Colin Curtis

I am very excited to announce that my candidate Kristin Aschenbrenner was elected to be the new Young Democrats of America State President Association Chair and Jake Weissmann was elected to be the new Young Democrats of America State President Association Secretary! In a landslide victory! Congrats!

I'm also fairly excited to win the first campaign I have run in YDA!

SPA needs to function for two purposes:

1. A resource: whether it is a formal training, or a conversation on the SPA list serve, we need a safe place to talk, discuss, problem solve, and learn.

2. A way to form a collective voice and send our message to the e-board.

Kristin and Jake's Platform:

1. We need a central resource center. A location where we store information and where we talk. Right now we utilize various modes of group communication. While these are all really great, we need to make sure pertinent info gets out to ALL presidents. We will have either a section on the YDA website or our own website that will serve as a hub, and will build the list serve so that all current presidents and only current presidents are on it. This will insure that all the correct and current information is being received by all states.

2. Communication needs to be increased, clear, and consistent. As State Presidents, we need to know what is happening on the national level, and what is coming up. In addition to updates as necessary, I plan to send out a monthly bulletin with pertinent information and upcoming events.

3. Quarterly conference calls that feature training. In talking with many of you, quarterly seems doable. It will allow trainings to be specific, focused, and relevant. Training topics both at meetings and on calls will be determined by a survey I will send out quarterly.

4. Developing states. I will work with our leadership team to build a manual for new state presidents and develop a resource list of people within our organization you can contact for specific topics whether it be chapter building, campaigning, issue advocacy, parliamentary procedure, etc.

5. Unity. The person sitting on the executive committee needs to be a voice for ALL of SPA. That means that each of us needs the opportunity to weigh in and be heard.

6. SPA needs to function in an orderly way. I am fully in support of electing a parliamentarian, and having an agenda for our meetings. Having a basic structure makes an organization function the way it should.

7. As a leader, I believe in a shared leadership style. I’m not an expert on everything and I don’t intend to be. When I can be a more effective leader by letting someone else lead a project, training, etc. I will. Through joint leadership we stand to accomplish the most. The first step in this is building a strong leadership team, which is why Jake Weissmann, candidate for secretary, and I are running as a ticket. 

Kristin!

Jake!