NARFE-PAC O PENING D OORS FOR A S TRONGER NARFE 2013 Region IX Training Conference

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

W HY IS NARFE-PAC I MPORTANT ?

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

F UNDRAISING

NARFE Member Contributions 4,191 individual contributions totaling $133, from NARFE members in 1 st quarter of 2013/14 election cycle 149 individual contributions totaling $4,841 from WSFC NARFE members in 1 st quarter of 2013/14 election cycle

Region IX Member Contributions 1 st Quarter 2013/14 Election Cycle AK16$ 670 ID37 1,085 MT OR68 2,779 WA 148 4,841 Total ,282

Fundraising Incentives Contribution Levels $20 – Basic Level NARFE-PAC lapel pin $50 – Silver Level NARFE-PAC lapel pin $100 – Gold Level 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

L EVERAGING 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.

C ONSULTATIVE P ROCESS

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

R ESOURCES

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

T RANSPARENCY

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

Q UESTIONS ?