If the PAC Is “Separate,” Why Does It Dominate Everything We Do?

Distraction: The PAC is separate from the Association.

Fact: If it were truly separate, why are we hit with PAC fundraising at every dues renewal, meeting, and email? Why does Association leadership attack us when we question RPAC? In practice, the PAC is treated as more important than the Code of Ethics itself.

The Story We’re Told

When REALTORS® raise concerns about RPAC endorsements or fundraising tactics, the standard defense is:
“Don’t confuse the PAC with the Association — they’re separate.”

That claim doesn’t match what members actually experience.

The Reality We Live

Dues Renewals: Every year, RPAC “optional donations” are pre-checked on renewal forms. If you don’t notice, you pay.
Meetings and Conferences: From local luncheons to state conventions, REALTORS® are constantly pressured to give — raffles, auctions, “fair share” campaigns, and public shaming of non-donors.
Emails and Calls: Association communications are packed with PAC asks, often more frequent than updates on professional development or ethics.
Leadership Pressure: Raise concerns about RPAC endorsements, and you’ll often face backlash — sometimes stronger than if you questioned a Code of Ethics violation.

This is not separation. This is integration.

The Bigger Problem

When PAC loyalty becomes the measure of REALTOR® commitment, the Code of Ethics gets sidelined. We end up with a culture where fundraising is treated as more important than Article 10 — the very heart of our promise of fairness, equity, and nondiscrimination.

That inversion of values is dangerous. It corrodes trust, alienates members, and undermines the REALTOR® brand.

The Bottom Line

If RPAC were truly separate, it wouldn’t dominate dues bills, meetings, and leadership agendas. The reality is clear: the PAC is treated as more important than the Code of Ethics. REALTORS® deserve better — an Association that puts ethics first, not fundraising.