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Statement
Michael
(Mike) Rosella
Candidate
for Treasurer
VISION:
I
support the views stated in the platform of the Reform Slate.
These include efforts to modernize communications, update the
organization's by-laws, engage the broader community and provide
greater transparency into the operation of the CPCA. The CPCA
has such great potential to lead our neighborhood and I will be a
fierce advocate for realizing that potential. The CPCA can
and will become an organization to which residents and business owners
turn with confidence to answer questions, resolve conflicts and
represent the neighborhood's best interests. This will be
done under the framework of an open, transparent and democratically
elected leadership. The other officers and I will work
together to transform the CPCA into an example of a modern, superior
civic organization of which all of Cleveland Park can be proud.
Cleveland Park is a diverse community, with varying views and interests
but we were all attracted to this place for its charming character as a
city within a city, a park-like village in the heart of an urban
environment. Cleveland Park is a generous community that has
come together over the years to preserve and protect our history, to
help victims of tragedy and to breathe new life into forgotten
places.
Cleveland Park is more than just a collection of lovely homes, fine
apartment buildings, a metro stop and two commercial
districts. It is a true neighborhood where pets are reunited
with their families thanks to caring neighbors, where the sick and
infirm can rely on neighbors for support and encouragement, where we
meet on sidewalks and in cafes to discuss and debate the news of the
day. We are a neighborhood of people, not just of
place. My vision for Cleveland Park is to retain that
character long into the future.
STATEMENT
OF POSITION:
As
Treasurer I will bring a new rigor to the function of accounting for
the association's finances as follows:
- I will propose
instituting a formal budgeting process that will help direct the use of
funds in the most efficient manner to achieve our
goals.
- I will propose
instituting a monthly finance reporting program, informing members of
our performance against budget with explanations for variance.
- I will propose
instituting a treasury management program to insure that reserve funds
and excess cash are properly invested either in infrastructure projects
such as the improvement of the CPCA website, in responsible instruments
or in any such project as the membership agrees.
- I will ensure
that proper internal controls are in place relative to disbursements
and check requests.
- I will propose
new sources of revenue possibly including a capital campaign,
fundraising event(s) and membership development.
- I will propose
new initiatives for deploying our financial resources including support
of charitable organizations and perhaps the establishment of a 501(c)3
affiliated with the CPCA.
BIO:
Mike
is a five-year resident of Cleveland Park who shares his home with his
partner, Bob Kerr, a fifteen-year resident of the neighborhood, and
their two German Pinscher dogs. Mike is a founding member of
AWARE (Advocates for Wisconsin Avenue Renewal) as well as the Save the
Greenhouse Coalition. Mike is a member of the Cleveland Park
Historical Society and he is also a frequent contributor to the
Cleveland Park listserv.
Mike is a CPA and holds a law degree. He leads a specialty
management consulting firm which offers small and medium-sized
businesses, charities and high net-worth individuals opportunities to
benefit from his impressive background and nearly twenty-year career in
corporate financial management, strategic development and
organizational development.
A native of Mississippi, Mike attended St. Anne's-Belfield School in
Charlottesville, Virginia before returning home to Mississippi to
attend Mississippi College, a private university founded by his
great-great-great grandfather. After achieving the CPA
designation in record time and becoming the youngest licensed CPA in
his firm's seventy-five year history, Mike moved on to Tulane
University where he earned his juris doctor.
COMMUNITY
ACTIVISM:
Mike
is not new to community involvement. Before moving to Washington over
ten years ago, he was a resident of Dallas where he served on the Board
of Directors and as Chairman of the Finance Committee of Oak Lawn
Community Services, a non-profit community outreach and development
organization. He also served on the Board of Directors and as
Chairman of Fundraising for Bryan's House, a non-profit specialty-care
facility for infants and children impacted by serious medical and
developmental problems.
Prior
to moving to Dallas, Mike was a resident of New Orleans' "Vieux
Carré" (old square) where he was a founding member of French
Quarter Citizens, Inc., an organization devoted to the preservation of
the quality of life and historic character of the neighborhood as well
as responding to issues impacting the community.
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