U.S. PIRG Education Fund Announces “Health Insurance 101” On Aug. 16, U.S. PIRG Educa-tion Fund celebrated the kick-off of its new health care outreach and education effort focusing on young Americans.

“We’re excited to reach out to young people at four-year and community college campuses across the country to share facts and tips about how to make the most of new health coverage options and tools while they are at school and after graduation,” said Laura Etherton, director of the campaign for U.S. PIRG Education Fund.

The outreach effort comes as the Affordable Care Act’s “health insurance marketplaces” open in states across the country. The project will engage the crucial demographic of Americans in their 20s, who have often found health insurance out of reach.

“Many students are uninsured or at risk of losing coverage soon—either by losing coverage under their parents’ plan when they turn 26, or by graduating and losing student coverage,” said Anne Filipic, president of Enroll America. “This project is critical to put good information into students’ hands when they need to find coverage.”

The campaign includes plans to reach out to hundreds of thou-sands of students at more than 100 campuses across at least 11 states, and may expand to in-clude more states and campuses. Initial states include Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, New Jersey, North Carolina, Michigan, Tex-as, and Washington. The project is supported in part by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

U.S. PIRG Education Fund has a 40-year history of campus en-gagement. Through the outreach effort, staff, student volunteers, and interns will connect with the campus community across the state, both online and in-person. The project is focusing on sharing practical tips for find-ing quality coverage that won’t break the bank, as well as a more in-depth young person’s guide to health insurance.

Find out more about the effort on campuses and check out the tips and online guide for young people at www.studentpirgs.org.

Then share this valuable resource with the millennials in your life through email, Facebook, or Twitter: #healthinsurance101 #getcovered.

Fall 2013State PIRG Alumni Newsletter

Students have lots of questions about how to make the most of the new health care options coming online this year. U.S. PIRG Education Fund’s Health Insurance 101 educational materials feature photos like this one to highlight common questions, and provide facts and tips young people need to make informed decisions about health insurance.

In This Issue . . . Program Highlights … pg 2Updates from campaign work across the country.

Alumni News … pgs 3-6Read about featured alumnus Tom Novick and many others.

Introducing Accelerate Change … pg 7Meet one of the newest groups in The Public Interest Network.

Job Opportunities … pg 7Check out these job listings for yourself or a friend.

Save the Date . . . pg 8Check to see if there’s an alumni party coming up near you, and save the date for Aspen 2015!

Photo credit: Nicole Barker

Frack Action: Groups Fight Dirty Drilling This summer, Environment America and Environmental Action worked with allies to generate more than 1 million public comments calling on President Obama to protect our national forests, national parks, and other public lands from the dirty drilling process known as fracking.

Across the country, fracking operations have contaminated drinking water sources, made nearby residents sick, and turned pristine areas into industrial zones. Now the oil and gas industry is pushing to bring its dirty drilling to places like White River National Forest in Colorado and the Delaware River basin, which provides drinking water for 15 million people.

As part of a yearlong campaign against fracking, Environment America issued a white paper pointing out that allowing drilling in such places would violate a key recommendation of the Obama administration’s own advisory panel: to keep sensitive and/or unique areas off-limits to drilling. And this summer, Environment Colorado’s canvass alerted more than 14,000 Coloradans about national forests and other places at risk from fracking.

Meanwhile, Environmental Action joined groups like MoveOn and Democracy for

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On Aug. 7, the Coalition to Update the Bottle Bill announced their decision to file for the 2014 ballot. Holding the banner is MASSPIRG Executive Director Janet Domenitz. To her right is Rep. Jon Hecht, the House sponsor of the Updated Bottle Bill.

Campaign Highlights

MASSPIRG: Bottle Bill Battle Wages On Back in 1982, MASSPIRG led the fight to pass the original Bottle Bill, setting a five-cent deposit on beer and soda bottles and cans in order to promote recycling and to reduce waste. As a result of this first statewide recycling program, today, 80 percent of bottles and cans covered under the Bottle Bill in Massachusetts are recycled instead of buried or burned.

But only 20 percent of containers not covered under this deposit law end up being recycled. That adds up to more than 1 billion water, energy, and sports drink bottles per year that get thrown into landfills or burned in incinerators. The updated bill that would add

these new containers has been blocked in the Legislature for the past 13 years by big business—like supermarkets, liquor retailers, and distributors that don’t want any responsibility for the mess these littered containers make.

On Aug . 7 , MASSPIRG filed a petition with the state to put an Updated Bottle Bill on the November 2014 ballot. This ballot initiative is being undertaken by a coalition of over 90 organizations, and already over 200 cities and towns in the Commonwealth have passed resolutions in support of the update. According to a statewide poll conducted by MassINC Polling Group, 77 percent of Massachusetts residents support an update of the bottle bill.

America in calling for a complete ban on fracking on all public lands at an Aug. 22 rally, as the comment period on the Bureau of Land Management’s weak proposed rules for fracking came to a close. “Our public lands are a national treasure and a sacred trust passed from one generation of Americans to another,” said Drew Hudson of Environmental Action. “Fracking has no place on our public lands, and these citizens are calling on the President and the Bureau of Land Management to say: ‘Yes, we can ban fracking.’”

Celebrating a Landmark Victory for ConsumersThe U.S. PIRG-backed Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA) turned five on Aug. 14. PIRG celebrated by citing the law’s five most significant results: the SaferProducts.gov database; third-party premarket testing for children’s products; the reduction of lead in children’s products through lower lead limits; strong mandatory standards for cribs and other infant and toddler products; and a mandatory safety standard for children’s toys.

“The CPSIA represents the most comprehensive strengthening of product safety laws in a generation,” stated Rachel Weintraub , a lumna and legislative director and senior counsel at Consumer Federation of America.

Alumni Profile

Like many fellow alumni, work-ing with the PIRGs was a de-fining life experience for Tom Novick. He credits the training he received and what he learned from working with PIRG for where he is today, and counts many fellow PIRGers among his life-long friends.

Originally hailing from Buffalo, Tom embarked on his college career at SUC Buffalo, where he is said to have majored in PIRG. Tom was elected to the NYPIRG board, and then Jay Halfon ran his successful bid for chair of the board. Serving as chair of “National PIRG,” Tom met and worked with people like Ken Ward and C.B. Pearson.

After his stint as national chair ended in 1980, Tom hit the road for a while, raising money at Har-ry Chapin concerts nationwide. He returned to NYPIRG for two

Tom Novick years as an assistant director, and then in 1983 headed west to Oregon to become the executive director of OSPIRG.

While at the helm of OSPIRG, Tom got to work with people like Kerry Barnett, Eric Stachon, Jon Stubenvoll, Bob Jenks, Jeff Bissonette, and Louise Tippens. During this time, OSPIRG cel-ebrated a huge victory by pass-ing the ballot measure to create the Citizens Utility Board. With opposition outspending them 40 to 1, the scrappy team employed a smart strategy and field op-eration—and won. It was also during this time that Tom met Telephone Outreach Project As-sistant Director Wendy Smith. The two started dating later on, and this past summer, celebrated their 24th wedding anniversary.

Tom left his position at OSPIRG to run for the state Legislature, and then fellow alumnus Steve McCarthy hired Tom as the first business manager of Portland’s

Clear Creek Distillery. It took two tries, but in 1990, Tom won election as a state representative. He served a term before being redistricted out.

After a three-year stint with the Western States Center, alumnus Donald Ross recruited Tom to launch the Oregon office of M+R Strategic Services. Today, Tom is one of M+R’s three principals, along with fellow alumni Sarah DiJulio and Bill Wasserman. They count dozens of alumni among their staff of over 100, and always find Public Interest Network training a valuable asset in their job candidates.

At M+R, Tom works with foun-dations, individuals, and organi-zations doing strategic advising, assessments, and evaluations. He enjoys the opportunity this role affords him to help move money into good causes, help groups and campaigns be more effec-tive, and of course interact with old friends across the country.

Tom lives in Portland with Wen-dy and their twin 16-year-old daughters, Claire and Lanie. You can reach Tom via email at tnovick@mrss.com.

A legacy of environmental protection

We’ve worked together to protect the environment, and made some real progress. But there’s much more to do to create the cleaner, greener, healthier world we all want to live in. Our planned giving program can help maintain your commitment to the planet into the future. Ask us how: 1-800-841-7299 or plannedgiving@environmentamerica.org

A legacy of environmental protection

OSPIRG Dedicates Office to the Late Quincy SugarmanOn Aug. 23, OSPIRG dedicated its newly reno-vated office building in Portland to the late Quincy Sugarman. Quincy was OSPIRG’s environmental advocate from 1988 until her tragic passing from lupus in 1994. Among her achieve-ments was the passage of Oregon’s Toxics Use and Hazardous Waste Reduc-tion Act, one of the first laws in the country to require polluters to reduce their use of toxic chemi-cals. Quincy’s family, friends, and Public Interest Network alumni, staff, and volunteers attended the dedication ceremony. OS-PIRG Executive Director Dave Rosenfeld shared a word of welcome, Quincy’s mother read a poem, and Quincy’s sister performed a luau dance in memory of Quincy. Sev-eral attendees shared their memories of Quincy, and the group enjoyed dinner together after the ceremo-ny. This commemorative plaque now hangs in the building’s lobby.

Jenny Lee’s son, PaxtonCalvin Robert Faulring-Jonas Henry Strom Gillespie

Page 4

Alumni Updates

WEDDINGS AND BABIES:

Alumna Kat Barr married Alex Olivas on June 22 in the Rocky Mountains outside of Nederland, Colo., where the couple resides. Alumnae Janine Benner and Liz Guertin served as bridesmaids, and alumni Lisa Archer, Clayt Freed, Gigi Kellett, Tracey King, Mary McClelland, Lexi Shultz, and Julie Wolk were on hand to help the couple celebrate.

Lincoln Carter Slusher was born to Jacqui Bay Slusher and her husband, Will, on May 31 in Charlottesville, Va. Lincoln is currently trying to figure out his football loyalties, but as his mother is very convincing, he is leaning toward Auburn.

Alumna Kathy Chan and her husband, Eric, celebrated the birth of their son, Miles, in May in Chicago.

Alumna Amy Faulring and her husband, Dave Jonas, celebrated the birth of Calvin Robert

Faulring-Jonas on Aug. 20 in Boston.

Alumni Evan Gillespie and Julie Strom welcomed Henry Strom Gillespie to the world in November 2012 in Culver City, Calif.

Alumnus Arshad Hasan married Abbott Stark on June 1 in Stowe, Vt. Alumni Derek Brockbank, Kirsten Collings and Mark Hays, Ben and Jess Edgerly Walsh, Amy Faulring, Sam Goldman, Rachel Harold, Bryan Hirsch, Alex Klaessig and Meghan Shaw, Jesse Littlewood, James and Mia (Scampini) Moore, and Sudha Nandagopal were in attendance. The wedding even generated a news hit: read the incredibly moving story about how Arshad’s father finally expressed his support for Arshad and Abbott here: http://yhoo.it/1cr4eEc.

Alumna Becki Kammerling Ueno married Rin Ueno on Nov. 19, 2012, in Maui.

Alumna Nancie Koenigsberg married Brandon Sullivan on Aug. 22 in Boston. Dozens of alumni and staff helped the couple celebrate at a big party two days later. Alumna Jenny Lee and her wife, Cristi, celebrated the birth of their son, Paxton, in May in Boston.

Alumni Navin Nayak and Shannon Ryan welcomed their daughter, Arusha Mearly Ryan-Nayak, on March 27 in Washington, D.C.

Alumnus Adam Paré and his wife, Sarah, celebrated the birth of August Robert in June in Rochester, N.Y.

John Scott Leschuk was born on May 29 to alumna Jenna Perry Leschuk and her husband, Steve. John is the youngest of three boys.

Alumna Kate Rube and her husband, Brian, welcomed Lilliana Maerin Levite (Lilly)

to the world on July 12 in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Alumna Ashley Schaeffer Yildiz and her husband, Erol, celebrated the birth of Julius “Jules” Azul Yildiz in April in Berkeley, Calif.

Alumna Stephanie Sorge Wing and her husband, Andy, welcomed Isaac Sorge Wing to the world on July 22 in Huntersville, N.C., where they had moved three weeks earlier. They would love to connect with anyone in the Charlotte area.

MOVERS AND SHAKERS:

Dave Algoso is the new director of programs at Reboot.

Matthew Anderson is the new executive director at Audubon Minnesota.

Greg Auriemma, chair and a founding member of the NJ Ocean County Sierra Club, was recently honored by the

Kathy Chan’s son, Miles

Julius Azul YildizLincoln Carter Slusher Isaac Sorge Wing

White House as a “Champion of Change.”

Jason Barbose is the new western states campaign manager for Union of Concerned Scientists.

Jennifer Coken is the new development director at USAction.

Joe DeBin reports he is now working as a public defender at Multnomah Defenders in Portland, Ore., where he practices criminal defense of indigent clients.

Kate Doehring is the national regional director at Enroll America.

Natalie Foster is the co-founder and new director of Peers (peers.org), which is designed to support the sharing economy movement.

Lauren Glickman has joined the adjunct faculty at George Washington University, where she teaches about social media strategies.

Amy Gomberg Kurt is now a

manager at Clean Line Energy Partners, based in Chicago.

Billy Grayson is the new program director of the Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition.

Brock Howell is the new policy and government affairs manager at the Cascade Bicycle Club in Seattle.

Vasiliy Kisunko is the new national campaigns organizer at Common Cause.

Sarah Kroon Chiles is the new executive director of the Redlich Horwitz Foundation.Theresa Labriola is the

Arusha Mearly Ryan-Nayak

August Robert ParéLilliana Maerin Levite (Lilly)Jenna Perry Leschuk and John

Becki Kammerling Ueno and Rin Ueno-Continued on page 6

Page 6

Alumni Updates (continued from page 5)

new West Coast outreach coordinator at Wild Oceans.

Seattle City Councilmember Nick Licata was selected as the most valuable local official by The Nation magazine in 2012, and he founded and was elected chair of a new national group of local elected officials, called Local Progress, which was recognized by The Huffington Post for one of the 25 best progressive victories in 2012.

Wes Morgan is the new chief technology officer at TurboVote.

Pedro Morillas is now state legislative affairs manager for Organizing for Action.

Chris Piuma was selected as a Chancellor Jackman Graduate Fellow in the Humanities at

University of Toronto.

Nancy Pyne is the new climate and energy campaign organizer at Oceana.

Liz Schmitt is the Creation Care campaign associate for Sojourners, the Christian social justice organization, based in D.C. Her work centers around activating Christians and other people of faith to care for creation and to stop climate change.

Edyta Sitko is the senior regional volunteer coordinator for Greenpeace in Turkey.

Aaron Viles is now deputy director at Faithful America.

Faith Winter is the new executive director of Emerge Colorado.

Alumni and staff celebrate Nancie Koenigsberg and Brandon Sullivan’s wedding.Arshad Hasan and Abbott Stark

Kat Barr and Alex Olivas

Kar

en P

ike

A Selection of Career Opportunities Within The Public Interest Network

Web Associate, Public Interest GRFX—PhiladelphiaThe Web Associate will help develop and execute cutting-edge online strategies. Work closely with such groups as U.S. PIRG, Environment America, Green Corps, and other members of the Public Interest Network family of organizations to help these organizations engage the public, win hearts and minds, raise funds, and organize grassroots action to win positive social change. http://bit.ly/18biWhN

Campaign Director, Environment Florida—Tallahassee, Tampa Bay, or OrlandoSeeking an experienced organizer to develop and execute winning campaign strategies to protect the Everglades, save our shores, and get Florida off oil. http://bit.ly/Xsk7Zp

Planning Assistant, The Public Interest Network—Denver The Public Interest Network seeks an exceptional analytic planner to assist in collect-ing, reviewing, and synthesizing performance data and trends in the organization’s fundraising, membership development, spending, and organizational and political strategy. Successful candidates will have at least three years of relevant experience, be extremely comfortable with multiple data analysis platforms, and excel at com-municating complex findings to a wide variety of audiences with varying degrees of technological know-how. http://bit.ly/1dp8Lt2

Campaign Director, Illinois PIRG—ChicagoSeeking an experienced organizer to run campaigns to close corporate tax loopholes and to “Put Junk Food Subsidies on a Diet.” http://jobs.uspirg.org/

Introducing Accelerate Change

As activists, we strive every day to build and grow our own organizations. We also seek to study and learn from the experience of others. That’s part of the idea behind Accelerate Change, one of the newest projects of The Public Interest Network.

Accelerate Change works to study and catalyze citizen organizing initiatives that can engage millions of Americans in advancing social change.

To help accomplish this mission, Accelerate Change President Peter Murray spent two years studying the world’s largest membership groups, from the NRA to AARP, and found they share the same model—what Peter calls “functional organizing.”

As Peter explains, “All of these organizations provide benefits and services to cater to the everyday needs of their members—such as insurance, childcare, support groups, and discount cards—giving people a practical reason to join and remain active while providing the organization with a steady revenue stream.”

You can read more in Peter’s new article on the topic, “The Secret of Scale,” which was published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review.

C h e c k o u t t h e fu l l s to ry on l ine . (Visit http://www.acceleratechange.org/#!secret-of-scale/clpb.)

For more information, please visit www.publicinterestnetwork.org/page/pin/jobs or call National Recruitment Director Len Montgomery at 303-573-5995 x326.

The State PIRG Alumni Network1543 Wazee Street, Suite 400Denver, CO 80202www.pirg.org/alumni

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BROCKTON, MAPERMIT NO. 430

Printed on recycled paper.

Alumni David Barenberg, Rachel Shimshak, and Rep. Ben Unger with Environment Oregon

State Director Sarah Higginbotham at the May 15 office warming party at the

newly-renovated office in Portland, Ore.

Photo: Nicole Barker

DON’T MISS OUT! Do you receive periodic Alumni Network e-mail updates? If not, it may mean that we don’t have your e-mail address on file. The emails include fun alumni updates, timely news from The Public Interest Network, social invitations, and great job postings from a variety of organizations. Please send Alumni Network Coordinator Kirsten Schatz a note at alumni@publicinterestnetwork.org with your current email address so we may keep you in the loop.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

December 2015

Layout: Alumna Rebecca Farabaugh, The Principled Pen, www.principledpen.com

Save The Date!

Alumni and staff gather regularly in cities across the country to catch up with old friends and meet some new faces from the Public Interest Network family. For more details on upcoming events and for photos from past events, visit www.pirg.org/alumni/calendar.html. If you’d like to help organize an alumni get-together near you, please contact Kirsten Schatz at alumni@publicinterestnetwork.org or 303-573-5995 x331.

Denver, CO

Aspen, COEligible career alumni should save the date for the next Alumni Aspen vacation!