Guide: How to Discuss ACP Services PAC at ACP Services Meetings

  • A meeting of ACP Services should be formally convened before any discussion s of the ACP Services PAC begin. This applies equally to those few ACP chapters that have a separate 501(c)(6) entity.
  • It is permissible, even advisable, to schedule an ACP Services meeting in conjunction with an ACP meeting as long as the two meetings are completely independent of one another and the governor or his/her designee formally adjourns the ACP meeting before convening the ACP Services meeting.
  • Governors can include in their ACP 501(c)(3) Chapter newsletters a standard factual notice acknowledging the existence of the ACP Services PAC and the date/time/place of the next scheduled ACP Services meeting. This standard notice can be found here but under no circumstances can the text in this notice be modified in any way by chapters for use in an ACP (c)(3) communication without the express consent of ACP Services. For any and all questions about this notice, please contact jfrost@acponline.org with ACP Services.

  • During an ACP Services meeting:

    • You may describe and discuss the PAC, its specific activities, why it was formed, how it will benefit the specialty of internal medicine, and how its advocacy agenda supports a public policy agenda that is in accord with ACP's public policy positions. A set of "frequently-asked-questions" about the PAC is available here.
    • You may explain the importance of why members should support and contribute to ACP Services PAC. To more effectively influence the development of federal health care policy on Capitol Hill, internists need to consolidate their political clout. That is why ACP Services created a political action committee-to help support the election of candidates who are sympathetic to the interests of internal medicine. By involving more internists and internal medicine sub-specialists in the political process, ACP Services PAC enhances the grassroots participation of internists around the country who advocate on behalf of the specialty. For your convenience, a slide presentation on understanding the PAC and its benefits has been developed for use at ACP Services meetings. These slides can be used at ACP Services meetings only.
    • You may explain that contributions to ACP Services PAC go exclusively to political candidates for federal office (i.e. U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate) who share the policy objectives of ACP/ACP Services. Contributions are not used in any way to fund the administrative or operating expenses of the PAC.
    • You may also explain that any dues-paying and/or voting members of ACP/ACP Services who are U.S. citizens or hold green cards are eligible to join and contribute to the PAC. Members who meet those eligibility criteria can be solicited for contributions to ACP Services PAC.
    • However, you may only actually solicit and ask for contributions to the ACP Services PAC in an ACP Services meeting as long as there are not more than an incidental number (i.e. 3-5 percent) of ineligible members in the audience. Ineligible members include non-U.S. citizens or legal residents.  Medical students are allowed to be solicited and may contribute to the PAC.
    • You may suggest contribution amounts, as long as it is clear that it is just a suggestion and no minimum contribution levels are imposed.
    • You may hand out ACP Services PAC literature and membership forms to eligible members. The membership form is part of the PAC brochure. As such, handing out brochures constitutes a solicitation, so one much exercise some discretion to ensure these are given only to eligible members.