1. R-P-A-C! Find Out What It Means To Me! An Introduction to RPAC
(with apologies to Aretha Franklin)
Leslie Kopel, Governmental Programs Manager
2015 GAR Inaugural & Legislative Conference
February 11, 2015

2. WHAT IS RPAC?
The REALTORS® Political Action Committee is a voluntary committee whose membership consists of REALTORS® & affiliates interested in actively and effectively protecting the real estate industry and the dream of homeownership by participating in government affairs at the local, state and federal levels. RPAC is one of the largest trade association PACs in the US, representing 1.1 million politically active REALTORS®. Georgia RPAC (or GARPAC) is one of the largest PACs in the state. In ,426 investors invested $641,465 in RPAC.

3. WHY RPAC?
RPAC helps protect the industry by funding those candidates for elected office who best represent the concerns of REALTORS® and the REALTOR® Party.
RPAC allows REALTORS® to make sure their concerns about issues affecting private property rights and our industry are heard and understood by public officials.
RPAC does NOT buy votes - it helps to open doors and encourages lawmakers to keep an open mind on our issues.
RPAC is NOT partisan – candidates who receive support from RPAC are not selected based on political party or ideology, but solely on their support of real estate issues.

4. WHO DOES RPAC SUPPORT?
RPAC contributions are made at all levels of government, ranging from local county commissioners all the way to United States Congressmen. In the election cycle, National RPAC contributed $163,000 to Georgia candidates running for Congress. During the same period, GARPAC contributed $276,000 to members of the Georgia General Assembly and to statewide officials. Local boards received $15,250 from GARPAC to support local elected officials.

5. HOW DOES RPAC WORK?
3-tier system – local boards, state association, National RPAC Hard dollars (personal funds) can fund all local, state and federal candidates. Soft dollars (corporate funds) may fund local & state candidates in Georgia, but cannot fund federal candidates. At the National level, soft dollars can fund Opportunity Races, Independent Expenditure campaigns and similar programs through NAR’s Political Advocacy Fund (PAF). A portion of RPAC funds raised in Georgia is forwarded to National RPAC, but the majority stays within the state to support both RPAC and RIAC.

6. LOCAL BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES
Promote and collect RPAC investments from members
Identify type of funds (hard or soft)
Obey time limits for submitting investments:
Investments of more than $50 must be forwarded to National or the designated receiving agent (State RPAC) within 10 days
Investments less than $50 must be forwarded within 30 days
The clock starts ticking when the investor hands over the funds or when the investment is received by the board office
Use online GARPAC Receipts Reporting Tool to submit data (be sure to generate separate reports for hard & soft funds)
Send check(s) to GAR

7. RPAC INVESTMENT LEVELS
$ $ Investor
$ $ Club
$ $ Capitol Club
$ $ Ambassador Club
$1,000 annually Sterling R
$2,500 initially; $1,500 sustaining Crystal R
$5,000 initially; $2,000 sustaining Golden R
$10,000 initially; $5,000 sustaining Platinum R
President’s Circle – national program in which a Major Investor ($1,000+) contributes an additional $2,000 annually to federal candidates specifically identified by NAR

8. HOW DO LOCAL BOARDS RAISE FUNDS FOR RPAC?
Annual dues billing
Direct solicitation using telephone banks, and online methods
Special events (aka “the fun stuff”)
Above all, create a culture in which investment in RPAC becomes second nature to your members

9. THE 7 HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE RPAC COMMITTEES
Have a Fundraising Plan
Identify, Cultivate, and Engage Local Leaders
Maximize Dues Billing
Utilize Available Fundraising/Educational Resources
Be Creative & Adapt
MAKE THE ASK!!!
HAVE FUN!!!

10. HOW DO LOCAL BOARDS REQUEST RPAC FUNDS FOR CANDIDATES?
Download “Local Board RPAC Request Form for Local/State Candidates” from the GAR website.
Complete the form with as much information as possible.
Determine the appropriate level of funding to request.
Both the Local Board President and the RPAC Chairman must sign the form.
Fax or completed request form to Leslie Kopel to begin the approval process.

11. HELPFUL RESOURCES
GAR website – (Look under Political Advocacy >> GARPAC) REALTOR® Action Center – National PAC Management System (Aristotle/AI360) GAR Staff: Charrisse Butler, Accounting Coordinator Jennifer Lundy, Director of Finance Brad Mock, Political Field Representative (South) Hayley McCloud, Political Field Rep. (North) Leslie Kopel, Governmental Programs Manager