Capitol Hill

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NRCA's 116th Annual Convention and Exhibit in New Orleans Feb. 11-14 provided a major boost to the association's political action committee, ROOFPAC, which depends on convention events to replenish its coffers. On Feb. 11, the convention's opening day, ROOFPAC hosted golf, tennis and sporting clays tournaments.

These functions raised roughly $100,000 from individual donations, or hard dollars, that can be used to support congressional candidates, and corporate sponsorships, or soft dollars, that are used to pay administrative costs. (See "Fighting for the industry," July 2002 issue, page 16, for more information about contribution designations and ROOFPAC.)

Event venues

About 200 people participate in the golf tournament each year, and the scramble format takes about five hours to play. Because NRCA's trade show usually opens at 3 p.m. on the day all ROOFPAC sporting events are held, it is imperative golf courses be no more than 40 minutes driving time from a convention center and hotels. Course selection is limited further by the need for a facility with two 18-hole courses to facilitate player registration and distribution of goody bags, lunches and beverages.

Tennis and sporting clays tournaments have fewer participants than golf and take less time to complete. The tennis tournament often can be held at a convention hotel, making driving time a nonfactor. The sporting clays tournament requires a facility that can provide all equipment necessary to participate, including guns.

All venues must be priced at levels enabling ROOFPAC to raise funds without exorbitant entry fees. NRCA's Washington, D.C., office selects venues for ROOFPAC's sporting events with guidance from the association's PAC Advisory Committee, which consists of 12 NRCA members from various U.S. regions. Some venues are more desirable than others, particularly for golf, and I welcome site suggestions.

Sen. Talent

Before the Final Banquet, ROOFPAC hosted a reception for its contributors and those interested in learning more about ROOFPAC. The reception featured a call from newly elected Sen. James Talent (R-Mo.).

Talent discussed his quest, with Sens. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and Christopher "Kit" Bond (R-Mo.), to pass association health plan (AHP) legislation, which would enable NRCA to more easily offer quality affordable health insurance to members nationwide. Talent said he participated in a Feb. 11 press conference that introduced the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 (HR 660). Talent also noted he would introduce a companion bill in the Senate.

Talent praised NRCA for its leadership in the fight for AHPs and having a strong presence in Washington. When I reminded Talent that the hearing he convened while a House member about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA's) 6-foot (1.8-m) fall-protection rule forced OSHA to modify the rule, he spoke about the important role NRCA has played in fighting for regulatory reform.

Talent also praised and thanked ROOFPAC for providing maximum support to his successful Senate campaign, saying preliminary figures suggest his opponent, former Sen. Jean Carnahan (D), enjoyed a substantial financial advantage.

San Diego events

NRCA's 117th Annual Convention and Exhibit will be held in San Diego Feb. 22-25, 2004, and ROOFPAC will have an election-year auction in addition to a full array of sporting tournaments. Contact me at cbrightup@nrca.net or (202) 546-7584 if you would like to donate or sponsor items for the auction.

The 2004 election will determine the next U.S. president and which party will control the Senate and House, making it more important than ever for ROOFPAC to have a successful convention.

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