The Public Affairs Council is the leading international association for public affairs professionals. Its mission is to advance the field of public affairs and to provide tools and resources that enable public affairs executives and managers to achieve their business and professional goals.

Launched in 1954 at the urging of President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the Council provides unique information, training and other resources to its members to support their effective participation in government, community and public relations activities at all levels. Through the Council, more than 600 member companies and associations [1] work together to enhance the value and professionalism of the public affairs practice, and to provide thoughtful leadership as corporate citizens.

The Council provides many important member benefits, including:

Individualized Counseling

The Council's professional staff is available to answer questions, provide information, research and other resources on a variety of topics [2]. We encourage members to contact us with questions about grassroots advocacy, PAC fundraising and administration, lobbying/ethics laws, federal and state lobbying, global public affairs, crisis communications, community involvement and general public affairs issues. We'll also connect you with colleagues in other organizations who have faced challenges similar to yours.

Training, Education & Networking

The Council is the undisputed market leader in professional development programs [3] for public affairs professionals. Our reputation has been built on effective and timely seminars covering key topics for entry to senior-level professionals. Each year, we sponsor more than 30 major conferences, roundtables, and workshops, plus teleconferences on emerging issues and best practices. Members of the Public Affairs Council receive preferred pricing and registration for our limited-attendance programs.

Council education programs focus on peer-to-peer training and development - and they offer outstanding networking [4] opportunities. Members of the Council also get actively involved in task forces and advisory groups that guide the organization's programs and services.

If you need guidance on which educational program is right for you, please consult our Guide to Professional Development in Public Affairs [5] or feel free to contact us at 202.872.1790 or pac@pac.org [6].

Research & Consulting Services

We provide benchmarking [7] and management-consulting services [8] exclusively to member organizations. The Council works with individual companies and associations to ensure that they are utilizing a best-practices approach to public affairs. We can also help you benchmark your staff size and budgets against those from similar companies, align public affairs goals with business goals, develop tools to measure the value of public affairs and conduct other research projects that meet your individual needs.

In addition, the Council publishes benchmarking reports [9] on PAC management, grassroots, Washington office administration, state and local government relations, and related subjects.

E-Services

The members-only section of the Council's Web site serves as an extensive on-line community of public affairs professionals. It contains in-depth information on a variety of program areas. Members of the Council may also participate in various on-line "e-communities" - peer-to-peer discussion groups.

The Council offers its members complimentary subscriptions to the Public Affairs News Monitor [10], a twice-monthly electronic newsletter covering major news stories about trends affecting the public affairs profession.

Publications

The Public Affairs Council, in conjunction with the Foundation for Public Affairs [11], produces numerous useful publications each year. Members of the Council enjoy complimentary subscriptions to Impact [12], the Council's award-winning newsletter, and the Public Affairs Management Report [13] series.

Membership

Members [14] of the Council are Fortune 500 corporations, emerging growth companies, associations, and consulting firms at the forefront of the public affairs profession. The firm-based membership structure of the Council allows a member's entire public affairs staff to participate and benefit from the membership.

Annual membership dues [15] for the Public Affairs Council are based on the industry sector and, if applicable, annual sales for your organization. The Public Affairs Council is a 501(c)(4) organization. As such, your dues may be deductible as a business expense.

Our membership includes thousands of professionals in the field, including:

• Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents of:
  • Public Affairs
  • Corporate Affairs
  • External Affairs
  • Government Relations
  • Communications
  • State Government Relations
  • Community Relations, and
  • Corporate Foundations
• Heads of Washington, D.C., offices
• Grassroots and PAC Managers
• Legislative Representatives
• Media Relations Directors
• Directors of International Affairs
• Public Policy Analysts
• Other Public Affairs Staff

Governance

The Public Affairs Council is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors [16] comprised of industry leaders. The Council's Executive Committee [17], which provides the day-to-day governance of our programs and activities, is made up of 15 executives who have demonstrated strong support for the Council as members of the Board or Directors.

Board members are typically outstanding, senior-level executives who have demonstrated a commitment to upholding the mission and goals of the Public Affairs Council. Nominations for the Board of Directors are solicited each year in July; members may nominate themselves or their peers. Board members serve a two-year term. For a current list of our Board members, please visit www.pac.org/board [18].

The Council encourages general members to take an active role in our governance by participating in task forces [19].