Inclusion: (1) Improve Engagement of younger SOBANS:

Lend A Hand Initiative - Scholarships/Assistance

Vision: We will provide scholarships and assistance to younger SOBANS who are still struggling to find their feet in the US and Canada, and are students.

Discussion: Dr. Fote has demonstrated a strong passion for giving. Having had a life changing moment while in Sasse because of the benevolence of a SOBAN – the late professor Victor Anomah Ngu, he has developed a lifelong goal of helping others achieve their God given potential. He has provided scholarships to students in his community in North Carolina (Rowan Cabarrus Community College), given back to his medical  and business schools, and launched the SOBA America scholarship endowment fund to provide scholarships to students in Sasse. He also wants to help SOBANS here in the US and Canada. The Lend A Hand initiative is an opportunity to give back to our SOBAN community and make a difference here.

Action items: The Fote administration will start a scholarship/assistance fund to help SOBANS here in the USA. Dr. Fote is pledging $5,000 to start this fund. SOBANS will have the ability to contribute voluntarily into this fund. The Fote administration will seek other sources of funding, using tested fundraising techniques, so that an endowment fund will eventually be set up.  Specific criteria for scholarships/assistance up to $1,000 per recipient annually shall be set and communicated to SOBANS. The administration shall implement a fair, transparent selection process to ensure that SOBANS who need help are assisted. The Fote administration will also institute a system which young SOBANS or struggling SOBANS can seek assistance with their membership dues. A fund will be set up with donations from SOBANS of goodwill which will help cover the membership dues of qualified applicants. This will also help assist our younger SOBANS who need help to come to the national convention.

My administration will work with class groups to set up a task force that will help set up the parameters for this initiative. We want to get the younger SOBANS involved in the process.