PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 1
The Future of Advocacy of Pakistani American Community in United States: Challenges and Opportunities
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 2
If you do not turn on to politics, the politics will
turn on to you.
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 4
• What is at Stake • The future of our children in United
States needs to remain bright’• Equal opportunities• Ease of travel to Pakistan and back• Equal access to family who want to
immigrate to United States
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 5
• What is at Stake (Contd) • Challenges in US-Pakistan relations• Our opportunity to make a difference
knowing both the countries and people• Support to the people of Pakistan with
respect to the development of infra structure
• Being a part of the process
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 34
• Questions to be asked of NEW BOD members by nominating Committee
• What is your opinion of American political system? How do you propose we integrate Pakistani-Americans into mainstream of American politics?
• Are you currently or planning to be an active player in the political arena? If so in what capacity?
• What do you know about PAKPAC and / or other PACs ?
• What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of PAKPAC?
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 35
• What are your expectations from PAKPAC and
how do they fit into your personal goals? • How can you enhance the image and reach of
PAKPAC? What things would you do different in PAKPAC
• How can you help PAKPAC reach its objectives • How can you help nurture political activism
amongst fellow Pakistani-Americans in your area?
• Please submit a brief resume covering, but not limited to, education, professional and personal activities with particular emphasis on community affairs and political activism
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 36
Internal criteria for evaluating potential board of directors
1. Credibility of Individual in community
a. Local
b. National
c. International
2. State of Residency
3. Access to elected officials, Senators, Congressperson, etc
4. Access to US administration, think tanks, etc
5. Organization and other skills needed by PAKPAC
6. Capacity to raise funds
7. Source of recommendation
8. Occupation (area of expertise)
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 37
Approve
Disapprove
Approve
Notify Nominating BOD
Vote by BOD to ratify Nominating Committee decision
Current BOD reaches out to a prospective candidate for BOD position, and gets his/her concurrence
Nominating BOD submits resume of prospective BOD to Nomination Committee
Nominating Committee reviews candidacy with Nominating BOD
Vote by Nomination Committee about Candidate
Nomination Committee interviews candidate
NOMINATION PROCESS
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 38
Overlap on Issues
•
PAKPAC
PakistaniEmbassyUS
State Dept
Other PakOrganizations
People ofPakistan
People of US
AmericanMuslimGroups
AsianAmericans
ImmigrantCivil
Rights gps
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 39
Advocacy
• Local Processes
• National Processes
• Executive Government
• Think Tanks
• Media
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 41
Local Political Processes
• ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL
• Local databases for various parts of United States
• Experience and intellectual support ( Resource group)
• Financial + -(Processes are created to identify support)
• Introduction to larger community and community branding
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 42
National Political Process• Access points to Members of Congress
• Matching lists of community activists and Members
• Local capacity building- Workshops
• Staffers Update
• DC based meetings
• DC based events
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 43
Efficiency• Return on investment of time• DC Based Meetings have much
higher return.• Calculating efficiency is based on:
Out reach, message, development of “Friend” status “access” development.
• Politics is a process
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 44
Finances• Remains a challenge
• Community needs to look at this as an investment with a ROI.
• E.g. 100K investment for the Kerry Lugar$1=$75000 return
• Recent increase in 200 million dollars with 20K($1= $10,000 return)
• Buying access to educate Members.
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 46
Pakistan Champions• Member of Congress
– Easily accessible (< 1 day)– Willing to write a strong letter for you– Willing to have his/her office work for you for a
DC based initiative– Stand up and make a strong statement on your
issue in House/ Senate– Set up Senior Secretarial- Exec Govt meetings
for you.– Write, sponsor, co sponsor or support your Bill
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 47
Executive Government
• State Department• DHS• DOJ• TSA• USCIS• Inter-Agency
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 48
Think Tanks• Updates and reports are provided
to main think tanks
• Policy writers network
• Policy recommendations
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 49
COMMUNITY: Pakistani Organizational Links Development
• Events based in DC we are trying to collaborate with other groups across United States
• Experience: Some organizations are on paper• Individuals representing organizations for X yrs
with no internal processes.• No access to Members, No financial capacities• Inaccurate representations
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 50
Pressure group• US
–Obama visit request
–200 M–Pakistan
interview
• Pakistan–Oversight–Questions–Asking for
policies & positions
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 51
Web Presence• Web based events
• Web based fund raising
• Face book
• Flickr
• Wordpress Blogs
• DC based web hits the highest amongst the hits
• 5-600 hits/ day
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 52
PAC VS Foundation
• Contribution post TAX
• Contribution to political campaigns
• Can endorse reps
• Needed for political growth and process
• 501 C3
• Tax deductible
• Civil Education work
• Workshops
• Grants
• Internships
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 53
Capacity Building• Youth Leadership Workshops
• Internship
• Advocacy workshops– How to access your Member of Congress– Joining a “Day on Hill”– Effective messages
Maybe with: APPNA SAYA/ APPNA Spouse gp.
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 54
Internship• DC based one week of intense overview
of political processes in DC
• Exec Government/ DOJ/ DHS/ TSA
• Meetings with Muslim Staffers
• Meetings with Legislators
• Thank Tanks
• Media Representatives
PAKPAC Seminar at AAPNA Jul4th 55
What we need• Access to Members of Congress• Financial support for Fund Raisers• Financial support for the PAC• Community advocates• Honest, committed, selfless people willing to
build on what has been achieved• Engaged community willing to support• Young volunteers