The 3W Podcast
From the people that bring you 3W Magazine, welcome to the 3W Podcast! We aim to serve our community by promoting awareness of Northwest Arkansas’ thriving philanthropic movement; To provide a guide of dates to help coordinate events so every nonprofit gets the coverage they need and deserve; To give financially to local charities each year.
The 3W Podcast
3W Magazine Podcast: Allison McElroy
Embark on a personal journey like no other as my dear friend Allison McElroy, a seasoned nonprofit strategist, joins me to unpack the emotional nuances of career shifts and the quest for work-life harmony. Allison's poignant transition from her role at Open Avenues to the consulting realm, motivated by the need to care for her ailing father, speaks volumes of the sacrifices and adjustments we often face. Our candid conversation weaves through the intricacies of maintaining family bonds, carving out time for self-care, and the universal challenge of managing a bustling schedule — touchstones that resonate with parents and professionals alike.
We then navigate the delicate art of cultivating empathy and the subtleties of parenting in a world that yearns for kindness and inclusion. Through shared stories from our own childhoods, we shed light on how the dynamics within our families and the roles of parents to sons shape our approach to society and the values we hope to instill in future generations. Exploring the evolution of nonprofit work, our dialogue honors the unsung heroes of mentorship and their visionary impact, laying the groundwork for a culture of meaningful engagement and philanthropy.
Wrapping up with a heartfelt discussion on our shared dedication to Children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas, we delve into the critical services these organizations provide for children and families grappling with trauma. Our laughter and sincerity punctuate a conversation that's bound to ignite passion and dialogue about resilience, generosity, and the intricate juggling acts defining the joys of life.
Hey everyone. I'm Kasie Yokley. I'm here with my dear friend today, Allison McElroy. This is the inaugural 3W podcast, which Who What Where for the . So, yay, you guinea pigs out there get to partake in this today. So we're very excited. So welcome to my friend, allison. Hello, I am so glad to be here and be on the very first podcast.
Speaker 1:I know, when I was sitting around trying to thank everyone's bugged us for years to do this, and so I thought, well, who should I ask? We have all these clients, all these amazing friends, but you have to roll with your cheerleaders first. So I went to my cheerleader, yes, yes, and she's a fans non-profit, so it's a win-win. Obviously, it's a great fit. So tell us about you. Who are you? I'm Allison McElroy. You are and, uh, we have always had an easy way of talking, so this should go very it's gonna be great. I don't know if we'll stay on topic highly unlikely, um, but I'm Allison McElroy and I have a nonprofit background.
Speaker 1:I worked at Open Avenues for almost 21 years a long time and started their fundraising foundation development department, and then, in 2015, I realized that I needed to care for my dad and so I needed us. I wasn't going to be able to continue a traditional job and I knew, but I did not know what I was going to do and I think that should be a whole podcast. Oh, absolutely like when you grow up, when I want to do like, I thought what am I going to do? Because it wasn't like we could just decide to be a one income family Money pays the bills. But I had to make a choice that there was. I knew that I was already struggling, juggling all the things which we're going to tap on, yes, and so I didn't know like how, how I would then add my dad and all his appointments and getting him settled and finding a place to live and caretakers and all that stuff. So I knew that it was probably time. I also knew which is a whole nother podcast that I was about to turn. I think, yes, I was about to turn 45. Okay, okay, I'm way past that, okay, and I, I thought I've been here for almost 20, 20 years and in in any job, that's a long time.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes, but in the nonprofit world, it seemed at that time everyone else was moving and jumping to better their career, right, which there's nothing wrong with that Zero, but I kept wanting to finish those goals there, and I was so passionate about Open Avenue I still am. The mission was important to me and I was so passionate about Open Avenue I still am. The mission was important to me and I had goals and we had achieved so many of them, but I wanted to achieve a couple more, and so I think I kept staying. And just something about you know, something was whispering at me Maybe it's time, maybe it's time. And then my dad tells me I think I need to move to Rogers and it was a sign. And so there's a lot of topics we could discuss with all that.
Speaker 1:But my fundraising friends there's a handful of them that said we know what you can do. Your office has been an open door to all of this All the time, 20 years. Yes, why don't you just become a consultant? And then it'll be flexible with your dad. And I thought, oh, my goodness, I bet I could do this Because you've already been doing it for so long. And you know, do I know anything about starting my own business? No, do I, any of us? No, we don't. Do I know any more? Now, you know, in 2024? I take the trash out, yeah, so I decided to give it a try and I did do some interviews during that time because I honestly went thinking that will be good practice to help me learn, because I had been out of that loop for 20 years.
Speaker 1:Absolutely I don't know how to make a resume. So I think even going on those interviews, I was in the back of my head thinking this isn't, this is the right fit. I think I do need to just do my own thing. So in 2016, dad had gotten here, was settled. 2016, dad had gotten here, was settled. So in March of 2016, I just put the shingle out there that said the McElroy Group, here I am, and it was just me and my little dog at the time and it just sort of took off, as you have always been integrated in the community.
Speaker 1:So, yes, you had built in people. I did, I did so. Yes, I had built in people. I did, I did and I can tell you those same concepts of being a fundraising development officer at an organization. Same thing when you're a win-win, it's all about relationships. It's all about relationships and how you make people feel. Yes, and I've always been able to have enough, and in the lean months I just thought we'll get through. We'll somehow get through. I will hug someone else and it will all work out. It'll all work out and it just anytime. I got a little you know it wasn't. You know blossoms and roses. The whole time it's hard, but when there were some of those lame months I thought it'll be okay, I'll get there, I'll figure it out, yes, and so here I am Still drugging. I'm not at all. And then it leads you to, um, the pretend work-life balance, which is completely fake news. But that's okay. Yes, that's okay. Still haven't figured that out. No. So, allison, you have two kids, I have. You have two boys. Uh-huh, I have two boys. So I'm following in your footsteps and I'm gonna look at the camera right now.
Speaker 1:Okay, many of y'all don't know, but we have like a super funny story about how we met. So I met Allison at an event in 08. She was extremely pregnant, having her youngest like within the next week or two. Fast forward to like two years later, I'm ridiculously pregnant, about to have my first. And she says to me how are you having him? And being the highly anxiety ridden human that I am, I said I'm having a C-section. And what did you say to me right after that. I said, and to all of you having a C-section out there, I said to her I know this is going to be weird and a little personal, but as soon as you are allowed to stand all the way up after your C-section A dear friend, shelly Ball, gave me that advice when I was having Cooper because it turned into a C-section situation Wasn't planned but it turned into one and she said if you are having a C-section, you stand all the way up as soon as they tell you it's time to get up and walk around.
Speaker 1:Don't Don't Stand all the way up and it's going to hurt like nobody's business, but you've just got to do it. If you do that, you'll be able to care for the baby and move around the very next day. And she was right. It's so true. It hurts like hell very next day. And she was right, it's so true. And so it hurts like hell. It is. We're all baiting. So I was getting all up in your business, you were.
Speaker 1:I wanted you to know and I have told everybody that has a c-section and most, most of the people that have done it have been. It's about just like you say. Thank you for telling me yes, barrett was born like the week before thanksgiving, so I did it again. And the second time was harder because I knew was what was about to happen. The first time, yes, barrett was born like the week before Thanksgiving, so I did it again. And the second time was harder because I knew what was about to happen. The first time I was like she said, stand still, but I was able to Christmas shop the next week. He was not even because I, oh, I totally beat my two weeks Like what you can't drive for two weeks, or whatever. And I'm like, no, I got things to do Right, yeah, weeks of like what you can't drive for two weeks, or whatever. And I'm like, uh, no, I got things to do right, yeah, and I was like driving in a week. They're like, what's wrong with you? And I'm like, oh, my friend Allison gave me really great advice to like rip the crap out of my stomach and stand up. So here I am, yeah, let's go. Yeah. So I mean, we, we've been connected with our two boys, yes, and with our c-section story, you know, and non-profit and non-profit. So it was meant for us to be together.
Speaker 1:So tell me about your work-life balance, because you're a business owner. Yes, so that means you know we have to pay the taxes, do pay the secretary of state, that we don't know. We have to pay every now and then, exactly, and the insurance and take the trash out. And oh, I've got to, like you know, do payroll or love all my clients like, but I'll. I have a husband and I have a family and I have one kid in college, one kid at lsu and the other is in high school. Is he a freshman? Yes, okay, right, so that's my new adventure next year. Yeah, got a freshman and then a sophomore at lsu and now still an uber.
Speaker 1:And the youngest one, yes, yes, yeah, which was this morning. He overslept, of course, here, then it threw the whole morning off, but on his own he does, he's really good at it. Um, he, just, it was. It was horrendous through elementary school, okay, but somewhere in middle school he became in control of that and he had I will say he's mastered it. Okay, today was an exception. Okay, I'm going to have to fix that. But there was like the screaming fits Uh-huh, we got to get to school. That all happened all through Reagan Elementary.
Speaker 1:Okay, they'd see us pulling in on two wheels and I would still be preaching she's on wheels, preaching with my white knuckle why, if you just cannot? We got to meet the traffic and then somehow, when we got to Oakdale, he just took control. And maybe it was because he was in basketball and he had things Responsibilities yeah, okay, I think. And so he really shifted. Then, yes, and so he's really good.
Speaker 1:And so, um, his alarm. I don't know if he's growing used to it, but I think this morning he neither one of us heard his alarm this morning. Usually both of us do, but the the other thing that's tricky is my husband works for Walmart and so there's not as much flexibility. No, so as when my dad, my dad did pass away. He passed away in 2022 and you had Bill's farewell tour, and I had Bill's farewell tour, which is a whole other part. I have a hundred ways to celebrate. We celebrate a life, um, but I, I think there was a part of me that thought, well, should I get back into the back into a job, or should I just keep doing the McElroy group?
Speaker 1:And I felt doing the McElroy group, doing the McElroy group, and I felt like the McElroy group was that was your gift from your dad? Yeah, somewhat we didn't know. Yeah, we didn't know, but it was yeah, and the flexibility is only helping me juggle the boys' schedules. Does it make you a better wife and a better mom? I think it does. I think where I fall, though, is the structure. I think I'm like my youngest son. He loves structure. I do too.
Speaker 1:I think that the flexibility sometimes gets in my own way. Does it make you lazy? A little bit? Not lazy you have a pretend day off as a business owner. Do you ever really? But you know what I mean, right, and I haven't figured out how to do that yet and stick to it. I scheduled them right, but then I I feel like, oh well, they, this is the only day they have me right. Put it on the thing, yes, but I think it's um, how do I describe it? Like it's not lazy, it's like an organizer.
Speaker 1:Misuse of time, time management that's such a bad way to say that. Like I get lost. Classify my nap last week at the end of spring break as a misuse of time. Yes, and I've gotten to where I try to schedule a little nap. I think it's because now I'm 53. You can, and so sometimes I think I have to rest these muscles, yes, in order to finish. Okay, fair To the finish line. So they're power naps, but they work, do you think so? I think I'm dreading it. Two hours in a life. When are we going to bed? Is it time to retire for the evening? But I think that's where I wish I could get better is the weeks that I am structured and have everything laid out. I am killing it, crushing it.
Speaker 1:But you give me a two hour downtime and I am like in the pantry. If I'm home, I'm in the pantry, uh-huh, if I'm, I'm in the pantry, I'm scrolling the phone oh, I should have done this post. And then I create some kind of post and try to post, and and then I think, well, that wasn't, didn't even make sense compared to what I was posting yesterday. Right, all those things, right, um, so that's that's the thing. It give me a little bit of a downtime, it doesn't. And it's like, yes, and then it's like I just lost two hours. I was done if I had just laid that out. Or, yeah, that's where I wish I could get stronger.
Speaker 1:I don't want to be so scheduled that I'm rigid. I think I'm both. Yes, but I I think, when I actually map out and figure out those two hours, even if I plan to just zone for two hours, do you feel like you're rushing? Yeah, all the time, yes, always, always. And then I think what are you doing? Because you're flexible, I don't care, I've got deadlines, the kids have places to be, everything is 40 minutes. We live in a traffic cone. I'm like I am just in my road rage. It is just out of control.
Speaker 1:And we have a dear friend in common, sister lisa, who used to be with us at mercy yeah, um, and I was on my journey to become catholic years ago and I was talking about having to go to confession and she was like, oh, yeah, I had to do that. And I was like you're a sister, what could you possibly need to go to confession about? Like you're like Jesus, the Pope, monsignor Review, like we got lineage, you're good. She's like, oh, my road rage. And I was like, oh my God, I feel so great about this conversation Because you are an. I love her, she is, she has it, she has road rage, and I felt so connected. I was like, oh, that's great, I don't have road rage.
Speaker 1:You know what I do, that we are all supposed to work on. Ladies and gentlemen, we have to, like I end up thinking, if I just live five minutes early, oh for sure, this is as a me problem. Yes, why didn't I just do la, la, la and trying to work on this School dismissal gets out a little late. I'm like, come on now, y'all said three, like I'm still in car line 306. Like let's bust a move. And then I'm like that's it, that's a you problem.
Speaker 1:And play, for playing sports is the worst. When he practices over at four, uh-huh, it's never four, it's never four, and it's four third by your kids. So you're like the last ones out of the law sitting in the thing, because I think you know it ends at four or ish. I think coaches think ish, and then the lollygagging and the mine too are always the last. But anyway, that's the balance thing. I don't know if it's ever 100% achievable, but the weeks that I do well, it's because of something I do better, and that's I just. Yes, I can see that and why. I can't figure out how to do that every week.
Speaker 1:Is your husband a planner? He is, he is For work, for work, oh, okay, I think for home. He has to desensitize or rejuvenate. So he doesn't do the like when I'm convinced and I love my husband dearly, I'd rather fight with him any day than wake up next to anyone else. But he knows this. I'm sorry I threw you under the bus.
Speaker 1:It's like when he's done with work, it's like he turns into a toddler Go, no. I'm like no, I have a plan, let's go. He's like you're always at a rush and I'm like dude, this is the only way this boat floats. Yeah, our boat floats, because my husband's introverted so he doesn't want to go to all the things. I don't know if I've ever seen him. Yes, so I don't.
Speaker 1:We decided a long time ago it's easier on me if I can just go Right, do on me. If I can just go right, do my thing and see my people, yes, so, and then he's, you know, he says I've had so much people, let's try and people, people, that's me in December. I'm people doubt, he's people doubt, and so he needs more that uh, downtime. So he, he doesn't turn into a toddler. Now, if you give him a trip, he will plan the trip in your life. Now he's being the most amazing to be a girl. It's free.
Speaker 1:Oh, that is where his. I mean, he takes that, he has one thing, he feels that and he just turns it into magic. Like I didn't plan at work? Yes, didn't he a planner? Yeah, he's in events. Yes, yes, so like that's a skill, especially for the magnitude that Walmart house, yes, yes, so Wow, anyway, I don't know, we're a good match, we're great partnership. We're a good match. We get a little, you know, cheesy sometimes, but like it's okay. We just we've been best friends since college and so I think that's that's where that Big deal. We started out as friends. We started as friends and I had no idea he was the one. Uh-huh, anyway, dwayne.
Speaker 1:Dwayne is an awesome person and anyone will tell you he's the one, he's introverted. But if he ever is an event, you would want to sit by Dwayne because he's not going to say the thing for the whole table or the whole universe to hear, like his wife, yeah, he's going to just say, and then that little row that heard it will die. Yeah, they will. All the sides will hurt, they will laugh so hard. Um, because probably shouldn't sit next to you or me or even Dwayne and not. Sometimes he'll say it and I'll think, oh, my, my gosh, and then I'll repeat it. He was like I did not dream you were going to say it out loud. Yeah, didn't need a mic moment. I'm like that was so good. Yes, we got to share it. Yes, so he's very funny.
Speaker 1:Does he critique events? He does what I didn't realize for sure, because I do, and I don't know if it will ever years. Um, we'll you know he'll say things and I'll think I didn't know you were being than that. Oh for sure he is. But then I remember that's your job. Yes, so of course you're painting. Yes, yeah, oh, my gosh, have you been to events? He's organized, used to? Okay, they've changed things at work. So now outsiders, like I don't need to go to the meetings anymore, but like used to the family, they come to Saturday morning, really. And so Were you so impressed? I'm blown away and and share, I do get to go to sharehold, right, and I'm just blown away, like that's kind of cool, yeah, but I mean it's okay.
Speaker 1:And you used to play an event, yeah, right back in the day. What was it? Spring fling, spring flip. Okay, did he um, give you advice? He did. Did he did? Did you like it? Did you adhere to it. Usually I did Okay, but the times it was frustrating, he knew it was out of my hands. Oh, okay, it was an event issue, a venue issue or a sound issue. So what I'm hearing is you're more involved than me Because I'm like I hear your advice, but you're more involved than me because I'm like I hear your advice but you're not.
Speaker 1:And yes, it's, yes, type a control yes, but you know, so helpful, especially in the early days when he was in walmart television, you know, figuring out ways to video shoes, and that way he was more um technique in the technical part of production, and so he was able to give great ideas about which way the video should go to show the clients working and all that. So that's awesome. But then, event wise, like you know. So he was like I will go, we know the event for the next thing, I'll go so we could see what the audio and equipment should be. Okay, yeah, well, that had to be helpful with. Should be. Okay, yeah, well, that had to be helpful with spring playing. Yes, it was. He would do the PowerPoints, he would sit at the back and work with the sound people when it was at Embassy Suite, and once that happened.
Speaker 1:My life was a fairy'm so happy for you as a fairy tale because I didn't have to stress over that. He was in control and had it because he, you know, I love how these things happened. They're like little God winks along the way. Yes, yes, okay, tell me more about the McElroy Group, because we did work like ballads and I feel like that is highly interwoven. Yes, it is, and especially with nonprofits, because that's where my heart is and I think I was always going to be. Did you know? You loved that.
Speaker 1:I knew that I always cared about people and my whole life, my whole life, julie the cruise director, when the family, my mom and dad, divorced From Love Boat. Yes, oh, I didn't know. Yes, julie, I felt like I was supposed to keep everyone excited and happy, like, yes, mom and dad are getting a divorce, but everything will be okay because we still have our mom and dad. Yeah, you know, or let's do this at Christmas, it'll be special, you know, because we still celebrated together. Anyway, like I've always taken that on to, just how to make people feel is important to me, and I think it's because all the years, especially middle school, I learned how I felt okay. Um, when we went from a certain kind of car to a different kind of card and how I was treated, and when everything shifted and our status shifted.
Speaker 1:When you, when your parents, go through a divorce, sometimes things change, change, and I think it was like I had an aha moment, like I see, there are, there are levels of things, and I'm not in the level I used to be in, even though I did. It's why I understand it. Yeah, that's a young age and I told myself at that very moment I won't be a person that ever treats anyone like they're in a different category, and it was all in back in the back of my mind, but I have that it started then. It's really young for that big of a selection, yes, and so there were people and I I think all my high school friends would say that I didn't just run with one group. I was. We had a very small class, but I tried to. I was friends with everybody, right, and which will lead to some of our next discussion Absolutely, but it's about how you make people feel it is, and I just wanted them to never feel some of the things I felt when I caught on to oh, we don't drive an Audi anymore.
Speaker 1:Did you have those conversations with the boys? I have just like did you have the hard conversation? I have not had to have the hard conversations, but there's something about boys uh, my two especially the looking people in the eye, and I noticed when people would greet them at it, like when you're at a door, like at child care, and you're everybody's getting there for the day and you're that we're all rushing crazy. I would notice there were some moms that was you know, and they would just be like that deer in the headlights and then they're so like I think I've mostly talked to me, be sure, and look people in the eye. It's never, it's never a bad idea to just smile at someone. Never, uh, and always hold the door if you can.
Speaker 1:Yes, um, it wasn't about chivalry. It's like all these little things make people feel good and you want them to feel like you acknowledge their presence. You know, and you know I probably did it way to a fault. They're boys. I don't think I have to worry about and going way over bored on the over thinking that, but I really do try to make them like acknowledge me. I feel like go down. I don't we don't have girls right, but everyone says the mean girl stigma which I get, I see we've all seen it.
Speaker 1:But I do feel like, while child rearing boys might be a smidge easier in that sense I'm like, looked, my oldest just switched from private to public this year, so we've navigated, seeing a lot of different things and groups and popular kids and not popular, just all the things right. And it's been very interesting to watch it because I grew up with it, I was public my whole life and so I've watched it just develop and I'm like just just go in and smile, yeah, just you just don't know what you're going to be faced with, or or who's going to say what. There's been a lot of talk of who makes what, who's building what and all these things at his school and I'm like and it's highly irrelevant in eighth grade just smile right to your point. So I do feel like even though I say that I contradict her myself but I do feel like rearing boys has been a smidge easier than what I envisioned rearing girls in that same stage and I do think God knew for me that probably I needed boys. Oh, that's good. No, him and I are going to have a big chat when I get on there, of like I really wanted a girl, like I was given two beautiful, healthy boys. So thank you, and I, I think I knew what he was doing, because I don't think I had a. I don't think I would have had a clue if I'd had a.
Speaker 1:No, but, and I didn't know that, I didn't know that when I was pregnant, I, just after I, my best friend, had two girls and my two of my best friends had two girls. And so I get here you are with the boys. Yes, I get to live out all that, okay, but but I think, seeing what they were, they've gone through or things, the hindsight. But I'm telling you right now, I wanted to be in the trenches, like I would still take like the bows and the bloomers and the hair. Yes, I really yes, and that still do, but that's okay, like you know, I think I've told you, I know we've said this at one of those early morning meetings we probably had to be at.
Speaker 1:Like Cooper's hair, I don't think I ever brushed it like I did. I let he went to school and no one cares, yes, and I learned to not care. Oh, I'm still working on that, but, yes, you tell me about that. Think about the mornings we would have had to been braiding the hair, but I know you're right, and then we'd have to redo it. Yes, yeah, it's so like they're dressed and no, they didn't even match today. Oh, see, that stresses me out. But see, I'm having to, like, attempt to let go, ish yeah, ish yeah, because he's not in it. The oldest isn't in a uniform anymore and I'm like, oh, why do we think that matches? He's like it's fine. I'm like, but is it? Yeah, I just, I've learned to, and both of mine do their own laundry. Oh, see again. Yeah, no other by half. Yeah, they're not there yet. Obviously he doesn't like himself. So I, I'm clearly not. Barrett has his laundry day, like he does his on Sundays, and do we sort? No, I just say, throw it all in there, you're fine. But again, this leads to your work life balance with the McElroy group. He got off that the McElroy group. So all the, all the McElroy group does, it's just me, I'm the group, I know, I love it. Um, I just, but you have a village behind you.
Speaker 1:When I started at Open Avenues I, you know, didn't know one thing about fundraising for non-profits. I didn't know anything about non-profits. I didn't know anything about real grown-up adulting. Oh sad. I was just flying under Rogers newlywed, thinking this is where we're gonna live, this is great, and I don't know what I'm gonna do. It's all gonna work itself out. It'll figure itself out In relationship.
Speaker 1:I met the executive director of Open Avenue, who's through my husband, and she wasn't thinking me at all. I wasn't, you know. She said tell me where she worked. And we took a tour of it and she was going to help us find where we should live. I was here for like a weekend. We find a place from where. Where were we coming out? Jonesboro? Okay, I can't believe I haven't said jonesboro at Arkansas State, red Wolves yet Wolves up.
Speaker 1:Anyway. She just like nonchalantly says you know, our organization is thinking about hiring a person to be a cheerleader and do like public relations and you know fundraising and fundraisers and awareness. And I thought, huh, and she thought, yeah, I don't know how this is going to go. Anyway, fast forward, wedding happens, I move here. And I said is that still happening? She said, said, yeah, they're really thinking about doing that. So I thought my palms with me right now, let's go.
Speaker 1:This thing looks like me, even though I went to school to be a radio, television or a television news anchor, which is perfect for this. Uh-huh, yeah, that's what I really wanted to do. But that's what that's how duane and I met. He was in his job, working hard, but to get there, I saw what all he had to do and for a newlywed and a new fan, like a new relationship, like that I thought I can't be working overnights for two dollars an hour or whatever, and then ships that pass, you know him, go to work in them, and I just thought I still think I can go that route right now, that's, and I just moved here, I don't even, and so but I thought that sounds like me and what a great organization like.
Speaker 1:When I toured it and saw these adults with different abilities doing all these different things and I thought I hadn't even thought of people that were different from me, that weren't going the same path, and what they, their families, would do after high school. And no, it didn't bother me until I took a tour. So it just I was like this is the most amazing organization ever, so I knew I could be a cheerleader for it. So I started learning myself, started the Maguroy group thinking if I could just help. You know some organizations with that shoestring budget. We did not have a budget for my position, nothing. I sat every month and waited to see if the board voted to keep me or not. That's how this was stressful. This was 1995. Only people that had development departments were universities and hospitals. Okay, that makes sense. So the small organizations around here hadn't started that.
Speaker 1:It was a mentor that that board had that said this is going to be the wave of the future. And if y'all want to be ahead, is that mentor still around? He is, Okay, he is. His name is Jeff Hutton. Oh, I know that name, you do, Because Renee is his wife. Yes, you're a single parent.
Speaker 1:He told that board this is what you need to do, and he was my mentor that first six months or a year telling me you need to do this, you need to get an AFP, you need to get on committees at the chamber, you need to be in Rotary and you need to do this. And he told them this is all going to cost money, but you have to spend money to make money. And so he just kept telling them to hang in there, and then they had, I guess the majority of the board said we need to stick with it. If we quit now, we're never going to get back here. So that's how that all got started and I just I thought the McElroy group can be, I can be that person to say we had nothing, yes, and there's here's little ways you can do it.
Speaker 1:But the thing that I, with nothing, with nothing, like you know, I would sit next to the University of Arkansas at a training and maybe that day I definitely needed every educational session. But if there was an educational session that I did not think the title matched or whatever I went, I went to everything I was supposed to go to. Because when you get seated next to a Sandy Edwards or a Joe Ucolano from the university and you get to say, yeah, we're struggling with, and they said, oh goodness, yeah, we have a marketing department. But you could just, yes, and you leave that day and think, oh my goodness, and you go back and you figure it out. You can do it. No budget, no extra help it. And I thought that's the beauty of going to everything. So that's another lesson, ladies and gentlemen connection if you don't ever stop learning, never stop learning if you think the topic is not your topic. Don't skip the thing. Go to get to be by the people, and that's the same with rotary or anything you're involved in. Be completely plugged in. Yes, so, um, I started it.
Speaker 1:I help non-profits from everything from board training, strategic planning, um, one-on-one coaching, which is my favorite. Well, uh, amazing on it, because you're just a cheerleader, I just internally cut out all the hard stuff. Yes, don't show me a strategic plan with pie charts. Yes, great businesses make everything real hard. How can you get this done and which day can you do it? Yes, and is it a re? Is it realistic or unrealistic? Do we really need to circle back? Yes, I think we do. No, let's just handle it right now. Let's just do it right now. Yeah, is this a five year thing or a two-year thing? If it's two-year, does it fit in 2027 or 2026? I know right, I'm like I've never been good at math. What year? It is never good being good at math, but anyway, that's.
Speaker 1:Macward group helps non-profits and we try to do that. We, I try to do that in the most, uh, cheerleading, understanding way I can, uh, to help them see the full potential and my, my biggest client right now, which I have matched up with 3w, is the yeah, the rogers historical museum foundation and which? Did you all know that there's a museum in downtown rogers? You probably did, but have you really been, I don't know. But now allison is like bringing them to the market. I feel like they've been there. Thanks, they've been there. It is an award-winning, accredited museum in downtown Rogers, the Rogers. People know about it, but lots has happened in Rogers, so if you have not been to the museum, you've got to go. And several years ago they remodeled the Haley Building and so there's just so much to see. There's the Hawkins House, the Key Wing and the Haley Building, all downtown Rogers by Las Palmas.
Speaker 1:But they started a foundation which is completely separate, to secure the future. Honestly, the motto of the foundation is to preserve the past, support the present and secure the future of the museum. So, promote the past, no, preserve the past, promote the future, okay, no, promote the present. There's something in the middle. Okay, promote the present, secure the future, okay. No, promote the present in the middle, okay, yeah, yeah, promote the present, secure the future, uh huh, got it okay. So it's like yeah, you just had an event, yes, a couple weeks ago. There's a new exhibit and we just had a kickoff party for that and it's about alcohol in the ozarks and you don't want to miss it. So it's about prohibition how things got started in this area like moonshine, whatever you want to learn about history of alcohol in prohibition how things got started in this area like moonshine, whatever you want to learn about history of alcohol in the Ozarks.
Speaker 1:But you had to be a member. Yeah, right to attend. Yes, you did. But a membership is only, oh yeah, $35. That's $20 for an individual. Oh, okay, like it's a deal, yes, and $30 for your family okay. And then there's several other levels. Definitely want to be a friend of the museum. So that's my current client right now, and here's the reason I am loving working with them. There is so much potential, like the museum is. There are so many. You have just like, totally changed right now the last 30 seconds, like you're just being me. It's easier to talk about someone else yourself, yes, but there's the. The museum is a wonderful place and there's so much potential to support it and that foundation. I'm enjoying working with them, showing them that people, once they are aware and connected and are a part, they will support that museum.
Speaker 1:What's your favorite artifact at the museum? Oh goodness, I assume it has artifacts. I will throw myself right under the bus. Okay, not been in it, I'm a little, but you've held some events and I'm like real frustrated I haven't been able to go. I the the one that I'm most partial to is there's a Rotary. Oh, because you are a big Rotarian and past president, right, yes, and our club was started in 1917. Okay, and so the Rotary Club was the chamber before the chamber. Oh, your specific club. Oh, that's a big deal. Yes, so we have an exhibit at the museum talking about those years and then honoring Dick Daniel, who was the president of the state. Yes, and is that the award that is given out every summer? Now? Okay, okay, yep, so I'm partial to that exhibit.
Speaker 1:But, like there's an old jail cell, there's an old stagecoach, it's a great place to take your kids. And what is it physically in? Is this like a former? It's an old building that's been redone and it has a glass brick wall, right, right, I can recall. Does the building hold significance? I think it was like a car dealership, okay, but I think it also had tractors too, because somebody talked about going there to climb on their uncle's tractor, okay. But then it was the Morning News. Oh, wow, the newspaper building Okay, so that's probably what a lot of you will remember is the Morning News was on 2nd Street, that is the Haley building, and now it is a museum, and so you just had an event a couple weeks ago because of the new exhibit. Yes, it's called Last Call. Oh, that's cute, that's fantastic. Last Call, yeah, do you have more planned for 24? Yes, now, the museum website has a ton of activity. The foundation is the fundraising site, right, and they have their fundraiser in september.
Speaker 1:Okay, and it is a tasting. I was gonna say I feel like it was a bourbon, or, yeah, it's called something historical spirits, something around an apple uh-huh, last year was apple blossom, okay, or apple brandy apple brandy, yes, okay, it was the apple blossom festival. Okay, used to be in rogers. This year it'll probably be like a bourbon, uh, whiskey, we're not sure yet, but it's a. It's called historical spirit. So it'll be some sort of spirit, and does it take place in october? To kind of go with the spirit, like, um, spirit and spirit? Well, I thought that I can't remember, but it's in september. Okay, I lied, I'm sorry I should know these't remember, but it's in September. Okay, I lied, I'm sorry I should know these, but it's in September and it's really more about historical. So we'll have a mixologist from Siloam Springs Her name she came last year. Her name is Angela Bolt and she comes up with the concoctions and then tells the history of like, like.
Speaker 1:I'm hoping we're going to get a whole thing about prohibition and what kinds. Will the exhibits still be there? Yes, please, if it goes all the way to November, oh, ok, fantastic, yeah, and it happens there. Are you getting? No, it doesn't, it doesn't, it doesn't, it doesn't. We have because the foundation separate from the museum. We try to have our events separate, but the preview party was to kick off the and it was in the museum. It was in the museum, yes, and there's not enough space for all of it. It's small. So we're thinking about having it at the farm, which is a new venue. It's a new venue Over there.
Speaker 1:Another nonprofit you're involved with? Had an event there, yes, yes. Where involved with? Had an event there? Yes, yes, yes. Where, say, health foundation? Yes, when we went with a mission. That'll be another podcast. Maybe we should have a podcast with just several members. We all talk about that shit is. That's another one of my favorite things. Yes, I do have a passion for that, yeah. And then one more passion is the children's advocacy center. You're on the boards in little rock, yes, right, or yes, state, yes. Children's advocacy centers of arkansas? Okay, and I'm very the boards in Little Rock, yes, right, yes, state, yes, children's Advocacy Centers of Arkansas, okay, and I'm very passionate about that.
Speaker 1:We have, we are so blessed in northwest Arkansas. We have two centers, one in Washington County, one in Benton County, and both our dear friends. Elizabeth Shackelford is the names director at Washington County. Natalie Tibbs is, uh, in Bend County. Yes, they're different names, but and I know we're in this whole thing about collaboration and they are collaborating, they do collaborate. They all fall under the umbrella, but they're they both right, yes, yes, they can't merge because the law enforcement down there, the law enforcement down there, the law enforcement up here, there are too many kids, which is a sad thing, but we need all hands on deck there. It's not a, it's not an idea that they could just merge and and be one. Oh, that's good. I never knew that we need both locations, because Washington County deputies, benton County deputies, but also, but also they serve like Washington County and a little south. Benton County does west and north, so we need both centers.
Speaker 1:But I look forward to the day it's all gone I do too and you don't sit on that board anymore, because it doesn't exist and the awareness of it all has been so such a uh, enlightening for me, although heartbreaking. But didn't you join it on a whim, kind of well, I ish, it was, it's an interesting story. I was just asked would you consider it? And I thought, well, yeah, I'm, I'm got this whole new thing, I I should have time to be able to go to Little Rock now. And so I interviewed for the position, the board position, and, and the more I learned, the more I thought people need to know such a complicated, heartbreaking, heart-wrenching, terrible, awful, formal thing to what these centers do is so positive and so, so, so many resources for so many families and children who've been through the worst thing they could possibly imagine to get to go to a place where the child isn't put through anything extra than the trauma they've already gone through. One-stop shop. One-stop shop, their interview, their exam, their therapy, their recovery, their families are helped and served supplies, that they might need, groceries, whatever. It's all there at the center and it's all and and made on a child's level so they never feel like more intimidation. Or, and the whole thing is because they used to go from the police to the hospital and the story then gets changed, or they, they start thinking that maybe they shouldn't have said anything, or this is the way. And if more people understood that. And the whole goal for the state is to make sure that there is a center 30 miles from every child.
Speaker 1:Oh, ok, yes, I was going to bring it back to that. Like, you sit on it at a state level, and so the state level operates differently than the local center, right? So it's like it's called the state chapter, differently than the local centers, right, so it's like it's called the state chapter. And so we are the support, the mothership, to help assist each center in arkansas, um, with their, you know, trying to find their funding, um, trying to learn that. We, there's, we try to help them with their fundraising or teach them how to fundraise. Um, do you know anyone that can help with that? I do, okay, good, yeah. And so I asked Clark, oh, another one of our friends, clark Ellison with Mercy, but yes, so they're there for all the legal stuff, bills, the legislative stuff, all of that. That's where the state chapter is so helpful to help with.
Speaker 1:Have you witnessed any of that stuff on the floor? Not on the floor, okay, no, but there have been a couple of times we have all been at the ready on our Zoom, waiting to know who we need to email or what we need to say or who how we you know, do we need to vote to do this? Is this bad? Or what do we need to tell people? We've we've been. The board members have been at the ready with the main people there on the floor. And how many of you board members are here in Northwest Arkansas Right now? We're working on this? Okay, we've got me and Clark Ellison and Susan Hutchinson. Okay, stephanie Morris, we've got four from up here right now, which is not normally we want. We don't want that many.
Speaker 1:From one part, I'm like that sounds like a big number for our small corner. Covid kind of messed up our board terms and we smoothed them, and you know so, because we lost Right. But Susan and I roll off, uh, this summer. Okay, because you've been on it for a few years and I'm not sure when, stephanie, but anyway we're and we've got a nominating meeting, yes, yes, because we need to figure out so we can get, uh, some some new faces from other parts of the state. Okay, that's got to be challenging. It is Because you're like, I don't know anyone in Timbuktu County, like I did get lucky because Jonesboro is.
Speaker 1:You know, that's where I was born and raised, so they needed somebody with financial. Oh, my friend, tammy, yes, she's a CPA in Jonesboro. Okay, tammy, so Tammy, and now we get to see each other and love fantastic and serve together and that's been, that's been so awesome. Oh, so, every girl, my, my, one of my best friends from high school, and now we get to be on the board together. I love this just because she's full circle, full circle just because of where she lives, just because of where she lives and and the fact that the education yes, cpa that one helps, yeah, so I love this. That's, that's my board service and in.
Speaker 1:You know I'm passionate about afp. We could go on and on about all the things I'm passionate about, but I know we could well, you have, but I, learning to say no is something that I've gotten better at still don't have it mastered. I don't have it mastered and I'm okay with that, because I've gone from like I always say yes. I don't want to say no to people just hammering on me of like you've got to say no, you got to say no, and I'm like and it yes. But don't say no just for the sake of saying no, of like everyone's telling me I need to say no.
Speaker 1:I am very proud to be a yes person. I do know my limits and I do shut down and my family does get the repercussions of that, but, um, I want people to know they can always come to me. I want to be that open door and I want to hug you and I want to try and solve the problems for you and I want to be a yes, I want to be that person that knows the thing or can connect you to the person, or I. I have to be your doctor, yes, and I don't know why I do that, but I do. Yeah, I want to.
Speaker 1:I'm not doing it on the ground. I want to be the person that says when you, you have a C-section, stand right on the way. I want to be that person. I am that person because you made me that person, but I want to be the dot connector. I don't want to be the boots on the ground doing the work at the CAC, for example. I don't have the mental wherewithal to be able to do that.
Speaker 1:Another one of our dear friends who will see soon, linda Phillips with the Children's Shelter, when she makes me have to have a meeting out there, I am the crankiest human I'm like I will raise money for you. Don't make me come out here. You all do amazing. I'm just not a boot. Everyone has another place right. I'm not a boots on the ground person. I'm a hugger and a dot connector and I will find a way to make you some money. I'll try to make myself some money and you some money too. Oh, we got to monetize it because without that, the bills are not paid.
Speaker 1:Exactly, allison, you were my first guest. Thank you so much. I could cry because this was so easy, so easy, and I hope it wasn't boring for everyone out there. The regret is that I didn't know we were going to be on camera. I heard podcasts so I wore jeans, but you look cute. But I wanted to look, you know, fresh and springy on this 40 degree day and we blend. Yes, we do. I mean I kind of am like a. It's probably like a green screen for me, like I'm just a bobbling head at this point, but thank you so much for saying yes. Thank you for saying yes, and I hope I get to come back again. You will absolutely get to come back, or maybe I'll start my own and you'll be my first guest. How fun would that be. I know some really great people at podcastvideoscom that can help you. So that's all we have for today, but thank you so much. Remember, 3w stands for the who, what, where, and we are always inspiring a culture of giving.