the participation that we were historically had.
So we're just doing the Auction component and then its place was really added a Golf Tournament. So. Both the Auction and Golf Tournament, we're very successful and we hope to continue to grow that. Probably this year, it'll be the Auction and Golf Tournament together. So more to come on that. Uh, as we get the details.
Oh, Brian, I just want it just. As far as listeners, what you explain when you said the website, you said SEO. Just so right, listeners. Aren't sure what SEO is. I know what it is, but can you tell us.
It's basically in layman's terms where there are certain words. That when people Google search those words, if they're on your website, it will help bring your website up to so they can click on it.
So if someone types in brain injury awareness, we want
ours to be the first one up. Yeah. Yeah.
And I hope we are.
Now we're going to go test it. So we talked a little bit. That was our kind of our next question you hit on is like there's been changes in both. The clubhouse has both. BIND and BIND Fort Worth. We talked about the renovation. I don't know. There's a view that. Can tell, maybe you can tell. Um, Our studio is a little different. We moved from the back of the clubhouse to the front of the clubhouse. So we've got a little bit more space in here. We're still working on getting it all pretty. Sorry.
It's kind of bland right now. Yeah. I me and, Kezia. To look it that's all you need. Um, but I know Fort Worth. can tell us a little bit what's going on with Fort Worth.
Well, after a 14 month. Exhaustive. Uh, search, we found a, uh, I'll call it a permanent home for the Fort Worth location. We were, we started off in a church annex and we were there for the first year and a half. The church gave us a very favorable. Situation to really get a foothold into the Fort Worth community. And November 1st, we moved into a permanent location. Uh, just off of 820 and Beach Street in North Fort Worth. So we're very excited about that.
Uh, and we're in the process of setting up and getting new furniture and new computers and all kinds of stuff that we need for, for that new location. But all of the members are really excited. The other component to that was our program director that was in Fort Worth. Uh, departed for other opportunities. And so we have back-filled her and she actually starts naturally. Uh, her name is Liz Glashan.
So we're really excited to have Liz on board, and I know she's very excited to be part of the organizations.
I have one more question. I want to ask you about Fort Worth, but before we do that, I'm going to take a quick little break and ask our viewers and subscribers to go ahead and click that like button, that follow button, that subscribe button, share button, click the buttons. We appreciate that. So one other thing I wanted to ask you about Fort Worth. I know we had an end of year campaign that was to helpfund Fort Worth to get the clubhouse back up and running. How did that go?
Uh, it turned out to be very successful. Um, we had kicked off the campaign on Giving Tuesday, which is the last Tuesday in November, and we have a goal of. Raising $30,000 to really help Fort Worth get established. And thanks in no small part to a very large, uh, foundational grant. Uh, from the DEW Foundation. Uh, they, we reached our goal on actually exceeded our goal by a few hundred dollars. So we're really set up to be successful there in Fort Worth and move forward in 2024. So. I
know they're excited about their kitchen stuff and having an actual kitchen where they can cook instead of rolling it all out. and cook.
Yeah, I think that's awesome. And I think also in your conversation, you were talking a little bit more about like, You know, the networking and how important it is for the Podcast and for BIND and Clubhouses overall over the U S and you mentioned a little bit about the club house, um, in Texas meeting in Austin. So how was that? You know, like networking,
yeah. Yeah. So as part of clubhouse, Texas, We did go to the annual meeting for that, that Alliance as well. We send down two staff to Austin. And they brought back. A wealth of information. Um, top of that, the alliances now decided to be part of the national organization of Clubhouse International. And so we've now been recognized as official Alliance within that organization. Meaning that we. Actually have more influence in the particular areas where our Alliance participate.
So it helps bring more political power to the local. Uh, Clubhouse scene, if you will. So with them here in Texas, but then it also helps us politically. Reach a wider audience. Nash nationally as well, so. Okay.
Yeah. And I think it's so very important to see how, like how we kind of all ended up knowing each other and how we all like, understand what we're going through and like the importance of having a Clubhouse located in your state, in your area and how it can affect others.
So, yeah, we just had two therapists touring our facility and I worked with. Both of them at two different facilities. Small world. So, yeah. Yeah.
Well, so we kind of touched on all the big things I think in 2023, did we miss anything?
You know, I think the main thing is we're really a strong growth trajectory and our goal in Fort Worth is to continue to grow that membership over there. We have some very strategic kinds of. activities planned to help that membership continue to grow. Uh, but that's more for 2024. Of what we're going to do even in the year ahead.
And that's where we're going to head now is to 2024. Can you share with us, or what information can you share with us and our listeners about. Our financial strength of BIN Brain Injury Network. As we enter into 2024.
Yeah. So we ended the year very strong. Uh, in the, in the last quarter we had a lot of excellent fundraising. And so we were going into 2024 with a very strong financial position. And we expect that with our walk coming up in April. Uh, some of the activities around Brain Injury Awareness month in March. We, we expect that strength to continue throughout this year and to the point where we're really hopeful to add back into our reserves.
Uh, we do have a long-term goal of having six months of operating costs in reserves. So anything we can do to kind of work towards that, um, Um, we really want to. Have a more secure position and in the world by having those reserves. Sure. Right.
And yeah, I think it's kind of like, uh, I don't know if anyone feels like this, like, oh, number is finances. Okay. But I think it is really important to see that. This strength that's financial strength is really important for brain injury survivors because all of us are in a different level or like step into our recovery. It's everyone has different needs. And with having those financial, like strength and stable, And allows us, it has allowed us to have this podcast. Like really.
You know, it's not cheap guys, you know,
As I always say, we don't charge our members, so it doesn't cost them anything, but that doesn't mean that having BIND is free. Right. It does cost money. Now the good news is, is in 2023, we, we raised just a little bit more than we had budgeted and we spent quite, quite substantially almost 10% less than what we had budgeted on expenses. So that's part of what's helped us put it in a good position. But also we're really having a. Return of Interns. Um, and volunteers. The. Uh, Fort Worth.
One of the things for 2024, 2025 is the Junior League of Fort Worth is going. They've already picked us as a volunteer site for them. Okay. And so they've dedicated at least 250 hours voluteer time tied to the Fort Worth Clubhouse. That's great. Uh, so that'll, you know, that's part of what helps makes us strong is when we can get those volunteers assistance instead, back the higher people as well. So,
right. And I think right now you talked a little bit too about like the strategy for membership and how important it is for brain injury survivors to come on to. To the clubhouse. Sure. Which either clubhouse, either the one here in Plano. Or the one in Fort Worth. What is your goal for increasing the membership and to either, or.
So I don't have a specific number. My goal is that we can have Fort Worth open five days a week by the end of the year. And that's really driven by membership size and membership ability to attend on multiple days. So. That's really the goal is to have that clubhouse open five days a week by the end of the year. Yeah. And within Plano.
We, you know, our efforts to go out and talk to the rehabs and talk to the hospitals and talk to the support groups and the things that we're doing along with our social media. I can't stress that enough. Is that. We're seeing membership recover from, from July to the end of the year, we actually added 10 new members in the Plano clubhouse. Um, and in historical areas where. Our growth was really small. Like in McKinney, we actually have added a couple of people as well.
So, you know, we really look at the demographics because there's, there's money tied to a lot of that. So we really keep an eye on all of that and try and keep, keep going out into the community. Keep our social media current relevant. Uh, helps draw people in and the good news. Uh, we've had pre pandemic members. Who are still starting to come back. So we've had a few new members come back in the last three or four months. Uh, that were it. Hadn't been back since the pandemic started. So.
That's always good. So, and I know we've had discussions about our Board of Directors. Is there any current information you'd like to say about the Board or?
Well, we, we. We turned over our vice-president. This past year. And so Karen Stull is our new. Board Vice President. She's a rock star for us.
Uh, we have had her on the podcast, not as a part of the Board, but
yeah, our president of the board, Juan Enriqez is his term is up this month. So he had. I expect him to renew his term. For the next three years. Um, And we're always looking for talented people. Across industries, finance, insurance, legal. Um, we're always looking for good people that are interested in doing volunteer work and being part of a successful growing organization to come and join the board and volunteering.
We really would like to get some in Fort Worth to. Help us grow Fort Worth. Yeah.
Yeah. We're really looking at key individuals in Fort Worth that we know that we hopefully can bring onto the Board. So, yeah.
Okay. I honestly really want to thank you for allowing your time to be here. I mean, as a Director of Brain Injury Network, I, and your investment of your time has obviously. been, I think you probably, you have been on our podcast before when you first started. And I hope that listeners understand the huge difference it has been in just one year. So thank you so much for here and giving up your time. Yeah. Yeah. If you need anything else to say, let me know.
No. I mean, This is one of the best jobs I've ever had in my career. And I just love it. It's super easy to put all my energy into it. So. It's very, very rewarding and, you know, Yeah, it's awesome.
Well, thank you for joining us again, Brian, and thank you for being our awesome Executive Director. We appreciate all that you do. And that the support I want to say, I don't know. It'll come to me in a minute. The encouragement that you give those events, especially here on the podcast team, that as we gain new members, learning how to do things in here, I mean, this is totally out of our wheelhouse, but we're having fun and you encourage us daily on it.
So we appreciate all that effort that you give us back.
Yeah. We're hoping in 2024 to make it 100%. Member driven for the podcast, you know, we're about 98%. Now, so really hoping to get that last couple of percent. Have you guys be completely independent with it? So,
yeah, of course. Well, thank you. And I want to also thank our listeners for attaching with us, for, you know, however many minutes and takes to help you learn about brain injury survivors. And just to make sure to click our like, and all of our buttons to make sure that you listen to us every Thursday for new episodes.
And I also want to remind you before I give you our basic information to go check out the new website, the newly designed BIN website, which is still thebind.org. Because we can't really change that right now, but it has everything for both clubhouses. So if you're interested in becoming a member, a volunteer. Adding yourself to our Board. That's where you're going to want to go. And then again, if you want to contact as personally here at bindwaves.
We have our own email, which is bindwaves@thebind.org. So. You can email us there. Follow us on Instagram. We have our own Instagram. @Bindwaves and then follow. Bin is it. And on Instagram too. Brian.
No, it's the BIND org. It's @thebindorg on Instagram as well as Facebook is @thebindorg
yeah. Okay. We'll figure it out at some point. But yeah. Okay. Okay. Well, okay.
Until next time
until next time.
We hope you've enjoyed listening to BIND Waves and continue to support BIND and our non profit mission. We support brain injury survivors as they reconnect into the life, the community, and their workplace. And we couldn't do that without great listeners like you. We appreciate each and every one of you. Continue watching. Until next time. Until next time.