PIN Points September Edition

Letter from the Chair

[vc_toggle title=”Read More”]What I know – I know that I have a political program to successfully manage and strategically execute. I know that my Public Affairs Council community and network is there for me to help navigate the craziness and cheer me up when chaos ensues. And I know that these are unprecedented times, and everyone is operating in the gray. I’m not alone in this. We are not alone in this.

What I can control – I can control how I prepare, such as creating back-up plans for when meetings and fly-ins pivot from in-person to virtual to hybrid to virtual. I can control how I use this time of uncertainty to leverage the resources and tools available to me. For example, earlier this year, my teammates and I were able to attend both the Advocacy and PAC Conferences because they were virtual (something we most likely could not have done if they were in-person). Lastly, I can control my self-talk and how I treat others. Attitude is everything, and a little empathy for others goes a long way.

What sparks joy – Find the things that keep you grounded and bring you joy. For me, it’s anything pumpkin from Trader Joe’s, a fall challenge from one of my favorite Instagram accounts, GoCleanCo, and of course Bagels & Bubbles every weekend with my friends.

Looking ahead to the last quarter of 2021, I know that I need to be planning and preparing for my personal, professional and political work in 2022. As I’m approaching this process, I’m trying to remember that a plan is just a plan, and that I have the support system and skills needed to change it at any time. Change happens. Plans fall apart. But we keep going. #embracethegray[/vc_toggle]

Don’t Miss STRIDE: A Social Impact Summit, the Council’s New Signature Event

[vc_toggle title=”Read More”]Here are a few examples of exciting sessions on the agenda for STRIDE:

Best Practices: Establishing Employee Wellbeing Programs – Providing mental health support is critical to creating an environment where employees can bring their whole selves to work. Join us for a conversation on workplace strategies centered on mental wellness.

Thought-Leadership: Advancing Equity in Advocacy Efforts – Ensure your advocacy efforts are grounded in fairness and represent the needs of all served. Join our speakers for a conversation on methods and tools for building inclusive advocacy frameworks.

Research and Trends: Keeping up with the ESG Reporting Landscape – With accelerating regulatory shifts, it’s essential to keep up with federal policies. Join our speakers for information on recent movements, potential business implications and how to prepare for regulatory changes.

We’re thrilled about this new and innovative program. We hope you can join us as we build community with public affairs leaders looking to advance societal change. Please reach out to Erica Harris, [email protected], with any questions.[/vc_toggle]

Education Makes for a Solid Foundation – And PAC Success

[vc_toggle title=”Read More”]Our organization is a statewide membership association whose members work in the same industry. Some 30 years ago, the framers of our PAC bylaws created a well-thought-out process. Endorsements are heavily member based with checks and balances so decisions are based on fact rather than opinion. We consider this to be the core of our solid foundation. However, our involvement outside of primary and general elections is very limited, except for the rare special election. This leaves roughly a year and a quarter where contribution solicitations are the main way we engage members. While fundraising is important and should be a primary focus, members also need to be familiar with what they are being asked to support. With this in mind, our PAC team developed a comprehensive education plan.

The overall goal was to showcase the value of being politically active by addressing frequently asked questions collected throughout the electoral process. Looking back, we had implemented several communication tools, but had not always shared them strategically. End-of-year fundraising and spending reports were distributed among current donors rather than the membership at large. A website was created with a wide array of information to emphasize transparency, but members were not being driven to the site. While these tools in our communication strategy are nice assets to point to when faced with questions, playing offense is better than being on defense. Basic education on what the PAC is and how it works needed to be a consistent and regular part of the conversation.

During planning and implementation of our education campaign, we kept circling back to three key strategies, which fellow members of the Public Affairs Council repeatedly state:

1. Utilize member leaders as often as possible
2. Keep the information short and easy to remember
3. Find new ways to repeat the same information

A familiar face or name can be the gateway to a member’s mind. While the top echelon of the organization are easy targets to help spread your message, reaching rank-and-file members takes a local leader with credibility. This year we launched a summer trivia series via email. Each week, we sent out a recorded video of a member leader presenting questions on our political areas of focus (the state legislature and U.S. House). Members were invited to participate online with a chance to win prizes from member-owned businesses across the state. There were no solicitations involved – only trivia questions, association history and fun facts about our PAC. Our website served as the hub for hints, survey responses and fun facts. We included presenters from all geographic areas of our state to ensure everyone who wanted to participate felt invited to do so. With many thanks to those leaders involved, we averaged a nearly 20% weekly open rate by the end of the campaign, which was phenomenal for our members.

Prior to our trivia campaign, we also published a printed copy of our end-of-cycle report in a membership newspaper, as opposed to a donor-only communication. We framed our information and messaging through the lens of members who don’t have prior knowledge of the PAC. The four-page advertisement laid out a mix of information pulled from our bylaws to describe how we operate. It also included 2019-2020 election cycle numbers, such as totals raised and spent, average contribution and the number of new candidates endorsed versus incumbents.

Still to come are mail pieces to be sent directly to members living in districts heavily impacted by redistricting where we intend to play an active role. The basic details of our endorsement process will be repeated, using graphics to simplify the message. Facts about the role our industry plays in the district will also be emphasized. Our goal is to both inform candidates and empower members.  Recent census data shows individuals who would typically be interested in joining our organization are moving to more urban areas, however, we remain the top industry in our state, giving credence to the importance of our success.

The campaign has been smooth sailing. We have received insightful comments from members, less confused phone calls and most important, our executive committee and frontline staff seem ready to tackle the upcoming election year. A consistent strategy has allowed us to proactively answer questions and stay on track to have one of our best fundraising years yet. A solid foundation through education really is the best way to build trust with members. That trust gives staff the support needed to accomplish policy goals by helping elect candidates best suited for the job. Keeping one eye on the foundation will allow you to build an impressive “castle.”[/vc_toggle]

Time for an Update: Complete the Latest PIN Survey

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Back to School for Your PAC & Advocacy Programs