NARFE-PACOPENING DOORS FOR A

STRONGER NARFE

2013 Region IX Training Conference

Overview

• Why is NARFE-PAC Important?• Fundraising• Leveraging PAC dollars• Consultative Process• Resources: Evidence-Based Decisions• Transparency• Questions?

WHY IS NARFE-PAC IMPORTANT?

Why is NARFE-PAC Important?

• Politicians Need to Win Elections To Be Members of Congress

• Election Campaigns Cost Money

• NARFE-PAC Helps To Fund Campaigns

How NARFE-PAC makes a difference

• Helps candidates who will support legislative initiatives.

• Direct contact with members of Congress, face-to-face interactions at campaign fundraisers

FUNDRAISING

NARFE Member Contributions

• 4,191 individual contributions totaling $133,004.01 from NARFE members in 1st quarter of 2013/14 election cycle

• 149 individual contributions totaling $4,841 from WSFC NARFE members in 1st quarter of 2013/14 election cycle

Region IX Member Contributions 1st Quarter 2013/14 Election Cycle

AK 16 $ 670ID 37 1,085MT 26 907OR 68 2,779WA 148 4,841

Total 295 10,282

Fundraising IncentivesContribution Levels• $20 – Basic Level 2013-2014 NARFE-PAC

lapel pin• $50 – Silver Level 2013-2014 NARFE-PAC

lapel pin• $100 – Gold Level 2013-2014 NARFE-PAC

lapel pin & blue NARFE-PAC Leader baseball cap

Sustainer Program – monthly contributions of $10 or more; NARFE-PAC Sustainer Pin & NARFE-PAC Leader Hat

Fundraising (cont’d)

• PAC Wraps & Mailings

• Chapter Meetings & State Conventions

• Competition: Quarterly Reports

LEVERAGING NARFE-PAC$$$

Distributing PAC Funds to Candidates: Factors Considered

Fundamental Question:

How will our contribution make a difference on behalf of NARFE members?

Candidate’s Position on NARFE Issues• Voting Record

• Candidate Statements / Questionnaire for new candidates

• Behind the Scenes & Committee Work

• Co-sponsorship

Influence of Lawmaker

• Party Leadership• Part of negotiations for budget deals?• Ability to speak for larger voting bloc?

• Committee Assignments• House Committee on Oversight and Government

Reform • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

Committee• House or Senate Budget Committee

Competitiveness of Election

• All else equal, money is best spent on the closest races

• Avoid giving money to someone unlikely to win

• Still provide money to safe incumbents – more likely to be in positions of influence

Relationships• Do NARFE officers have a good working relationship

with their lawmakers?

• Does the candidate / lawmaker attend chapter and federation meetings?

• Does the lawmaker work with NARFE Legislative staff on issues?

• Local Events

PAC Events: Face-to-Face Interactions

• Opportunity to talk directly to members of Congress• Federal-Postal Coalition events – talk exclusively

about issues relating to federal and postal employees and retirees

• Encourage participation in local events – helps to build relationships.

CONSULTATIVE PROCESS

Consultative Process

• Power of Grassroots Groups

• Shared Responsibility

• Juries in Every State & District

Chronicled in March’s narfe magazine

• Candidate asks in writing - process begin• Legislative staff to ask federation’s advice • Federation polls DVPs/Chapters• NARFE members’ input varies by state• Candidate outreach encouraged

NARFE-PAC Resources on website

• Click on “About NARFE” then NARFE-PAC.• If signed-in as a member, click on Legislation then

CLICK HERE for NARFE-PAC materials

RESOURCES

Resources: Evidence-Based Decisions

• Does the candidate support NARFE’s agenda?

• Is the candidate consultative?

• Is the candidate accessible?

Best Evidence: Votes

• Incumbents best measured by floor votes• Evidence readily available• Most voting records mixed• Some heroes, Few zeros• Use Magazine and/or Website

TRANSPARENCY

Transparency:Open Process, Open Report

• Quarterly Reports sent to federations• Federations urged to distribute• Some federations post on their website• Internet sites provide current, historical

data

QUESTIONS?