In the spring of 2000 after consultation with Morgan Plant, the Association's contract lobbyist, it was agreed that PCPA would aim for a fundraising goal of $21,000 per year for the Pennsylvania Community Providers PAC. This figure would enable PCPA to respond to the requests for funds from the major parties and candidates seeking statewide legislative office in a given year. The figure of $21,000 was identified as an ideal, and it was not anticipated that we would reach this figure this year.
PCPA has increased its campaign to raise money for the Pennsylvania Community Providers PAC in a variety of ways:
- Alan Hartl made a special appeal for the PAC during the April 2000 Board retreat.
- George Kimes spoke to the attendees at the Western Region meeting in September.
- Hartl and Lu Conser visited every committee during the September meetings to explain the PAC and request donations.
- We also conducted a Back the PAC competition among committees and board to encourage donations to the PAC between the September and November meetings. Back the PAC was so successful that the competition has been extended to January 2001. Total donations as of November are $1735.
- Government Relations Institute graduates and current participants volunteered to staff a PAC booth during the Annual Conference, and PCPA members and staff raised $1830 by:
- arranging for the Nikken Massage booth to encourage PAC donations in exchange for a massage (a "PAC Rub"), and
- requesting donations at the PCPA Hospitality Suite and elsewhere at Seven Springs.
- Conser spoke to the attendees at the Central Region meeting in October.
- Separate letters will be sent in December to agency executives, staff, and board members requesting donations for the PAC.
The results of these efforts, while not yet meeting our eventual goal, have been very encouraging. The PCP PAC made donations to both parties and major statewide legislative candidates for the November election cycle. Since January 2000 the PA Community Providers PAC has raised a total of $5535, and has distributed $2850 to candidates and party caucuses. Additionally, we have added 38 new contributors to our PAC donor list of 174.
There is certainly much work to be done to generate ongoing support for the PCP PAC, but our efforts in 2000 represent a significant and productive step forward.