This year’s RheumPAC members are excited to build on their 2018 accomplishments. In 2018, we raised $144,000 from 323 individual investors. Thank you to everyone who invested and to those who supported advocacy for ACR/ARP, its members and our patients. We also introduced a new way for non-individuals (e.g., rheumatology practices, state and local rheumatology societies) to support RheumPAC’s advocacy efforts by establishing the RheumPAC Advocacy Fund.
RheumPAC will meet at the end of January to determine how we will distribute our 2018 funds to new and returning members of Congress. These distributions are fundamental to advancing the ACR/ARP’s advocacy agenda on Capitol Hill, because these contributions get our foot in the door, enabling us to start and continue productive conversations with members of Congress.
We are excited to establish relationships with new Congressional members, especially those joining healthcare-related committees. In addition, we look forward to building on the relationships that have been cultivated over several years with returning members.
Goals & Gifts
As we kick off 2019, we look forward to reaching new heights. In this non-election year, we hope to raise over $150,000 from more than 450 individual investors. We are asking all eligible ACR/ARP members to help us achieve and surpass these goals. As a thank you, we are excited to offer popular gifts (e.g., lapel pins, branded cell phone pockets, scarves, tote bags, etc.), as well as new access for all donors to exclusive updates on the legislative landscape.
It’s easy to join RheumPAC: Learn more on RheumPAC’s homepage, visit the ACR/ARP’s Legislative Action Center, or mail your contribution to RheumPAC, 2200 Lake Blvd. NE, Atlanta, GA 30319.
To help with fundraising this year, we plan to continue educating members of the ACR/ARP on the importance of advocacy and the value of RheumPAC’s work. To improve our ability to reach members of the ACR/ARP, we plan to increase our presence at the local level. In particular, we look forward to meeting many of you at your state society meetings and discussing the legislative issues that matter most to you.
ACR Advocacy Fund
I’d like to take this opportunity to formally launch the RheumPAC Advocacy Fund, perhaps the most exciting development of the new year. This fund can now accept investments from rheumatology practices, as well as state and local rheumatology societies, which as non-individuals are prohibited by the Federal Election Commission from investing in RheumPAC. (RheumPAC may only use personal funds given directly from individual members of the ACR/ARP.) Non-individual contributions to the RheumPAC Advocacy Fund will advance many advocacy goals, such as hosting fundraising events for key allies on the Hill and covering RheumPAC operating expenses associated with fundraising and increasing visibility at the local level.
Consider speaking with colleagues in your practice and state or local society about making a contribution to the new RheumPAC Advocacy Fund.
Communication Is Key
As always, RheumPAC welcomes any and all feedback, comments and suggestions. If you have a relationship with a particular member of Congress that you would like RheumPAC to support, let us know.
We encourage members to attend local events for their members of Congress. We can provide materials to help you discuss issues of importance to rheumatology with your Congressperson and a donation you can hand deliver during a fundraising event.
Finally, word of mouth is critical to making RheumPAC a success. Encourage your colleagues to join you in contributing to RheumPAC.
Contributions to RheumPAC must be voluntary and made with personal funds, and are not tax deductible. Individual contributions to RheumPAC can only be made by members of the American College of Rheumatology and Association of Rheumatology Professionals who are United States citizens or permanent resident aliens.
Zachary Wallace, MD, MSc, is a rheumatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and the RheumPAC chair.
