NorCal Holiday Social
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| | E2 Northern California Chapter Director Tony Bernhardt (left) and E2 Member Kuldip Sethi (right) catch up at the NorCal Holiday Social on December 15. |
On December 15, E2 Norcal members met to celebrate a successful year of environmental advocacy. Over drinks and hors d’oeuvres at the
Orchard Hotel, discussions between members ranged from celebrating the defeat of Prop 23 to debating the merits of one alternative fuel over another.
Both E2 Co-founders, Bob Epstein and Nicole Lederer, spoke to over 50 E2 members about using business advocacy to promote environmental policy. Nicole, citing the climate bill’s demise, noted that all great opportunities arise from apparent defeats, and emphasized the importance of E2’s continuing federal efforts. Bob mentioned the successful California campaigns, most notably the No on 23 campaign, to inspire members to continue their efforts within the state.
New York Social
On December 1, E2 New York Chapter Director Chris Arndt and his wife Patty hosted a cocktail party at their home to welcome E2’s new Executive Director Judy Albert, who started in October and is based in NRDC’s NY office. Over forty E2 members and guests were in attendance, including NRDC’s Urban Program Director and Deputy Director, Mark Izeman and Kate Sinding, respectively, who gave the group a preview of NY’s priorities for the coming year.
Judy started the evening by describing
E2’s main agendas for both the state and federal levels, noting that much of E2’s work will shift to the states and regions where the practical necessities of stimulating economic growth and guiding local development may create a more receptive forum for our message.
Kate and Mark emphasized this point by optimistically stating that Governor-elect Andrew Cuomo should be more receptive to the New York Chaper’s issues. However, as seen by the deep budget cuts to the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation that have left the state’s environmental enforcement agency virtually incapacitated, Albany will always be a challenge. The incoming Cuomo administration will need to do everything it can to revive this dying agency.
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