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 The REALTORS Political Action Committee is working for you.
The REALTORS Political Action Committee (RPAC) works for REALTORS in city hall, Albany and Washington, D.C. Your contributions to RPAC support federal, state and local lawmakers who share the REALTOR commitment to promote homeownership and private property rights.
RPAC is administered by an autonomous group of REALTOR trustees representing all regions of New York. Decisions on contributions to candidates are based on an individual's voting record, not party affiliations. It is a candidate's demonstration of support for REALTOR issues that leads to an RPAC contribution.
RPAC Lounge to be offered at the Desmond!
Take refuge from NYSAR's hectic business meetings by visiting the RPAC Lounge on Tuesday, February 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., where you'll gain all-day access to food, beverage, business facilities and pampering! Gain admittance with a $250 RPAC pledge or investment. Click here for more details or to pre-register.
Get your bids in now for the February RPAC auction item - Portable Document & Photo Scanner!
RPAC of New York is featuring monthly online silent auctions. These auctions are a way to contribute to RPAC while contending for a great prize! Bids may be emailed to dking@nysar.com or placed via phone 518-463-0300 x238. The silent auction will close on Wednesday, February 29, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. The winning bidder will be announced on March 1 and contacted via email or phone. Individual members and their respective local boards will receive RPAC credit for contributions made through the RPAC online silent auction.
February item
Brookstone iConvert® Portable Document and Photo Scanner
Digitizes your receipts, letters, recipes, photos and more - fast! Brookstone’s cordless Portable Document and Photo Scanner creates sharp, photo-quality digital files up to 600 x 600 dpi from any image. It captures full-color scans of photos, documents, letters, business cards, cookbook recipes, wallpaper patterns and more. Just glide the scanner over virtually any surface, then download your images to PC, Mac or other device via included USB cable or your microSD card, up to 32 GB. You don't have to be a computer expert to use this scanner. With just a touch, it delivers color scans in as few as three seconds and black-and-white scans in as few as two seconds. The time-setting feature lets you date your scans down to the second.
Current High Bid: $200.00
Bidding Increments: $20.00
Email bids to dking@nysar.com or call Derick King at 518-463-0300 x238.
Congrats to Karen Peebles!
Congratulations to Karen Peebles from the Jefferson Lewis Board of REALTORS for submitting the high bid of $125 for the Magellan GPS. Karen has been an RPAC President's Club & Capital Club investor for the past several years. Thank you Karen for your support of RPAC!
It’s now easier than ever to become an RPAC Major Investor!
NYSAR has launched the RPAC of NY Major Investor Installment Plan. The plan gives members the option to spread their RPAC investments over a course of months to achieve Major Investor status ($1,000+) by the end of the fundraising year in October. How the program works: members pledge to become an RPAC Major Investor, provide NYSAR with their credit card information, select five months to spread out their payments and NYSAR will charge their card over five monthly installments. Click here for more information and to enroll.
Begin investing in RPAC today!
REALTORS can take an active role in RPAC today by making an investment in RPAC. Contributions can be made several ways, including:
1. Call NYSAR at 518.463.0300 x217.
2. Contribute with the click of a button. Simply click here and log on with your NRDS number (found on your NYSAR membership card or by calling NYSAR at 518.463.0300 x207), proceed to the "Contribute to RPAC" link and contribute by credit card.
3. Complete and return the RPAC Pledge Form. It can be returned to NYSAR or your local board/association.
4. Contribute directly through your local board.
"When times are tough, every RPAC dollar counts a little bit more."
-Michael Smith, Genesee Valley Board of REALTORS
Choose your contribution level
A minimum $20 donation earns individuals an RPAC patriotic pin. A $99 donation earns members a place in the RPAC of New York 99 Club and an RPAC 99 Club pin. See all RPAC membership levels below.
RPAC Membership Levels
Golden "R"
Crystal "R"
Sterling "R"
President's Club
Dollar-A-Day Club
Capitol Club
99 Club
Patriotic Pin |
$5,000+
$2,500-$4,999
$1,000-$2,499
$500-$999
$365
$250-$499
$99-$249
$20 |
RPAC Monthly Fundraising Update
The 2011 RPAC fundraising year ended on Friday, October 7. The 2011 end-of-year receipts show RPAC of New York raised $628,345, representing 82 percent of its 2011 fundraising goal of $763,530. While falling short of achieving the fundraising goal, RPAC of New York did make some strides compared to last year.
Despite a drop in membership from year to year, RPAC of NY managed to end the 2011 year $34,000 closer to goal compared to 2010.
RPAC of NY achieved 82 percent of the 2011 fundraising goal versus 79 percent in 2010.
RPAC of NY benefited from an increase in Crystal R investors, from 1 in 2010 to 5 in 2011.
RPAC of NY benefited from an increase in Golden R investors, from 16 in 2010 to 18 in 2011.
RPAC of NY benefited from an increase in NAR President's Circle members, from 8 in 2010 to 11 in 2011.
RPAC of NY raised $20,000 during the "REALTORS Got Talent" fundraiser, reflecting a 30-percent increase over 2010.
In terms of participation, RPAC of NY managed to achieve 91 percent of the 2011 participation goal versus 59 percent in 2010.
Ten boards reached their participation goal in 2011, compared to just six in 2010.
Congratulations to the following boards for reaching their 2011 RPAC Fundraising Goal:
Bronx Manhattan North Association of REALTORS
Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS
Cattaraugus County Association of REALTORS
Cayuga County Association of REALTORS
Chautauqua County Board of REALTORS
Clinton County Board of REALTORS
Cortland County Board of REALTORS
Elmira-Corning Board of REALTORS
Fulton County Board of REALTORS
Greater Binghamton Association of REALTORS
Greater Syracuse Association of REALTORS
Ithaca Board of REALTORS
Jefferson Lewis Board of REALTORS
NYS Commercial Association of REALTORS
Northern Adirondack Board of REALTORS
Orange County Association of REALTORS
Otsego-Delaware Board of REALTORS
St. Lawrence County Board of REALTORS
Staten Island Board of REALTORS
Warren County Association of REALTORS
Western Steuben Allegany Association of REALTORS
Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS
In addition, 13,479 New York REALTORS have participated in RPAC, representing 91 percent toward RPAC of New York’s 2011 participation goal of 14,798.
Congratulations to the following boards for reaching their 2011 RPAC Participation Goal:
Buffalo Niagara Association of REALTORS
Cattaraugus County Association of REALTORS
Elmira-Corning Board of REALTORS
Ithaca Board of REALTORS
Long Island Board of REALTORS
Manhattan Association of REALTORS
Otsego-Delaware Board of REALTORS
Rockland County Board of REALTORS
Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie Association of REALTORS
St. Lawrence County Board of REALTORS
Click here to view the final 2011 RPAC fundraising and participation totals organized by region.
The 2011 RPAC Award ceremony will take place during the Association Update portion of NYSAR's February business meetings at the Desmond in Albany.
Please note: The 2012 RPAC fundraising year is now underway! To view 2012 local board fundraising and participation goals, click here.
Click here to view the January RPAC Monthly Report.
RPAC works tirelessly to protect your interests
Actions by local, state and federal lawmakers and regulators can greatly affect your ability to be a successful REALTOR. RPAC works tirelessly to protect the real estate industry and provides you with a platform to be involved and influential in these legislative and regulatory issues. Your participation in RPAC creates a powerful force to educate lawmakers about the issues that matter most to you and your livelihood.
"RPAC's biggest value is really having a voice with the people who make laws and decisions."
-CJ DelVecchio, Ithaca Board of REALTORS
What does RPAC do?
RPAC works to elect lawmakers who support REALTOR business interests. While you were working with clients and customers, RPAC played an important role in electing lawmakers that successfully shaped legislation important to REALTORS such as:
- Extending the first-time homebuyer tax credit.
- Extending the National Flood Insurance Program.
- Blocking legislation that would have prevented New York State REALTORS from conducting business outside their home county.
- Streamlining your ability to show property through the passage of advanced consent to dual agency.
- Defeating proposals that would have increased closing costs in New York State.
The REALTORS Political Action Committee promotes good policies and opposes detrimental proposals to ensure your business success. But, we need your help to keep RPAC working!
"If we don't support RPAC, who is going to protect REALTOR interests?"
-Miguel Berger, Greater Capital Association of REALTORS
Click here to view more details on the 2010 REALTOR legislative victories.
Why should I invest in RPAC?
There's no other organization that represents your interests and your livelihood as a REALTOR. Now more than ever, REALTORS must keep RPAC working to protect you interests. REALTORS must stand up for their business interests. Nobody else will do it for you!
Your RPAC contribution will keep RPAC working on these 2011 legislative priorities:
- Fighting reductions to the mortgage interest reduction (MID).
- Opposing any increases to closing costs in New York State.
- Supporting a property tax cap.
- Increasing transparency to cooperative housing purchases.
Click here to view NYSAR's complete list of 2011 legislative priorities.
Wave that flag! RPAC of NY patriotic pins available
REALTORS can display their support of RPAC by purchasing an RPAC of New York patriotic pin. The magnetic pin features a United States flag with "RPAC" transposed along the flag pole. Please show your patriotism and support of RPAC by investing in this special edition pin for only $20. To obtain a pin, simply complete the order form and send it back to NYSAR.
RPAC Major Donor Recognition
On behalf of New York's 48,000 REALTORS, RPAC of New York thanks the members listed here for being major donors in 2011.
RPAC Major Donor Benefits
Thanking REALTORS for their support of RPAC is one of our most important functions.
NYSAR and NAR recognize RPAC donors through a host of vehicles including pins, post cards, thank you letters and token gifts. NYSAR also recognizes the achievements of local boards who reach their fundraising and participation goals. NYSAR presents local boards that make their fundraising and/or member participation goal(s) with congratulatory plaques during the Mid-Winter Business Meetings. For more information on RPAC donor recognition or benefits, click here.
RPAC Resources
 RPAC of New York 2012 Trustees
 RPAC of New York 2012 Local Board Teams
RPAC of New York Local Board Manual
RPAC Local Board Event Fundraising Request Form
 RPAC Works For Me Educational Video
RPAC Works For Me Flyer
RPAC Dues Billing Basics
RPAC Pledge Form
RPAC FAQ's
RPAC Top Ten Legal Questions about Fundraising
RPAC of New York Staff Contacts
RPAC Fundraising Ideas:
"RPAC Works For Me" Testimonials
"I gave my first RPAC contribution so we could protect the industry and the public at large."
-Nicholas Gigante, 2011 NYSAR President, Long Island Board of REALTORS
"For me, RPAC represents REALTORS protection against catastrophe!"
-Audrey Livingstone, 2011 RPAC Trustee Chair, Long Island Board of REALTORS
"RPAC allows REALTORS to promote private property rights to our local, state and federal elected officials."
-George S. Wonica, Staten Island Board of REALTORS
"RPAC's got my back all the time in this business!"
-Harding Mason, Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS
"RPAC enables us to have a say in how our business is conducted."
-JP Endres-Fein, 2010 NYSAR REALTOR of the Year, Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS
For specific questions on RPAC, contact Derick King in the Government Affairs department at 518.463.0300 x238 or dking@nysar.com.
Contributions are not deductible for income tax purposes. Contributions to RPAC are voluntary and are used for political purposes. You may contribute more or less than the suggested amount. You may refuse to contribute without reprisal and the National Association of REALTORS, the New York State Association of REALTORS or any of its local boards or associations will not favor or disfavor any member because of the amount contributed. 70% of each contribution is used by your state PAC to support state and local political candidates. Until your NYSAR PAC reaches its PAC goal, 30% is sent to National RPAC to support federal candidates and is charged against your limits under 2 U.S.C. 441a; after NYSAR PAC reaches its RPAC goal, it may elect to retain your entire contribution for use in supporting state and local candidates.
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