Welcome to our new PIN Chair, Julie Vieburg! Julie is the Senior Manager of Grassroots & Political Advocacy at Land O’ Lakes Inc., and we are honored to have her as our new Chair. We look forward to continuing to hone and expand the network to ensure it’s a valuable asset for our members. Check out her first PIN Points column below!
Letter from the Chair: Julie Vieburg
By: Julie Vieburg
Hi, all! I’m honored and excited to be your new PIN Chair. First off, I want to thank Meaghan Joyce for her leadership over the last two years as Chair. Meaghan, I look forward to continuing to work with you. When thinking about what to write for this first column, I kept reflecting on the last year and how vital my network has been.
Outside of my professional life, my “Cleaning Network” and my “Food Network” have been so important to me. If you’ll indulge me, I’d love to share a few of the networks that have been key.
My Food Network. When I first moved from Washington, D.C., to Minnesota in 2016, it was a little rough making new friends, but I found a few other newbies at Land O’Lakes and convinced them to sit with me for lunch. Originally dubbed, ‘NKOTB Lunch’, this has now morphed into a weekend activity centered around the theme of Bagels & Bubbles. It may sound small, but these meals are where I have gained some of the best insight into our company as well as my future personal and professional growth. And more importantly, a group of real friends – even if they do make me go for long bike rides (note: everyone in Minnesota LOVES outdoor activities).
My PAC Network. In my professional world, my “PAC Managers Network” has been my go-to. Sometimes, I feel like a party of one when it comes to navigating the PAC. Although I have an incredibly supportive boss and team, my fellow PAC managers are the ones who are my sounding board for everything from effective fundraising talking points, to creative infographics, to who I think will get married on Love is Blind. The Public Affairs Council has been such an important resource in creating these connections and has also helped reinforce that I’m not alone in this crazy PAC world. Whether it’s hosting their annual Advocacy and PAC Conferences or creating a PIN Network Survey on PAC Actions Post January 6, the Public Affairs Council and PIN has been my Number 1 resource in this unfamiliar virtual world of PAC management. I frequently quote and pull from the resource library in Council Connect when putting together internal and external PAC or grassroots content. If you’re not already utilizing Council Connect, I strongly encourage checking it out!
I hope this lighthearted review of my last year has helped capture how important networks are to me – because I truly believe we’re only as strong as the people we surround ourselves with. I’m looking forward to expanding my network, and hopefully expanding yours as well.[/vc_toggle]
Re-evaluating Your PAC Criteria? We've Got You Covered
As a result of the Capitol attack and the intense spotlight on PAC giving, many corporate and association PACs have decided to re-evaluate their process for determining which members should receive PAC support. The Council has developed a Comprehensive Candidate Evaluation Framework available exclusively for members in the Council Connect PIN Network resource library. The framework includes sample language, metrics and more to customize and apply to PAC criteria. To learn more about this extensive resource and how to use it effectively, please join us for a webinar on April 27 at 10 a.m. EST: Developing an Evaluation Framework for Your PAC.
Cheers to a Great PAC Conference!
Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2021 National PAC Conference! We are pleased to announce that a record number of 515 attendees joined us. We loved seeing you all virtually, but we look forward to greeting you in person at the 2022 PAC Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Mark your calendars for February 28 – March 3, 2022.
We could not have achieved such a successful PAC Conference this year without the guidance of our 2021 Advisory Committee members. We are so grateful for their time and input. If you would like to join the advisory committee for next year’s conference, please contact us. This committee helps plan the conference by providing topic ideas, speaker suggestions and ways to improve the conference experience. We could use your help!
New Resource! PAC Facts Hub
Our extensive PAC resources are now all in one place: our new PAC Facts recourse hub. You’ll find articles, tip sheets and guidance on all things PACs. This hub is also home to media coverage featuring Council expertise and research. This page was created to provide our members with easy and quick access to some of our most-used resources. If you’re looking for additional guidance and sample materials, please reach out to Kristin Brackemyre or Tori Ellington.
Navigating the Path Post Jan. 6
The events of January 6 and the decision by 147 members of Congress to vote against election certification were unprecedented and led to new challenges for PACs. In response, the Council has met with as many members as possible, worked to understand how organizations are responding and pivoted our PAC conference agenda to facilitate important conversations on this topic.
Click here to download the results of our PIN Network survey on PAC actions post January 6. We appreciate your responses and will continue to survey the community as this evolves.
Many of you took on the role of a crisis communicator for your PAC and organization. We published guidance on communicating the importance and necessity of your PAC and preparing for inquiries about corporate PAC donations. We are always here to discuss your PAC’s strategy for moving forward, so please do not hesitate to reach out.
Upcoming Events to Boost Your Political Programs
Virtual Workshop: Incentivizing Long-Term PAC Engagement |April 22, 10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. EST|
We’ll explore where to start when either launching a PAC or overhauling an existing program’s operations and activities.
Virtual Workshop: Legal Seminar – Lobbying and Compliance |April 29, 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. EST|
Complying with regulations is fundamental to managing a trusted and successful public affairs program.
Webinar: Launching a Corporate Grassroots Program |May 5, 2 p.m. – 3 p.m. EST|
Learn from corporate grassroots professionals who have built impactful and influential grassroots programs.
Free for members
Virtual Workshop: PAC Relaunch: Successfully Rebranding the PAC |May 6, 10 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. EST|
Join us to learn insider tips and long-term engagement strategies to grow your PAC membership.
We hope you enjoy PIN Points, our Political Involvement Network newsletter. The network provides a community within the Public Affairs Council membership where you can access resources, idea share and learn from your peers. Interested in joining? Click here to find out more and sign up today.