One of the key attributes of a leader, particularly in Alpha, is his acumen when it comes to new streams of revenue acquisition, fundraising, fiscal management, and resource allocation. In Alpha Phi Alpha, and in the Eastern Region, we have had our share of issues in these areas. These issues encompass the following as a sampling: 1. Financial losses on District, Regional and General Conventions; 2. Lack of new and consistent revenue generation through fundraising and other means; 3. Chapters struggling to acquire the knowledge needed to grow and sustain their financial base; and 4. Funds not being allocated in a manner that ensures that our Brothers and our mission are top priority.
As your next Eastern Region Vice President (ERVP), I will address these issues head-on. My record is clear with respect to financial management as a leader:
As the President of the Beta Sigma Lambda Chapter, I led new revenue efforts that generated over $125,000 over 6 years, through small local businesses and large corporate sponsorships via a new fundraiser called the Hartford Step Classic & Health Expo.
As the District Director for ONECA, I led the increase of the district’s assets by 500%, and we never lost money on a District Conference.
As the Executive Director for the Eastern Region, I led the process to ensure that we did not lose money on a regional convention for 4 years in a row. In fact, we generated surpluses.
As the next ERVP, I will use those same approaches and assemble a team of experts in these areas to ensure that we bring about those same positive financial results for the region, and more. Key parts of my plan include the following:
- Conduct an Eastern Region Cost Study to understand where we are spending money unnecessarily and how those funds can be better leveraged to help all of our Chapters and Brothers who are in crisis, with a focus on our College Brothers and Brothers who have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
- Ensure that the Regional Convention planning team always has a cost management lead and controller to ensure that we always have a surplus, and work to control the costs in accordance with our Eastern Region Convention Restructuring Plan, of attending the conventions for Brothers and chapters.
- Establish a committee, in line with our Eastern Region Support Network, to work with chapters to generate new and consistent revenue in a COVID-19 world.
Brothers, I am the ONLY candidate with a plan to strengthen the finances of the Eastern Region and its chapters – now. I implore you to ask us all the hard questions about our records; and I have the receipts. Don’t just take what a candidate says at face value. Ask the deeper questions to understand the financial details. That is the only way we can all be armed with the information we need to make intelligent decisions now, and not have buyer’s remorse later.
As I will continue to reinforce; my campaign slogan is not just empty rhetoric – it is the embodiment of who we should be as a Region and as a Fraternity. One Bond. One Brotherhood. Advancing As ONE.
This is NOT a popularity contest. This is a call to action. I want to earn your votes, so that we, together, can make this vision a reality.
Please follow the Campaign on social media at “AdvancingAsOne1906,” and please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at steve@advancingasone.com and/or 860-558-5118.
With One Heart. One Vision. One Spirit. We will Advance As ONE!
