MEMORANDUM
TO: Diana McKowen
FROM: Lauren Duke
DATE: February 21, 2003
SUBJECT: Fundraiser Request from Mayor Okura
In reference to your request regarding the mayor’s fundraiser, I have based my decision on the following criteria:
- Audience – The recipient of the request is a prominent figure within the community. He is currently serving as mayor and is actively involved with all major financial and business commerce regarding Hudson, Michigan. Mayor Okura is not only intelligent and influential, but he is a respected representative of the city, and he is looking to extend his term by running in the next election.
- Ramifications – I had difficulty denying the Mayor’s request because he has such a strong voice in the community, but some factors could not be overlooked. For example, the fundraiser would serve up to 150 people. This large number of people could potentially cause severe damage to the company grounds. If an event of this size were held, the company would be taking a major risk since a significant amount of time was devoted to enhancing the landscape. I also had to consider possibly offending the new mayor, by denying his request, if he was reinstated in office for the next term. I attempted to offer any assistance that I could by recommending other sites. Lastly, I didn’t want to start a trend of hosting events for various candidates or nonprofit organizations. The Mayor was generous to offer financial assistance for the fundraiser, but ultimately the risks to the company significantly outweigh the potential benefits.
- Strategy – I tried to maintain a positive tone and appear neutral to all parties. To keep lines of communication open, I tried to be inviting and at the same time optimistic about future endeavors. I wanted the mayor to be able to rely on our company and trust that we are genuinely interested in the future of the community, while maintaining the integrity of our company. I strived to let the mayor down gently and remain supportive of his campaign at the same time.
After analyzing the three points above, I have concluded that it would be in the best interest of Custom Research Services to decline the Mayor’s request. Our goal is to be profitable, successful, and neutral, but at this time I believe that hosting his fundraiser could jeopardize our position in the community.