IVP Larry McManamon accepts the award for highest LEF contribution by a local lodge on behalf of Local 83 (Kansas City, Mo.) from D-PA Bridget Martin.
Funds support pro-worker candidates, member education
TOP DONORS TO CAF and LEF in 2012 received recognition during the 45th annual Legislative Education Action (LEAP) conference in Washington, D.C., May 5-9. The awards went to vice-presidential sections, individual lodges, and individual members.
CAF (Campaign Assistance Fund) is how our union contributes money to candidates for federal office. It is used primarily to make contributions to election campaigns for the U.S. House and Senate. Because CAF is a political action committee (PAC) fund, donations to it are completely voluntary. CAF money cannot come from a lodge’s treasury or dues; it can only come from donations or fund-raising activities. And only active and retired Boilermakers, and their immediate families, may give.
The conference recognized the Great Lakes (IVP Larry McManamon) for the highest CAF contribution by a section in 2012 — $124,806.27. Local 154, Pittsburgh, received the award for largest CAF contribution by a local lodge, raising $78,627.89. Local 11, Helena, Mont., won for highest average CAF contribution per member at $54.36. The top individual member CAF fundraiser award went to Gerard “Mozzy” Maciejewski, Local 107 (Milwaukee, Wis.), who raised $4,967.
Retirees contributed a total of $99,766.02 to CAF in 2012. International staff and officers contributed another $50,129.50.
In addition, pre-conference donations and those made during the event totaled $9,115. “This total is among the top — and could well be the highest — amount raised during registration and the actual event,” said Political Affairs Director Bridget Martin.
In all, Boilermakers donated $516,846.87 to CAF in 2012, a drop of 11.9 percent over 2011.
LEF donors recognized
THE LEGISLATIVE EDUCATION Fund (LEF) is the Boilermakers’ non-federal “527” account, which is used to influence elections to state and/or local office and to offices in political party organizations. It is not used for direct contributions to federal candidates but may be used for public communications about them. The LEF account should be spent exclusively for election-related purposes, or only insubstantially for other purposes, such as legislative activities.
The award for the highest LEF contribution for a section in 2012 went to the Great Lakes (IVP Larry McManamon), which raised $60,602.22. Local 83 (Kansas City, Mo.) won the award for the highest contribution by a local, with $28,221.02. The highest average contribution per member went to Local 13 (Philadelphia) at $1.92 per month.
LEF contributions in 2012 totaled $237,807.21, an increase of 12.76 percent over 2011.
| Top 10 Local Lodge CAF and LEF Contributors in 2012 |
|||||
| Top 10 locals giving to CAF | Top 10 locals donating to LEF | Local 154 | Pittsburgh | $78,627.89 | Local 83 | Kansas City, Mo. | $28,221.02 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local 92 | Los Angeles | $38,137.41 | Local 13 | Philadelphia | $23,988.75 |
| Local 549 | Pittsburg, Calif. | $30,167.97 | District 57 | Chattanooga, Tenn. | $10,000.00 |
| Local 5 | New York | $19,758.76 | Local 549 | Pittsburg, Calif. | $8,407.00 |
| Local 374 | Hammond, Ind. | $19,687.55 | Local 502 | Tacoma, Wash. | $7,592.65 |
| Local 85 | Toledo, Ohio | $16,156.56 | Local 104 | Seattle | $6,580.00 |
| Local 744 | Cleveland | $13,450.52 | Local 60 | Peoria, Ill. | $6,132.75 |
| Local 105 | Piketon, Ohio | $13,408.00 | Local 154 | Pittsburgh | $5,034.25 |
| Local 1 | Chicago | $12,620.91 | Local 374 | Hammond, Ind. | $3,670.50 |
| Local 11 | Helena, Mont. | $10,592.08 | Local 693 | Pascagoula, Miss. | $3,412.50 |
