Dear ACR and ARHP Colleagues,
In 2007, the ACR created RheumPAC as the need for strong advocacy for rheumatologists and their patients and rheumatology training and research became compelling. The Government Affairs Committee was adept at developing novel ideas and strong policies, but there was a notable gap between policy and politics. RheumPAC was started to close that gap and become the conduit between ACR government policy and political action. Under the leadership of Dr. Gary Bryant, the inaugural committee was formed and the process of formally funded advocacy for rheumatology began.
Since the beginning, members of the RheumPAC Committee have worked regularly and tirelessly on fundraising, legislator vetting, key contact development and personal Hill visits. Many doors have been opened, resulting in a strong and well-recognized ACR/ARHP on Capitol Hill. This has been done with less than 4% of the membership contributing to this cause. Why at this critical time wouldn’t all ACR/ARHP members see the value of contributing to this effort?
We the undersigned as former members of RheumPAC have seen, on one hand, the difficulties and hard work in developing an effective Political Action Committee, and on the other hand, the enormous legislator impact organizations such as ACR/ARHP can have with funding and a focused message. We want each of you, our esteemed colleagues in the ACR and ARHP, to know that we, with our self-styled appellation as the RheumPAC Alumni, are leading the way with our contributions for this year. By our act of initiating this fundraising early, we hope it is meaningful to you to see how much we’ve come to believe in this political action process. Please sign into rheumatology.org/rheumpac, and join us by making your contribution for 2015 now.