Forum update and future plans
The next board meeting is scheduled for 11/4. Minutes and a detailed financial report will be available afterward.
As for overall immediate goals/recap of Wednesday's forum:
Put a financial checks and balances process into place
Hire a bookkeeper to properly balance and provide details regarding our financial status
Starting in 2025, hold quarterly in-person meetings for all members to attend with an option to email suggestions, options etc. for our scheduled board meetings
‘Thank you and please reengage with 412Thrive’ letters to send to businesses and doctors who have supported us over the years
Long-term goals:
Conduct an audit once our funds allow
Partner with small businesses and other non-profits to help grow our networking and potential funding opportunities
Solicit new sponsorships
Brainstorm new fundraising initiatives
Continue to seek new grant prospects
Grow the board with individuals who have specific skill sets
Establish committees with strong chair leads
More elaborate programming and next step visions:
Mending Bridges and Crossover Programming
We have reached out to local area cancer support organizations. They are looking forward to the opportunity to better share resources and programming
Education
Recognizing that proper self-breast exams do help save lives, we will expand our educational offerings, especially for those in the thick of it
Offering both a monthly social activity and educational program/activity
The educational presentation would be streamed online and recorded allowing anyone access. It would then be posted on our YouTube page and website for anyone to access. We would take online questions as they're submitted. Our IT department has extensive experience in this area.
Some example educational programming suggestions:
IVF and surrogacy options
Child life from an area hospital - Supporting your child as they support you during cancer treatment and beyond
Working with Pfizer representatives to share more information about medications that are keeping our Thrivers alive longer
Palliative care
Advocacy and Ambassador Program
Reviving and expanding our Ambassador Program to more Thrivers
Training certain Thrivers who could go to appointments with other Thrivers when they need support
Setting aside dedicated time to engage with potential clinical trials, which is vital for our metastatic Thrivers
Expanding to Support Local Men
More and more men are being diagnosed with breast cancer in our area. We've spent years accumulating resources and information and would find a way to share it without compromising our Thrivers' safe spaces. If we could potentially save someone's husband, father, or son's life, why wouldn't we do it?
Previvors
One of the things that makes us unique is our Previvors. We need to develop resources specifically for them including their own tab on our website and putting more of a focus on them in our social media
If you have questions or comments, email us at info@412Thrive.org or our Board President Rachael at Rachael@412Thrive.org.