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Working with NOW/PAC: Endorsements & Elections

Working with NOW/PAC: Endorsements & Elections. Wednesday, February 26, 2014 8:00 p.m. EST. Welcome. Bonnie Grabenhofer Action Vice President. Linda Berg Political Director. Overview of NOW PACs. Purpose Structure Candidate criteria Endorsement processes Political Organizing Manual.

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Working with NOW/PAC: Endorsements & Elections

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  1. Working with NOW/PAC: Endorsements & Elections Wednesday, February 26, 2014 8:00 p.m. EST

  2. Welcome Bonnie Grabenhofer Action Vice President Linda Berg Political Director

  3. Overview of NOW PACs Purpose Structure Candidate criteria Endorsement processes Political Organizing Manual

  4. Polling Questions Do you have a state PAC? If “Yes” Raise Your Hand Does your chapter have a PAC? If “Yes” Raise Your Hand

  5. Purpose of a NOW PAC To increase the number of feminists elected to public office To advance the feminist agenda through electoral activity

  6. Regulations 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…

  7. Anatomy 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

  8. Current Committee Members 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

  9. Anatomy of a State or Chapter PAC PAC Chair Treasurer PAC Committee Operating rules

  10. Candidate Criteria Stopping violence against women Abortion and reproductive rights Economic justice Ending sex discrimination Lesbian rights (including marriage equality) Promoting diversity and ending racism

  11. Candidate Criteria Stopping violence against women Abortion and reproductive rights Economic justice Ending sex discrimination Lesbian rights (including marriage equality) Promoting diversity and ending racism

  12. NOW/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

  13. NOW/PAC Values – cont’d NOW/PAC will involve states/members in the endorsement process and candidate support

  14. Questionnaire or Interview – Pros and Cons Questionnaire 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 • 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

  15. NOW/PAC Candidate Interview 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

  16. The Process State/ ChapterPAC If candidate good then sends recommendation for endorsement to NOW/PAC Director Contacts candidate and sends questionnaire/ interview State / chapter / members provide support Contacts NOW/PAC Director for Endorsement Candidate Completes questionnaire/ interview Candidate can ask for support Provides information; requests vote from committee Sends endorsement letter to candidate & informs state Provides list/ other support Encourages state/ PAC to investigate candidate Creates website profile for candidate NOW/ PAC Director Researches Federal Candidates NOW/ PAC Committee Votes to endorse candidate; if YES . . .

  17. Example Endorsement Letter

  18. Example Website Info.

  19. Political 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

  20. Accessing the New NOW Leaders Website

  21. Political Organizing Manual New Chapters Only Website screen shot to be inserted

  22. Women’s Votes will Decide 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

  23. QUESTIONS? Contact Linda Berg202-628-8669 x 146elections@now.org

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