1. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Growth Stages of F.R.E.E. and wisdom gained along the way! Embryonic and Birth Stage Innocent Stage Adolescent and Teen Stage Lean Stage middle age Stage Retirement Stage

2. How F.R.E.E. Started Embryonic through Birth Stage In the beginning…..  Embryonic Stage – the Problem identified “People who didn’t have the appropriate medical mobility equipment weren’t getting better in fact, some getting worse.”  Brainstorming a solution for this problem

3. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org The Birth of F.R.E.E. – A solution determined  1999 – FREE was established and mission determined  Received first abundant funding source to serve the mission

4. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Sponge – trying to soak up as much as we can on how to operate a nonprofit organization Innocent Mistakes - Started out purchasing Equipment, not reusing Security - only serving our local community Exploring other regions – knowing there is a need for our service but secure staying in familiar environment/location The look The look = one local Chapter getting started/learning the ropes. Too young to have made mistakes to learn from! The Innocent Stage

5. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Ready to spread our wings – not real sure how to go about it – but ready to take the risk Adolescent and Teen Stage No experience to use as a guide but Expansion looks great on paper! The look = successful locally, Now spreading regionally. Fast growth!

6. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Lessons Learned Lessons Learned Corporate F.R.E.E. needed more limits on financial accessibility – determine who needs access to bank account Parent chapter needed to have more control – too trusting that Chapters were doing things under the umbrella of what was defined as F.R.E.E. but found out not true

7. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org “Ramon Noodle Twenties” Bare-Bones Budget Developed Chapter Manual for Replication of the F.R.E.E. Model in Roanoke Cultivating “life-long” partnerships The Look = Too much, too fast. Dealing with successes and failures simultaneously. Taking a step back to evaluate and learn from it all. The Lean Stage

8. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Lessons Learned Lessons Learned Needs to be a clear definition of roles and accountability between corporate and chapters Need medical community support and participation to succeed. Need to more thoroughly research prospective Chapter community

9. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Much wiser from many “learning experiences” Feasibility Study conducted by professional Now more a “parental” role for the “Parent Organization” Trying to find a balance between letting Chapters define themselves while still following the parent’s rules. The Look The Look = Statewide presence through strategic partnerships The Middle Age Stage

10. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Lessons Learned Lessons Learned More involvement needed at Chapter level Cannot run on volunteers alone Not a cookie cutter model – Need flexibility every chapter is different in personalities, demographics – it’s all in the approach! Chapters are always changing as well and also at various stages of growth

11. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org Age of Wisdom - Visionary Still growing, changing, adapting, but in a much wiser way More “been there, done that” moments Doesn’t sweat the small stuff – Sees the big picture The Look = Long term success on a large scale The Retirement Stage

12. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org BIG Lessons Learned Failing to plan really does mean planning to fail! The more we grow, the more we learn Prioritize ‘To-do’ list by always asking yourself, “Is this helping us to further our mission?”

13. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org MORE Lessons Learned along the way…… NO RUSH! Taking time to do things right in the beginning, saves lots of headaches later Update your Strategic Plan regularly and make it working document! Develop and cultivate meaningful Partnerships!

14. ATIA Chicago AT Reuse Strand www.passitoncenter.org sonja@free-foundation.org www.free-foundation.org Sonja Schaible, Executive Director Sonja Schaible, Executive Director “Like” us on “Like” us on at “F.R.E.E. Foundation of Virginia” at “F.R.E.E. Foundation of Virginia”