MFAS 2014 Election Applications

Index Co-coordinator
Carlo (Page 2) Ashley (Page 3) Tim (Page 4)

Marketing Chair
Kevin (Page 5) Josh (Page 6) Tiffany (Page 7)

Finance
(None)

Workshop
Tim (Page 8)

Performance/V-Show
Laura (Page 9)

MAFAmilies Coordinator
Laura (Page 10)

Co-Coordinator
Carlo
How would you overcome conflict and conflicting ideas between yourself and other positions on board? I've always been an advocate of conflict mediation and compromise. I believe that when working with a team, mutual respect and open mindedness must always be present. Last but not least, communication is a critical ingredient when trying to achieve a common goal. Im no stranger to conflict and I think that the absence of it makes for an uneventful experience. On the other hand, too much conflict kills productivity. When resolving a conflict, a leader must always think logically and make the decision thats in the best interest of the project at hand. Taking a professional stand in the face of conflict is important; however, a leader must not act as if he or she is ignoring the issues brought to the table by his team. Overcoming conflict/conflict mediation is all about looking at the facts and making the decision that will move the project forward. How would you try and get other non-active MAFA schools to attend MFAS? Promotion is one of the biggest hurdles we have. People to attend MfAS go because they feel it will benefit the in some way shape or form. This is our opportunity to shape MFAs into something that can be beneficial towards everyone in the MAFA world. I want to have better networking opportunities for underclassmen, and career development for those who are a little older and are more conscious about life after college. I will put forth more effort to personally communicate with everyone inside/outside of MAFA to ensure that there is a good turnout in 2014. What can you bring to MFAS that has not been done before? I plan on utilizing every single ounce of resource we have available to us at UT. MFAS will be a Toledo-esk experience with emphasis on close relations and outstanding hospitality. I plan on bringing back the tradition of MAFA formal on Friday night where we can all dress up and party like big boys and girls. I plan on bringing in ABS CBN, Myx, and Toledo news to broadcast and cover the story of how UTFAA is changing Toledo to be more conscious of Filipino culture.

Co-Coordinator
Ashley
How would you overcome conflict and conflicting ideas between yourself and other positions on board? If there are conflicting ideas between myself and the other positions, which there will be, I will hold meetings and find solutions. It will be kept in mind that we dont have a lot of time and we must do what is best for the organization and MFAS. We will work like a family which means we will make decisions together. Times may get tough, but I am sure that we can overcome any conflict that comes our way. How would you try and get other non-active MAFA schools to attend MFAS? I would find those schools that weve already reached out to and other schools we havent met yet and first (re)introduce UTFAA to them and then introduce them to MFAS. I would try to get a video/slideshow of past MAFAs put together that help explain what MFAS is more thoroughly and who is involved. If time allows, I am also willing to travel to other schools as a group, or start connections another way. I will try everything I can do to get into contact with these schools and introduce to MFAS and get them involved. What can you bring to MFAS that has not been done before? The past MFAS conferences have been based on instilling and inspiring the Filipino within ourselves, as an individual. But something I feel like were forgetting is our family/families. They are our roots, our support systems and as UTFAA we are known as the FAAmily of the Midwest. Id like to spotlight the different cultures of our families. Whether it is by schools or life experiences like where each person came from. What makes it better is that not everyone will be Filipino. It will give each school/individual a chance to be proud of where they came from and like other MFAS conferences show us (as an individual) how they affect/benefit their family and how their family is inspired/inspires/instills/integrates the Filipino culture in their lives. Second, during the lunch instead of an open mic, I would love to have a karaoke session! It doesnt have to be a time where people can showcase their talents but gives everyone a chance to just hang out and sing to songs together like Filipinos do at every other Filipino gathering!

Co-Coordinator
Tim
How would you overcome conflict and conflicting ideas between yourself and other positions on board? Depending on conflicts, issues can be resolved via communication, majority voting, or outside advice. Depending on the issue, input from FAA advisor, FAA board, MAFA board, or others can also be taken into consideration. The best solution to resolving conflict is communication. How would you try and get other non-active MAFA schools to attend MFAS? Starting close, then expanding outward. Bowling Green is very close and inviting their Asian Student Org is a great starting point. From there, we have previous members that have moved on to other schools that we can contact, as well as contacting other Filipino communities. For example, my family keeps in touch with Filipinos around the Cleveland area. Those Filipino families may have sons, daughters, nieces, or nephews that may be attending college. By networking with a wider range of Filipino communities that seem out of our demographic, we can find many that may be interested in joining our summit. What can you bring to MFAS that has not been done before? Futures. What I would really like to do this year is to invite older Filipino communities. For example, the Philippine Nurses Association of America or the Knights of Rizal are just two organizations of many out there. By inviting them to our MFAS, we can show that there are Filipino orgs available after college. All the good that we do as a Filipino student organization does not have to stop once we graduate, and by inviting these orgs to our conference, not only can we show our attendees that there is a future for them, but to show offer the orgs potential new members.

Marketing Chair
Kevin
What strategies are you planning on implementing to promote MFAS? I believe that with the help of my other Marketing Chair officer we can both make MFAS a well known event! Knowing many Filipinos I can spread the word and by word of mouth this can potentially become a big event. Using various social networks no matter what people use. Do you have any ideas for other social media, other than the norm? Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Tumbler, Snapchat, Kik youtube and various others. If you are unable to create or handle a website, how would you overcome this situation? Use the various other social networks and email and mass text messages to other officers and schools.

Marketing Chair
Josh
What strategies are you planning on implementing to promote MFAS? I definetly plan to help promote this with all types of social media along with doing different videos and maybe making a separate website or adding on to one to make this one of the best mfa's ever. Do you have any ideas for other social media, other than the norm? Other than social media like twitter, facebook, youtube, at this time I'm not sure what else I will do to try and promote this in a big way. If you are unable to create or handle a website, how would you overcome this situation? If we create a website I have only done some minor things with different websites but I could find out fully how to create one and also ask people like Abril and dankesh to help me get started. Also my brother just recently made a site so I could use him as a good resource.

Marketing Chair
Tiffany
What strategies are you planning on implementing to promote MFAS? Some strategies that I have to promote MFAS is through social media. Social media is going to be the key into promoting MFAS. To be able to advertise MFAS, we need to know who our audience is and the majority of them are college students. Almost everyone has a Facebook or Twitter so we need to be able to effectively communicate to them. I know that we also have to be able to reach to the Filipino organizations directly as well. By giving them information about the event, they can help spread the word to their members. Another strategy is to keep our advertising and promotions constant and in a timely manner. The most important key to marketing is to not stop marketing. We can also learn from the previous MAFAs and evaluate what worked for them and what didnt to set up our plans for marketing. Do you have any ideas for other social media, other than the norm? I know that the social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube are going to be important for promoting MFAS. By using another social media site other than the norm will not be as effective because not many people will know about it, so I do not think it would be a good idea. Instagram is becoming very popular in the social media world. I know I am on it all the time. It allows the users to post photographs and people will be able to like and comment on them. One idea with using Instagram as a promotional tool, is to have photo contests. Of course, it will be related to the MFAS theme and the people with the most votes on their picture would win the contest. That is just one of the ideas that we can use with Instagram. If you are unable to create or handle a website, how would you overcome this situation? I have never created or handled my own website before, but it does not mean I can learn how or figure it out. I have never had to learn how to do it because I never had the need to. I would say that I know my fair share about technology. There are tutorials everywhere on the internet and I am pretty sure someone could figure it out. I know that there are people in FAA that know how to create websites and that are pretty techsavvy so it would not hurt to ask for help as well.

Workshop
Tim
How do you plan on contacting and obtaining facilitators for workshops? Starting close, the Toledo community has many resources for workshops. For example, Dr. Paat can provide a wealth of information regarding the health system or charities to the Philippines. For dance workshops, our very own Michael and Rico have proven successful in hosting their own choreographed sessions. We also have a martial arts instructor on campus that we can reach, as well as professors of Asian studies or history that we can talk to. We also have other Filipino communities as well as neighboring schools (U of M, MSU, etc) that may have resources to offer. What theme would you like to see for MFAS? Why? One theme I would like to see is the idea of Pakikiisa - being one with others; united. At its base, this concept may seem to adhere towards a collective mindset, that one should agree many. However, when broadened to include more than one's own community, the idea really makes an impact. MFAS attendees are generally Filipino American college students. With the idea of Pakikiisa, we are more than that. We are the children of our parents, who are their future. We are the new generation of the cities of which we belong to. We are the role models for those that will come after us. By thinking outside of our own demographic and inviting others, not only does the idea enforce networking, but also builds futures for ourselves and for younger and older generations. We are one.

Performance/V-show
Laura
How do you plan on contacting and getting performers, especially headliners, to perform at MFAS? If chosen as performance/v-show coordinator, I plan on contacting and getting performers, especially headliners by doing the following: Gathering a list as to who would be potential acts o Get in contact with other schools in order to gather performances from them o Gather ideas of potential performers from FAA Using ALL forms of contact in order to ensure a well-known performer as headliner as well as showing why they should take the time to come out and perform o These forms of media could be email, facebook, twitter, and even youtube. Above all, be PERSISTENT in following up with both schools and possible headliners

If you are unable to contact a headliner, how would you end the show with a lasting impression? If I am unable to contact a headliner, I would create a final performance that embodies MFAS. It could be something that requires not only FAA but also the inclusion of members of other Midwestern Filipino organizations such as a play interpreted through music/ dance. I believe that the V-show is not just about the headliners. Rather, it is the FULL experience of a V-show that creates a lasting impression.

MAFAmilies Coordinator
Laura
What are some activities you feel would give people a better sense of family within their MAFAmiliy? Some activities that I feel would give people a better sense of family within their MAFAmiliy would be ones that would be very interactive as well as require the most contact within MAFAmilies. Everybody is only here for just a weekend, so we should utilize this time to get to know one another as much as possible. These activities would include encouraging activities outside of MFAS activities like eating lunch together or exploring the campus together during down time. Some activities could be documented so that the family that interact the most with each other would be rewarded (contests). They leave fun and lasting memories within each family, allowing members to really get to know each other and become close with one another. Ultimately, this would be beneficial in creating life- long friendships. How would you implement the family aspect of UTFAA into the whole weekend? I would implement the family aspect of UTFAA by creating different/ new ways of activities. For example, rather than having everyone seated separately during check-in night/ opening ceremonies, MFAS participants would sit with their MAFAmily and take part in opening activities together. These activities would be focused more towards the families rather than schools. This is a great opportunity for people to come out of their comfort zone and really take advantage of the time they have with new people. Also, I would encourage the Kuya, Ate, Ading idea into everything by older members help younger newcomers in being comfortable within their new family.