By Jim Andreano • Fundraising Committee Chair
I know we just had one last year, but we’ve got another election this year.
Yes, many of us are still worn out from last year’s election. We may have had our fill of elections for a while. But for better or worse, New Jersey doesn’t give you a year off (I feel strongly this is a good thing). New Jersey is one of two states whose gubernatorial election takes place the year after the presidential election. We have no time to sit back and relax. We must get back into the fight.
That is what the Political Action Committee (PAC) of the Sierra Club’s New Jersey Chapter is about. And that is why I am asking you to consider donating to it.
A PAC is an organization that raises money privately to influence elections or legislation. The NJ Chapter, with the help and support of National, has formed a PAC to do just that. The proceeds of the PAC can be directly contributed to statewide candidates who are aligned with our mission. Or, they can be used to support those candidates in other ways (e.g., “Get out the vote” campaigns).
You may ask, “I donate regularly to the Chapter, so can’t you use those funds?” To an extent, we can, and we do. However, there are legal limitations to our use of general Chapter funds for political purposes. Only through our PAC do we attain full rights and privileges to compete in the political arena.
You may also say, “But I HATE all this money in politics!” If that’s you, I do empathize. But like it or not, money is an integral part of politics and will be for the foreseeable future. Either we participate in the process, or we are at its mercy.
So, our Chapter has determined that this summer’s mail solicitation (we conduct three per year) will be dedicated to raising funds for the New Jersey Chapter’s PAC. Within the next few weeks, you may receive a solicitation letter, if you haven’t already. We humbly request your generous response. Please be sure to return the voucher inside with your donation, or follow the specific instructions for online donations stated in the letter. This will ensure that your donation is allocated to the PAC.
If the letter doesn’t arrive or you prefer not to wait for it, you can always donate by writing a check payable to New Jersey Sierra Club PAC, and sending it to P.O. Box 269, Garwood, NJ 07027-0269.
Of course, donations to our General Fund are always welcomed, either online or by mail. Even in an election year, we still have to keep the lights on.
To sum up, we in the NJ Chapter believe that strong statewide action is the best antidote to federal inaction. Through the New Jersey Sierra Club PAC, we are committed to ensuring that our voice is heard in Trenton. We hope we can count on your support.