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Eric Goldstein
Bio Statement
Originally from upstate NY, I recently graduated from American University, and am currently a research analyst at a consulting firm in Arlington, VA. I have been a member of NYRA for the last seven and a half years. I have worked to form chapters at both my high school and my college. Several years ago, I interned at the NYRA office, guiding others in the chapter formation process. I have represented NYRA at events throughout the DC area, and am a regular donor to the organization.
Outside of NYRA, I have worked part time for nearly two years in non-profit fundraising. I have experience managing budgets of over half a million dollars, as well as crafting budgets of over $400 million. An Eagle Scout, I learned from early on what young people are able to contribute, if only they are given permission by society to be mature. This led to my passion to fight for youth rights, to fight to end discrimination on the basis of age.
I am proud of what NYRA has accomplished over the years, and will be prouder still if we set the organization up to achieve more over the coming years. I have considered, over the past few years, running for board, but have declined as I did not consider my life stable enough to make the required commitment. I now step up to the plate and commit to doing all I can to help NYRA grow and prosper over the coming year.
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Questionnaire
1. Why do you want to run for the NYRA Board of Directors?
I am running for NYRA’s board because I think I can make a difference. Youth rights is one of the few areas where I have a true passion to fight for change. I want to see NYRA make a difference in society. As will be described in other answers, I have held numerous roles inside and outside of NYRA that will allow me the vision to guide NYRA through the next year.
2. Are you familiar with the responsibilities of a non-profit board member? What prior experience do you have that you believe qualifies you to hold the position of director on our board?
Yes, very much so. While interning at the NYRA office, I saw first hand what members of the board were contributing to the organization. Outside of NYRA, I have worked with my alma mater’s board of trustees, both with individual members and committees. I have also served as an officer of the New York Association of Parliamentarians, a non-profit professional organization. My knowledge of parliamentary procedure has allowed me insight into non-profit structure, and the important role a board member plays, while reminding me that the board is the servant of the membership, not the other way around. While all three of these organizations are different in size and scope, the role of a non-profit board remains one of fiduciary responsibility, no matter what type of organization it is.
3. What have you personally done to advance NYRA?
I have worked with NYRA in a number of different capacities over the last seven years. In high school, I worked to form a youth rights club at my school, holding a voting age rally and writing op-eds for the schools political newspaper. When I got to college, I became an intern in NYRA’s main office, working with potential chapter leaders to form their own chapters and revising the new edition of the chapter handbook. Additionally, I worked with other students at my college, American University, to try to get a chapter off the ground. Throughout, I have represented NYRA at youth conferences and other tabling opportunities to spread knowledge about NYRA and support for our organization. Lastly, and vitally, I am a regular donor to NYRA.
4. What are your short and long term goals for NYRA? How do we reach those goals?
Anybody who knows about NYRA knows that we are where we are, as an organization, because of the hard work of Alex Koroknay-Palicz. It is vital to the long term health of NYRA that we be sustainable beyond one person’s involvement. I have seen us come a long way in this regard over the past several years, and it is important that this be sustained. The two key components in this regard are the involvement of volunteer leadership and financial security. We need our members, be they on the board, chapter leaders or otherwise, to step up to the plate and strengthen our cause. The more we want to grow, the more we need money to support ourselves. A great operation cannot be run on a shoestring budget.
5. What do you believe is NYRA's biggest challenge or weakness, and what will you do, personally, to help address it. Please be specific and realistic.
Our biggest challenge is keeping members, particularly those outside of chapters, engaged in the organization. I cannot suggest some miracle solution to this problem. We have thousands of members on our e-mail list who support what we stand for. Yet they are not involved in the things we do. Very few of them will have time to create or to lead a chapter. Some of them will join a chapter; others may attend an annual meeting, yet for most geography prohibits them from doing either. We need to reach out to those who have not been involved and find out what it will take to get them to take action to support youth rights. Recognizing that their time to give is limited, we must find ways to keep them engaged in our activities.
6. If elected, what will you personally do for the national organization? What projects or activities will you take leadership of? Please be specific and realistic.
As explained in other answers, I bring a broad base of experience, both within NYRA and with other organizations. In particular I would hope to become involved in both the financial management and fundraising aspects of NYRA. I have experience doing both of these tasks and feel qualified to take a leadership role in these activities. I can serve as a strong advisor to NYRA’s staff in these areas. At the same time, I know from experience, that I will serve where the need is greatest. In other organizations that I have become involved in, I simply have stepped up in whatever area is neglected. Working with the other members of the board and NYRA staff, I would identify where I could make the biggest difference and focus my efforts there.
7. In your view, how is the role of a board member different than that of an active member or chapter leader? How would your involvement be affected if you weren't elected this year?
Members of a non-profit’s board have a fiduciary responsibilities entrusted to them by the other members of the organization. They have an obligation to act in the best interests of the organization in the furtherance of NYRA’s mission and charter, regardless of their personal needs or beliefs. They are entrusted by the membership of the organization with the responsibility to guide the organization through the coming year. This is not an obligation that other active members and chapter leaders have. While NYRA board members do not swear an oath, this weighty responsibility is not one that I take lightly. NYRA board members serve as advisors to NYRA’s staff, in a way other members do not. This inherent difference in the nature of the positions, active member versus board member, would allow me to make contributions to organization at a different level.
8. If you served on the board last year, how would you assess your level of involvement? Did you follow through on promises you made during last year's election?
N/A
9. Define "youth rights". Describe our mission and our vision in your own words.
Youth rights is an understanding that young people should not be treated differently simply because of their age. Youth rights is the belief that young people are, first and foremost, people, and that they deserve to be treated as such. Youth rights requires the acknowledgement that young people are capable of doing so much and achieving great things, if only society would let them. NYRA’s mission is to fight for this vision and make every effort to create a society where this is universally acknowledged. While I could answer this question in a more technical and academic fashion, I hope that this answer conveys in a more straightforward way what it is that I believe.
10. With many qualified members running for the Board, what sets you apart? Why should you be elected?
As mentioned in answers above, I have a variety of experience within NYRA. In the over seven years that I have been involved, I have seen NYRA grow. Knowing where we come from and where we are will allow me better insight in setting a direction for the future and helping us to reach our goals. My involvement outside of NYRA has lent me skills valuable to organization management. I have worked part time for nearly two years in the development (fundraising) office of a non-profit organization. I have managed budgets of over $500,000. I am trained and skilled in parliamentary procedure, the use of which will allow me to guide organizational decision making. While I would be new to the board, I am not new to NYRA or its challenges, its mission, or its member’s passion for success.
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