We want to thank all of our dedicated members for your continued support of ACRE. We recognize the financial strain that many are facing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We are closely monitoring the situation and continue to prioritize the health and safety of our members and staff. As we operate in this uncertain environment, we are proud to report that ACRE remains financially strong. The sustained growth over the past decade and the responsible approach for annual disbursements have left ACRE in a solid financial position. As of July 31, ACRE has raised more than $1.4 million and is reporting more than $1.2 million cash on hand. Again, a big thank you to everyone who has contributed to our collective success.
The upcoming elections provide the opportunity to expand ACRE participation at all levels. We ask all systems to continue to identify opportunities to grow and expand your ACRE program. Please continue submitting contributions that you have collected in a timely manner to comply with federal guidelines governing political action committees (PAC). Those guidelines require that all contributions collected by the co-op or statewide association be remitted to ACRE within a month or 10 days of receiving the contribution, depending on the amount.
ACRE also continues to accept checks, credit card contributions and electronic transfers. Please see a guide to submitting ACRE contributions for reference. Online contributions can be made by going to www.cooperative.com/acrecontribution. Should ACRE’s capabilities or federal guidance change, we will let you know immediately.
With large in-person meetings not possible, we are excited to announce that we will host a couple of virtual engagement opportunities. These activities will assist in our approach to enhance our collective advocacy efforts on behalf of America’s electric cooperatives.
We are excited to offer the 2020 Virtual ACRE Training Camp on September 15. This is a free program designed for cooperative and statewide association staff who handle ACRE operations and marketing. This virtual meeting serves as the ideal opportunity to dive into developing and growing an ACRE program and get your PAC questions answered. To register to attend the virtual ACRE Training Camp, please click here and send us your name, co-op, state, phone number, and email.
We are thrilled to host our first ever online silent PAC auction, which will kick off on October 14 during Online Regional Week. From local and regional artwork, to dinners with NRECA and state leadership, to tickets to sporting events and vacation packages - we have a variety of exciting items that will be up for bid. Stay tuned for more details on how you can participate and start bidding!
Expanding the strength of ACRE is an important part of telling the story of America’s electric cooperatives and why they matter. ACRE is a grassroots PAC, so increasing the membership will help co-ops and their members to engage on issues in the upcoming elections.
Thank you!
