November 2022 alumni update
Seeking Stories and Memorabilia from 1970s Alumni (other decades welcome, too!)
The PIRGs’ Alumni Department is seeking stories and memorabilia from PIRG alumni, especially alums from the 70s! Pictures, posters, old buttons, and reminiscences more generally. What was your position? Were you a volunteer, or staff person? Who did you love working with? What did you get most from your experience?
You name it, we want to hear about it, and see it!
As we are getting prepared for our 50th anniversary, we’d like you to take a minute or two to jot down your memories at the story bank on THIS PAGE.
This poster is from a CALPIRG consumer protection project which created and performed several musicals addressing tenants’ rights and workplace safety. Audio cassette recordings exist. What cool memorabilia do you have stored in a shoebox somewhere?
Keep reading below. . .
Caren Calish Gagliano, show here to the right, is volunteering on the project. She was one of the national organizers helping the PIRGs form (also in this 1972 photo from Chemical and Engineering News is Donald Ross who led the national PIRG organizing effort, and Joe Highland who was instrumental in the formation of MPIRG and with national organizing.) You should see what’s in Caren’s PIRG shoebox!
And YES, we’d love to hear from you even if your time with the PIRGs happened well after the 70s.
Buy Less, Give More: Guide to a different type of holiday
Note: Teresa Murray, PIRGs’ Consumer Watchdog campaign director, originally published this blog post on 10/26/21. The following is an excerpt. To read the full post, click HERE. Or click on an individual gift idea listed below.
Our PIRG Education Fund consumer, zero waste and right to repair teams have put together 10 ideas for holiday gifts that people will definitely use and appreciate, and, in some cases, will help create new memories. As an added bonus, they’re better for the environment than buying random stuff that’ll be used a handful of times and then get thrown out or end up in closets, cupboards, garages and attics. Once you decide on the gift, be creative in how you give it! Click each idea for more information.
🌄 EXPERIENCES 🧣 PRE-LOVED GIFTS
⌚ REPAIRED GIFTS 🛴 SHARED GIFTS
♻️ UPCYCLED GIFTS 🎨 ART
🛠️ CHORES & TASKS 🎹 CLASSES
💻 REFURBISHED GIFTS 🍰 MEALS & BAKED GOODS
Alumni News: New jobs, and a wedding!
Rachel Weintraub– Rachel, legislative director and general counsel for Consumer Federation of America for 20 years and “dean” of product safety advocates, is leaving to direct the PIRG-backed Coalition for Sensible Safeguards, housed at Public Citizen.
Lorez Meinhold– Lorez, executive director of Caring for Denver Foundation, recently accepted the Outstanding Foundation award on behalf of the organization, from the Association of Fundraising Professionals in Colorado.
Ennis Carter– Ennis recently announced that she is a contributing author in the new book Different: The Highly Sensitive Leadership Revolution by Heather Dominick. She says “3 years ago, I discovered my highly sensitive traits and this community - and it changed my life! I hope you'll check it out and find some good wisdom in this little book.”
Rich McClintock– Rich says, “I’m happy to share the news that I’m starting an encore career as an Older Adult Research Specialist working for both the Dept. of Neurology and the Multidisciplinary Center on Aging at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, which has recently been designated as an age friendly university.
Lora Wandalowski– Lora, formerly executive director of Leadership Pioneer Valley, recently took a position with the Peace Development Fund as Director of Advancement and Communications.
Phil Radford– Phil recently founded Champion.us, a platform to help people make donations to local races that matter for our democracy, climate, and rights. Visit Champion.US.
Adam Lioz– In September, Adam left Demos after 10 years to take a job with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.
Adam Garber– Congrats to Adam for getting named a top non-profit leader in Pennsylvania as the executive director of CeaseFire PA.
Matt Guerin– Matty has a request. “Hi all, my company - Neighborhood Sun - a community solar company on the east coast - is looking to start providing community solar in New Mexico and would really like to start some networking in the state. Please DM me on facebook if you are a NMPIRG alumni that may be able to introduce me to anyone, in or out of the SPAN network that might be willing to help us hit the ground running in the Land of Enchantment - thanks.”
Bessie Schwarz– Bessy was named to the Climate Action 30 List compiled by BusinessInsider.com.
Evan Gillespie– Evan’s new venture, Industrious Labs, aims to reimagine the industrial sector as a deliverer of climate solutions. Check it out!
Ryan Doyle– Ryan Doyle got married to Mara Beier! Congratulations to the happy couple!
