UPDATE ON HAMPAC JULY 2016
(HAITIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE)
GENERAL INTRODUCTION ON A PAC model
“AGA PAC AMERICAN GASTROENTEROLOGY ASSOCIATION Political Action Committee has been our most effective and successful tool to advocate on Capitol Hill – fighting efforts threatening our profession and championing those that protect our patients……AGA PAC is a critical part of our advocacy efforts” Membership letter from AGA on July 11,2016
HAMPAC was an initiative of the AMHE NY chapter, created in 2009.The goal of the HAMPAC is to participate in political action activities that create a strong and effective voice for Haitian healthcare professionals in the federal,state and city health policy decisions. The primary purpose of the HAMPAC is to screen,endorse and financially support candidates for federal,state and city elected offices willing to promote the agenda of Haitian American health professionals.
HAMPAC is a PAC “connected” to the membership organization of AMHE and can only collect money from members or sponsors.Those funds are strictly separated and segregated,SSFs. HAMPAC is certified by the State of NewYork and the Federal Campaign Finance Board and recorded with the Federal Election Committee. The consultant for the PAC formation was The Advance Group,a NewYork based firm.
Active membership is comprised of all Haitian American health professionals.Active members will be required to make a financial contribution to HAMPAC. See list (incomplete) of contributors.
Please refer to the draft of the PAC for information on membership,governance,screening committee,adoption of motions,funding , amendments, candidate endorsements and the BYLAWS.
The PAC for the last few years has been dormant.The present CEC is rightly suggesting a change in the governance ,having the president of the CEC serving also as president of HAMPAC. A call to the membership for a revival of the PAC has not been successful or efficacious. The time is rapidly coming to make a final step,to fund or decertify the HAMPAC. The additive cost for establishment and maintenance of HAMPAC has been more than $10,000.00,all paid by the NY chapter.
Paul Nacier MD,FACP,AGAF,AMHE