working with now/pac · chapter chapter pacpac pac chair treasurer pac committee operating rules...

Working with NOW/PAC: Working with NOW/PAC: Working with NOW/PAC: Working with NOW/PAC: Endorsements & Elections Endorsements & Elections Endorsements & Elections Endorsements & Elections

Wednesday, February 26, 2014

8:00 p.m. EST

Welcome Welcome Welcome Welcome

Linda Berg

Political Director

Bonnie Grabenhofer

Action Vice President

Overview of NOW PACsOverview of NOW PACsOverview of NOW PACsOverview of NOW PACs

� Purpose

� Structure

� Candidate criteria

� Endorsement processes

� Political Organizing Manual

Polling Questions

Do you have a state PAC?

If “Yes” Raise Your Hand

Does your chapter have a PAC?

If “Yes” Raise Your Hand

Purpose of a NOW PACPurpose of a NOW PACPurpose of a NOW PACPurpose of a NOW PAC

� To increase the number of feminists elected to public office

� To advance the feminist agenda through electoral activity

RegulationsRegulationsRegulationsRegulations

� regulated by federal law administered by the Federal Election Commission

� “separate segregated fund” of NOW, Inc. which can only solicit and accept contributions from current NOW members

NOW/PAC is…

Anatomy of the NOW/PACAnatomy of the NOW/PACAnatomy of the NOW/PACAnatomy of the NOW/PAC

� 3 National NOW Officers

� President � PAC Chair

� Vice President of Membership � Treasurer

� Action Vice President

� 3 National NOW Board members

� 3 At-large members

� Advisors

Current Committee Current Committee Current Committee Current Committee

MembersMembersMembersMembers

� National NOW Officers� Terry O’Neill (Chair)� Chitra Panjabi (Treasurer) � Bonnie Grabenhofer

� National NOW Board Members� Elisabeth Harper� Jocelyn Morris� Kim Villanueva

� Political Director � Linda Berg

� At-Large Members� Bear Atwood

� Jacqueline Kozin

� Linda Tosti Lane

� Board Advisors� Carol Moseley Braun

� Janet Canterbury

� Patricia Ireland

� Ellie Smeal

� Senior Advisors� Gay Bruhn

� Pat Reuss

Anatomy of a Anatomy of a Anatomy of a Anatomy of a State State State State or or or or

Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter PACPACPACPAC

� PAC Chair

� Treasurer

� PAC Committee

� Operating rules

Candidate CriteriaCandidate CriteriaCandidate CriteriaCandidate Criteria

� Stopping violence against women

� Abortion and reproductive rights

� Economic justice

� Ending sex discrimination

� Lesbian rights (including marriage equality)

� Promoting diversity and ending racism

NOW/PAC ValuesNOW/PAC ValuesNOW/PAC ValuesNOW/PAC Values� The most important factor for endorsement

consideration is a candidate’s positions on

NOW’s 6 priority issues

� If candidate support for NOW issues is equal:

� NOW/PAC will prioritize electing a feminist

woman over a man

� NOW/PAC will consider feminist incumbents’

long-time support

NOW/PAC Values NOW/PAC Values NOW/PAC Values NOW/PAC Values –––– cont’dcont’dcont’dcont’d

� NOW/PAC will involve states/members in the endorsement process and candidate support

Questionnaire or Questionnaire or Questionnaire or Questionnaire or

Interview Interview Interview Interview –––– Pros and ConsPros and ConsPros and ConsPros and Cons

Questionnaire

� Narrows the field

� Can’t tell depth of

commitment

� Ensures uniformity of

questions

� Some won’t fill it out

� Can’t be sure candidate

filled it in

� No personal relationship

Interview

� No substitute for face to

face

� Opportunity to educate

and persuade

� Begins personal

relationship

� More difficult to arrange

for candidate and PAC

� Incumbents want to be

judged on record

NOW/PAC Candidate NOW/PAC Candidate NOW/PAC Candidate NOW/PAC Candidate

Interview GuidelinesInterview GuidelinesInterview GuidelinesInterview Guidelines

� Sample questions for each issue/criteria

� Ask enough to determine strength of

commitment to each issue

� Open a dialog

� Take good notes

� Integrate questions with state issues

� Adapt questions for state candidates

� Find it on the chapters only section of NOW

website

The The The The

ProcessProcessProcessProcess

Contacts

candidate and

sends

questionnaire/

interview

Completes

questionnaire/

interview

Contacts

NOW/PAC

Director for

Endorsement

Researches

Federal

Candidates

Encourages

state/ PAC to

investigate

candidate

Provides

information;

requests vote

from

committee

Votes to endorse

candidate; if YES . . .

Sends

endorsement

letter to

candidate &

informs state

Candidate

can ask for

support

Creates

website profile

for candidate

Provides list/

other support

If candidate good

then sends

recommendation

for endorsement to

NOW/PAC Director

State/

Chapter

PAC

Candidate

NOW/

PAC

Director

NOW/

PAC

Committee

State / chapter /

members provide

support

Example Endorsement LetterExample Endorsement LetterExample Endorsement LetterExample Endorsement Letter

Example Website Info.Example Website Info.Example Website Info.Example Website Info.

Political Organizing ManualPolitical Organizing ManualPolitical Organizing ManualPolitical Organizing Manual

� PAC Structure and Operation

� Fundraising

� Analyzing Districts and Recruiting

� Candidate Support and Endorsement

� Interview and Questionnaire Guidelines

� Campus Campaign Organizing

� Hands-on Campaigning

� Reference Material

Accessing the New NOW Accessing the New NOW Accessing the New NOW Accessing the New NOW

Leaders WebsiteLeaders WebsiteLeaders WebsiteLeaders Website

Political Organizing ManualPolitical Organizing ManualPolitical Organizing ManualPolitical Organizing Manual

New Chapters Only Website screen shot to be inserted

Women’s Votes will Women’s Votes will Women’s Votes will Women’s Votes will

Decide the FutureDecide the FutureDecide the FutureDecide the Future

� Save the Senate, elect feminists and work toward electing a woman president

� Organize to elect feminist candidates

� Chapter do’s and don’ts

� Feminist Field Force

Contact Linda BergContact Linda BergContact Linda BergContact Linda Berg

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[email protected]@[email protected]@now.org

QUESTIONS?

working with now/pac · chapter chapter pacpac pac chair treasurer pac committee operating rules...

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