The Virginia NOW Political Action Committee (PAC) serves as the political action branch of the Virginia National Organization for Women. It involves itself in a bi-partisan manner in election races at the State level which affect issues of concern to the Virginia National Organization for Women.

In 1978, Virginia NOW established its Political Action Committee because state law (SS24.1-251 et seq.) required that any resources of the organization be expended to influence the outcome of a local or state election had to be reported to the Virginia State Board of Elections. The PAC is a legal creation to allow Virginia NOW to participate in state elections.

The PAC is subordinate to Virginia NOW and is made up of three Virginia NOW officers: the State Coordinator (or designee) the Legislative Coordinator and the Financial Coordinator (or designee), as well as four Regional Representatives nominated by regional caucuses at the annual NOW State Conference and elected by the State Council.

In addition to raising and dispensing funds in elections for candidates and for election projects, the Virginia NOW PAC also analyzes election prospects and outcomes for National NOW and the State Council of NOW. The PAC also coordinates "in-kind" contributions, e.g., contributions of work, mailings, use of NOW membership lists for fund raising and recruiting NOW volunteers for campaigns.

Any activity done in Virginia in the name of NOW or Virginia NOW by a chapter, or the state organization which is intended to or does influence the outcome of a state or local election, is coordinated through the Virginia NOW PAC so that it can be reported to the State Board of Elections.

What individual NOW members do in elections with their own money and time, and not in the name of NOW, is outside the province of the Virginia NOW PAC.

The Virginia NOW PAC does not and cannot legally participate in any federal elections, i.e., Presidential or Congressional races, but coordinates these activities through the National NOW PAC.

The Virginia NOW PAC may plan and implement election of its own projects and other election activities. Election projects are defined as election activities involving action independent of candidates' campaigns usually aimed at activating voters around a particular issue or issues. This does not preclude activities within the candidates' campaigns.

The Virginia NOW PAC solicits information from Virginia NOW chapters regarding election activities, assessments of races and particular candidates. The Virginia NOW PAC keeps chapters informed of planned election activities and projects and solicits their cooperation and involvement.

For more information: vanowpresident@hotmail.com [1]