State PIRG Alumni Newsletter

Summer 2006

Global warming work is heating up With global warming on the covers of major magazines, the subject of Hollywood movies (donʼt miss Al Goreʼs An Inconvenient Truth), and in newspapers on a daily basis, momentum is growing for action on global warming in state capitols across the country and in D.C. Itʼs a good thing, too. In recent months scientists have concluded that the world is warming more quickly than expected. We already knew that sea level rise is caused by global warming, but scientists now predict an even faster rise due to the rapid melting of the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets. This summer, state PIRGs across the country are joining forces to mobilize support for long-term solutions to global warming. Fresh off a major victory on our Million Solar Roofs Initiative, Environment California, the home of CALPIRGʼs environmental program since 2003, wants the state to once again lead the way—this time on global warming. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger pledged his support for strong limits on global warming pollution at a news conference with Environment Californiaʼs Bernadette Del Chiaro in April. Now Bernadette is leading our

campaign to hold the governor to his promise to sign global warming legislation this summer. Building on recent victories on clean cars and clean energy, NJPIRGʼs Dena Mottola and Doug OʼMalley are calling on Gov. Jon Corzine to adopt a plan that would cut global warming pollution 20 percent by 2020 and 70 percent by 2050. Similarly, Environment Illinois—one of the newest state environmental groups and headed by Becky Stanfield—is asking Illinois legislators to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 10 percent over the next 10 years and 80 percent over the next 50 years. In early May, the Massachusetts Legislature took an important step toward solving global warming by giving The Global Warming Bill (SB 2475) a favorable recommendation from the environment committee at a hearing in the state house. This bill would have Massachusetts rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), an effort of eight other Northeastern states to cut global warming pollution from power plants.

—Continued on page 5

MAKING PROGRESS AGAINST GLOBAL WARMING— Environment Californiaʼs Bernadette Del Chiaro thanks Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger for his leadership on the California Solar Initiative.

In this issue . . . PIRGIM helps reduce mercury pollution . . . pg 2

Governor requires power plants to reduce mercury pollution 90 percent.

Coloradans breathe easier . . . pg 2

CoPIRG celebrates passage of Clean Indoor Air Act.

Featured Alumna Ennis Carter . . . pg 3 Ennis named one of 50 Best Women in Business by Penn. Gov. Rendell.

Meet the new alumni coordinator . . . pg 5

Kirsten Schatz will take over as the SPAN coordinator in the fall.

Grateful friends bid farewell to Gene Karpinski . . . pg 7 Gene spent 22 years as director of PIRGs’ D.C. lobbying office.

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Campaign Highlights PennPIRG Fights For Consumer Privacy Rights Testifying before the IRS on April 4, PennPIRGʼs Beth McConnell urged officials to reject a proposal that would allow H&R Block and other tax preparers to share or sell the entire contents of taxpayer filings with corporations that want the information for marketing purposes. Three weeks earlier, Beth appeared on CNBCʼs Street Signs program, advocating PIRGsʼ position, while former IRS Commissioner Donald Alexander took the other side. Please visit www.pennpirg.org to see the video.

Mercury Reduction In Michigan On April 17, Gov. Jennifer Granholm of Michigan announced that she is requiring power plants to reduce toxic mercury pollution 90 percent by 2015, a step that will clean up Michiganʼs waterways and protect the health of Michigan families. Gov. Granholmʼs announcement directs the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) to immediately begin a rule-making process to require coal-burning power plants to reduce mercury emissions. While 90 percent reductions can and should be accomplished sooner than 2015, the stateʼs action is nonetheless a welcome

milestone in PIRGIMʼs multiyear effort and a tremendous improvement over weak federal standards that would delay meaningful reductions for 20 years. Gov. Granholmʼs announcement follows similar action by the governors of Illinois and Pennsylvania, and lawsuits filed by over a dozen states (including Michigan) against the Bush administrationʼs weak mercury rules that violate the Clean Air Act.

Rex Wilmouth stands with Colorado State Sen. Dan Grossman following the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act victory.

Coloradans Breathe Easier Health groups in Colorado are celebrating the passage of House Bill 1175, the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act. The new legislation will make all bars and restaurants in Colorado smoke free starting on July 1. In March, the Colorado Legislature approved the bill and Gov. Bill Owens signed the bill into law. The Smoke Free Colorado coalition, which included CoPIRG, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, Colorado Restaurant Association and others, had been working for a statewide smoking ban for 5 years. Rex Wilmouth, director of CoPIRG says, “Itʼs a big day for the people of Colorado, given 80 percent of the population does not smoke. They can now go into

bars and restaurants and breathe clean air.” There had been an enormous outpouring of public support since the bill was introduced. More than 216 businesses and organizations, as well as a number of elected officials and City Councils, had been working for the passage of this statewide smoking ban.

WISPIRG Wins Energy Standards Wisconsin recently joined 11 other states with PIRG-spearheaded clean energy standards. The state Assembly voted unanimously in favor of a bill that requires utilities to get 10 percent of their energy from clean, renewable sources by 2015, and Gov. Jim Doyle signed the bill when it reached his desk.

Currently, Wisconsin generates 70 percent of its electricity from coal, 20 percent from nuclear power and less than one percent from clean, renewable sources. WISPIRGʼs Jen Giegerich reports the Wisconsin bill also requires the state government to purchase 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2011 and protects funding for energy efficiency and conservation. The state PIRGs have backed and won similar standards in California, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Vermont. Efforts are underway to strengthen these standards and win new rules in Arizona, Oregon, Maine and elsewhere, with a goal of dramatically ramping up demand for wind, solar and other clean alternatives to oil, gas, coal and nuclear power.

Alumni Profiles

Daniel Silverman Daniel Silverman first got involved with the PIRGs knocking on doors during the summer after his freshman year at UC Berkeley. As a student, he was on the CALPIRG board of directors and proudly remembers recruiting the freshman chef, Andre Delattre, into the chapter. He took some time off of school to work with Michael Stusser and April Smith as a campus organizing trio to win the UCLA reaffirmation vote. Daniel spent a lot of time following around UCLA basketball star Reggie Miller trying to gain his endorsement. He never got it, but they did win the big vote.

After getting his bachelors degree, Daniel moved to Washington, D.C., to be U.S. PIRGʼs field director, where he worked on clean air, clean water and fuel efficiency standards. During that time, he learned a tremendous amount from Gene Karpinski who pushed him to do better with every campaign. Before leaving the PIRGs, Daniel worked briefly on the Save our Skies campaign to stop an advertising agencyʼs plan to put mile high, mile long mylar billboards in space. Daniel, working with Dave Hamilton, led the fight to kill the plan.

Daniel, Jana, Maya and Oliver Silverman. Over the past 14 years, Daniel has worked for Jerry Brown, for the Sierra Club as national media director, for Communication Works and for Fenton Communications. In December he joined the James Irvine Foundation as the director of communications. In that capacity he oversees the

f foundationʼs external communications. Daniel lives in San Francisco with his wife Jana and two kids Maya (age 9) and Oliver (age 5). They are already hoping to make it to Alumni Aspen 2007. Contact Daniel at [email protected].

Ennis Carter: One Of PA’s Best Businesswomen Congratulations to Ennis Carter! Not only is her company, Design for Social Impact (DfSI), celebrating its tenth anniversary, but Ennis was recently named one of the Best 50 Women in Business by Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendellʼs office: http://www.newpa.com/newsDetail.aspx?id=389.

Ennis Carter at DfSI

Ennis (known to many PIRGers as Debbie Ennis) founded DfSI in 1996 to help affect social change by helping groups tell their stories. DfSI specializes in communication strategy, graphic design, web design and print

production and has supported hundreds of nonprofit organizations over the last 10 years. Prior to starting her own business, Ennis helped co-found Public Interest GRFX with Ken Ward and directed the GRFX office in Philadelphia from 1994-1996. Ennis got her start in 1987 as a NJPIRG campus organizer alongside Matt Baker, Jen Coken, Dave Pringle and Laurie Moskowitz. She fondly remembers getting up at 4 a.m. to gather petitions during morning rush hour at local train stations for the bottle bill, as well as

trucking out the 500 pound fish named Wanda for Clean Water Enforcement rallies. She spent her second year organizing at Rutgers-Newark before moving to Trenton as NJPIRGʼs administrative director in 1990, a position she held for four years. Ennis lives in Philadelphia with her husband Phil (theyʼve been married for 10 years) and their daughter Elspeth Orange Carter, who is now 2 years old. To contact Ennis, visit www. designforsocialimpact.org.

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Aspen 2007 Itʼs not too early to start planning for next yearʼs Aspen, Dec. 14-22, 2007. Come celebrate the state PIRGsʼ 35th anniversary. Only full time professional staff members who worked with one of the state PIRGs or affiliated organizations are eligible to join us in 2007. For more details contact [email protected].

Babies:

Liz Delleart Raiberti, former NJPIRG organizing director, and her husband Charles welcomed the arrival of their daughter, Lily Paige, on March 17. Amber Lynn Lane, former TOP assistant director, and her husband Erik are proud to announce the birth of Jasper Kenneth Lane on March 3. Jason Shure, former state PIRG development assistant, and Nicole Carney, former FFPIR canvass director recently celebrated the birth of their daughter Colette. On December 29, 2005, Amy Miller Keane, former MASSPIRG staffer, and her husband Peter announced the birth of their son, Eamonn Thomas Keane. Beckie Lee, former FFPIR canvass director,

and Tim Kniser, former FFPIR field manager, who met on the 1998 summer OSPIRG canvass, announce the birth of their daughter, Lucy Lee Kniser, on October 21, 2005.

Movers and Shakers:

In case you missed it, Amy Marrinan, former NJPIRG organizer, was seen at the Oscars when her sister, Corinne, won the best documentary short. Corinne thanked Amy and the camera got a shot of her in the audience. Va n e s s a K i r s c h , f o r m e r MASSPIRG board chair, is the president and founder of New Profit, Inc., a national venture philanthropy fund. Lora Wondolowski, former MASSPIRG

Alumni Updates and Ohio PIRG organizer, was recently hired as the founding Executive Director for the Mass League of Environmental Voters. Previously, she ran the New England programs for the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund and directed LCVEFʼs national student voter organization program. Steve Ma, former NJPIRG board chair and advocate, will soon be moving from AARP New Jersey to AARPʼs Office of Social Impact in DC. He will be focusing on preserving Medicare and Social Security as well as defending consumers. Seth Kilbourn, former FFPIR canvass director, recently joined Equality Californiaʼs staff as political director. Kathleen Traphagen, former MASSPIRG and Publications staffer, was recently named senior partner at Summit Collaborative, a consulting group for nonprofits and foundations, founded by alumnus Marc Osten.

Ellynne Bannon, former state PIRG higher education advocate, recently joined Congresswoman Nancy Pelosiʼs D.C.-based outreach staff. Ben Prochazka, former USPIRG field organizer and ecopledge organizer, is currently working for the Save Darfur Coalition. Frank Houston, former Illinois PIRG associate, is currently the Center for Progressive Leadershipʼs program manager in Michigan. Amie Diffenauer, former NJCWW organizer, is currently working with ROSE Community Development in Portland, Ore. as a community organizer. Daniel Malarkey, former MASSPIRG bottle bill organizer, is the president of a new company called Washington Biodiesel LLC. Morgan Sheets, former MASSPIRG campus organizer, recently started a new position with the Amputee Coalition of America as its national campaign director. K.D. Parman and Jeana Frazzini, both former FFPIR canvass

New Babies

Eamonn Thomas Keane

Lily Paige Raiberti

Jasper Kenneth Lane

Lucy Lee Kniser

directors, filed a lawsuit in April against the State of Oregon for same-sex parental rights. Will Haynes-Morrow, former FFPIR assistant director, is working with Human Translation, a nonprofit that raises awareness and funds for people in need in Balang, Cambodia. Daphne Sorensen, former GC organizer (ʻ02) and USPIRG Field Organizer in Florida, is moving to Mozambique to work with Save the Children UK as the organizationʼs provincial manager in Zambezia province. She plans to be in Mozambique for at least 2 years. David Yeager, former MASSPIRG organizer, has recently returned to the states from three years in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where he served as International Attorney and Registrar of the Human Rights Chamber for Bosnia and Herzegovina. Marianne Zugel, former Frontier Group staffer, recently completed a film entitled “Powder River Country,” documenting coalbed methane development in Montana. The idea for the film originated with a CoPIRG energy report she worked on.

Michelle Ehlen, former PIRG Media Center staffer, runs her own film production company called Ballet Diesel Films. One of her short films, “Half-Laughing,” is now being distributed through Wolfe Video. Check it out at www.balletdiesel.com. Lev Anderson, former OSPIRG associate, is currently working with Collective Eye, a nonprofit film studio that recently released an award-winning documentary, “The Real Dirt On Farmer John,” the story of a progressive farm community. Sara Rasmussen, former FFPIR pre-recruitment staffer, is currently the Sales and Marketing Associate with Idealbite.com. Rob Berridge, former Green Century Funds marketing associate, is launching a new project called wikiforgood.org, a site similar to wikipedia that focuses on boosting the public good. Liz Russell, former FFPIR regional director, recently graduated from UC Boulder with a Masters in Geography. She now works with Trout Unlimited on abandoned hardrock mine cleanups in Colorado.

Global Warming —Continued from page 1 In a recent victory, Brad Heavner helped convince the Maryland Legislature to join the RGGI.

Kirsten Schatz will be the state PIRGs’ new alumni coordinator.

Glenn Barnes, former FFPIR canvass director and sustainer coordinator, will be starting his Masters in Public Administration at UNC this fall. Chris MacClinchy, former FFPIR canvass director and TOP staffer, will be starting his Masterʼs program in Urban Planning at the University of Southern Maine this fall. Please send alumni news, updates and photos to [email protected].

Welcome The New Alumni Coordinator Kirsten Schatz will be taking over the State PIRG Alumni Network Coordinator position this summer after she wraps up her San Diego assistant canvass director duties. For the last year and a half, Kirsten has been the campus organizer at University of

California San Diego working with students on hurricane relief, affordable education and the Million Solar Roofs Initiative. Originally from New Jersey, Kirsten graduated from Rice University in 2003 with degrees in Environmental Science and Sociology.

Afterwards she joined the central staff of the New Voters Project where she recruited dozens of staff for the project as well as assistant directed the get-out-the-vote office based in Denver. You can contact Kirsten at [email protected].

Arizona PIRGʼs Diane Brown released “Blueprint for Action,” a report offering concrete steps for cutting the stateʼs global warming pollution by adopting policies which would lead to cleaner cars, more efficient energy use and more solar and other clean, renewable energy sources. It contains 14 policy strategies that would help Arizona stabilize emissions despite population growth. OSPIRG has launched its Clean Energy for Oregon campaign calling on the state to get 25 percent of its energy from clean sources by 2025. OSPIRG also wants to expand the Energy Trust of Oregon to fund even more conservation and renewable energy projects. At the federal level, U.S. PIRGʼs staff is working to introduce new bills in the House and Senate to reduce global warming 60 to 80 percent by 2050. Through the efforts of our staff, we will build a core of support for our statewide and national global warming campaigns this summer. To read the latest updates about our global warming work nationwide, visit www. pirg.org.

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Environment Texas and Environment Maryland Launched On March 22, alumni, coalition partners, legislators and staff met up at a local Austin venue to announce the new home of TexPIRGʼs environmental work.

Environment Maine staff Matthew Davis and Heidi Overbeck with alumni Amanda Sears, Amy Thompson, Maggie Drummond and Craig Brown at the recent Maine alumni social.

Luke Metzger, joined by alumni Stephanie Carter, Clarence Johnson, Justin Ruben, Tedd Siff, Larry Warshaw, Melissa DeHaan, Cris Feldman and Tara Losoff, officially announced the creation of Environment Texas.

On May 4, Brad Heavner officially announced the creation of Environment Maryland, the new home of MaryPIRGʼs environmental work. At the event, he was joined by approximately 30 staff, alumni, legislators and coalition partners. Brad is also happy to announce that Johanna Neumann (former Green Corps class of 2002 and Toxics Action Center organizer) will be rejoining staff as MaryPIRGʼs public interest advocate.

Current Career Opportunities With The State PIRGs And Affiliated Organizations For more information, please visit www.pirg.org/jobs. You can also call Dana Dorman at 617-747-4321. • Media/Arts and Entertainment Industry Organizer, State PIRGs Location: Los Angeles, CA Raise visibility and deepen the state PIRGs’ access with the national media and the arts & entertainment industry. Package and pitch stories to reporters, producers and other journalists, and build our political network by reaching out to artists, publicists and key contacts in the entertainment industry to involve them in our programs and campaigns. • Preservation Advocate, U.S. PIRG Location: Washington, D.C. Lead our federal efforts to advocate for the preservation of publicly owned forests and the critical wildlife habitat, clean drinking water, and recreational opportunities they provide. Conduct research, create policy solutions, lobby, cultivate relationships with media and coalition partners, and fundraise for U.S. PIRG’s preservation program. • Web Developer, State PIRGs Location: Philadelphia Improve and upgrade the Web presence of over 30 organizations around the country. Work with designers, online organizers and message developers to

refine the look, navigation and structure of our sites. Create new tools, develop and promote new designs and strategies, and train staff around the country on how to keep key parts of their sites up to date. • Associate Director of Hiring, State PIRGs Location: Boston, MA Recruit and hire experienced staff to work for the state PIRGs and affiliated groups as advocates, attorneys, organizing directors, program directors, and more. • Field Director, Environmental Action Location: Boston or D.C. Expand the influence of the organization by building long-term political power and access to decisionmakers, representatives of key constituencies, experts, media and activists. Mobilize that network around environmental campaigns that protect from special interest polluters and their allies in government. • Grantseeking Department Director, State PIRGs Location: Los Angeles Oversee the organization’s development staff and grant writers to assist the grantseeking efforts of over 150 environmental and public interest attorneys, advocates, organizers, and scientists across the country.

“A lot of people, including me, love Gene Karpinski for living his life in a way that lifts up and inspires the rest of us.” —alumnus Joel Ario

Additional Nonprofit Career Opportunities Check out these career opportunities around the United • Work with alumna Heather Smith at Young Voter States. Strategies in Washington, D.C. Open positions include National Field Coordinator and Research Associate. To list open positions, e-mail [email protected]. Send resume & cover letter to Info@YoungVoterStrat egies.org. • Work with alumna Aisling Kerins in Seattle, WA on the No on 933 campaign as an organizer. Send resume • Alumnus Steve Ma is seeking to fill AARP New & cover letter to [email protected]. Jersey’s Associate State Director of Advocacy position. Send resume & cover letter to [email protected]. • Work with alumnus Tawal Panyacosit at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center. They are seeking a Field Organizer for • The League to Save Lake Tahoe is seeking a skilled the Vote for Equality campaign. Send resume & cover and passionate Program Director to implement its letter to [email protected]. conservation and communications programs. Send resume & cover letter to [email protected].

1. How many postcards did Gene deliver to President Clinton in 2000 to protect the nationʼs roadless forests? 2. What bone did Gene break in the 2005 PIRG basketball tournament? 3. How many couches did Gene sleep on when traveling to brief state PIRG staff on federal issues? 4. Who walks faster—Gene Karpinski or Roadrunner? 5. How many oil companies have set up shop in the Arctic Refuge on Geneʼs watch?

1. 1.6 million

U.S. PIRG Preservation Advocate Athan Manuel shared

“A national lobby director with so much respect for field seems impossible— LCV is lucky to have Gene.” —alumna Julie Miles

Answers:

—Rep. Ed Markey

“I admire your tenacity and y o u r c o n t i n u e d e n e rg y. ” —Rep. Sherwood Boehlert

2. his nose

“If PIRGers wore jerseys, they would have to retire your number!”

Doug Phelps, Chair of U.S. PIRG, paid tribute to Gene with his remarks and presented him with a Grateful Dead-inspired T-shirt from his “Grateful Friends.” Listed on the back of the shirt were campaigns Gene helped lead in true tour fashion.

Thanks to all the alumni who shared stories about Gene. We compiled them in a scrapbook full of photos and presented it to Gene later in the evening. Below youʼll find a few excerpts from friendsʼ comments.

Once a month for 22 years, Gene would begin Monday morning staff meetings with a quiz, testing whether his staff had been following the news and reading the PIRG field update. (In fact, he announced that he and his wife Elizabeth Collaton were expecting their first child in a bonus question.) Hereʼs a quick quiz to test your knowledge of Geneʼs 22 years with the PIRGs.

4. Gene

Rep. Ed Markey and Gene Karpinski at Gene’s going away party.

On April 5, friends, family, coalition partners, alumni and congressional members joined us at the Frederick Douglass Museum in Washington, D.C. to poke a little bit of fun at Gene as well as thank him for his hard work and dedication to fighting the good fight.

more recent stories about Geneʼs fashionable Jerry Garcia ties and some members of the Capitol Hill Policeʼs ʻloveʼ of Gene.

Gene’s Quiz!

3. too many to count

After 22 years as U.S. PIRGʼs only executive director, Gene Karpinski started his new position as President of the League of Conservation Voters.

5. none . . . and he will continue that fight at LCV.

Thank you, Gene Karpinski!

Save The Date You’re invited to an alumni social near you! Staff and alumni are organizing social events all across the U.S. this year. Check out the summer social dates below. For more details and to RSVP visit: www.pirg.org/alumni/calendar.html. If youʼd like to host a social event in your city, contact [email protected]. New Brunswick, New Jersey Contact Doug OʼMalley: [email protected]

July 22

Denver, Colorado July 22 Contact Matt Baker: [email protected]

The State PIRG Alumni Network 1536 Wynkoop Street, Suite 100 Denver, CO 80202 www.pirg.org/alumni

Address Service Requested

Alumni Pam Gilbert, Kathleen Welch and Gene Karpinski at Karpinski’s going away party.

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