Capitol Hill

NRCA's Washington, D.C., office is a full-time advocate for NRCA members. The staff works daily with Congress and federal agencies to advance the roofing industry's agenda while fighting proposals that adversely could affect the industry.

NRCA has compiled a substantial list of legislative and regulatory victories, and key to this success is ROOFPAC, the association's political action committee that provides financial support to pro-business candidates for Congress. Without ROOFPAC supplementing NRCA's lobbying efforts on Capitol Hill, NRCA members would be working with even more burdensome rules and regulations. Although ROOFPAC is an integral part of NRCA's comprehensive government relations program, its existence relies solely on voluntary personal donations made by NRCA members pursuant to federal campaign finance law.

ROOFPAC has supported hundreds of candidates for the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives since its inception in 1990, and about 80 percent of these candidates have won. ROOFPAC has grown through the years and currently raises and spends close to $250,000 per two-year election cycle. However, it must continue to grow, and do so quickly, to keep pace with NRCA's expanded legislative agenda.

NRCA's PAC Advisory Committee, with the support of NRCA's Executive Committee and Board of Directors, set a goal to raise and spend $500,000 for the 2006 election cycle. At press time, ROOFPAC was closing in on $200,000 and must do well at its events during the 2006 International Roofing Expo and 119th Annual NRCA Convention in Las Vegas to reach its goal.

Convention events

NRCA's annual convention is the focal point for activities that are crucial to ROOFPAC's fund raising. ROOFPAC's convention events include annual golf, tennis and sporting clays tournaments. ROOFPAC also holds election-year auctions during conventions.

Convention attendees can battle NRCA President Reid Ribble in pingpong during "The Ribble Challenge."

The golf tournament will be held at Primm Valley Country Club on Monday, Feb. 13, 2006, at 11:30 a.m.

ROOFPAC's tennis and sporting clays tournaments also take place Feb. 13 with tennis held at ClubSport Green Valley's indoor tennis facility and the sporting clays tournament at the Desert Lake Country Club.

The Ribble Challenge

The ROOFPAC auction will take place Tuesday, Feb. 14, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center from 6 to 7:30 p.m. This year's auction will feature "The Ribble Challenge" with NRCA President Reid Ribble, president of The Ribble Group, Kaukauna, Wis., taking on all comers in pingpong to benefit ROOFPAC. If a challenger defeats Ribble, Ribble will donate $100 to ROOFPAC. If Ribble wins, the challenger will donate $100 to ROOFPAC.

Political Insiders Council

ROOFPAC also has a major donor program called the Political Insiders Council that allows ROOFPAC to budget for elections by counting on annual contributions from NRCA members. Chaired by former NRCA President John Gooding, chairman of the board for Gooding, Simpson & Mackes Inc., Ephrata, Pa., it is for individuals who make a personal commitment to ROOFPAC of $5,000 per year—the maximum allowable by law. Members enjoy complimentary admission to all ROOFPAC activities, such as convention events, throughout the year.

A necessary program

ROOFPAC is essential to NRCA's government relations program and must be fully funded to be effective. To learn more about these events or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, please call NRCA's Washington, D.C., office at (202) 546-7584.

Craig S. Brightup is NRCA's vice president of government relations.