Each TAHC&H member organization must decide whether it will support the TEXAS HOMECARE & HOSPICE PAC. TAHC&H member decisions might be based upon their mix of Medicare, Medicaid and private pay business. Remember, when the climate for the industry is strong, regardless of funding sources, all boats rise!  All contributions will be applied to the state campaign unless otherwise specifically designated by the contributor.  
 

Here's What YOU Can Do

The most important action you can take to make the TEXAS HOMECARE & HOSPICE PAC succeed is to make a generous personal contribution of your own. All owners, managers and employees of Members (Providers and Associates) are asked to consider contributing ½ of 1 percent of their annual salary.

1. Visit with your fellow owners and senior managers to ask that they contribute at that same level - ½ of 1 percent of their annual salary. Only after your owners and senior managers have set an example should you ask other employees to contribute.
2. Conduct a solicitation effort through mail, phone, e-mail, briefings and other means to provide all of your employees with the opportunity to contribute.
3. Allow your managers and employees to contribute through payroll deduction and encourage them to contribute in this way.
4. Keep your managers and employees informed of legislative issues that affect your business and encourage their grassroots involvement in the political process.

If enough Texas home care and hospice leaders take these steps, we will succeed in making the TEXAS HOMECARE & HOSPICE PAC something in which we can all take considerable pride as a powerful voice for Texas home care and hospice and the patients we serve.

Political Action Committees (PACs) have become one of the most important and influential methods of political participation in the United States. They provide opportunities for like-minded individuals - such as those who care about Texas home care and hospice – to come together and speak with one voice through their involvement.

Thousands of national and state trade associations, professional organizations, corporations, elected officials and other interests have established PACs. By pooling the financial contributions of many individuals, PACs allow them to speak with a single, more powerful voice when the PACs to which they belong make larger contributions to candidates.

PACs are nothing more than democracy in action. They allow citizens to band together to advance their mutual interests just as our Founding Fathers wished. Their activities are strictly regulated and publicly disclosed.

Fundraising Do's and Don'ts

Do's:

• Talk personally with senior-level people within your organization to encourage them to contribute.
• Solicit as many owners, managers and employees of your agency as possible and their families.
• Make use of resource materials in soliciting funds from managers and employees.
• Conduct briefings for as many managers and employees as possible.
• Suggest the ½ of 1 percent guideline to all owners, managers and employees.
• Establish an ability to collect contributions through payroll deduction.
• Designate one individual within your organization to collect all payroll deduction authorizations, credit card authorizations and checks.
• Provide food or refreshments for participants at fundraising briefings - ice cream social, hot dogs and hamburgers are great! (You must raise at least three times as much money as you spend. This rule does not apply to meetings for other purposes at which you will solicit for the PAC.)
• Invite staff or lobbyists to speak at employee PAC briefings to help you make the sale.
• Consult with staff regarding inviting an appropriate state legislator to speak at employee PAC briefings.
• Use a combination of approaches in raising funds for the PAC - peer-to-peer solicitation, briefings, mailings, e-mail, internet, telephone, etc.

Don'ts:

• Do not give even the slightest appearance of coercing anyone into contributing to the PAC.
• Do not accept contributions from non-U.S. citizens.
• Do not accept anonymous contributions.
• Do not accept contributions from anyone other than an owner, manager or employee of your agency or their families. (Patients, patient families, suppliers and others external to your agency may not be solicited.)
• Do not sponsor a raffle to raise funds.
• Do not raise money in any event or meeting in the State Capitol or the Capitol Extension.
• Do not contribute to the PAC through a corporation.
• Do not reimburse employees for their contributions or base bonuses upon anticipated or actual contributions made by individuals.

Resources

For More Information and Help: Stephanie Schultz of the TAHC&H staff is available to assist you in your efforts to raise money for the TEXAS HOMECARE & HOSPICE PAC.  Please contact us at (800) 880-8893 to request resource materials available to you or to discuss your fundraising ideas and plans. We will be glad to highlight your successes in our weekly newsletter Perspective.