ThinkTech Report to Underwriters – December 2024
Greetings to our ThinkTech Underwriters:
A year like no other – for our world and our country and for ThinkTech. Despite so many tragedies and stressful outcomes, we end the year hoping for better times. Thank you for joining us in this journey as we share our 2024 highlights with you.
Headlines
Our major restructuring in the spring reshaped ThinkTech to a trimmer, tighter video media platform. The good news is that we thrive without the expense of a downtown studio and production staff. We have promoted our Legacy Archives to various institutions, though our progress has been slower than we had hoped.
Hosts/Shows/Content
We produce some eight quality talk shows every week covering news and events affecting Hawaii and the country. We’ve also produced a number of long form shows, including a special Elections 2024 series with Gov. John Waihe’e (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQpkwcNJny6kmNWzLuJwpQWywy4uAK2F_), and our community law seminars with Bob Toyofuku of Hawaii Advocates.
Our social media presence is expanding. Our YouTube subscriptions have been growing and now exceed 20,000. We promote on TikTok and Instagram and have recently started a ThinkTech podcast series on Substack.com.
We’ve continued our Daily Email Advisories promoting our latest shows, news and commentaries in a new format that is popular for its style and graphics. Our site is alive with links to our legacy shows, photos and more. thinktechhawaii.com
Attached is a list of the shows we’ve produced in 2024. Also attached is a list of the hosts and guests who have appeared in those shows.
Production and Equipment
Our production facility now operates out of Jay Fidell’s home studio, where he connects with hosts and guests in Hawaii and elsewhere. We are using a variety of AI applications to assist in our productions, our engineering, our video editing, our website development and the creation of our Daily Email Advisories. We are more efficient and creative in our lighter hardware and our use of AI software.
Staff and Directors
Our hosts and guests volunteer their time and expertise on a variety of issues and events in Hawaii and beyond. They remain enthusiastic in their participation on our platform. Carol and Jay continue as volunteer managers and Maria Sabio Padilla is our part-time administrative manager. We benefit from volunteers who help with social media. Our three person Board of Directors meets twice a year.
Fundraising/Underwriters/Grants
We are so appreciative of the underwriters who have continued to contribute to us in 2024. You are the main source of our financial support! We conducted a 2024 Fund Drive in October and are pleased to report that we exceeded our $15,000 goal. In addition, we have applied for further grants from the Atherton Foundation and the Sidney Stern Memorial Trust, and we await hearing from them. We have trimmed our budget by 50% since last year, and hope to continue that process.
In Closing
We close the year with abiding concerns about democracy and security here and around the world. We are determined to inform and help our viewers understand the changes that are taking place and that are likely to affect us.
We deeply appreciate your support. It enables us to carry out this mission, which is all the more important in today’s world. We hope that you will continue your annual support now at year’s end or, if you prefer, the beginning of next year.
If you have questions about what we are doing or planning, please let us know. After all, you are our best friends and supporters, and you make what we do possible.
Best,
Jay Fidell / Carol Mon Lee
thinktechhawaii.com
youtube.com/thinktechhawaii
(808) 780-9254