Issues & AdvocacyContribute to ArchiPAC

10 K TO GO!
By Wendy Perez Young, Manager, Political Action Committee & Compliance

ArchiPAC announced this week that it has raised $116,000 and only needs $10,000 more to match its fundraising efforts from 2011. Although ArchiPAC is significantly short of its $201,200 annual goal, it has shown growth as it nears the end of September with $11,000 more than compared to this time last year.

ArchiPAC is the only federal political action committee of the American Institute of Architects. Since federal law prohibits the use of corporate funds to support candidate campaigns, AIA established ArchiPAC so to participate in the elections by supporting candidates who share concerns regarding the profession and are willing to listen to AIA’s viewpoint before casting a vote. This form of political action puts a face on the profession and sends a strong message to Capitol Hill on where AIA stands legislatively.

ArchiPAC has been an active participant in this election disbursing $132,500 to 46 House and 10 Senate candidates. As a bipartisan organization ArchiPAC uses a list of criteria to determine whether or not to support a candidate. This criteria may include their past voting record, profession concerns, committee assignments, or leadership position. Considering candidate support based on these criteria ensures that funds will be used effectively. Please click here to view a list of candidates that ArchiPAC has supported in this election.

If you have not participated in ArchiPAC this year there is still time to join the team! The ArchiPAC Games Campaign and Fundraising Competition will continue until Election Day. Members that contribute $100 or more will automatically receive a photograph of Washington, DC architecture that can be hung in a home or office. Additionally, ArchiPAC will be raising funds at a couple of upcoming conferences. These conferences include the AIA New York State Convention in Saratoga, New York and the Western Mountain Region and Northwest Pacific Region Joint Conference in Tucson, AZ. However, if you are unable to make it to these conferences, you can always make a contribution online by visiting www.archipac.org/contribute.

The ArchiPAC Steering Committee established goals earlier in the year for each region. To see how your region is doing in its fundraising efforts click here. So far Ohio Valley is the only region that has met its fundraising goal for the year but the Central States Region and New Jersey are not too far behind. Both regions have organized a network of AIA members who have been working hard to reach their goals in this election.

You can do your part in supporting these efforts by making a meaningful contribution to the PAC and help us match what we raised in 2011. To put it in perspective, if 274 members out of the 80,000 AIA membership contributed at least $36.50 we would raise $10,000. That small leap can make a huge difference!

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