RALPH JOHNSON FOR 2009-2011 YDA STATE PRESIDENTS’

ASSOCIATION CHAIR 2009-2011

CANDIDATE

PLATFORM

My Candidacy Dear Fellow State Presidents,

Over the last few years, I have had the distinct honor and privilege of having served in various positions

on a local, state, and national level for various Democratic organizations. I have worked with numerous

campaigns and volunteered at many Democratic events. As a past local Chapter Leader, I know what

support and resources are needed in order to be successful. As a past State Finance Director for

College Democrats of Louisiana, I know what it means to wonder how to fund the next program or

conference. As a past National Parliamentarian and National Rules & Bylaws Chair for College

Democrats of America, I know what it means to represent your best interests and work within guidelines.

As a past President of the Louisiana Federation of College Democrats and currently as State President

of Young Democrats of Louisiana, I know what it is like to build on an organization’s existing foundations

and build organizations from the ground up. I know what struggles we have on a daily basis and I have

an idea about what tools and resources we need to be even more successful as leaders.

As new leadership takes the reins of YDA on every level, we must realize that the strength of our states,

region, and national organization lies in our individual members, but our individual rely on us, as State

Presidents, to provide the leadership they need to flourish and to build great foundations on which they

can build. My hopes for our party and our organization are stronger than ever and I know that we have

lots of work to do to get where we want to be – in our States, in YDA, and in the Democratic Party. With

these hopes, goals, and determination, I ask for your support to become the next Chair of the State

Presidents’ Association.

Our states have so much promise and in many cases we just need a little nudge whether through

training, funding, or just an idea from one of our counterparts to have the next greatest program in our

state. We as presidents work to grow our membership and develop leadership every day, but sometimes

we need just a little help. We must use technology and resources to get our message out and dialogue

with our community. We must set goals and actively work together to accomplish them. We must be

visible and vocal national and statewide educating other leaders and members on our principles,

initiatives, programs, and platform. We must build a strong coalition and lasting friendships within our

association and otherwise; sharing our successes and failures, learning from our mistakes, and looking

ahead to the future.

I am excited, motivated, encouraged and optimistic about the next two years as a member of SPA and

working with all of you—the phone calls, text and instant messages, and visits are some of my best

experiences in YDA. You truly inspire me with everything that you do in your states! I have put together

a platform that focuses on fundamentally important areas that can help us be better leaders, it is

designed to help set and build foundations for success on many levels. I invite you to share your ideas,

issues, thoughts, questions, comments, and concerns. I look forward to our time working together.

Democratically yours,

Ralph Johnson

State President, Young Democrats of Louisiana

Candidate for State Presidents’ Association Chair

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LEADERSHIP & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

MEMBERSHIP & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT? “To effectively communicate, we must realize that we are all different in the way we perceive the world and

use this understanding as a guide to our communication with others. –Anthony Robbins” “Communication is one of the basic functions of management in any organization and its importance can hardly be overemphasized. It is a process of transmitting information, ideas, thoughts, opinions and plans between various parts of an organization (Stephen Thomson).” The ability for us to become great leaders lies in our efforts to share information, success, and failures as we serve in our states. What may have worked in one state just may work in another state or you might have dropped the ball on something and because you share that with a counterpart it might help save their event from not being so successful. Our outreach to each other is critical to us becoming more viable as an association. A call or message to a fellow president just might be that boost to the morale they may have needed.

The Goals

Continue work of the Communications & Outreach Work Group

Continue to develop Google Group as a Best Practices Clearinghouse for planning, documents, & templates

Develop a bi-monthly newsletter to share best practices & spotlight programs

Welcome pages on YDA Website

Create Spotlight of the Week Program

Monthly Catch-Up Call for SPA just to “chit-chat, vent, and share ideas”

One-on-One Monthly Chats with State Presidents

Produce Weekly Update to Presidents

COMMUNICATIONS & OUTREACH

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

“Leadership should be born out of the understanding of the needs of those who would be affected by it.”

–Marian Anderson

Leadership development is defined as an effort to enhance a learner’s ability to lead, an endeavor focused on developing the leadership abilities and attitudes of the individuals sitting at the top of the chain of command. Simply put, leadership development is an effort that enhances the learner's capacity to lead people. Very simply put, leading is setting direction and guiding others to follow that direction. A critical skill for leaders is the ability to manage their own learning. Successful requires diplomacy, top of the line people skills, a certain level of ruthlessness and an understanding of how much space there is and there isn’t between the officers and the members. A good leader doesn’t just lead. He or she leads by example. In order to allow for maximum development, we need resources to enhance our programs and abilities.

LEADERSHIP & RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT

The Goals

Form Leadership & Resource Development Work Group

Establish Resource Wish-List

Create President Transition & Mentor Task Force to help train, develop and distribute welcome package for new presidents

Develop National Officer Visit Request & Voluntary Monthly Report Program

Hold yearly presidents’ retreat

Have a Professional Development Workshop at each Conference

Monthly Catch-Up Call for SPA just to “chit-chat, vent, and share ideas”

The Goals

Form Membership & Program Development Work Group

Establish “Of The Month” (OTM) Recognition Program to recognize members, chapters, leaders, and programs

Advocate for creation of Committee on Membership Benefits & Development

Produce Recruitment & Retention & Healthy Chapter Guides

Work with National Leadership to develop a 2 year Membership Development Strategy & Action Plan

Work with National Leadership to establish Job Bank & Online Community for membership

Develop Standing Campaign Invasion Program within SPA for federal and state elections

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

“I think the hallmark of the organization is built around the membership.”

–Brad Roeber

Whether recruiting or determining membership strategy, we as leaders set the tone for our organization. There is no standard template when it comes to the roles leaders can play in membership efforts. That is why it is vitally important for us as leaders to share practices in the recruitment and retention of leadership, but we must also develop, execute, and maintain programs that catch and keep their attention. At this time, we are competing against organizations that offer more tangible benefits to its members and we must do everything we can to do the same while focusing on the mission of our organization.

MEMBERSHIP & PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT

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WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?

“In all realms of life it takes courage to stretch your limits, express your power, and fulfill your potential.”

–Suze Orman

As a leader within YDA, each one of us has the responsibility to be a good steward in the operational and financial governance of the organization. This means creating a financial vision for our organization and planning how we will get there. It means that each of us must be willing to share the good, bad, and ugly about what’s going on and how we fix it while maintaining an open mind. We must not allow ideological differences to divide us from our common goals. Our efforts to collaborate and work together in these very critical areas will allow us to build a solid foundation in an area that must have a solid foundation for us to reach the heights we know that we can achieve.

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FINANCE & OPERATIONS SUPPORT

The Goals

Form Finance & Operations Support Work Group

Work with National Leadership to keep Association “in the loop” on national governance & financial operations to insure more financial transparency & accountability

Work with National Leadership to restore State Partnership Program, secure dedicated perpetual funding source, and streamline application, evaluation, and award process

Advocate for an SPA Seat on each of the YDA Select Committees just as we have on Site Selection

Develop a YDA Vendor List that include member-owned companies in efforts to reduce cost for needed services while helping benefit the member’s company

Closing Words

I stand ready, willing, and able to lead, but more so I standby awaiting your direction for our Association. While I have presented a platform on issues I would like to see us work toward, I realize that I work at your pleasure and under your direction. I will work with our other elected officers and you to develop a full action plan for 2009-2011 and that will be what will set the agenda for the State Presidents’ Association over the two year term. Your support will not be taken for granted nor will it be forgotten. If there is anything that you need from me know that I am always ready to assist in whatever ways I can. –Ralph J

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RALPH JOHNSON FOR YDA STATE PRESIDENTS’ ASSOCIATION CHAIR

701 Government Street • Baton Rouge, LA

AT&T Cell Phone: 504.390.2677 • Sprint Cell Phone: 225.802.7321 • Office Phone: 225.336.4155

Fax: 225.336.0046 • president@ydlouisiana.org • www.ydlouisiana.com