Welcome to The Loop! December 2021
In each issue, you’ll learn how to take advantage of the resources that are included with your organization’s Council membership. So, take a few minutes to stay in The Loop and learn about all the ways Council services can help you do your job better.
Thanks for a Wonderful 2021!
Another year in the books! We always look forward to convening our community and bringing new ideas and research to the table – and this year was no exception. Here are just some of the highlights that made this year a memorable one:
Making STRIDEs: The inaugural STRIDE: A Social Impact Summit brought together leaders in the DEI, ESG and CSR spaces to share ideas and connect to improve society.
In-Person at State & Local: While sessions took place virtually, we gathered for an in-person reception in Old Town Alexandria. It was great to see members face-to-face after a year-and-a-half apart!
Taking Home Gold: The Council was honored as a TRENDY Award recipient by Association TRENDS, taking home awards in three categories: gold for its flagship publication, Impact; gold for its yearly sponsorship program; and silver for its “Our Team is Here for Your Team” email campaign.
New Benefits: With the launch of Membership Plus+, members can get access to unlimited professional development for their entire team for a flat fee.
Breaking Down the Data: This year we did our research! We dove into how COVID-19 changed the profession in the Pandemic and Public Affairs: One Year Later, how organizations engage in social issues in the Taking a Stand and Lobbying for Good reports, and explored PAC trends in the Association and Corporate PAC Benchmarking Reports.
Welcome New Faces: We added new talent to the team: Public Affairs Associate Erica Harris, Marketing and Membership Assistant Madalyn Flood, Program Coordinator Yeraldin Borray Castillo, European Office Program Assistant Amanda Crawfford and Senior Director Amy Meli, who starts in January 2022.
Thank you for another great year! We truly value your support and engagement to make our community a supportive and helpful place. We look forward to seeing you in 2022![/vc_toggle]
Connect & Network with Your Public Affairs People!
As a Council member, did you know that you have exclusive access to Networks for public affairs professionals? These members-only groups engage in conversations, hear from thought-provoking speakers, and advise the Council on its programming and upcoming events. Plus, joining our Networks mean you are the first to know about upcoming happy hours hosted around D.C. – you do not want to miss out!
As soon as you join a network, you’ll be able to start sharing your ideas with other top public affairs professionals, not just from your own industry but other sectors as well. This is what makes networking at the Council unique. We’ve created an environment for best practices and a private space for people just as passionate about their role in public affairs as you.
We offer six networks. Check them out below and let us know which one you would like to join by filling out this form:
- Association Network
- Corporate Social Responsibility Network
- Emerging Leaders Network
- International Network
- Political Involvement Network
- State Government Relations Network
How to give back to the Networks
At the Council, we’re all about sharing. We want you to take an active role in our networks and share what is working. Have a great idea for an upcoming educational or member service program? Share it with the network chair! By providing guidance for our upcoming events, you can help us mold our programming to help you succeed in your role.
How to start engaging with other members now
Ready to network and share ideas with other top public affairs professionals? Conversations are happening right now on Council Connect! Each network area has its own online community on Council Connect. Members are already sharing best practices, new ideas, resources and other exclusive members-only info. You can start by sharing with other Council members how your team approaches their strategic planning, all the best practices you’ve learned, and experiences that can help teach others… or simply introduce yourself to the community! Oh, and don’t forget to upload your profile picture!
If you have any questions or are having difficulties accessing Council Connect, please reach out to us at [email protected].[/vc_toggle]
Membership Plus+ is Professional Development Done
Have you signed up yet for Membership Plus+? This inclusive training opportunity is available to all members and provides your entire organization with access to more than 45 Council workshops annually. For a flat price of $3,000 (on top of your normal membership dues), Membership Plus+ leads to potential savings in registration fees while providing top-notch professional development for your team. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to invest in the skills, knowledge and professional development of your entire team!
2021 PAC Benchmarking Reports Released
[vc_single_image image=”101654″ img_size=”500×300″]The 2021 Corporate and Association PAC Benchmarking Reports are available and free to all members! The reports are the most comprehensive and widely used source for information on trends in PAC management, budgets, structure, fundraising and political involvement. The new editions provide an in-depth look at corporate and association PAC activities, insights for PAC managers to improve their programs and examples of the important role PACs play in the political process.
- Responding to COVID-19.Nearly half of respondents paused all solicitations due to the impact of COVID-19. The average length of the pause was nine months.
- Pausing post-January 6.More than 80% of corporate PACs paused contributions to federal candidates in the wake of Jan. 6. Additionally, 47% initiated a re-evaluation of candidate contribution criteria that led to changes in criteria.
- Contribution criteria formalized.Nearly 90% of responding PACs have formal candidate contribution criteria that govern PAC disbursements to federal candidates, with 63% considering character, ethics and reputation and 18% considering a candidate’s position on social issues.
- PACs continue to grow.More than half of responding corporate PACs report their number of members has increased or stayed the same since January 6.
- Little support for super PACs.Only 5% of corporate survey participants said their company contributed to a Super PAC in the 2019-2020 election cycle. More than 60% said their company’s PAC has never contributed.
Click here to get your copy of the Corporate and Association reports.[/vc_toggle]
The Latest Insights from Nathan Gonzales
Council members have exclusive access to new election insights from Nathan Gonzales! The latest slide deck discusses the outlook for the upcoming Midterm elections. He’ll take you through the fights for the Senate, House and governorships while walking you through some key battleground races. As a Council member, you can incorporate these exclusive slides into your presentations and projects. As the senior political analyst for the Council, Nathan Gonzales also contributes a monthly column in Impact. Read Nathan’s latest column here.
Welcome New Members!
The Public Affairs Council is thrilled to welcome the following new members to our community of nearly 11,000 public affairs practitioners! If you’d like to see a full list of member organizations, you can view them here.
Advocacy Associates, L.L.C.
American Gastroenterological Association
AmeriGas
Applecart
ARcare
Booz Allen Hamilton
Borealis
CFA Institute
Chime
Clearview AI
CommonSpirit Health
Crowell & Moring International LLC
DataRobot, Inc.
Deloitte LLP
Elanco Animal Health
findhelp
Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America
Frost Brown Todd LLC
Global Blood Therapeutics
Indy Chamber
Insulet Corporation
Intact Insurance Specialty Solutions
Kegler Brown Hill + Ritter LPA
Leadership Connect
Levi Strauss & Co.
Montrose Group, LLC
NASCAR – National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing
National Kidney Foundation
Onfido, Ltd.
Patino Associates
Philip Morris International
PTC Therapeutics
Quest Diagnostics
Ralph Lauren Corporation
Rhino
RISE (Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment)
Rockland Community College, State University of New York
Rockwool North America
Seven Star Strategies
Sylvamo Corporation
The Adecco Group
The KPM Group DC
The Lukens Company
Vanda Pharmaceuticals
Waymo[/vc_toggle]
And Your Favorite Holiday Movie Is…
[vc_single_image image=”101647″]Christmas classic, comedy or… Die Hard? Our latest poll on Council Connect shows your favorite movie to tune into this December, with Elf taking the top spot! No matter what genre is your pick, we hope you have a wonderful holiday season.
And be sure to look out for future polls on the Council Connect homepage to cast your vote!
Additional Resources
- Start Your Path to a Certificate!
Grow your network, build your skills, become a leader in your field. - Read the latest Impact
Check out our flagship newsletter. - Join our Mentor Program
We’re looking for mentees!