ArchiPAC Chair Mickey Jacob, AIA, kicked off a summer fund-raising drive at the AIA National Convention and Expo in Chicago June 10. The goal is to raise the level of participation by encouraging more AIA members to contribute to ArchiPAC. Jacob asked members during the general session to make a contribution; they responded by giving $5,600 on the first day of the convention alone.

Jacob compared the level of contribution to other allied organizations and to those groups with similar membership counts. The data show that architects lag well behind their colleagues and other professional societies in the rate of PAC participation. ArchiPAC needs to have 15-30 percent of AIA membership contribute to have a fully funded PAC.

After the convention, members will receive a letter in the mail and be contacted by ArchiPAC staff requesting a contribution. ArchiPAC is a voluntary program of the AIA and depends on personal contributions from AIA members. Federal law prohibits the use of AIA membership dues to be used to fund ArchiPAC. Funds raised by ArchiPAC are used to contribute to federal campaign committees (committees to elect or re-elect to the U.S. House and Senate). For more information about ArchiPAC, contact govaffs@aia.org or 202-626-7383.

—Tracy Ostroff

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