‘High rollers’ go ‘all in’ for PAC
Dedicated PAC volunteers staff the table outside the Michigan Caucus meeting room. Find out more about these important volunteers by reading today’s “Delegate Dialogue” with Bloomfield Hills PAC volunteer Lynda Min.
WASHINGTON, July 5, 2008 — “Pit boss” Joyce Lalonde wants to make sure everybody wins this year. And the best way to do that is by contributing to the NEA Fund for Children and Education.
Lalonde and her team of volunteers used a Vegas theme for PAC fundraising activities to encourage delegates to contribute to the NEA Fund, which helps elect friends of public education to national office. The 2008 RA PAC effort was a great success, resulting in $85,437 in contributions from Michigan delegates, which was the 3rd highest amount raised by a state delegation this year in D.C.
The themed activities – including costumes, silent auctions, fun giveaways and card-house building contests – are a big part of putting the “fun” in fundraising.
“Despite what some people think, teachers and ESP do embrace change,” Lalonde said. “A few years ago, we decided to add some fun to the PAC table to help encourage members to contribute their hard-earned dollars.”
And it works, with nearly every delegate contributing to the NEA Fund and 28 individuals donating $500 or more.
“With the assembly as large as it is, we can get a little bit from everyone and gather a large fund we can use to elect friends of public education who can help provide a quality public education for our children,” Lalonde said.
“Keeping with our theme, it’s time public education was dealt a better hand.”
Judy Foster of DeWitt was a big winner in the NEA Fund’s daily giveaway on Thursday, taking home a $5,000 prize. All NEA delegates (regardless of whether or not they contributed to PAC) are eligible to win the daily prizes, which also included a $10,000 cash prize and two new Saturn vehicles (or cash equivalents).