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Delivered-To: john.podesta@gmail.com Received: by 10.205.3.68 with SMTP id nx4csp150287bkb; Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:43:23 -0800 (PST) X-Received: by 10.68.143.231 with SMTP id sh7mr17210015pbb.7.1390607002427; Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:43:22 -0800 (PST) Return-Path: <hms@sandlerfoundation.org> Received: from SF-EXCH01.sandlerfamily.org (webmail.sandlerfoundation.org. [216.115.79.130]) by mx.google.com with ESMTPS id i3si2727280pbe.259.2014.01.24.15.43.21 for <john.podesta@gmail.com> (version=TLSv1 cipher=ECDHE-RSA-AES128-SHA bits=128/128); Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:43:22 -0800 (PST) Received-SPF: pass (google.com: domain of hms@sandlerfoundation.org designates 216.115.79.130 as permitted sender) client-ip=216.115.79.130; Authentication-Results: mx.google.com; spf=pass (google.com: domain of hms@sandlerfoundation.org designates 216.115.79.130 as permitted sender) smtp.mail=hms@sandlerfoundation.org Received: from SF-EXCH01.sandlerfamily.org ([172.21.41.10]) by sf-exch01.sandlerfamily.org ([172.21.41.10]) with mapi id 14.03.0174.001; Fri, 24 Jan 2014 15:43:21 -0800 From: "Sandler, Herbert" <hms@sandlerfoundation.org> To: John Podesta <john.podesta@gmail.com> CC: "Sandler, Susan" <ses@sandlerfoundation.org>, "Sandler, Jim" <james@sandlerfoundation.org>, "Daetz, Steve" <sdaetz@sandlerfoundation.org> Subject: FW: More on the 17th Thread-Topic: More on the 17th Thread-Index: AcMvysWaKAaCmmgETwG7rIzSDnMtNAAalXnwl9JRsHA= Date: Fri, 24 Jan 2014 23:43:21 +0000 Message-ID: <3B00EFA99369C540BE90A0C751EF8F8A473DD7@sf-exch01.sandlerfamily.org> References: <3A19540035F43842A5C506CE2E6DD240013CB0FA@ok1ems3.worldsavings.com> In-Reply-To: <3A19540035F43842A5C506CE2E6DD240013CB0FA@ok1ems3.worldsavings.com> Accept-Language: en-US Content-Language: en-US X-MS-Has-Attach: X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: x-originating-ip: [172.20.42.88] Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable MIME-Version: 1.0 Just an interesting recollection of George's perspective back then. -----Original Message----- From: Sandler, Herb EXEC (x)=20 Sent: Wednesday, June 11, 2003 9:19 AM To: Sandler, Marion EXEC (x); 'Susan 2Sandler (E-mail)'; 'Jim 3Sandler (E-m= ail)' Subject: FW: More on the 17th -----Original Message----- From: Vachon, Michael [mailto:Michael.Vachon@soros.com] Sent: Tuesday, June 10, 2003 8:37 PM To: Sandler, Herb EXEC (x) Subject: More on the 17th Herb:=20 With the caveat that we're still refining it, let me tell you a little more= about the agenda for the 17-18 July.=20 I think you know that George wants to make a major financial contribution t= o defeating Bush in 2004. The main purpose of the meeting is to develop a s= trategy for spending that money in the most effective way. =20 The reason you and Marion should come is because you would contribute to th= e quality of the discussion and because you'd learn a lot about the how the= upcoming election is going to play out. You might also find some guidance = on how and even if you want to get involved in that. We will likely start with an informal lunch on Thursday the 17th. At about = 2 p.m. we'll begin the program, leading off with a presentation by Tom Novi= ck, and then moving into a structured discussion with all the participants = facilitated by Anne Bartley, who I think you must have met at the AMI dinne= r. We'll close after lunch on the 18th. The second day will be dedicated to= evaluating the previous day's presentations and identifying concrete next = steps and the outline of a funding stratgey. Novick is a political consultant we've hired to prepare an in-depth analysi= s and evaluation of current efforts aimed at influencing the 2004 president= ial election. We don't want to recreate the wheel. The goal of his analysis= will be to identify the most promising existing efforts that combine solid= strategies, the personnel to implement those strategies, and the ability t= o influence the outcome of the election. (see attached). His written report= will be available prior to the meeting. We'll also invite Steve Rosenthal, political director of the AFL-CIO, Ellen= Malcolm of Emily's List (now the country's largest PAC), and Carl Pope of = the Sierra Club. These are leaders who have been involved in efforts to bri= ng constituencies together to focus on defeating Bush, as opposed to concen= trating on increasing the political clout of their particular issues. Others we plan to invite are: Dorothy & Lewis Cullman, Dan Leeds, Rob McKay= (from the AMI dinner). We'll also invite David Rockefeller Jr. George may = or may not invite Rob Glaser. The idea is to involve people who may be will= ing to spend on the election but who also have something to contribute inte= llectually to the discussion. It is not primarily a meeting to solicit cont= ributions for a particular organization or even approach. Bob Boorstin and = John Podesta are also on the list, but I assume will not attend if so doing= would compromise AMI. George is motivated mostly by his intense dislike of the administration's a= pproach to international relations, but he understands that this may not ne= cessarily be a so-called "voting issue," thus the need to develop a strateg= y. The premise is that there is a deep well of dissatisfaction with the dir= ection in which Bush is moving the country. Some people are concerned about= the rollbacks of environmental protections, others about attack on civil l= iberties or the administration's conservative social agenda. What is becomi= ng increasingly apparent is that advocates will need to step back from thei= r own issues to focus on the strategic goal of getting Bush et co. out of t= he White House. (But because it's George's party, there will be a session, = probably dinner on the 17th, devoted to examining the role foreign policy i= n the elections) I know it is a long trip for you to make and of course you should only do i= t if you think it would be worthwhile. I guess my view is that though you w= hile may not be an expert on political strategy you probably have innate go= od judgment, which is rare, and a lens on domestic affairs that complements= George's knowledge of geopolitics. I know that you see AMI and AMI plus as= a long-term effort, and I agree that is important, but to quote George, qu= oting Keynes, in the long run, we're all dead. Bush can do a lot of damage = in the short term, namely 2004-2008. Whatever one's particular issues, it i= s important to focus on the first step reform. Let me know if you need more information, I will certainly keep you posted = as the agenda crystallizes. Best,=20 Michael Vachon Attachment 1 Tom Novick Biography Tom Novick, Senior Vice President and Western Regional Director for M&R Str= ategic Services has over 26 years of experience working on public policy is= sues at the state and national level. He served as chair of the board of d= irectors of the New York Public Interest Research Group as a student and in= various staff roles with the organization including assistant director. After leaving NYPIRG, Novick worked with singer/songwriter/activist Harry C= hapin, coordinating benefit concerts for political candidates and organizat= ions and a fundraising program for World Hunger Year, the anti hunger food = access organization founded by Chapin. Novick served as executive director of the Oregon State Public Interest Res= earch Group from 1983 to 1988, during which time it grew to become the stat= e's largest consumer and environmental organization. Novick coordinated is= sue campaigns and legislative strategies and served as lead lobbyist for th= e organization. He also served as the chief strategist for several success= ful statewide ballot initiatives. Novick served as a consultant to nonprof= it organizations from 1988 to 1990, designing and implementing issue campai= gns, consulting on political strategies, and serving as a legislative spoke= sperson. In 1990, Novick was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives, where h= e served as a member of the Transportation, State and Federal Affairs, and = Joint Interim Education Committees. From 1991 to 1995, Novick worked with = the Western States Center as Project Director of the Western Progressive Le= adership Network, directing a network of public officials, organizations an= d activists in eight Western states (Alaska, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nev= ada, Wyoming, Montana and Nevada), and providing training and consulting on= organizing and public policy strategies. During this time he organized pe= rmanent progressive coalitions in several states. In 1995 Novick started the Portland office of M&R Strategic Services, a ful= l service national public affairs and consulting firm. At M&R, Novick acts= as a consultant and strategist for organizations, issue and electoral camp= aigns on a range of issues. He conducts dozens of trainings each year on e= lectoral skills, lobbying, organization building and advocacy campaigns. Novick also works with a number of foundations providing evaluation service= s and strategic assessments. A partial list of past and current foundation= clients include the Pew Charitable Trusts, the Beldon Fund, True North Fou= ndation, the Brainerd Foundation, Lazar Foundation, Harder Foundation, Turn= er Foundation, the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, and Wilburforce. Since 2000, Novick has also served as Executive Director of Conservation St= rategies a 527 political organization founded by Paul Brainerd working to i= ncrease the political clout of the conservation movement in the Northwest. May 28, 2003