Lisa Yang

(she/her/hers)

Candidate for Treasurer

General Questions

1. One of the duties of the Treasurer is to create a projected budget for the year. How do you plan to collect the necessary information to create an annual projected budget?

   My first step would be to reach out to the previous treasurer to obtain the financial records from the last couple of years. After reviewing them, I can get a solid grasp on how expensive each of our events was and form a projected budget that is adjusted to how well they were executed. Additionally, I would do some research on the supplies bought/facilities rented to see if there are any major changes to account for. Overall, the most important thing is to make sure we’re able to have fun, engaging events without financially jeopardizing the organization.

2. As a nonprofit, UVSA Gulf Coast must keep very detailed records of all purchases and deposits. What measures would you take to protect the assets of the organization (hence our nonprofit status) and also yourself?

   I would make detailed records of all expenses, spending, and earnings. Especially with any purchases, I would take pictures of receipts or screenshots of any online confirmations as a record of all of our financial actions. I would also do my best to keep everything organized and easy to manage so I can keep information accurate and up to date.

3. Consider this scenario: After going over treasury records, you find an unusual surplus/deficit of funds in the Gulf Coast bank account. How do you approach this?

   First, I would refer to my past transaction records and files to see if I made a mistake or missed something. If all the numbers are accurate, I would consult my fellow board members for assistance in case I missed something, or more severely, in case there are potential acts of theft/fraud.

4. Are you familiar with any accounting software, data keeping software, or POS systems (for example, Excel, QuickBooks, etc.)?

   I am very familiar with Excel and, like many, have used it for academics and finances. I’m unfamiliar with POS systems, but am eager to learn about them, and any other beneficial software, through my own research or others!

5. How do you plan to engage treasurers within the Gulf Coast?

   The best way would be to reach out to establish a line of communication. Even better, I could create a group chat of some kind to create a sense of unity between clubs. This would provide a space for treasurers to ask each other for help, give advice, and share experiences that could benefit everyone. I want to become a source of support that’s open and easily available to them if they need it!

6. How would you determine which events are financially feasible? How about which events are “worth” funding?

   The key rule in finances is to never spend more than you can afford. After creating the annual budget, I would refer to that as a baseline to determine whether our budget has the space for the event proposed. If not, I would recommend more budget-friendly alternatives or suggest alterations to the event to make it less financially straining. However, sometimes there are important events that are vital for fostering community and connection or that are heavily anticipated within the region. For these, I would try to adjust some more flexible areas of the budget to accommodate them, or propose some additional events that could help raise funding.

7. What do you believe would be your biggest challenge as Treasurer?

   My biggest foreseeable challenge would be being able to be physically present at the events. There is a possibility that I will have to relocate outside of the region for pre-professional school, and I currently don’t own a car, which makes long-distance commutes a challenge. To compensate for this, I would make my restrictions clear to other board members and collaborate with them if I need help with any tasks. For example, if I can’t go to an event but need to purchase supplies for it, I would make a detailed list and figure out ahead of time if anyone else is willing to purchase them and bring them in my stead.

8. If you are working on a budget for an event and set a ticket price, but other eboard members disagree with your price, how would you go about defending your decision?

   I wouldn’t immediately defend my decision. I think it’s important to have a holistic view of a situation, so maybe they saw some issues that I missed. If I think that my price is fair even after discussion, I would break down the finances to justify the ticket price. However, high prices often turn people away from attending events, so I would also propose methods to decrease the cost of the event, which, as a result, would also decrease the ticket price for attendees.

Extra Questions

1. If we were tight on financials and had to cut a current GC event, which event would you cut and why?

   I think the biggest events, like the talent auction, the one that really has the most attendance, and ones that connect both Louisiana and Mississippi, are really important. So those are like our foundations, which probably shouldn’t be touched. Any events that have smaller gatherings or are more isolated might be able to be tweaked. I haven't been super involved with GC, so I'm not familiar with all of the events. However, I’ll look at the stats for them and then determine that way.

2. What are your thoughts and opinions when it comes to proceeding with an event even though you know there will be a loss?

   Sometimes a loss isn't a terrible thing. If we have the budget, then what other benefits will it bring? Something about community and something else.

3. How would you handle a situation where you notice a discrepancy or possible misuse of funds?

   I wouldn’t immediately point fingers, but I would definitely look deeper into the finances for discrepancies before taking further steps.

4. From your experience as MSU president, I'm sure you know the challenges of collaboration and encouraging members to travel longer distances for community events. How do you plan to increase participation and engagement from schools that are farther away?

   I think the biggest reason that they don't participate is the distance. There is a lack of connections between members. Having connections first with the boards of the other schools would lead them to push for connections from their members. That would help create that bond. If they’ve already made friends on the coast, if they already have connections to the schools, they'll be more willing to travel and participate.

5. Do you have any fundraising events in mind for UVSAGC?

   For MSU, food has helped us raise the most funds. Doing more within the community, like food sales and other collaborations.

6. What advice would you give to a treasurer who does not have experience?

   I have personal experience from running MSU. I'm very open, I'll send formatted documents their way so they can keep their own records. If not, I'll reach out to other people so they can supplement their knowledge.

7. Was there a pivotal event that caused you to apply for UVSAGC?

   The reason I wanted to apply was that I applied to camp, but I couldn't for personal reasons. I wanted to make connections with people from VSA. This would be a great opportunity to stay in the loop and know what's going on, so help build this community for them. So that way, they can have as much fun as I did.