I'm running for national office....
 

OMG WTF????

But I think most of you knew that already.

If you would like to help out with my campaign, here is what you can do:

1) *like* my facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/RashidDardenforProgramDirector

2) Read through my platform and cosign on the parts you agree with or can attest to.

3) Invite your friends to also *like* the page.


So yeah, that's it...... you all know me. You know I'm a humdinger. And I think you know that's what we need.

Thankies!

What possible solutions do you have in mind for expanding community presence?

The first solution is to create the system by which we solve the problem. A proper system for addressing the problem would involve surveys to all possible constituents (students, alumni volunteers, alumni associations, and regular alumni who just get the emails), focus groups, strategic conversations, and other tools and tactics to analyze the problem in the first place.

But I wouldn't spend two years just deciding IF community presence needs to be expanded -- we already know that it does. We've just got to make sure that no group in the fraternity is left out as we work to identify the complexities of the challenge and the intricacies of the solution.

That said, without surveying everyone, these are some ideas I have to elevate our presence in communities:

--- Engage alumni associations in a national program of service which effectively brands the post-college APO experience.

--- Truly invest in our national partnerships so that they are worthwhile to us and the partner.

--- Reclaim and re-engage our notable alumni (including honoraries) in high-level campaigns to promote service. Bill Clinton, Michelle Obama, Melody Barnes, etc.

--- Use technology and new media (including rebuilding our website) to accurately reflect who we are and our ambition to serve the community.

Basically, I feel as though if we are a service fraternity, we need to be about service first. Do service, look service, share service.... we do that WELL with our students, but we can't keep giving them the lion's share of the work without doing our part as a national board of directors, national office, alumni associations, and just plain regular alumni.

And just to add -- I wouldn't rule out new national partnerships either, but I definitely think we need to strengthen the ones we have first.

It occurs at the National Convention, which is December 27-30 in Atlanta. :)

Best of luck, Sen!

Good luck to you!

Thank you!

Best of luck Sen!!!

I do have a question for you. Are you after any position in particular, or it doesn't matter which program director you get?

Thanks!

As you may know, in Alpha Phi Omega the Program Director position is elected at-large. The President of the fraternity then appoints the program directors to one of five existing program areas as well as a sixth one that he or she creates.

I decided to run for a PD position when I decided that my skills and knowledge allowed me to perform the tasks of any of those program areas.

Alumni Relations and Internal Volunteer Development: Plenty of alumni relations leadership and years of service as a volunteer; plus experience training volunteers.

Finance and Operations: Experience developing a budget with an emphasis on revenue generation; attention to the ethics involved in being on a board of directors by working directly with several as an employee.

Leadership Development: Participation in APO LEADS; I also have a keen eye for evaluation and assessment.

Membership and Extension: I've served on a national task force related to membership issues and I have been sponsor to one successful extension effort and one that was not successful.

Service: I've been instrumental in linking Alpha Phi Omega chapters with local service partners. I've also drafted legislation to (hopefully) make HIV/AIDS a national program of emphasis for 2011-12 in conjunction with the White House national HIV strategy. I also view this position as needed a keen eye for evaluation and assessment to use our hard service stats to promote our national impact.

I could rank those five. But I won't :)

*like

Best wishes, Sen!

Thank you so much! :)

Best of luck! You know I am pulling for you. :D

^^^ Thank you! I had a few really encouraging conversations with some brothers tonight and I am terribly excited for this convention :)