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Letter from the Chair: Thanks and Giving
The holiday season is upon us and it’s hard to believe we’re quickly approaching the end of another year. It’s the perfect time to say thanks to our PAC donors and grassroots advocates for supporting our political programs. It’s a great way to connect with our networks and let them know how much we value their engagement and how their participation is making a difference.
I also want to take this opportunity to thank the PIN and the network of PAC and advocacy professionals who are always willing to share their successes, challenges and insights. PAC and advocacy work is not easy in today’s political environment, but that hasn’t stopped the PIN community. We continue to innovate and find creative ways to mobilize our supporters and advocates. Thank you for your active engagement this year and we encourage you to keep the conversations going in 2020. Happy holidays!
What is an Employee-Funded PAC?
Corporate PACs are a great vehicle for employees to get involved in the political process but there are a host of different strategies, techniques and compliance matters to consider. The Council has a wealth of resources on corporate political involvement to help you answer questions or better explain your organization’s political activities. Download talking points and more through our resource page, including a new video by Council PAC expert Kristin Brackemyre explaining the ins and outs of employee-funded PACs.
Our Team Is Growing! Welcome Tori Ellington
There’s a new face at the Council! We’re excited to introduce Tori Ellington, our new Public Affairs Associate and a great new member of our team!
Tori will work in the PAC and grassroots practice areas, serving as a resource to you and your team. She will assist with developing programming to continue to best equip members with the information they need to successfully run political programs. This includes researching and communicating the latest trends in PAC and grassroots management.
Please feel free to reach out to Tori with any questions at [email protected] and read on to learn more about her!
After interning in the U.S. House of Representatives, I started at the Premium Cigar Association in 2016 and one of my first assignments was to send PAC fundraising emails and then manage all on-site donations at their annual trade show. That experience of accepting contributions, advertising PAC incentives, and interacting with members was my introduction to PAC management and gave me a lot of insight into what works and what does not in the PAC world. About a year later, I fully took over managing the PAC and all outreach, solicitation and compliance matters.
What do you most enjoy about working in the field of public affairs?
I enjoy the relevance of public affairs. I often find that something that impacted my work world is also on the news or a topic of dinner conversations with friends so I like that public affairs connects everyone. Additionally, I enjoy how the field is always changing and has been moving in the direction of including more people in the policy making process.
What most excites you about joining the Public Affairs Council team?
The Council is such a collaborative environment and I am excited to be surrounded by so many subject matter experts in public affairs.
How do you enjoy spending your time outside of work?
I enjoy staying active, especially running in some of the great DMV races. I also enjoy traveling and trying out new places to eat.
What’s a fun fact about yourself most people don’t know?
I once went on a cross-country road trip from Maryland to Southern California.[/vc_toggle]
Learn, Share, Connect!
There’s a new way to tap into the Council brain trust. Our members-only, online community, Council Connect is now live! Your peers are already crowdsourcing their questions and finding suggestions for things like speaker recommendations, the best election swag and more. No matter what public affairs space you are in, we have a place for you.
Log in to help answer some peer questions or pose your own!
Nathan Gonzales' Quarterly Election Insights: New Slides!
The Public Affairs Council in partnership with Nathan Gonzales, editor and publisher of Inside Elections, is excited to share a new set of slides with Nathan’s election analyses! The most recent deck features 2020 presidential ratings, the path to majority in the Senate and much more. Updated quarterly, the slides analyze changes and trends in the political environment to help you guide strategy for your organization’s political involvement. As a member, you can incorporate these exclusive slides and insights into your own presentations and projects.
Want more from Nathan? Catch his monthly column in IMPACT here.
National PAC Conference and 2020 Outstanding PAC Awards
The 2020 National PAC Conference is fast approaching! Register today to join over 450 of your peers in Miami Beach. You’ll hear over 25 case studies covering the latest topics and trends PAC professionals are facing.
And don’t miss your chance to apply for this year’s Outstanding PAC Awards. If you, a colleague or a client launched a successful campaign or grew your existing program in 2019, we want to hear about it! The Council’s Outstanding Corporate and Association PAC Awards recognize excellence in political involvement and are awarded annually at the National PAC Conference.
Be sure to fill out the nomination form and submit your outstanding initiative by December 6 for your chance to be honored.
Call for Speakers!
Have a unique solution to a public affairs challenge? Want to support your peers and help strengthen the profession? At the Council, we are always looking for speakers who can share campaign and program takeaways – new data, trend information and case studies that moved the needle.
There may be an opportunity to share your story at our conferences, workshops, webinars and more. Nominate yourself or a peer as a speaker!
*Participants in Council Certification programs can earn 2 community credits from speaking.
Upcoming Executive Education Workshops
- Webinar: Starting a Grassroots Program from Scratch | Dec. 2
Whether you are building it from the ground up, revamping it, or just refreshing your grassroots program, join us for a webinar where we outline the building blocks of an effective grassroots advocacy program. Complimentary for Council members! - Workshop: PAC Content that Resonates | Dec. 5
Your PAC has a compelling story, but does your content reflect that? Learn to create lasting visuals, videos and infographics to inform and excite your eligible community. From distilling complex financial data and describing eligible participation, we’ll help you create material that concisely explains the role of your PAC and encourages involvement. - Workshop: Building Effective Grasstops: Key Contacts and Ambassadors Programs | Dec. 12
Relationships matter. Is your organization leveraging your well-connected and most trustworthy advocates? This workshop will explore ways to develop and implement an effective grasstops, key contact or grassroots ambassador program that engages the right messengers, builds impactful relationships and achieves your policy or regulatory goals.