10.22.23: Board Meeting: 3 year goal reveal

Attendance: Heather Frierson, Crystal Breaux, Penny Lanier, Hannah Breaux

Transcript

Honey, will you pray for us to get started? I don't know what to put my glasses on for prayer. Uh, Father, we just thank you for this wonderful day, Lord. We thank you for the time that you've brought us together. Father, we just thank you that everything, um, that happens in this meeting, Lord, is directed by you.

We open our hearts. To hear your voice, Father, and your guidance on all the things that need to be, uh, decided on for the future of Creative Woman. Father, we count it an honor to be able to serve and serve your kingdom through this organization, Father. So we thank you for your wisdom and your direction in the name of Jesus.

Amen. Well, thanks ladies for meeting, um, today. I feel really, uh, good about the direction we're going. Um, it's been a, just to be honest, it's been a little weird the past few months for me, um, with all the changes, I kind of haven't had my footing. Um, I was so excited about all the changes and then I was like, wait, what are we doing?

What do we do now? And just, I mean, there was a few days, especially after the last gather her in August that I was like, oh, um, even though we knew more of the direction. So, um, I think this meeting is going to set us up for success. And I'm loving the idea of 3 year goal planning. Um, so before we even get into that, I'll let Crystal share her thoughts.

On our meeting with WNPA, um, before we get into the, uh, pocket, and I know it's a lot, that's why I emailed it, we're not going to go over it line by line, um, I want us to make some other decisions first, but, um, basically we've talked all year about what are our roles, how do we really do this thing, and that's something that is really important because we really want to, all of us, when I say we, I'm saying us, Want to get better at understanding how a nonprofit works, what our roles are.

And so what Crystal and I did is we jumped on a conference call with Women's Nonprofit Alliance. And their, uh, nonprofit guru, if you will, or what her title would be. Um, Cynthia Nunn, and she really, I was expecting one thing out of the meeting. And I don't know what Crystal was expecting. I wanted her to tell us, this is what Crystal should be doing.

This is what I should be doing. And I'm on a totally different direction, but I think it's better. Um, because that was really, I go, let's figure out what we're supposed to do. What, what are our roles? And it was much bigger and better. And so, um, I'll let Crystal share that. Um, what your thoughts were. Well, I think she solidified the last time we met by phone a couple of months ago.

I think each of us shared that we need to be, um, um, really communicate, um, and be specific now and stick with one thing to focus on. We all talked about we've let go of gather her. We've let go from the boxes. And so the last few years, I know that, um, Thank you. We like to say strategy will change and we got to pivot pivot, but I think some of our pivoting has caused some confusion a little bit.

I think we all shared that in the meeting and we shared how we need to have that 1, 1 or 2 things and really get good at those. And I think that she solidified that without even me sharing that. She said, you know, there has to be a 3 year strategic plan, which means. Yeah. What I took from this, Heather, is that we can't, you know, every year we can't say, okay, now we're going to focus on this.

And now, but we need to solidify a 3 year strategic plan. And so Heather and I met a couple of weeks ago about this meeting today and saying, okay, here's going to be our top 3. And so here's going to be our top three. These are the numbers that we're going to get. Now, we need to develop a strategic plan.

And that means inviting those on the board to the board who have the expertise to help with those numbers. Once we get that, then again, Cynthia said. Then they would have somebody come in and we'll do a retreat where she'll begin to help define what those roles are to help us with a three year plan.

That was remember. Yes, so she would come in, um, and help us with that plan at a retreat, help us with the plan and then also who, you know, really do help define those roles to with who needs to be doing what with that plan.

No, I just want to, I think I want to clarify that one thing doesn't mean we're only doing one thing. Yeah. So I just want to make sure we're all in agreement with that. Like one thing doesn't mean, um, that we're only doing membership and nothing else. And I think what I've gotten out of the last three years is, is this past three years as a world, it's been different.

And so what we were supposed to do during that pause of the world. Didn't isn't what we needed when the world came back, that makes sense. And I think that was a big, for me, this last season, like, Oh, the box was only right when it was, so what I want us to be better at is saying, okay, and I didn't think gather her was the, I think it was the right thing to come back because people were ready face to face, but be really good at like this program that we're doing is no longer necessary.

When that time comes. And I, I feel like what we did is we talked on DLC and box during COVID when it was necessary and very much needed. And then we came back doing gather her again, and we really didn't need those other things. And so it just kept. Yeah, I agree. So I, yeah, I agree. And so I think now we've got to really stay focused on a strategy for 3 years.

So with that said, I think WNPA is waiting on us for a date so that they can then decide who's going to come and help us and when, so if that can be one of our first things to do before we get tired at the end of an hour and a half, can we come back and think about that date? What is a good. I'm going to grab the school calendar.

I meant to bring that with me. That's really the only thing that I'm thinking. Oh, my God. How about we

start with what doesn't work? Is there anyone that has a date that works in January?

In January or February, you said? Yeah, that does not work. I need

to look. Zach just informed me he's had a calendar in his bag for a while when I asked him just now for it. Okay. Penny, anything on yours? Um, in February is my 60th birthday. Oh, so I figure that February 14th. So I figured that 16th or 17th. We're looking at celebrating I don't know we're planning some kind of thing.

My family said that weekend wouldn't be good for me. Okay.

February 16th or 17th or 16th sorry for the 18th won't work for me. That's the same weekend. So that's good. Okay. Crystal, your birthday's the 9th. Can you do your birthday on the 16th and sit next to me?

Oh, but this is the football,

but

for us, they, my girls have winter break February 3rd and 4th and then through the 7th. So that 3rd through the 7th, I would be out.

Heather, this would be a full weekend available. Yeah, I think that's in order to plan a 3 year stretch. That's what they suggested. Now, if it's a day retreat or not, but I think we would really need it. I don't think a couple of hours would get a 3 hour or 3 year thing. Plus, I feel like you can talk and talk and talk and then you need a break and then you need to, you know, and that kind of that overnight deal is what really spurs conversation.

And I guess, um, so. I can't do an overnight the week of the 10th of February. So that weekend before. We have a gala that we already committed to on Saturday the 10th. Um, the boys have basketball games every Saturday morning, but I'm sure I can get somebody to pop in and take them. Well, as it looks right now for all of us, the only date in February is the 24th.

And no one had said anything about January. So just choose a January date that works.

We're open the 24th and actually football season's over then. So, um, I mean basketball season. So yeah, if you want to do that last weekend of February, we, I'm available, but if January works better for everybody else, that's fine too. What about the last weekend in January? Honestly, I think the last, that weekend in February would be best for me too.

That last weekend? Are we talking about the 24th, 25th? Yeah, February, January. For us, school schedule and soccer is the craziest.

Oh, good. Hold on one second.

Well, and our kids don't go back. I don't know what y'all kiddos. Or green kiddos schedules are, but our kids don't go back to school till like January 8th or 9th. Yes, and I like put us on a kind of a. A slow start in January, I think with them going back so much later. In the year, I think it might be a little challenging to sneak away right after they're back in school.

The only thing that concerns me is the conference in April, which we have to start planning anyway before then, but that would. It would make us not all in 1 of 40. For the conference until the end of February. That's the only thing. So maybe that's a zoom meetings before then. Yeah. Well, do you feel like we need to have the 3 year plan before the conference?

No, I would just think there's momentum. That's all. Yeah. Maybe we can still have zoom meetings. Leading up because I think that's 1 of the things that we even we've all talked about is this quarterly meeting really loses our momentum.

Yeah,

I'm good with that. Yeah, I'm good with that too. So we voting on February 24th and then we'll have a zoom

February 24th. Yeah, that's Tuesday. That's a Tuesday. Oh, yeah.

Okay. Yeah, that would work. Yes.

And then we're going to have, um, monthly meetings, Zoom meetings, which is really November, December, and January. Um, I, I don't know about y'all, but I like this Sunday because Saturdays are hard. Yeah. Yeah. Some things are more chill at our house too. Yes. And this time, so are we good with this timeframe?

This time is much better. I think so too. Yeah, I agree. What should we go ahead and set those dates so that we have that, you know, like November the 24th is Thanksgiving. I think if we do anything after that, like, I, what if I, what if we meet the touch point, the 5th or the

12th, the 5th, um, I have a wedding that weekend, but the 12th, I'm good. Yeah, the 12th is better for us as well. If that's okay with everyone. Hadley sings, At four o'clock at HEB Center, but I could do it.

So she sings at four o'clock. Fire does it. So if we could do, be flexible for five of me, like running home probably after or what if we do a little late? What if we do six? We could do a little later. Yeah. Okay, let's do that. So 12 or 11? 12. 11. 12. What am I trying to say? 11, 12 on at 6:00 PM . Okay. And December, I think kind of the same, the earlier, the better, don't you think?

Because of the holidays. What if we did it 4 weeks later on the 10th?

Yeah, January 10th. December. I'm in a golf tournament that day. What? What did you say, Hannah? I'm in a golf tournament on the 10th. What? Isn't that funny? That's why we're doing this. It's okay. So, Hannah, 12th you meant for November, not December. So, November 12th at 6pm. Now we're trying to find a December date.

But we might be done by 6. I mean, if we could do like another 30, I think I could do that Sunday the 10th.

I had Winterfest on the 17th. I don't even know what that is. You just have it in your calendar? Yeah, I'm like, I don't know what that is. Can we do a Oh, I know that. The kids are at Winterfest camp. So we'll be gone on the 17th. I'm like, what is Winterfest? Um, okay, so the third The third is Hopi's birthday.

So you want to do the 10th at 6? Do you think, Hannah? Does that work with everybody else? Yeah. Okay. Yeah.

Okay. January.

What if we waited till the 21st? So we kind of had our minds heads, right? Cause January is sometimes you're like, what are we doing? I think that's good. Yeah. So January 21st. Let's if we can do five.

Okay.

So the decisions are retreat on the 24th, monthly meeting on November 12th, 12, 6, and 121.

Okay, December the 10th. Okay,

what?

December 10th. Yes. I was trying to say 6 o'clock. 12, 10 at 11, 12, November 12th, December 10th, January 21st.

Okay,

we got a retreat date. We actually made, did something by. 424 minutes and we made a decision. We made four decisions the first time ever. What other decisions? Let's go. Let's give them up. Okay. Now we're on a roll. Now we're on a roll. Um, with all, I just want to go really quick down some things, starting with this week's topics, giving Tuesday.

Kendra's already got some information about this. She's already working on a plan. We've already got content from the conference of last year, videos, pictures, so she's using all of that and our focus will be to plan for fundraising for the conference. And honestly, this is part of that goal plan. I think that's instead of trying to come up with new strategies every giving Tuesday, if conference becomes something that becomes a staple for us, which I don't know if we can say that yet.

I feel like it was. That conference was amazing. Um, until we hear no, I want to hear hold everything lightly, but, um, just fundraising for the conference right now, as we get our, cause everybody's asking, are we doing it again? And I feel like that's a good sign. Y'all feel good about that.

Um, we already did the WNPA, number three. Uh, number two, uh, gonna do a workshop. This is kind of a test, I feel like. Um, I just kind of signed the deal, um, routing. You saw my little post I did, at least it in this little pink room. It's a new workshop here in Austin, and it's basically for events and content creation.

I'm gonna do, uh, dreams, put your dreams to the test, which is one of my certifications that I got in August. Um, and just. limited to 25 and really promoted as a fun event. They can come learn and build strategy. I feel like it's it'll test the waters for workshops of what people want. Um, because one of the things I really felt like for gather her at the last few months is that we lost that sense of fun.

Um, it was always fun and impactful and meaty and girls night and we got really heavy on the meat, which I was great, but I did feel we lost a fun. And that's something that makes us different. As far as a faith based organization, isn't that sad to say? There's not a lot of just fun. Huh? It's just fun to be, just fun to be at.

Um, okay. Should we talk about adding to the board or should we go through our goals first? What do y'all think? What needs a decision? Well, one of the things, and Crystal can talk to this too, and then I want to hear from you guys, just in general, some, any updates, instead of just going through bullet points.

Um. Cynthia talks about how really building a bigger board to have more manpower. Um, but that would be helpful with our goals. And she said, yes, she, you know, I think there were three ways she gave Crystal. She's like, look for experienced people, you know, that can do A, B, and C. Or you can look at your current community.

Who's already invested because they're, they're the ones that you don't have to share the vision or teach, but they'll go and do. What were your thoughts on that part of the phone call, Crystal? I agree and why, um, I think talking about our goal numbers, because I was actually making some notes before the meeting on this.

I think really highlighting, you know, does everybody know what the goal is for number of memberships? Does everybody know the goal for number of books that need to be sold? Does everybody know the book, the goal numbers for the number of circles, CW circles? Yeah, that's what we're going to go over. Right.

So I didn't know if they knew like off the top of it, if they knew. Nobody did because it's in here. So my thought was those need to be addressed because I was making notes to like, everybody needs to be real familiar with those because I think once we understand what those numbers are, then that will help us.

Kind of start thinking about who are some good people to be on the board. Right? So, for example, once we go through membership, this is our goal number for memberships. Okay, that can kind of talk about who may be in the community has a thriving online business that might be And some networks like I'm going through this today.

I thought I could go speak at one of our local women's networking. Right. So once we understand what the goals are, I think that helps us know who should we ask that can strategically help with these numbers that have experience in these areas.

What do y'all think? Yeah, I agree.

Sorry, I had a screaming kid. I had to get on mute. Yes. Let's do that. Let me dive in. Um, is there any like anything from the last year this past year that y'all want to share or anything that that's been. I don't want this to be a talking head meeting. So, I want to just open it up 1st to hear your thoughts here.

If there's anything that you've been praying about as a concerns, pretty woman. That's on your heart. I really think that's important to hear. Because you guys, I mean, you guys and the team really. Are the heartbeat that knows. More than anything, and so I'd like to hear from all you guys, um, I do have some comments that I've heard from people that were involved with, um, gather her, um, that had told me the shift.

I think it rattled them a bit, where they were like, had an expectation of what CW meant for them, and it was like, you talked about it a little bit, like the girls night, the fun, we're going to get away, we're going to do something once a month, and um, now the focus, because we're focusing on leadership, um, I think it's going to take a while for people to catch on to what that means for them personally, especially if they're in a season of transition, um, Where they're like, I don't know where I'm a leader except maybe at home or, you know, like trying to figure out what that means and how CW can fit into their world now versus what it was before.

Um, it's just, it's, it's a mental shift and an understanding of what I guess the value is for them. And what has been your response? Like, what are your thoughts on that? Well, I mean, with what it's been for me, it's, it's always been a community for me, even if I'm not specifically, you know, there meeting up with people and It helps walk you through, like, we have the resources to help carry people through those decisions that they're making in their life.

Um, then we have the CW circles, which I wasn't fully, like, I wasn't transitioned when all that was coming up, so I haven't fully, like, captivated what that means, but it, it looks like that's a good, um, avenue for people that are in the areas where that's available.

Yeah, I've heard, I know, it was like a week after I was out, me and Hoyt were out on a date night and I saw this girl and she's like, I heard, I didn't make the last one, um, but this is what Gather Heart did for me. She started telling me her story about being, going through a divorce and I was, and you're like, uh oh.

Did we do the right thing? And it is a hard shift. It was a hard shift for me. I was like, yes, yes, like the whole summer long. And the next day after I went, Oh, like I felt so weird. Um, and I think, I think part of it is we are changing and some of the people, and this is just being honest, that did fit won't fit anymore because a lot of, a lot of people, including the girl at Softmail was like, well, you haven't been in a long time and you certainly never donated.

Those are my business like, I'm like, so this was just a free girls night for you. Um, and I think the ones that were invested as a community are going to say what's next, but it's hard pill to swallow. I've had a couple of people go, um, you know, but you haven't been.

Can I give some presidential thoughts on that? I have thoughts too. Go right

ahead, Crystal. Who's going to go first? Crystal is. Go ahead. Okay. So I have, I have quite a few little bullet points. I'll be quickly, I'll go quickly. So one, first, the business side of me says yes. That if we want to be a ministry that sustains, yes, we have to be fun, but if it's all about fun, you still have to pay to go to Disney World.

Disney World is fun and you still have to pay. And just be a fun girls night and and okay, I'm in agreement. Like, that's the whole reason why not everybody's going to fit anymore. 2nd, what I would say to that is, I think, though, we now have to, this is how I would respond to that person. I would say that is what CW, like, you just said, CW circles are for, like, we.

Drop it. Now you're going through a divorce. You're trying to figure out what's next. CW Circles. But for the woman who is starting a business and has been coming and trying to figure it all out, we have for you membership. So really, Gather Her did not go away. It split off to two different venues for the woman who was coming.

Yeah, that's good. Yeah. Well, that's really good. And that's what we say about CW circles. We're like, gather her in smaller communities. Exactly. Yeah. I mean, I think to just Sophie's point, the stories that we're hearing, there's no point in saying that stuff because they're not going to be involved anyway.

That's my, yeah. Hannah, that's just not what it is. Well, I have a different opinion on that, actually. Which I think is great about a board, right? Like, we're all gonna have different perspectives. I think that it's okay that there are women that came for a fun girls night. Because I don't ever want us, not saying that we are, but I don't ever want us to discount that one time that they came.

No! No. I mean, I think there's value in that too, right? And for her to be able to come up to you and say, you know, this is my story. Like, she obviously felt a connection and maybe not everybody is, I mean, like first Corinthians, right? One waters, one plants, but God gives the increase. And so we never know where these people are in their journey of faith.

Um, and so maybe she wasn't at the season to give or to so of her time, her talent and her treasure, but she was definitely receiving and even if she didn't attend all the time, maybe she followed on social media. Maybe she didn't, I don't know, but whoever this person is, you know, there's a lot of women like her that have the created woman, um, environment.

So I, I think that there's a lot of value there, and I also think, and Sophie, um, something that I had jotted down that I've really been preying on as well is that the team members of Created Woman have clarity in their repurpose, because I feel like now that we've kind of stripped away and simplified some of these programs, how are we repurposing their gifts?

Because they're, they found their purpose and their gifts in these avenues and in these programs and now we need to repurpose their gifts in a new way because they still feel connected and I don't want us, we, it's our responsibility to steward them, right? And so how are we being good stewards of their gifts?

So they can then invite and cultivate. And create circles and all of that. And so I think even, and if that's something that we need to, you know, pull up a list of all of the volunteers and go through and say, this is what I see in her. This is what her disc is. This is, I see that she can fit in all of these boxes because some you're right.

I mean, some may, it may be their time to go on, but some of them may just need that little extra voice of, I see the gift of you in this. And you can do it. Your gift can be repurposed in this way. And so I've really been praying over the volunteers for not just gather her, but just all volunteers in general.

Like just really carrying that they have clarity on their, on their repurpose. That's really good. And something you said to me when we were in Mexico and I remember. But I think we're talking about two different women, too, right? I think we're talking about the women that were in attendance, and then we're talking about the volunteers.

Right. Leaders need to lead, and all of the women that are on our team, CW family, are leaders. They have stayed, and I don't know if y'all noticed, but I really pushed out Renew and Refresh early. And I got all the responses back from the ones I knew that were going to respond. Um, and so that I, I knew who was going to go away, which were some of the gather her volunteers that had just started like the Kelly.

The Jessica's just hasn't responded, but I know she's, you know. And they're the only ones that have sat down and you have the Maria's who did join gather her who we launched CW circle. She was like, that's for me. I'm supposed to host that. And her circle is starting this week. I saw her today at church.

Actually, I went to hear me speak and she goes to church and she has, she's like, the Lord already told me to buy stuff for my table before you launched it, because I was supposed to invite women in, you know. So, um, I really agree with what you're saying, Hannah, in the sense of, um, seeing where the leaders are, what their gifts and talents are, um, whether that's disc or, um, strength finders or working genius or all of the above, because working, I don't want to get on a tangent.

Is that what you just said already? Can we turn?

Yeah, he's already home. Hi, Ryan.

Anyway. They're so I'll just, we'll just stay on really quick. We won't get it, but Stacy's still involved.

Stacy D. Gina. Help me. I'm forgetting so much. And Tammy. D Tammy. Who else did you say? Elaine. Elaine. I don't know, actually. She's so busy, but she's like, we're still in touch. She hasn't filled out the form, but you know, and then Sarah is been MIA. We've tried to get ahold of each other. We texted this week.

Um, but I think Sarah is one of those that's like, whatever you need, I'm here whenever you need me. She's been around for 10 years. Um, But I think you're right in that when we look at the board, a D is actually only one out of the group that said, I'd like to be a part of the board except Tammy, which I already know Stacey did not check that box, which I was shocked and Gina did not check that box, which I was shocked, but Gina's leading the writers.

And so she's kind of she's really in her lane. So I think for her, that might add something to her. Yeah.

But I agree. And that one, we talk about when we talk about the women that came together, her, we, we switched back to her, where's her place. I think that's where these workshops can come in, but the struggle with gather her was we're only reaching an Austin demographic, but I was going to workshops that we go different places and it'll.

Y'all have a different perspective. I gave my strong perspective from somebody who's not in Austin and knowing where we want to go. Like Gather Her was not resonating online. No. So that's why I feel like if we do workshops in different cities where we know we already have a community or at least a few followers, it would resonate.

That's for the woman that you talked about, Sophie. And for the woman that you're talking about, Hannah, which I think is a team, I think, yes, it's up to us to really figure out where everybody fits and, uh, but thank God, no one has said I'm out there. That group is the one that stayed through COVID and they're like, what's next?

Yeah,

well, unless there's something else, I think that's a good transition into where we're going and what we're doing. What do you think?

We'll take a break at a potty break at six if we need to, but let's do this. And for me, I don't know if this was helpful for y'all, but when I start writing down what I see in the future, I have to remember, who are we? Why are we doing it? Where are we going? And so if that's too much, sorry, but that's also bullet point for those that is, but I want to know, well, this is who we are, this is what we're doing.

So is it okay if I review that really quick while we just all read along? You know, up at the top leadership ministry, that's what we, you know, incorporated this year as our transition, that call to create is something that's always been resonated. We are a creative woman because we are called to create for the good of others.

Our vision has never changed. Equip and empower women to be who they are created to be mission. I put current, so it might be need to be tweaked, right? It might need to be tweaked. I'm not saying it has to, I won't read it all, but it's based, but no matter what, even if we're a leadership ministry, we are still about dreams and purpose.

It's just niching it down to your purpose for the women we serve are in the marketplace. Who do we serve? Women in the leaders, women leaders in the marketplace and ministry. What we teach. For six core principles, we teach women how to clarify your purpose, equip to lead, empower to launch, and change the world around you.

That is something that Kendra wrote last year to really just narrow our stuff down, like the bullet points. Hey boys! They're so cute. Core principles. Um, dreams. Because everybody has a dream, it's an easy launch pad healing because to get to your dreams, you have to go through healing to continue a circle.

We learned that in our CW circle past couple weeks, we're doing a circle together. Um, then once you are healed and whatever area you're going through, there's a new identity in Christ you have. Once you know your identity, um, you understand your purpose in that season of life, each season of life. And then it's health and fashion, which I don't believe they should go away because one, it's...

It is inside out, and it's how we show up and run our race well and be relevant to the world. How do we reach them? This is something that, as I was doing this, it kind of looked like the breakdown for me. Of how are we really reaching them? Because we've changed it so many times. We've reached them through this, and this, and this.

But what it boiled down to for me, and I hopefully you guys saw this, is we reached them through community. Whatever that community looks like, it could change. We always reach them through culture because our culture is really different. That's where that fun comes in. And that the type of woman that we're reaching.

And I just have to say, I look at some pictures online of networking groups. I'm like, I don't want to go. That's not my people. And that's what we culture identifies who we are. I mean, it's true. Like I've gotten that looks horrible. I'm sure they learned a lot, but I did not want to hang out with those.

Funny your culture, right? It's the same when you work for a business, you like they, you might, you can have the same tech job, but what culture does each job give you content? We're, we're always giving content and collaboration is what, just because I liked all the C's instead of partnerships, I'm like, what, how can we make partners at the C?

Um, so that's just how my brain works. Visually is. Break it down into sections where community or culture or content or collaboration. We've never said that before, but it actually helped me break down things in my own mind. Whether it does for you guys or not, I don't know if it's a big deal or not. Um, current programs, membership, that's part of community and content.

CW circles, it's community and content. Podcast is content. Conference is community, content and collaboration. And culture and then planning quarterly events, which are the workshops what we're currently working on. Gina is leading this Writing the dlc curriculum. So the dlc videos that we shot we started them two years ago where we matched one We're no longer bashing women.

Did I send this out to you guys? Which part? Uh, Gina's leading this to write a um curriculum to go with dlc Which will be the next cw circle so that women can watch the video series and have curriculum to go with it Right. I, that was one of my questions for tonight. I wasn't sure how. Okay. So I'll give you an example because the example makes it super easy.

Let me show you an example really quick, but I guess what? Well, I know what DLC, but your thought is DLC is going to be into the CW circles. That's what, that's what I've been missing. Okay. Yeah, we're not matching. It's a video series that women can download. So like we're meeting weekly. Okay. That's there's six videos.

They can watch it all in one setting that they can decide to put it in one video week in their circle, but we'll have a curriculum that goes with it that the writers are writing right now. Yes, yeah, I, I didn't know if you were looking for that to be separate from CW circles. And we also have the conference that we just got the goal with that is to put it as chapters like a lesson plan.

So that people can do it as a CW circle as well. No curriculum with that, just the conference. So it's downloadable or purchased. Does that make sense?

I think I'm a little lost. Okay, so you're, they're able to download these. As leaders for the CW circle, what do you, how do you see people doing that? So the video, so we have a book, right, right now. We think about what we're doing that we have, thought I had one near me, but I don't. Um, you know, so everybody that does this current CW circle, which is becoming, they have to buy their own book.

There's no way for circle that we can say everybody has to buy the video. A leader will buy the video and then invite women to it. That at least for the conference. For DLC, we'll have the video for purchase and the curriculum for purchase. So potentially the leader could just buy the video and all the participants buy the curriculum.

For the video, there's no way we can track that. Did I clarify that? Does that make sense? I think so, yeah. So they're two separate things. I'll share my screen. I think this is what helps since we've never done it before and this is what we're basing it on.

Um, and how, how, uh, Gina is, is, is, uh, using it or not using it, but telling the women writers, the writers.

It is good. Have you been in those meetings yet, Crystal? Oh yeah. Okay. So here is Christine Kane's Propel Women video series and digital download. I've actually bought it. Let me see if I can pull that up. And their guide. You're going to see all my stuff, but it's okay. It's

in a box. No, it's propelled. Let me just see. It's

probably in a box. Let me see. It might be in a box. Sorry if you see stuff you're not supposed to.

So, this is kind of what the writers are writing on, working on now, using this as an example for the DLC video series. They watch the video and then this little guide makes them have their circle conversations. So, it's not a book. It would be a PDF download. The writers would write it. Kendra would make it look pretty, and it's just downloadable and printable.

So to go back to this, if you look at their video, that's our DLC video that's already shot. It's downloadable. There's just like 20. You can just get the video, or you can just get the PDF, which I just showed you, or you can get the kit. And that's what we're modeling this first after with DLC, because that content that we shot for DLC is incredible.

That makes more sense.

Yes, sorry. I didn't realize I was on mute. Okay, so let's move on. We don't have to go through the mantras. I just, for my, again, it was kind of for me, I needed to write that down. So, three year goals. Did y'all have a chance to read it over, any of it? I know it was a lot, so, and we have busy lives. So, were you able to kind of brief over it?

Um, and again, I just broke it up into those four areas. So that we wouldn't be like, are we doing this? Are we doing this? They all fall under certain things. So that when whatever we do, we're maintaining our culture, unity, content and collaboration. Um, how do y'all feel? Y'all want to go through this?

Should we discuss each bullet point? What do y'all do? Any questions? How about this? Well, if I say any thoughts about anything, we'd skip around.

Let's just go line by line. How about that? That's good. Any objections? Yeah. Yeah. Culture. And again, this is stuff I feel like this is who we've been for, for a long time. Creative community of women. So authentic and real that they become our brand ambassadors naturally because of the impact of their own meaning word of mouth.

We want women so excited to be a part of community that they are telling people. I'll give you an example. One of our members is from California, never met her. She was just on the podcast this week. She's got two people in the membership that she pulled in. She and her friend had a retreat this weekend.

She texted me this morning and said, when is the conference? Everyone wants to come. And our next retreat is in February. Can you come? And I'm like, this is collaboration and community. She's telling her community about it. And she's cause she's so excited. That's what I mean. She's already a brand ambassador and you know, hopefully we don't disappoint her.

Um, never been together. Her never been to a conference, just found us right before the conference, tried to come, couldn't fly in, but joined membership. And it's all about it. Um, create a culture of faith, passion and fun and friendship full of women who are not afraid to show up well and take steps towards your God sized dreams and purpose.

Again, bringing us back to that foundation of who we've always been, just adding it to it. Because I, that's, that is a culture that everybody has said is why they were drawn. Create a brand that consists of several faces and leaders so it goes beyond a name and a generation. That's my favorite goal. Y'all know that.

I know I have to build it, but it cannot be built on my face alone. Community. Something we've always done. Tribalism. These are our goals that I see. Again, all flexible, but we gotta get on paper. Tribal to cities a year, producing workshops and building a community in new areas of the country. What do you think about that?

We've all talked, I feel like we've all talked about that a little bit. Pockets. Yeah. Let's go to Paralim. That area. Go to Paralim. That's where you're from. Yeah, I mean, Brazoria County. It's like, it's such a good place for something like this. Yeah. Let's go to Lake Wagle. Oh, you're on mute. Go to Beaumont Followers.

Crystal can host us there. on mute this whole time. That's how it was too. Um, One CW circle in 25 states by the end of 2025. I just like that rhythm. I think there could be more. We already have five CW circles, but they're all in Austin, of course. Um, but I think that's a realistic goal. Um, I could have said every state, but I'm being realistic for years.

In every state, hopefully, coming soon. But that needs to be, that's where that brand ambassador comes in. You know, like the Lori's who live in California and you're like, I'm going to do a CW circle. Cause I, they need to see this video. We got a member in yesterday or this week from Colorado. I have no idea who she is.

So it's possible. We need to get those women. Um, Kate, a new writer who lives, I don't remember where South Carolina, she needs circle. We have a writer in Canada. She needs to do a circle. Um, 200 members by the end of 2024, who are thriving in their business and ministry and actively participate. Within the CW community, meaning participating, possibly CW Circles, leading them, but showing up to master class, not everybody shows up.

I don't know what, how we can fix that. Participating in whatever group, Facebook group, that's something, strategy that we need to talk about, that Kendra's really passionate about. It's not everybody's on Facebook, and you ignore notifications, you ignore things, and it becomes white noise. What's our, what is our current number of members?

I think we're at 26. Yeah, and we really haven't pushed it that much. To be honest, we pushed it really hard the first two months and now we're just kind of, I feel like we've been figuring out how it works and it's been nice. Like when I say we, I was like me and Kendra trying to figure out like, when do we promote it?

How do we do the class? How do we do this? How do we do this? How do the email systems like getting people, you know, it's been a lot of, uh, In a learning curve for sure to build an online community. So I put numbers there, uh, because I think that's important to show what that would even entail because workshops may bring in some.

We don't know what that would be because I'm going to charge for this one in November, 35. That's why I said it's going to be a test. People are used to coming to our events for free unless it's a conference. We'll see. Might be a whole different crowd. That would be great. But the purpose of a workshop is then to turn them into members and turn them into CW Circle people, right?

Um, but members are the ones, um, that we want to really, I feel like, cultivate relationship with.

Before we move on, let's talk about those two, culture and community.

So let's talk about the last one, the create community 200 members by the end of 2024. So essentially within the next 12 months, right, you want to have 200 members. So that is, it's ambitious, but then what? So this is a three year plan. We have a really audacious goal for the first 12 months. Then where do we go from there?

Like, what is the strategy? Cause that's really fast. That's multiply, right? I mean, I was just sitting here doing the math. Like, how do you, do we have the systems in place? To maintain a healthy level of growth. Like that's, that's almost an unhealthy level of growth, right? Like it's fast and it's awesome, but is it sustainable?

And are we prepared? I don't think it's sustainable right now. No, I think we're finding those. That's why we haven't promoted a lot. Like we have, Kendra and I have talked about, do we need an app? Do we need, we definitely need a text messaging system so that we can text members. So that's, that's 15 new members every single month.

Yeah. And so, but by the end of the three years, that's six. If we stay at that pace, that's 600 members. So I think that that's what we need to keep in mind. Like I don't want us to think about how do we get this off the ground? It's how do we support 600 members? Yeah. And that, because if that's the goal, I mean, you know, we're all, we're all there, we're cheering it on, we're supporting, we're, but we're also challenging the thoughts to make sure that it's successful.

Yeah. I think tech is where we have to, but now it's up there, but relationally, right? Like there has to be standards for ambassadors. Yes. But that's, I think that's exactly where our problem is, is we don't have the tech. Capability. Facebook is not where people are anymore. As far as they are there. They're not.

It's not a huge like we already know that through research, you know, even when you post something on our group that has 35 members because there's some team members on there as well. Not just, um, you know, like you guys are on there all the things, um, not everyone sees the post. It might say nine people saw the post.

So we already know just because of age bracket that we reach, they're not on Facebook. So, systems that I've used, and y'all can speak to this, that's done this. I've done several membership groups, you know, the last couple years with different, you know, systems like Kajabi. Um, well, I could name a couple, but do you know what I'm talking about when I say those things like Kajabi?

And it's website platforms, tech based, that allow you to send texts and emails. And those, yes, it has to be personal, but you're not going to be. Face to face with somebody in another state all the time. So I think that's a big strategy in our planning that we have to incorporate the systems, tech systems, not just relational systems.

Cause it's a big one. Yeah, I think it's like, I think tech, I mean, like propel, right? Like we're not the first people to ever do this, right. We just need to pray that God will point us in the right direction. But when it comes to the personnel piece and the standards and. These ambassadors, I think that vision needs to be written down clearly so they can run with it and carry it for the people that are hosting circles and hosting, engaging in membership, you know, like, at that growth rate, it's got to be bigger than tech, right?

Like, there's, there, we have to have all of the nuts and bolts in there. For the most part, right? I mean, some of it, yes. And on that, when you're talking about people and bastards, they need to have the tools like expand on that so we can talk about it. So I feel like, and I could be wrong, right. But from my, from my perspective, so if we have these ambassadors or these women that are signing up for with the new model, right.

So all these people that are downloading the leader kit. And they're, you know, downloading the video, what typically from my experience with, you know, Propel or with Priscilla Shires, like there's a leader guy, like the, you can only talk the first 10 minutes. Like, this is not about you, you're the liaison, you represent this, your lifestyle looks like this.

So I think we, they need a one sheet, even if it's a one sheet of standards. That's the worst. I'm glad you said Stacey McVane's running that. Yeah. See, great. Like things like that. Tools that, um, that keep the consistency of the voice of created woman and that it doesn't get wonky in Canada and Colorado.

And it's misrepresented because we have no control. Right? I agree. I, because here's the thing, and even this, we can't control everybody that's a leader or that. So we have to have, this is a conversation that me, Stacey and Gina have all had, me and Gina and Kendra, especially when it comes to the term creative woman, follow me, people are going to, so we need to be, I've even said it in the leader guide, we have to, yes, you kind of went out, I didn't, we didn't hear you, well, I was just going to say, side note, you know, that's been a big concern for me, yeah, but we can't control that if it's a circle and we, we can't, so we have to put within our materials, Asterix or something and leaders that they, you know, we just can't, there's no way, there's no way Christine can monitors all the leaders.

And so we just have to say, we have, we can only monitor our members and even that we can't monitor that role. We can only monitor our board or our leaders that are on the front and everybody else, this is our statement of faith. It's on the website right now as a circle leader, they have to say they agree with it.

That's all we can do. Yeah. I think it's just been really clear about articulating, um, what, how this was intended to be shared. Right? Like, this is who we are. This is the intention. You know that your God-given dream like not some and wackadoodle, you know, whatever, like, and we're not trying to handhold everybody, you know, we're not trying to be creepy, but as long as the leader takes responsibility and we've done our job about articulating it very clearly, and like you said, checking, I have read and agreed to the statement of faith that says X, Y, and woman.

Thanks. Yeah, sure. Yeah, and just to be transparent, we had a leader that wanted to lead and she is leading. I talked to her. She's living with her boyfriend and, um, she's been around, pretty woman. I had no idea. And she felt the need to text me, Hey, and I thought I've done this before when people text you and tell you something, that's an open door.

So we had coffee and I was able to minister to her and long story short, which already knew some of her story. She was married, Christian guy, ended up like really Christian, like did all the right things. He got involved in pornography and cheated on her for years. So now she's like, I did all the right things.

I don't know. He's a Christian. So we're going to live together now. I'm like, but then all the things she was saying, I was able to just, so she's not leaving in her circle at her house. She's leaving at her office. I was like, good idea. But she knows it's her journey. I said, we'll walk with you. She's not on the team.

She's not on the website, you know? Um, and it was just, she had a lot of aha moments during our coffee. However, we're not going to be able to do that with everybody. And I believe the Holy spirit, you do that. And I even said, I said, you texted me for a reason. There was something there. that you felt the need to confess.

And she was like, well,

so it's interesting. But to your point, as long as we aren't, she checked, I believe I'm like, you know, she's got six people in her group. So I don't know. It's, it's a hard one. And I had to, I've already walked through this mentally and talked through it. And, but we can't, there's no way we can monitor it.

Even churches. has a story of how years ago at shoreline, they had to have leaders step down for Lena small group at shoreline that they ended up being swingers. We're trying to get their group swing. We, we had, yeah, that's, I mean, all groups that, you know, there's been a couple of small groups at our church too.

They had to, like, you can't say Amen. And then, you know, get smashed in the kitchen as, you know, like that was happening, like, so just to go back to clarify, and then we'll move on to content, 200 members is extreme. And I get that. So I think when we plan our strategy, we really need to look at who's leading that and what are our tech systems in place, because without those two things.

We there's we won't hit those numbers. It's just so let me ask this and the team can. So, when we think about smart goals, just specific measurable action and realistic. Is it realistic to have, say, 200 members by the end of 2024 when we don't have all of our tech and details in place? So maybe strategy wise, we work on our numbers through 2024, but the main focus is strategy with tech and people.

Yeah, yeah, I think that's what we do our three year plan. Like, what are the systems in place? What systems do we need? Because I don't think 200 is extreme if we have those things in place. So the question is, would we have all that to have that many by the end of 2024? I think we'll know more January or February when we meet and can, because if we have, what if we have a conference and it's, we had a hundred people at the conference, it was newly launched.

We took away gather her. And so we're, I, we're rebuilding. I don't, I don't, I think, I think it's big, but I don't think it's not doable if we have the systems in place.

But again, these are goals, doesn't mean like we fail if we don't hit 200. None of these numbers are a failure if we don't hit it. Right. So I'm not looking at that. Well, and I'm more curious as what, so say we all say we do hit 200, right? And then what? Like, what is the? Because you don't want it to be like a moving target, right?

So especially as we grow leaders and we're reporting on these numbers, like I think it's important and not that this has to be decided tonight, but I think it's important to identify cause that's the first year of the three year goal, right? So then what? Yeah, I don't, I don't know. I don't know. And maybe that's a 200 is.

That's what we should work towards as that's what we need to maintain, you know, I'm not, you know,

Sophie don't quiet. Okay, we're gonna ask how quiet people Know I'm thinking through it because I'm I think in my brain when I'm looking at these numbers. I'm like, okay, that's the goal I'm trying to understand I guess I work in a funnel. The way my brain thinks is like, what's driving people to us, and what is, how is it trickling down, and what's the ultimate goal with that one person that reaches, you know, the end of the funnel?

Is it, is it leadership within the organization? Is it that they're, have the thriving business, which is on here, thriving business and ministry? Can I, I've been, this is what I wanted to end with tonight. My thoughts and maybe that was a good time, though, when I look at all these goals, and I know there's a lot under collaboration, but I always think about how can we quickly tell people what CW does.

So, when I look at the collaboration goals, that looks a lot like strategies to get to the goals. So, I think, how can we say this as a board, To people quickly. What do we do? We empower women to be who God created them to be in two ways One you could be a part of a cw circle where you're learning what your purpose is And then the other way that we do is through membership membership once you know your purpose We have a membership that can help you launch I'm not going to I mean I am going to cut you off because I think that's even too long like that's why these Pillars I think are there.

We empower women through community and resources, contact. I know you're telling somebody something. So how do we do that? We got two things. How, how can I on an elevator quickly tell somebody what they could do? Well, you could be a part of CW Circle or you could join our membership. Yeah, well, but for collaboration, you've got to know who you're talking to, you know, because we can't negate collaboration until we have community built.

It's not vice versa, it's who's your audience and what can they do? Because, and you've even talked about this before, Crystal, when we were doing gather her, not everybody can come to gather her, but they can invest. So I don't think, I think before you even say what is creative woman do you, we have to know who we're talking to.

And if it is someone looking for community, you show them how to get involved. And if you are going to a business luncheon, you're not asking those business leaders to get involved. You're asking them to be collaborators. But collaborators in what? That's what I'm saying. To be able to quickly say, these are two of our big programs that we do.

Exactly. Yeah. Yeah. And that's what I mean. At the end of the day, we, I want to be able to walk into a group of women and say, these are two, especially outside of Austin, you know, these are two big programs that we can help you with. CW circle membership. Well, I think that's what, yeah, I think what these create, the community parts of the circles, the memberships, and then work workshops.

She's crying. Let me text. I think I'm going to just text. Wait.

Okay. Okay. Content. We have to have content in order for there to be a community, right? We have to have content or it's just a girl's night out basically. So two, these are again, our goals to original resources a year, whether it's a book or video training that can be used in CW circles. Because if we're wanting CWC first to grow, we have to give them content.

That's where our writers come in. That's where even our leaders come in producing videos. Does that make sense? Whereas right now we've got the, uh, DLC being written. We have the conference. Gina really wants to create a leadership study guide. And so those haven't even talked about yet, but that's what her brain and that we would all be a part of that.

Me. Oh, well, it's not answering. Hold on. Hoi. You go outside.

What were you going to say? I thought you're about to say something. No. Okay. Okay. Um, leadership conference. It's just content and community doubles it every year. That's a goal. Are we in agreement that we're doing the conference again?

Yeah. Yeah. Or was it, was it up for debate?

Number nine, consistently being sought out to partner with other like minded communities and businesses to share resources for speaking and writing our resources. I want them to be so good that that's people are looking for them. Just like people go to propel, whether it's a church organization or just women, they know that they can come to create a woman for resources.

It's how we started in 2010. I always saw us writing books. We've literally written. When I counted up the devotionals over the past few years, there's like 30 resources we have. It's insane. That is something that I think has always been a core. I want it to be more of a sought after and focus that we have those resources.

Um, this is another one of those, like, let's just see what we get. Podcast downloads. Um, by the end of 2025, that is not unheard of though. Actually, just to be honest, we just have not taken off on our podcasts. Now, I don't know why. But it's not unheard of that podcasts get that many, especially in three years, two years.

What are your thoughts on content?

Yeah. Y'all unmute yourself so y'all can talk. I think it's good. No concerns. No, nothing's like, not that I would have a concern, but I think all of that seems good. But not just concerns. Like, is this vision that you see that is, that is something that you want to be a part of? Like, is it things that you're like, yes, our team can do these things.

Even if we are flexible in numbers, our team, who we have, we can do this. Created woman can do these things. I think I don't want to hear concerns. I want to know if this is a vision that is something that is like, yeah, I can do that.

Yeah. I mean, I'm, I am especially excited about the convert and what's going to be, I think that's very easy to double its eyes. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Okay. Um, should

we move on to collaboration? So really quickly before we do, so you foresee the podcast, like still going all in on the podcast over the next three years. It is a, the podcast, from what I see from podcasts in general, is a great way for people to find you. It's, it's It's suggested on Apple, it's suggested on Spotify.

When women, when you listen to podcasts, it's like Netflix. Oh, you listen to this? You should listen to this. It reaches different places. But you feel like you have the capacity to maintain that for the next three years? No, that's where I want eventually to get someone to edit it. No, absolutely not. I know you hate the podcast and that's why I'm like, you want to do this for three weeks?

I love talking to people. I love producing the podcast. I love the stories. I love the teaching. And then I want to go, somebody do this. No, I hate it. Okay. But I mean, hey, I mean. Okay. I just wanted to make sure that every time I quit, I'm like, one, I'm teaching our voice getting out there. New people are fine.

That's how that girl in California found us. She's like, I listen to your podcast every week. I'm like, what? I didn't say that, but yeah. Yeah. Okay.

Do you want to do it? No, I don't. I mean, I can try, but I want to make sure that, like, you're, you're all in on this being the long game for the next three years. Like, what if it isn't? The long game? I better not be editing it in the long game. Because as long as we get some of these numbers, we're going to be able to afford an editor that lives in India because they're cheap.

That needs to be one of the goals. It is! It's number 15. It's number, no, it's number, uh... It's number

14, two virtual assistant companies last spring. I'm like, this is my goal. I am not doing some of this stuff anymore.

I have to, but I can't stand up. I can do it. I'm good at it. And I'm too much of a control freak to let anybody do it because I did that one time and it was horrible. So I'll fix my own audio until I can

do my own faded fade out.

Um, okay. Businesses that bill, this was something that I've literally just in the last few months, it just something that has been on my mind, whether we launch it next year or not, I don't know, but I know over half and for helping women leaders launch, what better way to help them watch. Then to provide scholarships and what, and I keep, I've said this several times, like we're all about the world, empower women.

Well, what are you doing to empower them? And businesses who really are small businesses, what everyone said that really believe in that I think would buy into this, I want to actually launch women and track that. Um, if we're really right now, when they launch, there's no statistics for us. Even if they launch a business, we can maybe track who actually launched launched what, but to say we have a scholarship fund, I think is a great direction.

Now, will that happen in the next three years? I don't know, but I know that's something that we can pray about and build towards. And some of that's businesses that build is something that I keep hearing businesses that build others. What are y'all thoughts about that? to you about that? Have I mentioned that to you?

I think just maybe Kendra. So I like it. I think that would go though. Again, I know I keep harping on this membership CW circles, membership CW circles. I think that needs to become our mantra because from that to me is a strategy that goes under membership. Yeah. So I think you're right. As far as the public is membership CW circles.

But as a nonprofit and a board, we can't just think about that. That's how we have to look at collaborations. I think it gets overwhelming when we see so many goals. So I think about that as a strategy. Of collaboration that goes under helping build our membership numbers Because then that becomes some of the marketing for joining a membership No I think it could go into our membership, but I do need to get it on paper So y'all know what i'm seeing So yeah, it could go into the strategy when we start planning that for sure

I think seeing like that number when I when I was reading through this earlier, I wasn't tracking but now i'm seeing how it can Coincide with what like what you were saying, um, crystal with the membership for that to be a goal for people that are a part of membership launching something building and we're supporting them throughout their, their journey to get to a place where they can be the partners, because they have the businesses to be able to also give to the scholarship.

You are only eligible for a scholarship if you are a membership.

Yeah, I think that's good. That's like part of the strategy for sure. Um, And then the next for collaboration is we have 100 women investors. I really like that word investors versus donors. It's, you know, more of a give a 50 women per month by 2025, which I think is very low. As far as numbers, we already talked about 13, you know, women owned faith based businesses.

By the end of 2025, annual goal of 200 for full time executive director. Cause remember our goal last year was to work me out of a job. Even if it, even if I don't get out of the position, it's not sustainable. If we don't have the finances there, brand marketing and virtual assistant company that assists with admin work and then continue to partner.

So community and content is really our vision. And the culture and collaboration is what brings it all together. That's how I see it in my head is that's when we talk about what pretty woman does, how we equip and empower women, we do that through community and content. And we build culture around those things.

And we collaborate with other like minded businesses and women. So, so I like, I like that. So. The what is the community and content, the how is the collaboration and culture. Correct.

Are you good, Mike? Are you good, Mike? S? Which one's the

S? The S on the disc. We got it. Crystal, I'm talking to you. I'm the I S. I'm like, I, I want to go. I've got the two goal. I just think I keep saying it. These are our two goals under community and content. And then our strategies and the how are around culture and collaboration. What we're doing there. Yeah.

We needed all of this today. That's I feel like needed to hear everything that I'm it all goes together.

Hi,

I want to hear from all of you guys, like, is this something that like, yeah, I'm still on board with creative woman. This is something we can do, even if it takes 10 years. Like, tell me, is it something that resonates something we can take and, you know, take version 1 and in a year we'll see version 2 or what it really, you know, be praying together about it.

Um, all the things.

Is it tangible for you? Like, that's kind of what I want to hear. Is this tangible enough for you to say This is a running start. I know, for sure.

Now, I'm a, I, I'm the person I need to, I need to like, Yeah! Exactly. I think, I, I'm a little overwhelmed by all the numbers. Can I go find somebody else? Yeah, I wouldn't say, Okay, so yes, amazing. All the applause. We are hyping you up. I don't think this is like an external facing document. Because like, similar to selfie, like, This could be a lot to digest and if you're not, um, like I wouldn't share this in this detail, even with the team yet.

Like, I don't think it's fully baked, but I think it's amazing. And I think I love the thought and the effort that you put into doing this and the prayer. And I mean, you're the visionary, right? And we're here to come alongside you and support it. And for sure, like I'm all in, this is awesome. And I know that as a visionary, I try to be careful to give bite sizes, and this is not a bite size, because I do see...

I love it. Yeah. Which is why I felt like the sections were important. Yeah. Yeah, and so Hannah, that's why I've been, sorry, been trying to like, okay. What are our two things? What are our two things? What are our two things? Because it's written circles and membership. Let's go. Yeah. This is the vision. You have to know the whole vision.

For sure. Or there's nowhere else to go. For sure. It's more than two things. This is a complete vision. Like if you know, launching a business, there's so much that goes with it. And this is all that goes with it. In order to make it run, because we've been doing this for 13 years and we've been focusing on one or two here that without having the whole vision, without the whole vision and people, different people taking pieces of it, it cannot run.

And so that's why I feel like this was so important to say, this is everything. Yeah. Like I can't give you finances of just two lines when there's really 10 lines of, on the financial sheet, I have to give you all of it.

So Sophie will have thoughts in two days and she can tell us, you know, me so well, it's true though. I'm like, I can't do direct feedback.

I'll just tell a quick story and then we'll, I want to transition to board, like who we think, but talking about Sophie, when we were working together, there was this podcast that Lens sent me about, I can't remember the name of it. What the integrator or something, I'm sure, you know what I'm talking about.

And she was like, you and Sophie need to listen to this. And it was Amy Porterfield. If you know who Amy Porterfield is actually the first one I never heard of Amy Porterfield. You don't know her. She's this online guru, marketing, all the things like she's the one to follow if you're a business marketing.

And she and her integrator, which is really like the person that carried the vision. She was the visionary and then her integrator had this podcast together. And, uh, you know, just the dichotomy, how she would say, and you would like, let's do this. And the Sophie would say. That's great. We'll do that next month because right now we're doing this.

And so I sent it to Sophia, like this is great for us to both hear. And she, and then when she listened to it, I said, what did you think? She goes, it was good to hear. Like she said, this very flippant nonchalant, like it was no big deal. And she goes, you're not going to change. And that we can work, I was like,

and I'm not, you are who you are. That's why I actually launched creative woman. Cause I can see the big vision of what it's going to, this is what keeps me going is I can actually see. Everything. I don't just see one line. And I understand the, you know, I remember the Julie Foxes of the world, her face just being so stressed out as I would share stuff that I'd have to share pieces.

But with you guys, I have to share it all. And then we have to figure out, take a breath and how, how we're going to get here. And who do we need? So who do we need? I definitely, who do we need on the board? Is that what we're talking about? Yeah. I mean, for sure. I think Tammy, we really do. Because of all her business experience, just she's

Hannah, you had already voted a yes for Tammy and here's the thing about Tammy that I just found out we had lunch. She is about to become the president of the Georgetown city board. And I said, do you still want to do our board? If she's like, yeah, but when I thought it was like, she'll have more experience.

Okay. What about our other teammates? Where do we want

to put them? As Hannah says, leaders have to lead. Are there other members of the team that we want to invite to be a part or do we look elsewhere? I did put on that last sheet, which I didn't, forgot to print it out. Do you have that last sheet? You know, like Gina is DLC or not deal. She's writers. And I put board treasure.

We have said we didn't need one because we have Camille, but maybe we do. I don't know if we need it right now, but that was just an example. But let's think about who we know. The D's Stacey, Gina, or what? Kendra, well, bottom line, I think Kendra needs to start coming. She's already said she, she doesn't want to be on the board.

Okay. But because of what she does, she's a, especially the three year strategy, I've already asked her, she needs to be there. And she needs to be a part of that because who's going to execute it as far as marketing her, she needs to be there. And she's a part, a part of what exactly? The three year strategy planning.

Kendra. Oh, okay, okay. Yeah, yeah. We'll need to come from time to time to our board meetings too, because right now she and I are the executors. And that's really hard not to have her in on, need to have to relay stuff.

And let's just go 1 by 1. What do we think about deep? And I want to say it's a yes or no, or where

I say yes to D. I think D can help with marketing. Um, probably I'm, I'm passionate about the C. W. circles. So, I know that's something that I'm going to want to, um, I'm already writing on it. Um, I think it really. The video all that, I think that's an easy online to push for sure. Um, so that would be something that I think D would be a good resource for that as well.

Because it would be something she's passionate about is CW circles.

Yeah, but I mean, as a board member, I think she's good with to be on the board, like, to help with marketing and connections. What do you think Hannah and Sophie? I think, yeah, I mean, I think Dee loves Created Woman and I think she's trying to find her place, like between her job and her kids and the church plant and, you know, stepping away from the gather her leader.

I think she wants to be a part in trying to find her place. Is she planting a church? She's a part of a church plant. Yeah. She's on the teaching team. Like I went to hear her preach this morning. That's good. Hey guys, I got about one more minute. When Dee has expressed an interest and she She's interested in the workshops and speaking.

I don't know how well she'd be honest with the circles. But I think that's where, but I think that's where if we feel like Dee and Tammy's and those, that's where we can bring in someone to train us on like a working genius. And then Crystal can do a desk to see. Because I just took that working genius.

So it was for that. It showed me what I was good at. Not just my personality of D being a director. It showed me what, what things I am good at working on and what things I'm not good at working out on. Who can do that? Who can facilitate that? Actually, it was so crazy. Or you weren't there. It was happy hour last week, Lynn Cherry.

I was talking, I left the conference, went to happy hour with Lynn and Stacy and Kelly and Dee actually. And I was like, he was there, Pat Lencioni, I took my test, and she said, David's a trainer. He can facilitate that for you if you want to train your team. I was like, yes, I do. That's cool. So David Cherry would actually do that for us.

And it is different. I mean, every personality test is different. What's it called? Working Genius. Working Genius. Hey Heather, I'm going to have to go. Any last thoughts before you go, team members? Let's just do this really quick. I like Tammy for sure. Okay, raise your hand if you want to, these are invites.

Stacy McVay. I'm not voting for anybody. Stacy McVay wants to be on. I don't think she wants to be. You said she didn't wanna be on the board. Didn't say it. She didn't say it. Yeah. Huh. Yeah, I don't think she wanted to be. Okay. And you can't have all, you don't want all of your volunteers on the board. Like you need some people to still like do their thing.

Hundred percent, but there's nothing for them to do right now. Well, Gina does. Stacy does. What about Sarah? Sarah Burns.

That's a no from everybody. Yeah, I don't know.

Who else? Like, I don't want to draw a blank. In my, in my mind, Tammy and Dee are literally the two that stand out from everybody that you mentioned. Me too.

I think we should start there and continue to pray. Cause I feel like those are no brainers. They're unanimous. Like for no one to even come up, if I were that person's like, I didn't even come up, it may not be the right time, right?

I'm going out of town tomorrow. And I've got, bye. Bye Crystal. Any last thoughts? We're over time, but any last thoughts, feelings? Anything I, and I want to leave with that, share this, like, I'm, I'm ready for the next three years to be like bended, stretched, pulled, because I will be 50 in three years. I keep thinking I'm not doing the same thing.

And if that means that I have to let go of thought processes. Ideas that I know that are there in my mind, ways, this is how we used to do it. This is how we do it. I just want to be obedient to what God has said that we are generational and, uh, global. That's what I feel. And even with gather her, I thought that was forever.

I did. And I was like, oh, it's not be really sensitive to that. Um, and if we, but I do see that these things, membership, CW circles can be global. So, um, I'm not saying I'm going in three years, but I will, I, I, I, I want to open to be challenged and resourced and like, whoever this trainer is to be like, that doesn't work.

You suck. You do this. You shouldn't do this. I'm good. Like, if I can just go out and like my working genius was galvanizing, like, let me just go galvanize people. Somebody else lead it. I'm cool. Edit the podcast. No.

Yeah, we need to work to our strengths. All I'm going to say is, I appreciate that you take the time to really think through everything, write down the stuff that you feel deep in your heart are the things that we need to do as an organization. And it's, it's good for, I would say, me personally, because I'm not a visionary, I have to see, like, what do I have to do today?

Like, that's what gets me going. But, seeing the vision gives me the, basically the map. This is the direction. We just gotta figure out the details of how we're gonna get there. I liked what Crystal said, that she was passionate about CW Circles. I'd like to hear what y'all are passionate about when we talk through this.

What was like, ooh, not to say that you have to lead it, but just was like, that resonated with me. Yeah, I'm super passionate about traveling to the different cities because I've done that before with another uh, women's organization And it is it had we had a blast Cool stuff. Yeah I mean, I already have in my head a super cool place that Sophie it's close to yeah, Maryland and Awesome.

It's a venue. It will be free. It is Yeah, it's like an old plantation home that they transformed into a retreat center and the couple, they don't do it for a living. They open it up for free to nonprofits. Oh, that's so cool. Center and it's amazing. That's why you moved there, Sophie. Mm-Hmm. . I know. It's the little things.

the weekend. Oh my gosh. They charge you nothing. All they do is they leave this little envelope in your room if you feel led to give something kind of thing. I love it. But So you're excited about that track traveling, Hannah? So, and conference. And conference. I, I'm a, I'm an advanced person. Yeah. So I'm too

That's cool. You guys, was there anything passionate that we were like, Oh, that's again, not asking you to lead it. Just what I think I want to be more involved in the curriculum. I do because I think, um, I've used a lot of curriculum. I've led a lot of circles and I think I. Can help speak to what works and what, what's flopped in the past.

And like you said, not that it, not that we're comparing, comparing, right? Like that, that'll steal our joy so fast, but I think I would like to be more involved in the curriculum because I think that is such, you're right. Like we want to be sought after because. As a leader in ministry and at all the different levels, you know, I was always trying to find a Bible study constantly, like you're looking at your okay for this semester, this semester, this semester.

And so I want, I love that. That's part of the dream is for us to be sought out and to be considered when people are planning their small group semesters. Whether it's church based or not, right? Maybe it's just a bunch of girlfriends and a book club, or, you know, like, who knows what it is? Sought after, yeah.

When you said it, it just jumped out of the page on me whenever I read it. It did. I think that's how, I do feel that, that we should be sought after. Yeah. We become a resource. Yeah, I love that. Sophie, what about you? Of the four things that you talked about, it was like community was the one that stuck to me.

And maybe it's because I lost all of mine. But it's like super important in this season. But I also know what it's like to, to be well planted and to, to have that, um, be a part of your life. So I feel like whatever, um, we need to do to strengthen that, I'm excited for.

Yeah, I agree. I'm the events person too, but I am more like, I want to gather people and rally them, that's what I'm good at. And then say, now go do this and they'll do it. That's what I know I'm good at. Um, so I need to, I know that I need to be in front of people, whether that's on the podcast or talking to groups to point people to community.

So any other last thoughts before we say goodbye? Thanks again, Heather. This is really, I mean, this is like best in class work and thank you for just like resourcing us to be prepared and. I mean, you should be really proud. I'm definitely proud of you. This is an amazing board to be a part of and you put your heart and soul into these things and we love you for it.

I appreciate it. And I was going to say, it didn't take me long. It's what's been on my heart and my mind. It down of all the things and then when we were getting the shout and be like, Oh, this is like compartmentalized, these are different. And maybe that's why it's been so all over the place. Because we talk about community, we talk about collaboration, we talk about that, and there's never been, and that's how my brain works, like, this is what this is, this is, you know, and that helps me write it down and section it off, but, um, I'm, I'm easy to say squirrel, but if I know they go together, then it helps stay focused, but it's all been on my heart, so thank you for saying that.

That's really good. Carly, any last words?

All right, guys. I love y'all. I love this time. I'll get this week at these meetings out. This is a recording. I'll transcribe it. And that's our, that's been the best thing ever is transcribing these notes. So I don't have to write stuff. Heather, what do you need from us? Like in this? What Sophie? From here until we meet next, what do you need from us?

Or like, what are our expectations right now? What? Thank you. I don't know. I think, um, I think, I don't know, except just taking this brain over it. And really, maybe start thinking about strategies specifically about the things you're, you're, uh, passionate about is, uh, maybe writing down 1 or 2 strategies or how you see things fit.

Because now that we have the vision, how are we going to work it? And I think that's what I mean, leading up to our retreat is. I don't want us to start from a blank piece of paper in February. That will be hard. So let's already have some momentum going. Some strategy ideas. Okay.

Okay. It could be one thing, it could be two things. It could be whatever, but whatever you feel the Lord is showing you. Mm-Hmm. And I think we'll see agreement, a, a, a thread if we really pray about it. And ask the Lord to give us vision for that strategy. We'll see a, we'll see a thread. Yeah. That's good.

Okay. And we'll just have, we'll present. I won't present.

You did present. You presented this whole document. Next time y'all present whatever strategy you feel like the Lord has shared and y'all can share a doc. It could be a paragraph. It be what I did. I'm like the throw up visionary one. I, you know, I get that. All right. Thank you guys. Thank you. Love you guys.

Be safe.