Wendy & Rich 0:00
Hey, everyone is Rich Bennett. Can you believe it? The show is turning 10 this year. I am so grateful for each and every one of you who've tuned in, shared a episode, or even joined the conversation over the years. You're the reason that this podcast has grown into what it is today. Together, we've shared laughs, tears, and moments that truly matter. So I want to thank you for being part of this journey. Let's make the next 10 years even better. Coming to you from the Freedom Federal Credit Union Studios Harford County Living Presence conversations with Rich Bennett. 

No no no, it's who it is. 

Rich Bennett 1:00
I am joined by two of my co-housers today, Greg and Robin. And Greg contacted me. He said, Rich, you have to get this young lady on. So again, 

Katie Ramirez 1:11
of 

Rich Bennett 1:13
course, 

you know, like with Greg and any of my co-housers, if they tell me to do something, I jump and say, "How So 

Robyn Burke 1:23
high?" 

Rich Bennett 1:23
it's like, "Okay, get a book." So we have Katie Romaris, and Katie has been in the nonprofit sector for how long now? 

Katie Ramirez 1:31
Probably like 25 years working. My whole life, 

Rich Bennett 1:35
30 

Katie Ramirez 1:35
really. So I'm 

Rich Bennett 1:37
years. 

Katie Ramirez 1:37
sure, we'll go with 

Rich Bennett 1:39
Well, 

Katie Ramirez 1:39
yeah, I guess my adult life. I've always been a very film-throb. I've always just had that love for, you know, just giving back. 

Robyn Burke 1:50
My 

Katie Ramirez 1:51
mom instilled that in me. I will never forget we used to do when March Dimes did the really long 

Rich Bennett 1:59
walk. 

Katie Ramirez 1:59
Yeah, that too, but the long walk and they did it at Harford Community College and we'd walk up churchville road. I mean, it was like 13-some miles. And here's what I remember. I had chicken pox, okay? And my mom was like, "You're not getting at-- 

Greg Derwart 2:13
a 

Katie Ramirez 2:14
time ago." And I remember my mom, like, she was so adamant that she gave each of us a goal. Each of my sisters was a goal to raise money and we had to raise money and we had to do the walk. And I was just getting over my chicken pox and I was just not in the mood and my mom made me do it. And I was not happy, but I did it. And I'll tell you, like, I think that kind of stuck with me. It's like, you know, when you're doing something for a charity, you got to follow through. 

Robyn Burke 2:35
We always 

Rich Bennett 2:36
car-- 

Robyn Burke 2:36
did the 

Rich Bennett 2:36
The car? I tell you-- 

Katie Ramirez 2:37
Oh yeah, 

Robyn Burke 2:37
We're 

Katie Ramirez 2:38
that's 

Robyn Burke 2:39
really telling our age. 

Katie Ramirez 2:41
us! 

Greg Derwart 2:42
But 

Robyn Burke 2:42
yeah, remember that? We did the carnivals every year. And 

Katie Ramirez 2:44
by the way, I did work at March of Times too. That was-- 

Rich Bennett 2:46
Right, I remember that. Yeah, I saw that. 

Katie Ramirez 2:47
For five years, but yeah, I remembered all the things 

Robyn Burke 2:50
that our whole court got together and we did a carnival every year. 

Rich Bennett 2:54
And I 

Katie Ramirez 2:54
You 

Rich Bennett 2:54
remember-- 

Katie Ramirez 2:55
guys know Jesse Bain, right? 

Rich Bennett 2:56
Oh yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 2:56
Jesse was our, like, ambassador here in Harford County because, you know, he had polio, so he-- 

Rich Bennett 3:02
I didn't realize. 

Katie Ramirez 3:02
Yeah. He's a polio survivor. So he would be our ambassador here when we would do our walk here in Harford County. 

Rich Bennett 3:08
Wow. 

Katie Ramirez 3:08
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 3:08
Did they even do the carnivals 

Katie Ramirez 3:10
I 

Rich Bennett 3:10
anymore? 

Katie Ramirez 3:11
don't do. I mean, I think they only do, like, they do a large walk in Baltimore. 

Rich Bennett 3:15
Right. 

Katie Ramirez 3:16
And I mean, they might do some local stuff, but they don't even do the walk here 

Rich Bennett 3:19
I 

Katie Ramirez 3:19
now. 

Rich Bennett 3:20
think-- 

Robyn Burke 3:20
Was it March of Times that had the little-- It looked like a milk container? 

Rich Bennett 3:24
No, they had the-- the little, like, 

Greg Derwart 3:26
the-- the slits to put the dimes in. For 

Katie Ramirez 3:28
the dimes. 

Robyn Burke 3:29
But there was one-- 

Katie Ramirez 3:30
That was how they got started. 

Robyn Burke 3:31
that we had to walk around at Halloween. 

Rich Bennett 3:34
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 3:34
That we walked around it. 

Katie Ramirez 3:35
It might have been 

Robyn Burke 3:36
That I think it 

Katie Ramirez 3:36
I 

Robyn Burke 3:36
was-- 

Katie Ramirez 3:36
mean, a lot-- It was Easter 

Rich Bennett 3:37
Seals. 

Robyn Burke 3:38
Easter. 

Katie Ramirez 3:39
A lot of people did, though. 

Rich Bennett 3:40
Yeah, 

Greg Derwart 3:41
I 

Katie Ramirez 3:42
mean-- Yeah. Yeah. Anyway, 

Rich Bennett 3:43
It's-- 

Katie Ramirez 3:43
sorry. I-- 

Rich Bennett 3:43
But it's funny how a lot of the-- We're going to get on what you wanted to talk about here and integrate, but it's funny, because all four of us have been in the nonprofit world for a long time. But a lot of the nonprofits 

Greg Derwart 3:57
you 

Rich Bennett 3:57
that 

Greg Derwart 3:58
used to 

Rich Bennett 3:58
do the things like the Carnival was know I've gotten away from it, and I've mentioned-- 

Robyn Burke 4:02
But it's not 

Rich Bennett 4:02
because-- Because with the special Olympics, we were always-- 

Robyn Burke 4:08
I 

Rich Bennett 4:09
think they have huggers anymore. 

Robyn Burke 4:10
My parents started us very civic-minded at a very-- I mean, I never remember. Not-- 

Katie Ramirez 4:16
Exactly. 

Robyn Burke 4:17
Not. I mean, we had to volunteer 

Katie Ramirez 4:19
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 4:20
all the time. But they were also volunteers in everything. But, I mean, as little, little kids, we had to go be huggers. 

Katie Ramirez 4:26
Yeah. I mean, yeah, I still-- 

Rich Bennett 4:28
There was that Baltimore accent. Did you 

Katie Ramirez 4:30
I heard 

Greg Derwart 4:30
hear-- 

Katie Ramirez 4:30
it. Yeah, I heard it. Yeah, that's how I heard it. 

Robyn Burke 4:34
Everyone's 

Rich Bennett 4:34
All right, so 

Robyn Burke 4:35
going to say, oh, it comes. 

Rich Bennett 4:36
great. What was it that we wanted to hit 

Greg Derwart 4:38
Well, 

Rich Bennett 4:38
on? 

Greg Derwart 4:39
I was thinking about this 

Katie Ramirez 4:42
Huggers. 

Greg Derwart 4:42
conversation and how, as you may know, I'm a big picture thinker. So, looking at the big picture and just how nonprofits got started in this country, our system of government created a free market capitalist system that allowed driven people to be successful and become wealthy in this country, and a lot of those people had the hearts and minds to give back to society. So you'll look at the JD Rockefellers of the world, the Andrew Carnegie's, we were talking locally, George P. Body, Johns Hopkins, just here in Hartford County, and speaking of George P. Body, he's credited with creating the first nonprofit organization in America. In 1867 he created the P. Body Education Fund, locally we're familiar with the library and all the -- what's the other -- is it the art, not the arts, sir? It was 

Rich Bennett 5:48
The 

Greg Derwart 5:48
a -- mean 

Rich Bennett 5:49
art, 

Greg Derwart 5:49
-- 

Rich Bennett 5:49
I 

Greg Derwart 5:49
Yeah, but anyway, so he created the P. Body Education Fund in 1867 to help rebuild the educational system in the South after the Civil War. 

Rich Bennett 6:00
My sister remembers that. She was 

Greg Derwart 6:02
a -- 

Rich Bennett 6:04
Love you. 

Greg Derwart 6:05
It's good to be on boards. 

Robyn Burke 6:09
Off the Christmas 

Greg Derwart 6:11
list. 

Katie Ramirez 6:12
[ Laughter ] 

Rich Bennett 6:12
can never be off the 

Robyn Burke 6:13
It 

Rich Bennett 6:13
list. 

Greg Derwart 6:15
But I just think how it's great that the -- those 

Robyn Burke 6:18
guys 

Greg Derwart 6:19
started, you know, 

Rich Bennett 6:20
a trend. 

Greg Derwart 6:20
an expectation for -- if you build wealth and you're successful, you give back. And that -- look at the Bill Gates and, you know, the Warren Buffets, you know, they're -- you know, 

Rich Bennett 6:34
It's 

Greg Derwart 6:35
continuing that tradition in America. 

Rich Bennett 6:37
A majority of your business owners -- well, I don't want to say majority of your business owners -- A lot of your -- a lot of business owners also start nonprofits, which I think is very 

Greg Derwart 6:46
important, sir, sir? 

Rich Bennett 6:48
I mean, it's a no-brainer. 

Greg Derwart 6:50
Well, and you also think about -- 

Katie Ramirez 6:52
Tax implications, 

Greg Derwart 6:52
sir. 

Katie Ramirez 6:53
too, 

Greg Derwart 6:53
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 6:53
It's 

Greg Derwart 6:54
yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 6:54
good, 

Rich Bennett 6:54
-- It's 

Katie Ramirez 6:54
but 

Rich Bennett 6:54
always a 

Katie Ramirez 6:55
point 

Rich Bennett 6:55
new 

Katie Ramirez 6:55
of course, right? 

Rich Bennett 6:56
Right? 

Greg Derwart 6:56
But think about how nonprofits touch everybody in -- you know, I -- I was just going through, know, talking about curing diseases, you know. March 

Rich Bennett 7:04
you 

Greg Derwart 7:04
of Dimes Rotary was one of the organizations that raised money to eradicate polio. 

Katie Ramirez 7:11
Mm-hmm. 

Rich Bennett 7:11
I didn't know 

Greg Derwart 7:12
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 7:12
that. 

Greg Derwart 7:13
that's -- 

Katie Ramirez 7:13
Well, yeah, because when I was at March of Dimes, the Rotary were always the voluntary we went to. 

Greg Derwart 7:17
See? 

Katie Ramirez 7:18
Took 

Rich Bennett 7:18
it. Huh? 

Greg Derwart 7:19
But even like, did you learn to swim at a YMCA? You know, did you learn life lessons through scouts or through a sports wreck 

Robyn Burke 7:29
Lions 

Greg Derwart 7:29
league? 

Robyn Burke 7:29
Club with the glasses. 

Greg Derwart 7:31
You 

Rich Bennett 7:31
Hey, 

Greg Derwart 7:31
know. 

Rich Bennett 7:32
hurt. No, not great granddaughter. 

Katie Ramirez 7:37
Grand daughter. 

Rich Bennett 7:38
Grand daughter. I have the thing for 

Katie Ramirez 7:39
Hey, 

Rich Bennett 7:39
-- it's 

Katie Ramirez 7:40
buddy 

Rich Bennett 7:40
my -- 

Katie Ramirez 7:40
Moore. 

Rich Bennett 7:40
it's my great niece, but her granddaughter -- her girl scout -- she just did a big thing. 

Robyn Burke 7:46
Hey, do this. 

Rich Bennett 7:47
Ebertches of Farms on life saving techniques and the stuff that I 

Katie Ramirez 7:51
learned -- Ah. 

Rich Bennett 7:52
-- blew me away. 

Greg Derwart 7:53
Sound like Bailey's heart and soul 

Katie Ramirez 7:55
Girls. 

Greg Derwart 7:55
foundation. 

Robyn Burke 7:56
Things have changed. I learned -- I learned very quickly. We both learned very quickly. You know, longer put, you know, butter on a burn. And Vicks doesn't heal everything. And, you know, and there's peanut allergies everywhere. So -- 

Katie Ramirez 8:11
Well, in CPR is different now. It's not 

Rich Bennett 8:12
Oh, yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 8:13
CPR. 

Robyn Burke 8:13
>> Yeah. >> PR is different. 

Greg Derwart 8:13
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 8:14
Right. Right. 

Katie Ramirez 8:15
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 8:15
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 8:15
It's 

Robyn Burke 8:15
I 

Katie Ramirez 8:15
why 

Robyn Burke 8:15
mean -- 

Katie Ramirez 8:15
people get -- 

Robyn Burke 8:16
So it was mostly 

Katie Ramirez 8:17
PR back 

Robyn Burke 8:18
Grandparents 

Katie Ramirez 8:18
-- 

Robyn Burke 8:19
that were there, you know, we don't install car seats properly. And the girl scouts had to come up with this to learn their parents badge. And 

Greg Derwart 8:27
okay. 

Robyn Burke 8:28
so they were like, well, my grandmother does this and my grandmother does that. And, of course, my granddaughter said, well, my mom -- I'm trying to kill me. Twice. 

Rich Bennett 8:37
She did. 

Robyn Burke 8:38
She did. I 

Greg Derwart 8:39
mean, she 

Rich Bennett 8:39
She did. She did. They're 

Greg Derwart 8:39
did. 

Rich Bennett 8:39
trying to kill her. I mean, that's what her granddaughter's 

Katie Ramirez 8:41
-- That was 

Greg Derwart 8:42
[ Laughter ] 

Katie Ramirez 8:42
a perception. 

Greg Derwart 8:43
A 

Robyn Burke 8:43
perception because she is developed a -- not allergy. And, 

Katie Ramirez 8:47
oh, and you gave her 

Robyn Burke 8:49
I might -- 

Katie Ramirez 8:49
-- hi. 

Robyn Burke 8:50
I might not have asked the right questions, and I -- Whatever. 

Katie Ramirez 8:53
Sure. 

Rich Bennett 8:53
There's something I found out about that too -- not an disinfect. What's the -- 

Katie Ramirez 8:59
Epic 

Rich Bennett 9:00
pen? Epic pen. It's -- what they 

Robyn Burke 9:03
is 

Rich Bennett 9:03
say 

Robyn Burke 9:03
description, 

Rich Bennett 9:03
-- 

Robyn Burke 9:03
unlike 

Rich Bennett 9:04
prescription for our allergies. 

Greg Derwart 9:07
Hmm. 

Rich Bennett 9:07
But, Magic Word, there being prescription. 

Katie Ramirez 9:10
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 9:11
Narcan, you 

Greg Derwart 9:11
-- 

Rich Bennett 9:11
can free 

Robyn Burke 9:13
the health 

Greg Derwart 9:13
from 

Robyn Burke 9:14
department and wherever. 

Rich Bennett 9:15
But 

Greg Derwart 9:15
Where 

Rich Bennett 9:15
look how many different allergies there are. Rest restaurants, I think everybody 

Greg Derwart 9:20
it 

Rich Bennett 9:21
should be 

Greg Derwart 9:21
looked 

Rich Bennett 9:21
carrying 

Greg Derwart 9:21
up? It was a carriage. 

Rich Bennett 9:21
these things. 

Greg Derwart 9:22
And it's a good idea. 

Rich Bennett 9:23
And they're expansive. 

Greg Derwart 9:24
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 9:24
And they should be available in the 

Katie Ramirez 9:26
It 

Robyn Burke 9:27
restaurant. 

Katie Ramirez 9:27
sounds like there's a new nonprofit on the 

Robyn Burke 9:29
right. 

Greg Derwart 9:30
Well, but hold on. Remember what we talk about before you started nonprofit. Look to see if there's another one already in existence. 

Katie Ramirez 9:38
But 

Robyn Burke 9:38
Exactly. 

Katie Ramirez 9:39
that is an interesting point though about because again, 

Rich Bennett 9:42
Oh. 

Katie Ramirez 9:42
I mean, I mean, obviously we have to have AEDs. We have a CPR certification. 

Greg Derwart 9:46
But yeah, but anyway, my point is the nonprofit, the evolution of nonprofits and in our society, contribute to our quality of life. And 

Katie Ramirez 9:57
Absolutely. 

Greg Derwart 9:57
Radicate diseases, you know, to, you know, having community theater groups, you just mute from a arts and quality of life, you know, so 

Robyn Burke 10:10
providing a 

Greg Derwart 10:10
and and and doing things that the government shouldn't do like that. I'm more of a government minimalist 

Rich Bennett 10:20
right 

Greg Derwart 10:20
road and would rather have the government fund nonprofits through grants. 

Katie Ramirez 10:25
So that's what I was going to. 

Rich Bennett 10:26
Yeah. 

Greg Derwart 10:26
But, but that 

Katie Ramirez 10:28
really helps fuel I think and drives the missions of the nonprofits. Absolutely. I agree with you 100% grants are amazing. And yeah, I mean, 

Greg Derwart 10:36
right. But 

Rich Bennett 10:36
grants go away to 

Katie Ramirez 10:38
think 

Robyn Burke 10:38
their short term. 

Katie Ramirez 10:39
That's and that's something that. So that is something that I am trying to do. And it's interesting because this comes up in a lot of the conversations I have with nonprofit. 

Robyn Burke 10:46
Sit 

Katie Ramirez 10:46
down with a nonprofit. So now I do my own consulting 

Rich Bennett 10:49
with right 

Katie Ramirez 10:49
nonprofits. And when I sit down with them, I look at their portfolio and if they're 90% grant driven. I talked to them about that because yeah, those grants. Especially if they're coming from, you know, 

Greg Derwart 11:01
state. 

Katie Ramirez 11:02
Those grants to go away. And if you have 90% 

Greg Derwart 11:04
because it can depend on the whims of whoever the elected leader is at that point in time, 

Katie Ramirez 11:10
we're not going to talk politics. But 

Greg Derwart 11:11
well, 

Rich Bennett 11:12
but, but no, from 

Greg Derwart 11:13
the standpoint of supporting nonprofits. 

Katie Ramirez 11:15
It's 

Rich Bennett 11:15
It is 

Katie Ramirez 11:15
very 

Rich Bennett 11:15
true. And I want to bring up the addiction part here because 

Katie Ramirez 11:18
true. Yes. 

Rich Bennett 11:18
we have a lot of different resources here. 

Greg Derwart 11:21
The 

Rich Bennett 11:21
And when he couldn't make it today, but a lot of different resources just in the county alone. And a lot of that more reline 

Katie Ramirez 11:28
line. 

Rich Bennett 11:28
on that opioid restitution fund. 

Katie Ramirez 11:31
Yep. 

Rich Bennett 11:31
Which in the past had been divided with those nonprofits. Now that I think that last year or two years ago, whatever, when it came through, it was only given to 

Katie Ramirez 11:42
Yep. 

Rich Bennett 11:43
one, one organization. And meanwhile, all those other nonprofits were struggling. And that's you know, I don't, I agree with you with raising the funds privately, you know, through the community, which you have to do. But it's hard because you have what 

Katie Ramirez 11:59
Saturation. 

Rich Bennett 11:59
seven. Yeah. What seven 

Greg Derwart 12:01
hundred. 

Rich Bennett 12:02
so that's just in Hartford County well. 

Katie Ramirez 12:03
Well, Thing else that so great, Greg and I talk about this all the time. And again, another thing that so I not only look at I look at their portfolio as a whole. Okay. So if 

Rich Bennett 12:11
I 

Katie Ramirez 12:11
now you. 

Rich Bennett 12:11
use other funds are coming from grants. 

Katie Ramirez 12:12
Let's look how we can diversify. But also what types of events are you doing? 

Rich Bennett 12:16
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 12:16
You're doing a 5k in September. Okay. Let's look at the 8,000 other right because I mean, we are a small community here in Hartford County. I think we are. Giving community. I will. 

Greg Derwart 12:26
We 

Katie Ramirez 12:26
Now that I'm now that I'm hyper focused on working with nonprofits in Hartford County, I am actually amazed at how much support 

Rich Bennett 12:33
are. 

Katie Ramirez 12:33
there is for all these different nonprofits. But to your point. Let's look at what events we're doing. And do they make sense? Because yeah, we can only do so many bingoes. 

Rich Bennett 12:43
Golf 

Katie Ramirez 12:44
tournaments in the months of September and 

Rich Bennett 12:46
October. And every 

Greg Derwart 12:47
month 

Katie Ramirez 12:47
wants to do a golf tournament. 

Greg Derwart 12:48
And then will be right. And then bull and oyster roasts. 

Katie Ramirez 12:52
And so it's like, you know, you have to look at are these events profitable? Right, do they make sense? What are the demographics? And then, you know, if it works great, if not, you have to think about, you know, there's lots of opportunities to raise funds privately. It doesn't always have to be through events, because 

Rich Bennett 13:07
events are 

Katie Ramirez 13:07
very taxing 

Rich Bennett 13:08
time consuming, 

Greg Derwart 13:10
you 

Katie Ramirez 13:10
know, 

Rich Bennett 13:11
and stressful too, how many times with open doors when we did the board is how stressful was that at 

Robyn Burke 13:16
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 13:16
time? 

Robyn Burke 13:17
and I worked at Hartford day. And so we had a lot of, you know, events to end it. I mean, it, that was my whole 

Katie Ramirez 13:24
Sometimes, 

Robyn Burke 13:24
job. 

Katie Ramirez 13:25
too, it's like you have to look at the ROI, right? Because you're like, Oh, I didn't event raise $20, 000. But then you look at okay, how many people, you know, look at the 

Robyn Burke 13:33
This 

Katie Ramirez 13:33
every single 

Robyn Burke 13:34
effectiveness 

Katie Ramirez 13:34
person, right? 

Robyn Burke 13:34
of it. 

Katie Ramirez 13:34
Every single person helping that's, you know, that isn't expense. Yeah, we have to look at the overall and say, right, was it worth or could I do something else? And 

Robyn Burke 13:45
there's only so many golfers in the county. 

Katie Ramirez 13:47
I mean, I don't know. Go all the way to Miss Resubrily. I feel- 

Greg Derwart 13:49
They still 

Katie Ramirez 13:50
work. We want wants to take a day of work and 

Rich Bennett 13:51
golf. 

Katie Ramirez 13:51
go 

Rich Bennett 13:52
The thing is people are getting crave like the chamber Just had their mini there many 

Katie Ramirez 13:56
Me 

Rich Bennett 13:56
golf. 

Katie Ramirez 13:56
golf 

Robyn Burke 13:57
right? 

Greg Derwart 13:57
Yeah, which is brilliant. 

Katie Ramirez 13:58
An ex golf everybody does. 

Rich Bennett 13:59
the virtual virtual golf 

Greg Derwart 14:01
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 14:01
tournament. 

Katie Ramirez 14:01
the weather doesn't 

Greg Derwart 14:02
So 

Katie Ramirez 14:02
matter. So I will say golf tournament. Are not in my 

Rich Bennett 14:05
opinion. 

Katie Ramirez 14:06
Stressful. I don't know because 

Rich Bennett 14:08
there's different ways you could do 

Katie Ramirez 14:09
it. Yeah, there's different ways you can do it. And the golf pros know what they're doing. So you just kind 

Greg Derwart 14:13
Sure. 

Katie Ramirez 14:13
of let the 

Greg Derwart 14:13
It's 

Katie Ramirez 14:13
golf. 

Greg Derwart 14:13
plug and play. 

Katie Ramirez 14:14
In the golf. 

Greg Derwart 14:15
It's true. 

Katie Ramirez 14:15
You bring 

Rich Bennett 14:15
I 

Katie Ramirez 14:15
in 

Rich Bennett 14:15
think 

Katie Ramirez 14:15
the 

Rich Bennett 14:15
the bull 

Katie Ramirez 14:16
revenue. 

Rich Bennett 14:16
and oyster roots are I mean there's they're stressful, but I think those are also dying all 

Robyn Burke 14:23
Well, there's less places 

Rich Bennett 14:24
different. 

Robyn Burke 14:24
to do them 

Rich Bennett 14:25
Well, yes, especially here in Hartford 

Greg Derwart 14:27
in. 

Rich Bennett 14:27
County, but you're seeing people doing other things instead. Whether it be dinners, 

Katie Ramirez 14:33
I was going to say like boutique style. 

Rich Bennett 14:36
What 

Greg Derwart 14:37
does that mean? 

Katie Ramirez 14:39
So so wine dinners. 

Rich Bennett 14:41
Oh, 

Katie Ramirez 14:42
Smaller 

Rich Bennett 14:42
yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 14:43
amounts of people with larger return. Right. So so really focusing on, 

Greg Derwart 14:49
you know, you 

Katie Ramirez 14:49
doing something where you're bringing the donor in for a very special opportunity. Maybe it's because it's with 

Robyn Burke 14:54
know, 

Katie Ramirez 14:54
a chef that they, you know, have been wanting to get in front of or maybe it's with a speaker who 

Greg Derwart 14:59
we've talked at rotary about doing a farm to table dinner. 

Katie Ramirez 15:02
to table dinners are huge. 

Rich Bennett 15:03
Farm 

Katie Ramirez 15:04
Yes. And honestly, you can make more money. It's less stressful because you're talking 50 people as opposed to, you know, 150. 

Rich Bennett 15:11
Well, 

Katie Ramirez 15:11
even less than that, even 

Rich Bennett 15:12
with that, do you think some nonprofits struggle because when it comes to doing events like that, they're afraid to ask for 

Greg Derwart 15:20
all the money. 

Katie Ramirez 15:22
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 15:22
Prime example, like, I mean, if I did something like that, I was so think it's $100 a head. A person. Some people say, oh, that's too much. You know, you do it for $25. 

Greg Derwart 15:33
on your 

Robyn Burke 15:33
Depends 

Greg Derwart 15:33
target. 

Robyn Burke 15:34
Target on, 

Rich Bennett 15:34
right. But with with and with that, I think a lot of people also when it comes to fundraisers, they're taking at that D. people are trying to run a fundraiser, it's to raise funds and 

Katie Ramirez 15:47
When 

Rich Bennett 15:47
instead they want to have fun. 

Katie Ramirez 15:48
Yes, 

Rich Bennett 15:49
which is 

Greg Derwart 15:49
a great point. 

Rich Bennett 15:51
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 15:51
oh, 

Rich Bennett 15:51
but 

Katie Ramirez 15:51
I like that. 

Greg Derwart 15:52
yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 15:52
Don't take out the D. 

no, it is very true. And that's what again, that's what I sort of try to coach and educate, you know, 

Rich Bennett 16:00
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 16:01
these nonprofits is that right. Like this, yes, of course you want to bring an awareness. You want you want your audience to have a good time. But right, this is a fun razor. So if it's not raising you funds, then you need to either pivot or look at the event and figure out what can you do differently if the events. It's bringing the people. Okay, great. But how do we add to that? How do we make 

Greg Derwart 16:22
so is it important for an event to have a budget 

Katie Ramirez 16:24
It is very 

Robyn Burke 16:25
very. 

Katie Ramirez 16:25
important for an event to have a budget. Yes. Right. And again, you have to and you 

Greg Derwart 16:30
at 

Katie Ramirez 16:30
have to look Revenue and expenses because it's one thing to say we raised 60,000 and then when I'm like, well, what were your expenses? 58,000. You raised two. 

so again, I'm not saying like there are events that are very, very successful from from a 

Rich Bennett 16:49
You 

Katie Ramirez 16:49
standpoint 

Rich Bennett 16:49
know, 

Katie Ramirez 16:49
of wow, they brought a lot of people. It was fun, but if it's not raising funds and that is your goal. 

Rich Bennett 16:55
Then 

Katie Ramirez 16:55
we again, just pivot to a different event or make this an actual. 

Rich Bennett 17:01
That's why it's always important to have at the beginning of that fiscal year. Actually, take it back. Not the beginning 

Greg Derwart 17:07
of the year, 

Rich Bennett 17:08
but you're at the end of the fiscal year. Have a budget meeting. What your budget's going to be believe me, I argued that point a lot. 

Katie Ramirez 17:18
And who should be participating in those meetings, board members. So that is why 

Rich Bennett 17:22
board 

Katie Ramirez 17:22
Important to 

Rich Bennett 17:23
members, many 

Katie Ramirez 17:23
have and committee 

Rich Bennett 17:24
members. 

Katie Ramirez 17:24
members. 

Rich Bennett 17:24
Right. 

Katie Ramirez 17:25
So that's why it's important to have a strong board and strong committee 

Robyn Burke 17:28
and an involved board and not shelf centers. 

Katie Ramirez 17:31
Thank 

Rich Bennett 17:31
Yes. 

Katie Ramirez 17:31
you. Yes. So 

Greg Derwart 17:33
what's an example of the types of people that should be on a board? 

Katie Ramirez 17:36
OK, so I have you just brought up don't take the day out of fundraising. So I have a little thing that I use for for when you're recruiting for boards and bringing in board. And it's the 3d's. So you should always have doers, donors and door openers. You should have all three. Now some people can be all three. You could have someone who is both a doer, which again, those are the people the roller sleeves up. And when you need a volunteer there at every single event, we love 

Robyn Burke 18:02
people, 

Katie Ramirez 18:02
those 

Robyn Burke 18:03
we used to use the three teas. 

Katie Ramirez 18:05
Oh, what are the three 

Robyn Burke 18:06
tea. 

Katie Ramirez 18:07
Got these 

Robyn Burke 18:08
time talent and treasure 

Greg Derwart 18:10
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 18:11
I've heard that to, yes, it's so true because because again, trust me, I've worked with so many different boards and I've had board members who they come to meetings. They write me a check for $50, 

Rich Bennett 18:23
000. 

Katie Ramirez 18:36
You should always have on a board a give give 

Robyn Burke 18:41
and get give, huh, 

Greg Derwart 18:41
hmm, hmm, 

Katie Ramirez 18:42
I firmly 

Rich Bennett 18:42
that you 

Katie Ramirez 18:42
believe 

Rich Bennett 18:43
can't give the money. 

Katie Ramirez 18:44
Go get it right or go get them right so 

Greg Derwart 18:46
and 

Katie Ramirez 18:46
okay 

Greg Derwart 18:46
that's 

Katie Ramirez 18:46
you 

Greg Derwart 18:46
the 

Katie Ramirez 18:47
find it. 

Greg Derwart 18:47
door opener 

Katie Ramirez 18:48
That's the 

Greg Derwart 18:48
piece 

Katie Ramirez 18:48
door 

Greg Derwart 18:48
the 

Katie Ramirez 18:48
opener 

Greg Derwart 18:49
connector. 

Katie Ramirez 18:49
So okay, you, you personally, I'm again, I've had some great board members who personally have never given me a dime but have gotten me 10 other people who have given me that money. They know people. So that's important too. So again, I think everyone brings value to the table but it's 

Robyn Burke 19:03
should bring 

Katie Ramirez 19:04
should bring right. I'm just gonna say 

Robyn Burke 19:06
should bring 

Katie Ramirez 19:07
should and could but it's 

Greg Derwart 19:08
which is 

Katie Ramirez 19:08
a matter of how we are keeping them engaged because I think sometimes we bring people on and we're like, yeah, I have a board, right? And then in between board meetings there's no communication. So it's, you know, it goes both ways the the nonprofit itself has to keep whoever 

Robyn Burke 19:23
the 

Katie Ramirez 19:23
director is the development director, whoever that is needs to keep that board 

Robyn Burke 19:27
because. 

Katie Ramirez 19:27
engaged You know, think about it. If you're you're on a lot of boards, Craig, I mean, 

Rich Bennett 19:32
yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 19:32
you just came to a board meeting and they didn't talk to you in between. I mean, you've got a lot going on in your life. You're like, wait, what? There's a board meeting. 

Greg Derwart 19:38
Yeah, no, you need to keep them engaged. 

Rich Bennett 19:40
I also I 

Katie Ramirez 19:41
Gratitude. 

Rich Bennett 19:41
want to. 

Greg Derwart 19:42
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 19:42
I want to add something to that too. Not for the nonprofit part but when somebody comes to you and approaches you a bad joining an organization or becoming a board member, whatever. It's okay to say no. I was having a conversation not too long ago, just talking about all the different boards and organizations committees. I'm on. I thought it was seven. It was over 15. As I 

Greg Derwart 20:07
Wow. 

Rich Bennett 20:07
holy cow, I need to step down from some of these because in all honesty with me being president of the lines club, I think I was losing focus. 

Greg Derwart 20:16
Yeah, so I thought I did dilute the value that you're providing 

Rich Bennett 20:20
Yeah. 

Greg Derwart 20:20
to the ones that 

Rich Bennett 20:21
are, yeah. So 

Greg Derwart 20:22
okay. 

Rich Bennett 20:22
it's down, but there are some other ones that I will not step down for because my heart's there. Well, you know, like rage against addiction. Yeah, I want to do everything I can to 

Katie Ramirez 20:33
Step 

Rich Bennett 20:33
help those. 

Greg Derwart 20:34
Well, and then the 

Robyn Burke 20:35
other thing 

Greg Derwart 20:35
asked about how to develop a board is also, you know, bringing certain subject matter expertise it's you, you don't 

Robyn Burke 20:44
I 

Greg Derwart 20:44
want, you want a banker, you want a lawyer, you want to see P. A. You want. 

Rich Bennett 20:51
Probably even a marketer. 

Greg Derwart 20:52
Skills and talent. 

Katie Ramirez 20:53
Absolutely. 

Greg Derwart 20:53
A variety of skills and 

Katie Ramirez 20:55
I 

Greg Derwart 20:55
talents. 

Katie Ramirez 20:56
actually have a nonprofit I'm working for and he asked me to join his board. And he said because I want to have you as our consultant on the board. And I and I went to my first meeting with them last night and to be frank, it was it was great that I was there because yeah, now I'm understanding that that side of it, the volunteer leadership side of it and actually is 

Greg Derwart 21:16
great idea. 

Katie Ramirez 21:17
yeah, it was. 

Greg Derwart 21:18
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 21:18
So I give him all the credit. He 

Greg Derwart 21:20
cool. 

Katie Ramirez 21:21
to be on a sport 

Greg Derwart 21:21
That's great. 

Katie Ramirez 21:22
Oh, but yeah, and not for nothing, family members can be great board members, you know, and I know it needs to be written to the bylaws, you know, if you want to put a, you know, a wife or a spouse or whatever, but you don't just put family members on the board just because you need to fill seats because that can get tricky. 

Rich Bennett 21:40
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 21:41
Then there can be some nuances and having family members. So anyway, that's a tricky one, but they can also be, you know, I mean, look at Polly and BJ been running you know, pathfinders for autism for 25 years and are killing it. So, you know, it can be done, but I think some I think some nonprofits, you know, they start their nonprofit. They know they have to have a board and they're like, oh, I'm going to bring my, you know, 

Rich Bennett 22:02
my view, 

Katie Ramirez 22:03
because my best 

Greg Derwart 22:05
friend. 

Robyn Burke 22:06
My best friend. 

Katie Ramirez 22:07
I'm 

Greg Derwart 22:08
breathing, 

Katie Ramirez 22:09
right? So it is. It's, 

Greg Derwart 22:11
Absolutely. Well, 

Katie Ramirez 22:11
you know, it's an education. 

Greg Derwart 22:12
in that type of scenario, it's usually someone that is starting a nonprofit for some altruistic reason or because of some cause or mission that resonates with them and their family and friends believe in that mission as well. So I get 

Katie Ramirez 22:28
And there's- And obviously, yes, if people are starting- someone's starting a nonprofit because of something very personal for them, the family's gonna be involved. So, again, is the board the right fit, I guess it's just the question. 

Rich Bennett 22:55
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 22:56
I mean, somebody's really good at social media. You know, there's a younger family member who's gonna do, let them do all the social media because Lord knows I- 

Rich Bennett 23:07
Why does everybody have to point to us a younger... 

Katie Ramirez 23:10
Ivy, 

Rich Bennett 23:11
Hey, 

Katie Ramirez 23:11
look. 

Rich Bennett 23:11
he was the baby boomers that invented this, okay? 

Greg Derwart 23:15
I 

Robyn Burke 23:15
also think 

Katie Ramirez 23:16
it's-I'm just gonna keep 

Rich Bennett 23:17
it right 

Greg Derwart 23:17
here. 

Robyn Burke 23:18
For potential board members to understand what their 

Katie Ramirez 23:23
is. 

Robyn Burke 23:23
expectation 

Katie Ramirez 23:23
Absolutely, 

Robyn Burke 23:24
because so many- oh yeah, that's great and I get- but 

Greg Derwart 23:28
Have 

Robyn Burke 23:28
they're 

Greg Derwart 23:28
a board 

Robyn Burke 23:29
not. 

Greg Derwart 23:29
job description? 

Robyn Burke 23:30
Yeah, absolutely. Interview- 

Katie Ramirez 23:32
I mean a 

Robyn Burke 23:32
yes. 

Katie Ramirez 23:33
board interview for- 

Robyn Burke 23:33
And I like when a board starts out asking someone to be on a 

Katie Ramirez 23:38
committee. Yes. Yes, you should 

Robyn Burke 23:40
start on a committee and then- 

Katie Ramirez 23:41
You know, they 

Robyn Burke 23:42
Oh, 

Katie Ramirez 23:42
always 

Robyn Burke 23:42
wait. 

Katie Ramirez 23:42
equ- they equate it to dating. 

Robyn Burke 23:44
I mean, 

Katie Ramirez 23:44
you don't- you 

Robyn Burke 23:45
We get asked all the time and I-I will say no every single time, every single time because I don't have the time to put in what I know should be put in. 

Katie Ramirez 23:54
don't- Sure, 

Robyn Burke 23:54
We'll help you with a- 

Katie Ramirez 23:56
sure. 

Robyn Burke 23:56
with this and that, but absolutely not. 

Katie Ramirez 23:58
And you're right, like putting them on a committee first there's less, you know, it's not as- 

Robyn Burke 24:02
know. 

Katie Ramirez 24:02
The 

Robyn Burke 24:02
But they can see how the 

Rich Bennett 24:03
community is more 

Robyn Burke 24:04
operation is, 

Greg Derwart 24:05
you 

Katie Ramirez 24:05
You 

Robyn Burke 24:06
yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 24:07
also see how are 

Robyn Burke 24:08
How- 

Katie Ramirez 24:08
they- any member? 

Greg Derwart 24:09
Did 

Robyn Burke 24:09
Absolutely. 

Greg Derwart 24:09
interview. 

Katie Ramirez 24:10
Right. 

Robyn Burke 24:10
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 24:10
Does a committee member did- did they contribute? Did they roll up their sleeves? 

Robyn Burke 24:13
Yup. 

Katie Ramirez 24:13
Did- You know, I'm participation- 

Greg Derwart 24:15
if 

Katie Ramirez 24:15
the answer is no then- oh yeah, maybe the board isn't- Or maybe she's not the right 

Greg Derwart 24:19
Mm-hmm. 

Katie Ramirez 24:19
time, so- Time in a right place. 

Rich Bennett 24:22
All right. So with that, with- with putting together a board committee all that, should the nonprofit have their 501C3 before they put all that in the place? 

Katie Ramirez 24:33
Absolutely, 

Rich Bennett 24:34
Because 

Katie Ramirez 24:34
yeah. 

Rich Bennett 24:34
you do see nonprofits out there that don't have their 501C3 at- or lost it. 

Katie Ramirez 24:41
Put the cart before the horse, I guess. 

Rich Bennett 24:42
Yes. 

Katie Ramirez 24:43
I mean, 

Rich Bennett 24:43
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 24:43
you could be doing it simultaneously, but at the same time, I mean, again, because you want to create bylaws, you want to be able to 

Rich Bennett 24:50
Right. 

Katie Ramirez 24:50
present. I think- to be as organized as possible, into your point. Like, if you're bringing a board on, and you're like, "Well, come be on my board." Ooh, but I'm- wait, and from my 501C3- then- then you're kind of- it should- 

Robyn Burke 25:00
I'm going to show. 

Katie Ramirez 25:01
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 25:01
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 25:01
Like, you should be able to sit down if I'm sitting- 

Greg Derwart 25:03
Well, you should start with a business plan. 

Katie Ramirez 25:04
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 25:05
Thank 

Katie Ramirez 25:05
you should start 

Rich Bennett 25:05
you, 

Katie Ramirez 25:05
with 

Rich Bennett 25:06
yes! 

Katie Ramirez 25:06
a business! Okay, Greg! This is why he's- 

Greg Derwart 25:09
(laughs) 

Robyn Burke 25:09
but so many people now are like, "Oh my God, I feel 

Katie Ramirez 25:12
That's- 

Robyn Burke 25:12
so sorry for that. I'm going to start a board." 

Katie Ramirez 25:13
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 25:14
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 25:14
That's definitely putting the cart way before 

Robyn Burke 25:16
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 25:16
the- 

Robyn Burke 25:16
it doesn't work like that. I 

Rich Bennett 25:18
bring that up because through Horfrickan- 

Greg Derwart 25:21
what kind 

Robyn Burke 25:21
I 

Greg Derwart 25:21
of 

Robyn Burke 25:21
don't know 

Greg Derwart 25:22
that 

Rich Bennett 25:22
I'm 

Greg Derwart 25:22
is. 

Rich Bennett 25:23
a profit of- And I'm- and I'm- I've just gotburnt. Just a couple of magazines that dig and burned, where they featured a non-profit, 

Katie Ramirez 25:32
but 

Rich Bennett 25:33
it was a fake non-profit. 

Greg Derwart 25:35
Oh, no. 

Rich Bennett 25:35
Yeah, they were, they were collecting money and all that, but then when I contacted them I 

Robyn Burke 25:40
It's 

Rich Bennett 25:41
said- 

Robyn Burke 25:41
just people think- 

Rich Bennett 25:42
First thing I do all- he's look up on the IRS's website, State Charity Navigator, all that. 

Greg Derwart 25:48
Good. 

Rich Bennett 25:48
And I contacted this person. I said, "You know, you have- and this is more of a COVID." So do you have your 501(c)(3), they said, "Oh, no, you know, I applied, but they said it's going to take at least a year, but I can still raise funds." 

Robyn Burke 26:05
I 

Rich Bennett 26:05
don't think so. You 

Katie Ramirez 26:07
can create, again, that's- that's the time that you should be using to create your 

Greg Derwart 26:11
plan. 

Katie Ramirez 26:11
business 

Greg Derwart 26:12
Yes. 

Katie Ramirez 26:12
Yes. Not- no, 

Greg Derwart 26:13
Or you can, if you're familiar with community 

Rich Bennett 26:17
but 

Greg Derwart 26:17
foundations, you 

Rich Bennett 26:18
you- 

Greg Derwart 26:18
could like- 

Rich Bennett 26:18
Yes. 

Greg Derwart 26:18
Like you use the community foundation of Hartford County 

Robyn Burke 26:21
Right. 

Greg Derwart 26:21
and they'll help- They'll literally hand- walk you through the process of creating a fund 

Katie Ramirez 26:28
Correct. 

Greg Derwart 26:28
that they hold 

Rich Bennett 26:30
Yeah. 

Greg Derwart 26:30
and 

Robyn Burke 26:30
Not 

Greg Derwart 26:31
invest, 

Robyn Burke 26:31
a non-profit. 

Greg Derwart 26:31
but you're not creating a separate non-profit. 

Robyn Burke 26:34
Correct. 

Katie Ramirez 26:34
So that- so that's something that Greg and I actually- We're talking about a few weeks ago with- 

Greg Derwart 26:41
Ferrell from Community 

Rich Bennett 26:42
She's 

Greg Derwart 26:43
Foundation Hartford. 

Katie Ramirez 26:43
And- 

Rich Bennett 26:43
still 

Greg Derwart 26:43
there. Oh yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 26:44
And so my question to her, because I actually have- I actually have some friends right now who are sort of on that cusp of, do we start our non-profit 

Rich Bennett 26:50
Right. 

Katie Ramirez 26:50
and- 

Rich Bennett 26:51
Right. 

Katie Ramirez 26:51
And I said to them, well, again, I'm kind of advising them as a friend. Well, let's wait because A, let's see what else is already out there. Right. If there's something else out there in that space and you're not quite ready to start your own nonprofit, let's support someone else. Or go to the community foundation, right? They can create the fund, they can manage all the funds. So again, if you go do a 5K, for example, the 5K would be raising money for the community foundation, but you can earmark the dollars 

Greg Derwart 27:18
for your fund. 

Katie Ramirez 27:18
You are 5K. 

Rich Bennett 27:20
Straight. Now, 

Greg Derwart 27:21
you don't have 

Katie Ramirez 27:21
to do all I mean, starting a nonprofit is a 

Rich Bennett 27:24
business, right? Thank you. 

Katie Ramirez 27:25
Business, right? Like you have to. 

Greg Derwart 27:28
there's a lot of fiduciary responsibilities, 

Robyn Burke 27:30
Yes. 

Greg Derwart 27:30
like if 

Katie Ramirez 27:30
And

Greg Derwart 27:30
you that's some people that want to join a board that you need to realize you're going to become a fiduciary and there's legal 

Rich Bennett 27:37
Who 

Greg Derwart 27:37
response. 

Rich Bennett 27:38
do what? 

Greg Derwart 27:40
You become legally responsible for the financial sound. 

Rich Bennett 27:44
Is that word you 

Greg Derwart 27:44
Fiduciary, 

Rich Bennett 27:45
say? you should wait, fiduciary? 

Robyn Burke 27:48
Oh 

Greg Derwart 27:48
Am 

Robyn Burke 27:48
good. 

Greg Derwart 27:48
I not using a Baltimore accent? A nonprofit can have like a financial plan and financial structures in place and 

liability insurance. If I'm being asked to join a board, I'm asking for your financial policies and a copy of your DNO. 

Rich Bennett 28:12
And

Katie Ramirez 28:12
that's what I'm saying, like in the bylaws, you need to. 

Robyn Burke 28:15
But you're 

Katie Ramirez 28:16
right, right, you're getting

Robyn Burke 28:17
yourself into it. So

Katie Ramirez 28:19
what's the word of the day? 

Rich Bennett 28:20
Fiduciary, 

Greg Derwart 28:22
fiduciary. 

Robyn Burke 28:23
Fiduciary, 

Greg Derwart 28:24
fiduciary, 

Rich Bennett 28:26
fiduciary, 

Greg Derwart 28:27
fiduciary, 

Katie Ramirez 28:27
fiduciary, fiduciary. The point is is that yes, so do not put the cart for the horse and yes. And 

Greg Derwart 28:33
someone 

Katie Ramirez 28:33
if anyone's listening and they're thinking, wow, I want to start a nonprofit, do your research. Look at other, because you brought up, I mean, again, yes, there are lots of great nonprofits in this county for addiction, but there's a lot of collaboration. I 

Rich Bennett 28:50
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 28:50
think in the addiction community, which is amazing, but not all nonprofits are collaborating. Should they be yes, but however before you even think about starting a nonprofit, if you think there's already a resource out there, but you want to collect funds specifically for again, a cause that's important to you, the 

Greg Derwart 29:06
if 

Katie Ramirez 29:06
community foundation is a great resource. I didn't realize that until we sat down 

Rich Bennett 29:09
Well, 

Katie Ramirez 29:10
and talked. 

Rich Bennett 29:10
it makes sense. I mean, you think of it. If you want to start a nonprofit, just to create a scholarship, the community foundation 

Katie Ramirez 29:16
is, is a 

Rich Bennett 29:16
is the way it 

Katie Ramirez 29:17
perfect. Yeah, 

Greg Derwart 29:17
you got it and 

Katie Ramirez 29:18
then you don't have again, because it's a business. Now, 

Rich Bennett 29:21
if you 

Katie Ramirez 29:21
have a full-time job and you don't want to quit your full-time job, nonprofit, this is a way that you 

Rich Bennett 29:27
do, 

Katie Ramirez 29:27
you do your philanthropic work. Give back to something that's really important to you. Yeah, if scholarships are something you want to do, which a lot of people, that's what they want to do with the funds they raise, 

Greg Derwart 29:36
do 

Katie Ramirez 29:36
the community foundations a great way, because they will, 

Greg Derwart 29:38
because they'll manage the books. 

Katie Ramirez 29:39
manage everything. 

Greg Derwart 29:40
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 29:40
You can just do the fun, because 

Greg Derwart 29:42
they'll 

Katie Ramirez 29:42
the fundraising is the part that everyone gets excited about. I want to host a golf tournament. Well, that's great. Host your golf 

Greg Derwart 29:47
The 

Katie Ramirez 29:48
tournament. community foundation. 

Greg Derwart 29:50
You're marked for your fund. 

Katie Ramirez 29:51
Yeah, it's brilliant actually. 

Rich Bennett 29:55
You're listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. We'll be right back. 

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Greg Derwart 31:27
Well, is 

Rich Bennett 31:29
it going through 

Greg Derwart 31:29
Right. 

Rich Bennett 31:29
internet? 

Greg Derwart 31:29
It's through international. 

Rich Bennett 31:30
Right. 

Greg Derwart 31:30
Right. Yeah. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 31:32
So. Six. 

Katie Ramirez 31:32
Yeah. 

Greg Derwart 31:34
but, but many clubs like that create their own C3 foundation. 

Rich Bennett 31:39
Right, which we did too. My question is, how important is it for, like, rotary lines, even other non-profits at our 501 C3s to look for members that are interested 

Greg Derwart 31:54
running 

Rich Bennett 31:54
in a committee? Because you see a lot of them will get members and the members have great ideas but don't want to the finger to run anything. 

Greg Derwart 32:02
Yeah, yeah. That's, well, that's from a recruitment standpoint. That's where you need to create those expectations. When you join X Club, there's an expectation of serving and volunteering and bringing your skills to the table. 

Rich Bennett 32:14
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 32:15
Correct. Yeah. I mean, again, I think that there's, I do truly believe that there's a role for everyone. Again, there are some people who are just workhorses and will just come to events and 

Rich Bennett 32:26
Right. 

Katie Ramirez 32:26
volunteer, but they don't want to serve in a leadership type role and that's okay. But then there's, but then there's other people who actually do have, I mean and I mean this in a polite way, but there's people who have egos, you know, 

Robyn Burke 32:38
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 32:38
who do want to have a leadership role because they have an ego. And that's, that's okay as long they use their ego 

Robyn Burke 32:44
even 

Katie Ramirez 32:44
for good and not 

Robyn Burke 32:44
they want their 

Greg Derwart 32:45
power for good. 

Robyn Burke 32:46
Read well. 

Katie Ramirez 32:47
There's also people who know how to lead and they know how to organize. There's other people who just don't have that skill set. So again, let's not put somebody in a position of leadership if they don't have that organism. So that's why it's important to interview them 

Robyn Burke 32:58
time. 

Katie Ramirez 32:59
at a 

Robyn Burke 32:59
Yes. 

Katie Ramirez 33:00
of get it. Like if I 

Greg Derwart 33:01
I 

Katie Ramirez 33:01
interviewed 

Greg Derwart 33:01
kind 

Katie Ramirez 33:01
Greg, I would quickly know that he is somebody who is going to 

Greg Derwart 33:04
lead. 

Katie Ramirez 33:05
I'm gonna put him in a role, but you're also actually, you're all three because I mean, he will also show up and you know, do so. OK, Greg's in anomaly, but, 

Robyn Burke 33:14
So 

Katie Ramirez 33:14
you know, but you learn quickly who, what 

Robyn Burke 33:16
set, 

Katie Ramirez 33:16
skill 

Robyn Burke 33:17
absolutely. 

Katie Ramirez 33:18
And then put them in the right 

Greg Derwart 33:19
True. 

Katie Ramirez 33:19
role because 

Rich Bennett 33:19
Greg will put fire under everybody. 

Katie Ramirez 33:21
Greg, Greg, I'll just yeah. I mean what you brought up earlier is important. Like you will stay engaged also if you're in the right like if you put me in the wrong position, like don't 

Rich Bennett 33:32
don't you're gonna lose 

Katie Ramirez 33:33
interest. Yes. I'm going to 

Greg Derwart 33:33
bring 

Katie Ramirez 33:34
So put me it put the volunteer in the position that they're going to get excited about because that's going to keep them engaged and they're going to keep wanting to do and give. 

Greg Derwart 33:43
interest. 

Katie Ramirez 33:43
But if you put them in a role, like again, give somebody social media if they literally don't even have a Facebook page. 

Robyn Burke 33:48
Right. 

Greg Derwart 33:51
I've 

Katie Ramirez 33:52
seen that happen. 

Greg Derwart 33:52
Oh geez. 

Katie Ramirez 33:54
Maybe they had a Facebook wave to the head and posted in 

Rich Bennett 33:56
Oh 

Katie Ramirez 33:57
five. 

Rich Bennett 33:57
my God. 

Katie Ramirez 33:57
So anyway. Yeah. So lots of lots of important things. And again, I just want to reiterate though that I think hard for count. Again, I've worked at National Non-Provets. I lived in Harvard County my whole life but was working mostly for nonprofits out of you know, out of Baltimore National. I've been you know, traveling. And now with my, you know, with my business, most of my clients are all here in Harvard County. And I will say like it is such a giving community. And yeah, I'm amazed at like how saturated our community is. But yet, I always 

Greg Derwart 34:32
keep 

Rich Bennett 34:33
giving 

Katie Ramirez 34:33
people keep giving people keep giving. And there is a handful of the same people. 

Robyn Burke 34:38
Everything 

Katie Ramirez 34:39
and God love them but but I just I am amazed because I'm like that's what I keep thinking like wow, you know, there you can only have so many golf torrents, golfers. I don't think I'm out of there everywhere and excuse to take a day off 

Robyn Burke 34:50
work. 

Katie Ramirez 34:50
of 

Greg Derwart 34:52
It's called business 

Katie Ramirez 34:53
developed. 

Rich Bennett 34:53
Well, it's 

Katie Ramirez 34:55
not working. 

Rich Bennett 34:55
It was because of a golf torrent. I found out now it's not a local nonprofit but I found out about a big nonprofit that helps people throughout the country. And that was Rufres and Recovery. And it's only because they had a golf torrent here. I guess they sponsored a whole and Joelle or had to take a pitch 

Katie Ramirez 35:14
Stan. 

Rich Bennett 35:14
of him 

Greg Derwart 35:16
Oh, Jo. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 35:16
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 35:16
Joe and I went to high school 

Rich Bennett 35:17
Oh, did you? Oh, I'm sorry. 

Katie Ramirez 35:19
together. 

Rich Bennett 35:19
No, I'm 

Greg Derwart 35:20
joking. 

Katie Ramirez 35:21
We were good. 

Rich Bennett 35:22
That Joe's awesome. But I 

contacted that nonprofit to get them on. I didn't tell Joe. It is. When the guy said he was coming on, I said, Joe, I got a I need you to I mean, it was virtually, but 

Katie Ramirez 35:41
cool. Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 35:41
he didn't have a night. Any idea at first 

Greg Derwart 35:43
Cool. 

Rich Bennett 35:43
anyway, I thought it was, how'd you find out about that? Your your fate. Oh, 

Greg Derwart 35:48
I thought. 

Rich Bennett 35:49
But awesome. 

Robyn Burke 35:53
You can 

Rich Bennett 35:55
say that. 

Robyn Burke 35:56
Are you familiar with chap? 

Katie Ramirez 35:57
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 35:59
Yeah. Our sister in law, Kathy. 

Katie Ramirez 36:02
Oh, 

Robyn Burke 36:03
that's our sister. 

Katie Ramirez 36:04
That's your sister in law. 

Robyn Burke 36:05
She is. 

Katie Ramirez 36:06
Stop it. 

Robyn Burke 36:06
So we've been familiar with chap for many, many years. 

Katie Ramirez 36:10
and I'll 

Robyn Burke 36:11
be at their golf tournament. 

Katie Ramirez 36:13
That's another one that I had no idea like the extent of the work that they do. 

Robyn Burke 36:17
Uh-huh, a lot. He's still 

Katie Ramirez 36:19
county, but not at least. We got 

Rich Bennett 36:20
oh 

Katie Ramirez 36:20
like, 

Rich Bennett 36:21
yeah. 

Robyn Burke 36:21
Right, they're 

Katie Ramirez 36:22
Yeah, 

Robyn Burke 36:22
everywhere. 

Katie Ramirez 36:22
I met with their, 

Robyn Burke 36:23
guess, 

Katie Ramirez 36:23
well, I 

Robyn Burke 36:24
Jack. 

Katie Ramirez 36:24
Oh, my god, Jack. 

Robyn Burke 36:26
Jack's great. 

Rich Bennett 36:27
One 

Katie Ramirez 36:27
that understands though, he runs it like it's a business. 

Rich Bennett 36:29
Yeah. 

Robyn Burke 36:30
absolutely 

Katie Ramirez 36:30
That's 

Robyn Burke 36:31
he does. 

Rich Bennett 36:31
I had that. I think that's what kills a 

Greg Derwart 36:33
lot 

Rich Bennett 36:34
of profits and they don't run it like it's, 

Katie Ramirez 36:35
don't. He and I 

Robyn Burke 36:36
actually, 

Katie Ramirez 36:36
had, we 

Robyn Burke 36:37
he has a lot of experience and yes, 

Katie Ramirez 36:40
really, I love. 

Robyn Burke 36:41
He was a great replacement for her. 

Katie Ramirez 36:43
I 

Robyn Burke 36:43
like great. 

Rich Bennett 36:44
He got money out of he did it, he roving. 

Robyn Burke 36:46
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 36:48
I 

Robyn Burke 36:49
paid 500 hours for Christmas 

Greg Derwart 36:51
to do. 

Rich Bennett 36:52
You foot barbie tree. 

Katie Ramirez 36:54
Hey, you know, it's been, 

Rich Bennett 36:57
yeah, but what? 

Greg Derwart 36:57
And you're a giver. 

Robyn Burke 37:00
And I'm 

Rich Bennett 37:01
getting, he 

Robyn Burke 37:02
thought he ended up buying tickets for a concert if somebody's never heard of in the, what's it called? The mash pit. And after he, he's like, he was laughing at me about the tree, and then he buys these tickets. Jack is 

Rich Bennett 37:16
Jack 

Robyn Burke 37:17
good at what he does. And, and I'm, he goes, what 

Rich Bennett 37:21
is. 

Robyn Burke 37:22
do you think I'm just like, I don't know, 

Katie Ramirez 37:23
that 

Robyn Burke 37:23
tickets to 

Katie Ramirez 37:23
I 

Robyn Burke 37:23
somebody, 

Katie Ramirez 37:23
was going to 

Robyn Burke 37:23
he goes, 

Katie Ramirez 37:24
say, that is a sign of a very 

Robyn Burke 37:25
He's like, 

Katie Ramirez 37:26
successful one. 

Robyn Burke 37:27
who are they? I'm like, I don't know who they are. And he goes, well, you spent 500 dollars for tree. And I said, well, you just paid 500 dollars to not have a chair. Because 

Greg Derwart 37:36
I'll 

Katie Ramirez 37:38
tell you a really good. And this was, this is success. Okay, it's the definition of success. I had an event once and we had a live auction and we had this really great. I had a contractor donate. They were going to build a patio 

Rich Bennett 37:53
Oh, 

Katie Ramirez 37:53
onto 

Rich Bennett 37:53
wow. 

Katie Ramirez 37:54
your house, build a, they were going to put the fire pit, like, built into the patio. And then I hit a home depot donated like the Anorondack chairs. It was this whole big. It was like a $15, 000 value. Okay. The gentleman who ended up it lives in 

Greg Derwart 38:09
a 

Robyn Burke 38:11
condominium. That's 

Katie Ramirez 38:12
success. I will never forget. Yeah, at the end of the night, and I just, you know, I wanted to introduce myself to him and do my, you know, donor cultivation. I was like, sir, thank you so much. Wow. I can't wait to, you know, see how take pictures, send them to me and he looked to me. 

Rich Bennett 38:26
I 

Katie Ramirez 38:26
live a condominium. And I was like, 

Oh, 

Robyn Burke 38:32
that's funny. 

Katie Ramirez 38:33
Gifted to someone. I was like, 

Greg Derwart 38:34
wow. So 

Katie Ramirez 38:35
that's how you know we, he was just so into it. He did say because this event was so beautiful and I just, I just really wanted to give to the call. 

Robyn Burke 38:40
Yeah. Yeah. We 

Katie Ramirez 38:41
did our job. 

Greg Derwart 38:42
The messaging in the moment. 

Katie Ramirez 38:44
But yeah, 

Rich Bennett 38:44
Yeah. Oh, 

Katie Ramirez 38:45
condominium. 

Rich Bennett 38:45
Jesus. 

Katie Ramirez 38:46
Yep. 

Robyn Burke 38:46
Oh, yeah. We both got, and we've been so familiar with Chuck. So it was like, you know, you, 

Katie Ramirez 38:51
You got, 

Robyn Burke 38:51
you got, 

Katie Ramirez 38:51
you 

Robyn Burke 38:52
again, we, we went to have fun, 

Katie Ramirez 38:54
got it, uh-huh. 

Robyn Burke 38:55
but we knew we were raising funds. So you have the checkbook in your hand because you know, you're going to spend it. It's just Jack was a little better 

Greg Derwart 39:03
I 

Robyn Burke 39:03
than 

Greg Derwart 39:03
thought he was. Yeah. That's awesome. 

Rich Bennett 39:05
I didn't. 

Robyn Burke 39:05
His, his nickname name is now $500 Jack. Cuz I can't see him without writing the 

Katie Ramirez 39:12
check. 

Rich Bennett 39:14
I'm a guy. I got a yell a Kathy 

Robyn Burke 39:16
because 

Rich Bennett 39:19
you need a schedule to come on. 

Robyn Burke 39:20
Yeah. And busy with stuff. They're opening 

Greg Derwart 39:22
up us. 

Robyn Burke 39:23
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 39:24
They've got a lot 

Robyn Burke 39:25
on. 

Katie Ramirez 39:25
going 

Robyn Burke 39:25
They do 

Rich Bennett 39:26
Tournament 

Robyn Burke 39:27
and they've got the golf tournament coming 

Katie Ramirez 39:29
up. Tournament coming up, and they do have the apparel line now, 

Robyn Burke 39:33
yep. 

Rich Bennett 39:33
Huh? 

Katie Ramirez 39:33
Hi. Yeah. Which I am like, it's brilliant. So, so they have an apparel, like, like, branding an apparel line. So if a nonprofit works with that, so any, any four profit or nonprofit works with them, you can get all your apparel through them. The funds go back to CHEP, but then the nonprofit can 

Greg Derwart 39:52
also 

Katie Ramirez 39:53
funds can then also go 

Robyn Burke 39:54
those 

Katie Ramirez 39:54
to the nonprofit. 

Rich Bennett 39:55
So what you're trying to tell me, is CHEP has their own shirts and hats and everything to the. 

Robyn Burke 40:00
Well, 

Katie Ramirez 40:00
no, 

Robyn Burke 40:01
they 

Katie Ramirez 40:01
no, no. Paral, 

Robyn Burke 40:02
take care of it. 

Katie Ramirez 40:02
they might have 

Rich Bennett 40:03
Oh, 

Katie Ramirez 40:03
that too. No, but they have an apparel line. So, like, a business, Joe Ailer, could go to them for target construction and get all of his hats, whatever he needs printed 

Greg Derwart 40:12
them 

Katie Ramirez 40:13
through 

Rich Bennett 40:13
through CHEP. Yeah, yeah. Um, I didn't know 

Robyn Burke 40:16
that. Tonya Jack's amazing. 

Katie Ramirez 40:17
He's thinking it all happened sports for charity. That's their new so like if you want to have so you know my daughter plays soccer If I want to host a soccer tournament and have the funds go to I don't know American Cancer Society I can call CHEP CHEP will manage the entire tournament handle all of that So I'm paying them to manage it so they're getting the funds, but then I can help a charity that I care about too 

Rich Bennett 40:41
Wow, 

Robyn Burke 40:41
he's brilliant 

Katie Ramirez 40:43
really am 

Robyn Burke 40:44
I mean he really he is You know, I went into the fundraising arena in 1988 Some really show mage but and and I started at Calvert school. So I mean Bob Carter from ketchup. I just started to catch him taught me everything. I mean, I learned from like the best He is Jack is absolutely the most brilliant fundraiser I've ever met ever 

Katie Ramirez 41:07
It's and and begin though. 

Rich Bennett 41:08
because 

Katie Ramirez 41:08
It's 

Robyn Burke 41:10
Yes, but don't tell him I said that cuz then I'll go from $500 jack to thousand 

No, 

Katie Ramirez 41:18
but I mean it does bring up a great point and I've again I've had a lot of conversations lately about this again, and you said it like you do you have your nonprofit is a business So you have to look at it like okay, so how okay? We're raising funds 

Greg Derwart 41:32
charity 

Katie Ramirez 41:32
for the 

Robyn Burke 41:34
ever 

Katie Ramirez 41:35
you to have 

Greg Derwart 41:36
need 

Katie Ramirez 41:37
Have assets you need to be able to 

Robyn Burke 41:39
have and be creative 

Katie Ramirez 41:41
Creative, but you have to have enough money in the bank so that you Can sustain like what are you know and again business plan is important and forward thinking is important Okay, 

Robyn Burke 41:50
yes, 

Katie Ramirez 41:50
today I want to do X. What do I want to do in five years? What I do and when I do 

Greg Derwart 41:54
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 41:54
intend? do I see this organization in 15 years? 

Greg Derwart 41:57
and that's part of the the purpose of the board is to be your strategic thinkers 

Robyn Burke 42:01
Mm-hmm, 

Greg Derwart 42:02
Your big picture of thinkers, and then you drill it down from there. 

Robyn Burke 42:05
Mm-hmm, yes 

Rich Bennett 42:05
How often should a non-profit 

Robyn Burke 42:08
an 

Rich Bennett 42:08
have 

Katie Ramirez 42:10
Year would Newly 

Greg Derwart 42:11
I 

Robyn Burke 42:12
definitely 

Katie Ramirez 42:12
yeah, 

Robyn Burke 42:13
absolutely 

Rich Bennett 42:13
from an outside source 

Greg Derwart 42:15
or oh, 

Robyn Burke 42:15
yes 

Greg Derwart 42:15
yeah, 

Robyn Burke 42:15
Well, 

Greg Derwart 42:16
and you there's what are there's let there's reviews and there's audits So if you're just getting started 

Katie Ramirez 42:22
Yeah, 

Greg Derwart 42:22
you know, 

Katie Ramirez 42:22
I 

Greg Derwart 42:22
maybe 

Katie Ramirez 42:22
was gonna say I think it does depend if you're just getting started a Review yeah, and then I think the more assets you have than the more Necessary. It is 

Rich Bennett 42:31
mm-hmm. 

Greg Derwart 42:31
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 42:31
side audit But that's why to having a board member 

Greg Derwart 42:34
who who can be 

Katie Ramirez 42:35
CPA? 

Greg Derwart 42:36
a 

Katie Ramirez 42:36
Yes, 

Greg Derwart 42:36
So there's 

Katie Ramirez 42:37
okay. 

Greg Derwart 42:37
questions, 

Rich Bennett 42:37
right? Right? yes 

Greg Derwart 42:39
And just you know from a volunteer standpoint look at the 

Robyn Burke 42:42
everyone 

Greg Derwart 42:42
books 

Robyn Burke 42:42
And be looking at those reports that are reporting and an advance of the board. Yeah 

Katie Ramirez 42:51
But yeah, that's a whole so one of the things that I do with my business. 

Rich Bennett 42:56
It's by by the way What does the name of your 

Katie Ramirez 42:57
oh? Yes, so the name of my business, I know we haven't he said that so it's called level up your mission That is the name of my business, and I you know I had someone tell me the other day that not the other day. This is like a month ago now So now I'm using it People said that I'm like the gerrym of wire for non-profits 

Greg Derwart 43:13
Yeah, 

Robyn Burke 43:14
me that's 

Katie Ramirez 43:15
so someone told 

Robyn Burke 43:15
good 

Katie Ramirez 43:16
the money And yeah, when he does that thing where he's like I am out here working for you 

out could think 

Rich Bennett 43:23
What's 

Katie Ramirez 43:24
is 

Rich Bennett 43:25
doing that tic-tac thing show me the money 

Robyn Burke 43:27
I 

Great my great kids get him on that every time I 

Katie Ramirez 43:34
So yes, basically, you know, I mean that's funny. Okay, so I guess I'm like showing my quarter 

Rich Bennett 43:38
see 

Katie Ramirez 43:38
but but you know I just I want to help nonprofits do 

Greg Derwart 43:41
better 

Katie Ramirez 43:41
what they do So you know am I gonna run your nonprofit before you know am I gonna you know coach and consult and sort of help you get to where you need to be absolutely and and you know again the board conversation comes up all the 

Robyn Burke 43:51
all the time 

Katie Ramirez 43:52
the time because again, it never fails. 

Rich Bennett 43:54
All 

Katie Ramirez 43:54
Do you have a board? Yes. How are they doing terrible? 

Rich Bennett 43:57
Let's 

Katie Ramirez 43:58
talk about it, and again, it's not I'm not You know, it's not always the board members fall you know, it goes both ways So one of the things that I'm trying to do is is I actually created a template I've done to now where I will come in and do a board retreat. So, 

Robyn Burke 44:10
know, 

Katie Ramirez 44:11
you 

Robyn Burke 44:11
I'm called to be and 

Katie Ramirez 44:13
the executive director will organize it I've done half day and full day I've done two now and I will facilitate it So I will help create the agenda for the day bring the entire board together if it's we might so come back to basics if it's looking at Board chair just or board, you know member descriptions 

Rich Bennett 44:30
So 

Katie Ramirez 44:30
and looking at okay What are the expectations and these are board members who've maybe been there for five years But we got to go back to the basics and then come out of that meeting with again, maybe different roles Maybe you rich were the board fundraising chair, but we've discovered in this retreat that that's not the right for you So we're you know, shifting you 

Rich Bennett 44:48
We've 

Katie Ramirez 44:48
mark. 

Rich Bennett 44:48
done 

Katie Ramirez 44:48
Roll. 

Rich Bennett 44:48
the 

Robyn Burke 44:49
I also think and a lot of times the there's pressure put on the ed in order to get the you know this one's leaving the board I need a need a name and I need it now and blah blah blah, but they're not the yes and the ed's are not looking at this position Would you hire this person? 

Katie Ramirez 45:10
To 

Robyn Burke 45:10
work in your company 

Greg Derwart 45:12
Yeah, right 

Robyn Burke 45:13
Because you wouldn't so why would you put them on the board and they're they're not Looking at it that way 

Katie Ramirez 45:21
and like you said the pressure. I mean again. I worked for national 

Robyn Burke 45:24
It's 

Katie Ramirez 45:24
where yeah 

Robyn Burke 45:25
a lot of pressure 

Katie Ramirez 45:26
had to get the numbers 

Greg Derwart 45:27
I 

Katie Ramirez 45:27
you know. I had to meet numbers I had to have work the right amount of board members So I would just be like okay. Come here. You look cool. 

Robyn Burke 45:32
You're breathing. Let's 

Katie Ramirez 45:33
It 

Robyn Burke 45:33
go 

Katie Ramirez 45:34
does it happens unfortunately, and you really do need to be more strategic about it to be Yes 

Rich Bennett 45:38
Do you think some of the nonprofits are mess when it comes to the boards some of the nonprofits and we mentioned it briefly like they're just asking people But do you think what they're also what they may also be doing is 

And it's not really there in a way it's their fault But it's also the people that are serving on the boards fault like with me Do you think they're looking at people because oh, they serve on this board that they're There another and again I blame the board member. They're sitting on too many 

Greg Derwart 46:08
Yes 

Katie Ramirez 46:08
boards. Yes, that should be one of the questions 

Greg Derwart 46:11
the 

Katie Ramirez 46:11
in 

Greg Derwart 46:11
Boards 

Katie Ramirez 46:13
that can be that can 

Robyn Burke 46:14
and 

Katie Ramirez 46:14
be a 

Robyn Burke 46:14
in what capacity 

Katie Ramirez 46:14
positive 

Robyn Burke 46:15
And 

Katie Ramirez 46:15
right 

Greg Derwart 46:16
yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 46:16
I mean I I personally if someone tells me they're bored chair Then they don't have time. I mean 

Robyn Burke 46:21
right. 

Katie Ramirez 46:21
a board chair should honestly be putting a lot of time in to 

Robyn Burke 46:25
they should be on one 

Greg Derwart 46:26
board 

Katie Ramirez 46:27
So that's number one, but you know again some people do have the capacity, so I think just understanding it's it It isn't it isn't wrong for you to ask could I talk to the executive director of the board that you're currently on there is nothing wrong 

Greg Derwart 46:42
that 

Katie Ramirez 46:42
with 

Robyn Burke 46:43
that's a great idea. 

Katie Ramirez 46:45
Yeah, yeah interview wouldn't 

Greg Derwart 46:46
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 46:47
Right, 

Robyn Burke 46:47
yeah 

Katie Ramirez 46:47
so let me call so and so and say especially in harvaghownie, 

Greg Derwart 46:50
reference 

Katie Ramirez 46:50
you know, hey How you know how is how is Greg on your board? They're gonna say great, but you 

Rich Bennett 46:55
know 

Katie Ramirez 46:58
yeah, and and again 

Rich Bennett 47:00
So 

Katie Ramirez 47:00
will the executive look 

Greg Derwart 47:01
reality 

Katie Ramirez 47:01
the We all you know, there is competition though, too. So is the executive director, you know, I'm gonna 

Robyn Burke 47:07
to 

Katie Ramirez 47:07
want Pull his time, maybe not so you know, but I think that as a whole we are very collaborative community And 

Rich Bennett 47:15
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 47:15
if it's and 

Rich Bennett 47:15
and 

Katie Ramirez 47:16
too, it's it's it's what is the mission too like again 

Greg Derwart 47:19
someone 

Katie Ramirez 47:19
if someone's serving on a recovery You know board and now I'm asking them to serve on a board for I don't know 

Rich Bennett 47:26
cookie cookies 

Katie Ramirez 47:29
right that is very different. So again, maybe now they do have because it's 

Rich Bennett 47:32
Gout 

Katie Ramirez 47:32
such different Missions, you know, but if it's very similar missions, then I would say that that's 

Robyn Burke 47:39
That could be a great 

Greg Derwart 47:40
Yeah, 

Robyn Burke 47:40
fit. 

Greg Derwart 47:40
could leverage the relationship to the partnership 

Katie Ramirez 47:44
Any who 

Rich Bennett 47:45
all right 

Katie Ramirez 47:47
thing on 

Rich Bennett 47:48
whole 

Katie Ramirez 47:48
that note though since we're talking about 

Greg Derwart 47:49
I didn't 

Katie Ramirez 47:50
know that was the 

Rich Bennett 47:51
I 

Katie Ramirez 47:52
in September so last year I hosted a retreat for nonprofit Professionals it was mostly for executive directors and Development staff Greg was one of my speakers talking about Strategic 

Greg Derwart 48:03
am 

Katie Ramirez 48:03
planning because it's very important and we actually talked about social media and that one too because that's a really big component that I think nonprofits again, you have to do but aren't doing it well But hold tight on that note. So the one I'm doing this September though is going to be I'm inviting nonprofit professionals and 

Rich Bennett 48:22
Bord 

Katie Ramirez 48:23
members and 

Rich Bennett 48:24
Be 

Katie Ramirez 48:24
talking about volunteer leadership, how to recruit a board, how to keep an board engaged and 

Greg Derwart 48:29
sure 

Katie Ramirez 48:30
how to make Everyone's working collaboratively. That would be in September. 

Social media Well, 

Rich Bennett 48:37
no, here's reason because I mean just Year or two ago you had to have 

Greg Derwart 48:44
many 

Rich Bennett 48:44
so media and it was 

Social media basically now it's interest media. 

Katie Ramirez 48:53
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 48:53
you don't 

Greg Derwart 48:53
the

Rich Bennett 48:53
need Organic stuff that you're putting out there. That's what's gonna attract people Social media market has changed has gonna change even more so when you're doing something like that Every year it's gotta be revisited 

So Snake or something because of how there's not

No bit because of 

Robyn Burke 49:18
way 

Rich Bennett 49:18
the Even have a ties in 

Katie Ramirez 49:20
Too 

Robyn Burke 49:22
to change so much. 

Katie Ramirez 49:24
Yeah. Well, and that point is very valid. So again, as you're hosting events too, and you're, you know, putting out sponsorship and you're putting out the benefits, right? Like, it used to be you can add in a program. Well, a lot of people aren't even doing programs anymore, because 

Rich Bennett 49:41
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 49:41
I mean, you know, it may be a smaller, like dinner, yes, but, you know, in a large event, no, I'm kind of out of 5k. I'm not taking a program, but what we did used to do 

Rich Bennett 49:49
that, 

Robyn Burke 49:50
yeah. Right. 

Katie Ramirez 49:51
know, it's more digital. 

Rich Bennett 49:52
You 

Katie Ramirez 49:52
So it's like, you know, how are you appealing to 

Greg Derwart 49:54
you 

Katie Ramirez 49:54
like, you 

Greg Derwart 49:55
also 

Katie Ramirez 49:55
want 

Greg Derwart 49:55
have 

Katie Ramirez 49:55
to 

Greg Derwart 49:55
to meet 

Katie Ramirez 49:55
meet 

Greg Derwart 49:55
the 

Katie Ramirez 49:55
the sponsor, 

Greg Derwart 49:56
sponsor where they are. 

Katie Ramirez 49:56
Like, a lot of sponsors, they want that social 

Greg Derwart 49:59
media. 

Katie Ramirez 49:59
They want, 

Robyn Burke 50:00
right, 

Katie Ramirez 50:00
right, 

Robyn Burke 50:00
right, 

Katie Ramirez 50:00
tag of my, you know, they want maybe a, I've even done it. 

Rich Bennett 50:03
I've 

Katie Ramirez 50:04
even done it at higher level sponsorship. You get 

Greg Derwart 50:05
a 

Katie Ramirez 50:06
Facebook live. I will come to your place of business and you get an opportunity to do a Facebook live on the nonprofit page at Pat Finder, is it worked really well because they have a huge following. So, you know, 

Greg Derwart 50:16
you're a 

Katie Ramirez 50:17
business owner, you're, you're off of me at Facebook. 

Robyn Burke 50:19
Right. 

Katie Ramirez 50:20
To 15,000 people? Heck, yeah, I'm going to do that. You know, so again, that's going to be a better, that's going to be a better opportunity than you're going to get an ad in a program that literally, 

Rich Bennett 50:28
mm-hmm, 

Katie Ramirez 50:29
a 

Rich Bennett 50:29
I'm 

Katie Ramirez 50:29
trash can. So, you know, it's like, 

Rich Bennett 50:32
rain. 

Katie Ramirez 50:33
Okay. But yeah, social media is a beast. 

Rich Bennett 50:36
Oh, yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 50:36
and you make a good point because it is so hard because so people fixate on, oh, my God, I have to have this many followers. But you can have, I've seen, I've seen any business, not just nonprofits, I've seen business, 

Greg Derwart 50:48
a few 

Katie Ramirez 50:49
followers have great success. 

Rich Bennett 50:50
Yeah, I've seen 

Katie Ramirez 50:51
businesses that are like, I have 10,000 

Greg Derwart 50:54
followers 

Katie Ramirez 50:55
and I'm not seeing, and I'm not seeing success with my business. 

Rich Bennett 50:57
That's how I'm, it's important that people keep up on you. You mentioned Facebook live, and metal, metal, 

Katie Ramirez 51:04
metal. 

Greg Derwart 51:04
metal, 

Rich Bennett 51:05
Has already come out and said, I think it's in June, where your Facebook live videos will be gone. 

Greg Derwart 51:12
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 51:12
all those videos you did if you didn't download them 

Greg Derwart 51:16
and save them. Interesting. 

Rich Bennett 51:17
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 51:17
there's 

Rich Bennett 51:17
So, 

Katie Ramirez 51:17
still going to offer, like, you can still do a Facebook 

Rich Bennett 51:19
I 

Katie Ramirez 51:19
live. 

Rich Bennett 51:19
don't know if they're still going to offer Facebook live or not. 

Robyn Burke 51:22
Is that on business or personal or both, do you know, 

Rich Bennett 51:25
I think it's all, 

Katie Ramirez 51:26
to 

Rich Bennett 51:27
all together. 

Katie Ramirez 51:27
this. 

Rich Bennett 51:28
The thing 

Greg Derwart 51:28
with, 

Rich Bennett 51:28
is social media is still important, but like I said, it's become a more, like, interest media. When social media was created, so you know, you can, there was one created a year ago, I think it was called path. You could only have 140 followers, max. 

Greg Derwart 51:44
That was 

Rich Bennett 51:45
it. It was perfect. 

Greg Derwart 51:46
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 51:47
It was perfect, because you can many followers that don't even have any interest in what you're talking about, 

Katie Ramirez 51:54
have so 

Rich Bennett 51:54
because they're from other countries 

Katie Ramirez 51:56
that. 

Rich Bennett 51:56
and all 

Greg Derwart 51:56
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 51:57
Yeah. You know, you see it all the time. One thing with nonprofits, and this has been a pep-peave of mine, not just for nonprofits, but businesses and everything. How important is it for the executive director to put their face out there? 

Katie Ramirez 52:14
Oh, okay. So, you're talking about branding from the standpoint of the executive director. 

Rich Bennett 52:19
Well, the people 

Greg Derwart 52:21
in general branding 

Rich Bennett 52:22
the organization, the fan, I would say 

Greg Derwart 52:23
founder 

Rich Bennett 52:23
the 

Greg Derwart 52:23
can it be helpful to have the executive director or the board chair serve as the face of an organization? 

Katie Ramirez 52:29
I will tell you. Yes, the answer is yes, and I'm going to tell you if you do look at, 

Rich Bennett 52:35
like Panfinder 

Katie Ramirez 52:36
from a social media stand. Well, yes, I mean, well, B. J. Surhoff, I mean, obviously, yes, he should be. 

Rich Bennett 52:42
But seriously, if it 

Katie Ramirez 52:43
No, 

Rich Bennett 52:43
wasn't 

Katie Ramirez 52:43
but. 

Rich Bennett 52:43
him, do you think it would have taken off the way it 

Katie Ramirez 52:46
Um, you know, that's a really interesting question. I think that they are doing tremendous. I think they filled a void that 

Rich Bennett 52:51
did? Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 52:52
was not what there was no database of 

Robyn Burke 52:56
resources 

Katie Ramirez 52:57
for the office and community 25 years ago. So they filled a 

Greg Derwart 53:00
void. 

Katie Ramirez 53:01
What had it taken off as quickly, maybe not, but I do think that they are, that, you know, they've just done such a tremendous 

Rich Bennett 53:07
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 53:08
thing for the awesome community. But back to what you said, though, if I, I will say I do for nonprofits, I will look at their social media and I will review their content and 

Rich Bennett 53:16
Mm-hmm. 

Katie Ramirez 53:17
sort of come back to them with the report to say, here's the photos or videos that are getting the most likes and the most, and guess what they are. It is when it is a video of the executive director speaking, a board member speaking about their, you know, testimonial. So to answer your question, 

Rich Bennett 53:35
be 

Katie Ramirez 53:35
yes. And 

Rich Bennett 53:35
careful what you post to 

Katie Ramirez 53:36
Well, 

Rich Bennett 53:36
even. 

Katie Ramirez 53:36
yes, be careful what you put. And also, and also, listen, you know, again, some executive directors aren't, you know, they are nervous in front of a camera. They don't like to put themselves out there. So, you know, maybe, again, so 

Rich Bennett 53:49
Put 

Katie Ramirez 53:49
maybe 

Rich Bennett 53:49
your 

Katie Ramirez 53:49
it's not. 

Rich Bennett 53:49
voice out there behind the logo. 

Katie Ramirez 53:51
Maybe you could put your voice out. Or, 

Greg Derwart 53:53
We have 

Katie Ramirez 53:53
again, 

Greg Derwart 53:54
a face for radio. 

Katie Ramirez 53:56
share it. Someone within the organization, people love to see especially, 

Rich Bennett 54:01
uh, I actually think 

Katie Ramirez 54:02
They 

Rich Bennett 54:02
they 

Katie Ramirez 54:02
love 

Rich Bennett 54:02
love. 

Katie Ramirez 54:02
to see the board members the most because then it's like 'Wow, this is a community leader.' 

Rich Bennett 54:05
Mmm-hmm, 

Katie Ramirez 54:05
It's not even paid, you know, they're doing this voluntarily but they care so deeply. So I think when board members post, like, again, Joe Ayler is a prime example. He does a great job posting about the charities that he cares about 

Greg Derwart 54:17
it's true. 

Katie Ramirez 54:17
and people- people actually 

Rich Bennett 54:19
think of that 

Katie Ramirez 54:19
So, 

Rich Bennett 54:19
so, 

Katie Ramirez 54:20
so yeah, I mean, I definitely think it's important, you know, obviously if someone is awkward though in front of a camera, that could backfire, 

Rich Bennett 54:27
right, 

Katie Ramirez 54:28
but 

Greg Derwart 54:28
yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 54:28
I still, they get them a- like, Patricia Bullock is a prime example with Bailey's 

Rich Bennett 54:33
heart. 

Katie Ramirez 54:33
heart 

Rich Bennett 54:33
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 54:33
and I, you know, I say it all the time, like, Patricia, you got to, you know, do more videos because whenever she does a video, it gets so much engagement, so much and then people share it because she's just, you know, she's speaking from the heart. She lost her child, this 

Rich Bennett 54:47
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 54:47
is, you know, and what she's doing is also feeling avoid. I mean, you know, the fact that she's- is teaching people about CPR and AED, the- 

Greg Derwart 54:56
Oh, past legislation, 

Rich Bennett 54:58
yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 54:58
legislation, I mean, she's doing such tremendous work, and when she speaks about it, people listen. So she's a great example of like, I need her out there all the time. I'm like, Treess, 

Rich Bennett 55:07
Past 

Katie Ramirez 55:07
just do 

Rich Bennett 55:08
video. 

Katie Ramirez 55:08
videos, 

Rich Bennett 55:08
Alright, 

Greg Derwart 55:09
a 

Rich Bennett 55:09
so, a trick question for you. 

Katie Ramirez 55:10
Oh, no, a trick 

Rich Bennett 55:11
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 55:11
question. 

Rich Bennett 55:11
Alright, with this, the podcast- how many of you done so far? 

Katie Ramirez 55:16
many podcasts have I 

Rich Bennett 55:16
How 

Katie Ramirez 55:16
done? Two. 

Rich Bennett 55:18
Two. 

Katie Ramirez 55:19
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 55:19
Alright, do you think that nonprofits should be getting on more podcasts talk because it's free marketing, free 

Katie Ramirez 55:27
1000%. 

Rich Bennett 55:27
advertising. 

Katie Ramirez 55:29
That's not a trick. 

Rich Bennett 55:30
now wait, but wait 

Katie Ramirez 55:31
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 55:31
a minute, I'm talking about everywhere, not just local podcasts, 

Katie Ramirez 55:38
But nation podcasts. Um, yeah. 

Rich Bennett 55:40
Okay. Thank 

Katie Ramirez 55:41
Okay. How 

Rich Bennett 55:41
you. 

Katie Ramirez 55:41
the- Like. 

Greg Derwart 55:47
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 55:47
is this a leading 

Rich Bennett 55:48
no, no, no, I've always said, if you have a nonprofit, whether you're an author, and I always say, 

Greg Derwart 55:57
question? 

Rich Bennett 55:57
especially when it comes to a brand, don't focus on just your area. 

Katie Ramirez 56:01
Oh, 

Rich Bennett 56:01
If you don't want to get your name at the world wide, then why don't you start a business? You know, or a nonprofit, because people do move to other places. But no, I mean, because I talked to different nonprofits from around the world, 

Katie Ramirez 56:16
Yeah. 

Rich Bennett 56:17
and that's how I learn about other things and businesses. And it's 

Katie Ramirez 56:20
Well, 

Rich Bennett 56:20
easy. 

Katie Ramirez 56:21
again, it's how you can also, like, see what's working, what's not working. Again, working at national nonprofits. I've learned so much about, I mean, markets are different. Right, so like, I was working out of the Baltimore market, and then I had to go up to Pittsburgh, and I'd be like, all right, you should do this, and this, and they're like, that's not going to work here. 

Rich Bennett 56:39
Then it's 

Katie Ramirez 56:39
like, you get you learn what works. 

Rich Bennett 56:42
like, 

Katie Ramirez 56:42
But 

Rich Bennett 56:42
it's 

Katie Ramirez 56:42
also to your point, I mean, the world is a very large place, if it's a really small place. So, 

Rich Bennett 56:47
if 

Katie Ramirez 56:47
you talk about your nonprofit, I don't know, to a podcast, it's going to reach people in California. But that person's probably going to know someone here in Maryland that's going to open 

Greg Derwart 56:56
up doors. Or if it's a mission that resonates with them, they might still become a giver. 

Rich Bennett 57:01
Right, exactly. 

Robyn Burke 57:02
Absolutely. Absolutely. 

Katie Ramirez 57:03
I'm going to, wait, so I'm actually on that note, I'm going to tell you, and this, this organization is, is I need to call them and tell them what, what, great job. So I went to Napa Valley last summer with my husband, and we went to this private wine tasting at this vineyard. It was the most amazing night of my life. And the owner of the vineyard was the one that did this private dinner for us, and he said, I'm not charging you a penny. However, I support an organization called the Red Barn Project. They are allos, I think, Colorado. And it is a horse farm that provides their, 

Greg Derwart 57:36
yeah, two 

Katie Ramirez 57:37
people with disabilities. Okay. So, of course my husband and I were like, oh, this dinner was fabulous. So I know, I think we made a $500. 

Rich Bennett 57:44
But, 

Katie Ramirez 57:45
Okay, that was a year ago. They continue, and again, so that wasn't social media, it was on podcast, but same concept 

Rich Bennett 57:52
yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 57:52
that you're talking about. So we gave because it was a dinner that we would have paid $250 a person for anyway. So we made a $500 check donation. They sent me a thank you email. That was lovely. I got a card in the mail. I got a picture of, I have gotten so many emails and handwritten 

Rich Bennett 58:10
I read 

Katie Ramirez 58:10
notes. notes, 

Greg Derwart 58:11
just 

Katie Ramirez 58:11
touches. 

Rich Bennett 58:12
what? 

Katie Ramirez 58:12
I guess 

Rich Bennett 58:12
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 58:13
Yeah. My husband wrote them another check recently because he was like, this is, this is why people 

Rich Bennett 58:18
get a 

Katie Ramirez 58:19
picture of a girl and a horse who they were helping. 

Rich Bennett 58:22
That's why your big nonprofits, like Easter Seals and everybody is so, I mean, they're still successful the way they are. 

Katie Ramirez 58:30
Yes. 

Rich Bennett 58:30
Is that personal touch? 

Katie Ramirez 58:32
...but also, I would have never known... Right, so I mean, that was an example 

Rich Bennett 58:36
[BLANK_AUDIO] 

Katie Ramirez 58:36
of mine was there in person but if it, if I, you know, I would never have known about an organization on Colorado if I- 

Rich Bennett 58:42
Right! ..if 

Robyn Burke 58:42
you hadn't been. 

Greg Derwart 58:43
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 58:44
So, absolutely, 

Greg Derwart 58:44
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 58:45
I mean, you make a great point. If I, if something resonates and I'm hearing it and I'm listening and I go to learn more about um, 

Greg Derwart 58:51
uh, 

Katie Ramirez 58:51
open up 

Rich Bennett 58:51
Well, 

Katie Ramirez 58:52
so many. 

Rich Bennett 58:52
and what we started, said in the 

Katie Ramirez 58:54
beginning 

Rich Bennett 58:54
to do your research before you want to 

Katie Ramirez 58:57
start 

Greg Derwart 58:58
at 

Rich Bennett 58:58
Profit, 

Greg Derwart 58:58
the 

Rich Bennett 58:58
'cause there may be several other types 

Greg Derwart 59:00
Start of the 

Rich Bennett 59:00
here. Somebody... and I don't know, Bangladesh, or whatever, here's this. It says, 

Katie Ramirez 59:07
I hope so. 

Rich Bennett 59:08
Oh, I'd like that type of. And we don't have anything like that here. You're giving them ideas. 

Greg Derwart 59:14
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 59:15
And 

Greg Derwart 59:15
yeah. Absolutely. 

Rich Bennett 59:16
Risa, I bring it up too because when I had path-finders on, I got a message from somebody out, I think it was in Washington State, that heard about a few years ago but didn't realize they were still around and was excited to hear that. Yeah, so it's. 

Katie Ramirez 59:33
It's really cool. 

Rich Bennett 59:34
Yeah, it's just, you never know. 

Greg Derwart 59:37
never 

Katie Ramirez 59:37
You just 

Greg Derwart 59:38
know. 

Katie Ramirez 59:39
I love it. 

Greg Derwart 59:39
Yeah. Good stuff. 

Katie Ramirez 59:40
And I think too. I mean, at the end of the day again, you kind of started with it. I mean, you know, the 

Rich Bennett 59:45
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 59:45
idea behind nonprofits, like people, people do ultimately, you know, we all have big hearts and we want to give. I don't know, I don't know how you guys feel, but like I think we all want to like leave a legacy on this earth. Like I want people to say, wow, Katie, was a really giving and caring person. And you can do that. It doesn't mean you don't have to start a nonprofit to 

Greg Derwart 1:00:06
legacy 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:06
have a before, you know, yourself for a loved one. You can be 

Rich Bennett 1:00:12
involved and you can do. Yes. 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:13
Extremely involved and you can, you know, really take a nonprofit to the next level, just by being on a board or by serving on a committee or being a 

Greg Derwart 1:00:21
yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:21
volunteer. 

Greg Derwart 1:00:22
Yeah, 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:22
So, 

Greg Derwart 1:00:23
well, I mean, 

Rich Bennett 1:00:24
them level up their mission. 

Greg Derwart 1:00:30
He 

Robyn Burke 1:00:32
had his 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:33
Great. 

Greg Derwart 1:00:34
weight. 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:34
Great. I think we're done. 

Robyn Burke 1:00:37
Drop 

Greg Derwart 1:00:37
the mic on that. Yeah. You're done. 

Rich Bennett 1:00:39
really 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:40
That was 

Rich Bennett 1:00:40
good. No, because they don't know the website or anything. 

Katie Ramirez 1:00:45
So funny story. I don't have a website and yes, I know I from a branding standpoint, I should, but I'll be fully honest my no, but somebody asked me that the other day and I'm going to create one I need a landing page, but I have honestly just been so since day one, I've been so busy. It's been word of mouth. It's been just me out networking. We didn't even talk about networking today. Networking is huge. I just go out and I just 

Rich Bennett 1:01:07
people. 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:07
talk to 

Rich Bennett 1:01:08
Yeah. 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:08
And I connect and yes, I don't have a website. I have a Facebook page. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:11
landing pages important. 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:12
I know, I know 

Rich Bennett 1:01:13
to 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:13
I 

Rich Bennett 1:01:13
get 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:13
need 

Rich Bennett 1:01:13
that landing page up first. 

Greg Derwart 1:01:15
That's what Hannah and Evan did first. They started with a landing page before they did a full website and it was a place to go find all your social media. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:24
The thing is, and I know we're, it's not really off topic, but when it comes to the website. where a lot of people mess up. They make it all flashy and everything. 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:35
Right. 

Rich Bennett 1:01:36
It's keep it, 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:37
It's just 

Rich Bennett 1:01:38
keep it simple, stupid, the old Kiss method. 

Robyn Burke 1:01:40
Kiss. That

Rich Bennett 1:01:41
was it. 

Greg Derwart 1:01:42
I agree. 

Katie Ramirez 1:01:43
Yeah, 

Rich Bennett 1:01:44
Thank you for listening to the conversations with Rich Bennett. I hope you enjoyed today's episode and learned something from it as I did. If you'd like to hear more conversations like this, be sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode. And if you have a moment, I'd love it if you could leave a review. It helps us reach more listeners and share more incredible stories. Don't forget to connect with us on social media or visit our website at conversations with rich Bennett.com for updates, giveaways, and more. Until next time, take care, be kind, and keep the conversations going. You know, it takes a lot to put a podcast together. And my sponsors help add a lot, but I also have some supporters that actually help me when it comes to the editing software, the hosting and so forth. There's a lot that goes into putting this together, so I want to thank them and if you can please please visit their websites, visit their businesses, support them, however you can. So please visit the following Real-life real life prosthetics, cutting edge solutions, restoring ability since 2001, go to real life prosthetics. For full circle boards, nobody does charcuterie like full circle boards, visit them at fullcircleboards.com. Sincerely, so your photography, live in the moment, they'll capture it. Visit them at SincerelySolar.com.