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REALTOR® ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE
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|  Fresh RPAC Tips: Political Fundraising By J. Danny Cooper The Realtors Political Action Committee (RPAC) didn't grow to be the biggest trade association PAC in the land by accident. Thousands of Realtors and AEs throughout America put their money where their mouths -- and professional commitments -- are. As you raise funds for RPAC this campaign season, keep these 10 latest best practices in mind. 1. Ask. After you have made a contribution yourself, ask your volunteer leaders, officers, directors, staff, committee chairs, vice chairs, task force chairs, and members to contribute as well. Ask at every committee meeting, luncheon, and education course. Ask in every publication and in every e-mail and regular mail. Ask, and RPAC contributions will flow in. 2. Add pressure to close the sale. Coax reluctant or procrastinating contributors by providing updated lists -- each time you meet -- of all members in each committee who have contributed. Those not yet on the list will almost always use the contributor card in their meeting packet to contribute that day. 3. Add it up. Don't ever allow RPAC to be the last agenda item at meetings. Midway through the agenda, pause to collect contributor cards. Move on but count the amount. End the meeting by asking for the additional $80 or $170 or $600 needed to reach an RPAC goal or record. Realtors will usually give again to help achieve a goal. 4. Influence new members early. Tell new members that contributing to RPAC is voluntary, but "expected." Without a serious RPAC component in your New Member Orientation, you're behind already. Give new members the list of issues championed and legislative and regulatory initiatives passed or defeated. 5. Show me the money. Write a five minute skit featuring a Realtor and any one of the following: mayor, city council member, legislator, or commission member. Act 1: Realtor need expressed. Realtor told, "No way!" Act 2: RPAC check contribution to candidate "Mr. I. C. Clearly." Act 3: Realtor need expressed and told, "We will seriously consider that" or "lets meet to discuss ..." Closing Act: Stop the program, walk table to table, and collect contributions before continuing. 6. Thank. Recognize. Applaud. Publish. Make giving to RPAC a BIG DEAL! Present pins, certificates, plaques, and other special means of appreciation at monthly and annual meetings. Call names and ask contributors to stand up. Pause as they stand and ask all others to use the contributor card in front of them to "give today." Publish the latest list as soon as possible, online and in print! 7. Promote the results. At every Realtor meeting, recap what RPAC has achieved, passed, killed, amended, removed, and introduced. Discuss local, state, and federal issues. It will make giving feel even more like the right thing to do! 8. Save the best for last (but don't dare tell anyone). Plan an RPAC auction. Promote it well, collect good items, and ask an auctioneer member to conduct your auction. At the end of any auction, there will be members who didn't get to buy something so auction off a final, big surprise item. Encourage members to combine their funds and bid. Get creative. You could auction off something like making a member shave the beard he's had for 15 years or a dinner for 20 featuring a celebrity guest of honor. A final group combined bid adds excitement, fun, and lots more money for RPAC! 9. Pledge-n' pay. Collect $250 pledges to be paid throughout the year for a chance to win a diamond ring or set of golf clubs. Make it easy to give. Offer donors your pay plan -- contributions can be paid monthly or quarterly, either by credit card or bank draft. 10. Dues bill. Don't say, "it can't be done here" unless state law prohibits it. Include the voluntary RPAC contribution among the itemized charges in the total dues. Consider increasing your "fair share" if you already do dues billing. Ask and Realtors will contribute when you do. Access detailed guides and sample documents for these 10 fund-raising best practices -- and many more -- on the RPAC Web pages online at http://www.REALTOR.org/RPAC Click here to Send feedback on this article. |
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