ARLINGTON, Va.-NAFCU's recent emphasis with its members on the importance of being politically active is paying off, according to NAFCU Director of Legislative Affairs Brad Thaler. In the first half of 2003, NAFCU/PAC has raised $128,403.54, breaking its own record mid-way through the year, according to Federal Election Committee reports. The fund's previous record was just over $100,000 in 2002. In the last non-election year (2001), NAFCU/PAC raised a meager $30,500, but that figure was low partially due to the cancellation of the trade association's Congressional Caucus following the September 11 terrorist attacks. "We've tried to increase awareness of NAFCU/PAC and I think we've been successful," Thaler commented. However, he said he does not expect the rest of the year to keep up with that pace. Much of the political action committee's fundraising is done during conferences, Thaler explained, and most of the money for the golf tournament and the clambake fundraisers during Annual Conference last week was included in the data for the first half of the year. NAFCU still has its 2003 Congressional Caucus to look forward to for fundraising, he noted.