In November of odd-numbered years, seats in the Virginia General Assembly are open to election. Each of us has the opportunity and the responsibility to help achieve a state legislative body that will provide an environment which will foster the prosperity of our industry. One vehicle available to maximize this opportunity is the Wood Products Political Action Committee of Virginia (WoodPAC).
Q. What Is The "WoodPAC?" A. The PAC is a non-partisan, statewide, voluntary, non-profit committee of people interested in the promotion of the wood products industry in Virginia government. It is registered with the Virginia Board of Elections and operates in strict conformity with the law.
Q. Who Does It Represent? A. WoodPAC represents all regions of the state, small companies and large...all segments of the industry, from the sawmill and logger to the pallet plant, wood preserver, pulp mill and landowner. The underlying principles we all share are the desire for a healthy forest products industry and the wise use of our forest resources.
Q. Why Is WoodPAC Necessary? A. It's not getting any easier to promote our industry's message in Richmond. As you are well aware, there are many vocal groups who are anti-logging, anti-trucking, anti-business, and anti-forest products.
We are constantly reading about the shift of power in the General Assembly from the rural areas to the urban and suburban regions, and the recent redistricting underscores this. Although we have numerous friends in these areas, many legislators from these regions do not have the knowledge of our industry that legislators in rural areas do. Because of this, we must join together to support those legislators (both rural and urban) who can support us.
Q. What Are Its Purposes?  A. The purposes of WoodPAC are:
  1. To promote and strive for the improvement of government by encouraging and stimulating the forest products industry to take a more active and effective part in governmental affairs.
  2. To encourage and promote the preservation, protection, and furtherance of the private enterprise system. 
  3. To encourage the forest products industry to understand the nature and actions of government as to important political issues and as to the records of officeholders and candidates for elective office.
  4. To assist the forest products industry in organizing for more effective political action and in carrying out its civic responsibility.
  5. To support financially those candidates for state election who are knowledgeable and/or supportive of our industry needs.
  6. To create an awareness among candidates of the importance of the forest products industry.
Q. Who Can Contribute to The WoodPAC?  A. Any individual, association, board, partnership, or corporation can contribute to the WoodPAC.
Q. What Are The Basic Rules In Asking People To Give To The WoodPAC? A. According to the law, contributions must be completely voluntary and not secured by physical force, job discrimination, financial reprisal, threat or force, or as a condition of employment. Also, the potential contributor must, at the time of solicitation, be informed of the political purpose of the PAC and of his right to refuse to contribute without any reprisal.
Q. Why Won't The WoodPAC Contribute To National Campaigns? A. The WoodPAC is strictly a state committee and, by law, cannot contribute funds to federal candidates. There are already national political action committees working on behalf of our industry. Also, federal law forbids corporate contributions to political action committees, but Virginia law does not. The WoodPAC will use your donations in Virginia, where we work to have your voice heard in the Virginia legislature.
Q. Are These Contributions Deductible? A. The tax Reform Act of 1986 removed many deductions available previously, including the deduction for contributions to political entities (candidates, PAC's, etc). However, you may still contribute according to your wishes and any amount you desire.
Q. What Kinds Of Contributions Are Available? A. There are two types of contributions, General and Designated.
GENERAL Contributions are placed in the PAC general fund to be distributed according to selection criteria established by the WoodPAC Trustees. The Trustees have been selected by the Board of the Lumber Manufacturers' Association of Virginia and are representative of the wood products industry in the Commonwealth.
DESIGNATED Contributions can be earmarked for a specific candidate or group of candidates. We forward it to the candidate on your behalf. This way both you and the forest products industry benefit and get credit!
Q. Is The WoodPAC Affiliated With Any Major Political Party?  A. NO!
It is bound neither by Democratic nor Republican (or other) party labels. The WoodPAC has contributed to both Democrats and Republicans as well as Independents since its inception in 1987. The program, platform, and past support of the candidate as it relates to our industry are some of the factors we use to determine who the WoodPAC supports...not the candidate's party affiliation.
Q. Does Your Contribution Really Help?  A. Certainly. The WoodPAC works like our Association ... developing effectiveness through cooperative action.
Q. What Has The WoodPAC Already Done? A. The WoodPAC has been active since the 1987 elections, authorizing contributions to numerous legislators. This commitment to an effective political action program has had a definite effect on how we are viewed by the legislature. We should (and could) be doing much more, however, but have been limited in our involvement by the need for additional funds. Your contribution is needed to continue our industry's growth.
Q. What Is The WoodPAC's Policy Regarding Incumbents?  A. It is the primary philosophy of the WoodPAC to support current legislative friends first. Unfortunately, because of limited funds, it seems we always run our of money before we run out of friends. As the WoodPAC's funds increase sufficiently, we would like to be more active in supporting non-incumbents. In the 1993 elections, the WoodPAC received sufficient contributions to begin to participate in "non-incumbent" elections.
Q. How Much Of My Contribution Is Taken Up By "Overhead?" A. Not one thin dime! 100% of your contribution is used for the stated purposes of the WoodPAC.
Q. I Hear Negative Comments About PAC's. What Are PAC's Really About? A. According to the Constitutions of the United States and the Commonwealth of Virginia, individuals have a right to band together to petition their governments and participate in the election of their governmental representatives. This right of participation includes financial support of candidates. Many people have sacrificed their lives to provide this freedom that other countries can only dream about. Our founding fathers designed our system to encourage citizens to take an active role such as this.
Q. Isn't The WoodPAC Just Another Charity?  A. Not unless you consider helping your own industry (and therefore yourself) a charity. Through the WoodPAC wood industry members have an opportunity to be heard, to make their influence felt through the power of collective action, and help to elect candidates who are willing to listen to our industry's needs and views.
Q. How Do I Get Involved With WoodPAC? A. All you need to do is print out and complete the Contribution Form and mail it with your check, to the Virginia Forest Products Association (address noted on form). Please remember, GeneralContribution checks should be made out to the WoodPAC and Designated Contribution checks should be made out to the individual candidate.

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