She Planted Trees So Others Could Enjoy The Shade
This morning our friend and long-time colleague Polly Agee, 61, will be buried in the National Memorial Park in Falls Church, Virginia
Personally we mourn her death (and have had quite a good wake telling “Polly stories”), but we most of all want to note her passing because she contributed so much to the small, but critically important and uniquely back-biting branch of American fundraising focused on social and political change. A contribution for which all fundraisers, regardless of politics or discipline, should be grateful
For nearly 10 years in the early days (‘70s) of the liberal advocacy movement through the late 80’s Polly was in the foxhole with us. Developing systems that are still used to this day…developing training systems still used to this day…and developing an intolerance for the mediocre that seem to have been all too recently forgotten.
As the Senior Vice President of Craver, Mathews, Smith & Company, Polly helped us launch and build many of the liberal advocacy organizations that are household names today. The National Organization for Women, National Abortion Rights Action League, Greenpeace, The Cousteau Society, and Common Cause. While at CMS she worked on dozens of United States Senate campaigns for Democratic candidates and the presidential campaigns of Morris Udall, Edward Kennedy and John Anderson. Not to mention the Democratic National Committee, The Democratic Senatorial Committee and the Democratic Congressional Committee.
Never one to suffer fools lightly Polly had a temper, but one tempered by an iron-willed discipline to get the most out of every opportunity and every person she came in contact with. And she succeeded. Today, there is a generation of seasoned direct response fundraisers in the advocacy and political arenas that are tougher and wiser because of Polly.
Polly “retired” ( her own words) in the early ‘90s. AND… then went on to start several new careers. Her energy went toward women’s equality and democracy. As Ellen Malcolm, the founder of Emily’s List puts it:
"She always had infectious enthusiasm for women candidates and so many progressive causes. And if there was ever a set-back or special challenge, Polly was ready to give a helping hand. So many of the elected Democratic women we see in public life benefited from Polly’s generosity and help.”
She trained a generation of fundraisers, but wasn’t one bit willing to stop there.
In her final years she went into life coaching and established New Directions Life Coaching which helped, trained, and mentored many.
When a pioneer dies we all should pay attention — and also pay homage.
Polly, honest to God, we’re paying attention. Don’t get mad. We’re just saying “Thank You!”
Roger and Tom
P. S. A memorial service for Polly will be held in early August. We’ll keep you posted as to dates and times.
11 responses to “She Planted Trees So Others Could Enjoy The Shade”
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Condolences from Barbara Bode in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. What a loss. What a woman. She contributed so much without stooping to the pettiness engaged in by some (of us) in what y’all brilliantly termed the “uniquely back-biting branch” of our community.
This URL got to me via Charlotte Hayes and Pat Wright proving that we all still stay bonded at the root.
I’ve been gone since shortly after Bush arrived in town to despoil our country so, from far away, I’ll hold my own memorial for Polly in my heart.
I knew Polly (and Roger) when I was a client, a neophyte fund raiser in my 20s who suddenly found herself a direct mail fund raiser with responsibility for my nonprofit’s relationship with CMS. This was when the firm was in Roslyn with I believe 6 employees, one of whom was Polly. I still remember her warmth and friendliness in taking me under her wing. The firm grew to many more employees, moved to a historic campus in Falls Church and Polly’s role and leadership expanded. I still benefit today from what I learned from her then, in fact I would call her a deep early influence. I found her again a few years ago when I was VP for Entrepreneurial Programs at the National Women’s Business Center and worked with her to develop a course her unique program to plan effectively for “retirement,” that is, for the different kind of life many of us seek in our 50s — top notch stuff as usual. Just a month ago I was working with her to expand Consultingwomen, a wonderful network of women consultants in many fields in the Washington Metro area. We never know when our time is up, and Polly’s passing way too young reminds us to live out our authenticity….and to make those changes we need to make as we get older to keep the wellspring of our souls fresh and life-giving. It is trivial to say she will be missed — but that she will.
Susan Kuhn
I learned just this morning, when I opened the Washington Post, that we’d lost Polly. It was a shock. I was one of her life coaching clients and had last seen her in March, when she graciously came to hear me preach a sermon on a topic that was two or three degrees removed from our work together, yet very much reflected what she’d done to help me find my new path. I had looked forward to being able to touch base with her in coming years to express my constant gratitude and to share what I continue to learn. Only now do I realize how much I will miss the opportunity to do that. I hope to attend the memorial service so I can meet some of the other amazing people who make up the world that Polly cared for so much.
I’ve been friends with Polly since I met her through Consulting Women more years ago than I can account for. Recently we renewed our friendship, meeting more regularly to discuss what next, among other things. But I still did not learn fully about the richness and power of her professional history. How poignant that I had to read about it after she left us.
Her integrity, knowledge and generosity — not to mention her humor, playfulness and creativity – will stay with me as I recall her in the DC places we enjoyed our friendship. Just recently, she attended a meeting of The Schimel Lode, contributing frank, effective insights. Then she volunteered to follow up at a short meeting with one of our potential partners where she provided excellent advice.
Some people such as Polly are great multipliers in this world, providing ripples of fine, original, caring guidance, humor and commitment that will be passed and passed.
Can someone please tell me if there is a memorial service planned for Polly??… We had lunch some weeks ago and she was very excited about her job and her many interests…We actually attended junior high school and high school together (Commack High School, Class of ’65) and had lost track of each other. When we accidentally reconnected last year, we found that we lived just a few miles from each other and had both spent most of our adult lives in D.C. in parallel universes, doing work for good liberal causes, and that we knew many of the same people. I was really looking forward to getting together with her again and will miss her.
What a fabulous tribute to Polly. I’m so glad I found it this morning. I was just e-mailing a friend to let them know and decided to see what announcements I could find, I missed the Post announcement.
I am someone who benefited from Polly’s wisdom, humor, knowledge, talent and time. I was the first development director at Food & Friends and was fortunate enough to have so many talented and wonderful people helping me. Eventually a fabulous group of volunteers dedicated themselves to helping us build up our mail program — Polly, Steve Hayes, Joe Manes, Phyllis Freedman, Greg Albright and Mike MacCloud. We started with a committee that met for lunch — Polly, Steve, Joe and me (we laughed and ate more than worked sometimes). And the work they did made a big difference in our returns.
Polly continued to be helpful to me over the years as I built my development career. I knew I could always pick up the phone and get the best advice possible on anything from direct marketing to which job made the most sense at a particular time. On the personal side — she was extremely supportive in a way that was not the usual “well done, little fundraiser” — butwould make some comment that I could hold dear to my stressed out and tired heart! As Barbara Bode sort of notes below, I agree that when any of us cross paths those of us who have been in the trenches together (on the organization, volunteer, donor or consulting side of things) still greet each other with open arms when we cross paths regardless of how much time has passed. It’s sad that it’s at a time like this — but it’s also a tribute to what Polly did for the community. I’m sure she would want to give me “a jersey bitch slap” (as I say) at hearing that — but tough. She was the best and I miss her!
Mickie Ballotta
I remember working with Polly in the mid-1970’s when I started NARAL’s direct-mail program and we came to CMS for help expanding it. I’m glad to hear of all her successes, but very sad to hear that she went so young and suddenly.
I remember working with Polly in the mid-1970’s when I started NARAL’s direct-mail program and we came to CMS for help expanding it. I’m glad to hear of all her successes, but very sad to hear that she went so young and suddenly.
I remember working with Polly in the mid-1970’s when I started NARAL’s direct-mail program and we came to CMS for help expanding it. I’m glad to hear of all her successes, but very sad to hear that she went so young and suddenly.
Polly was very kind and generous to me much earlier in my career, when I was still learning the basics of fundraising. I was shocked to hear of her passing, and am proud to have known her and learned from her.
Polly (and Roger Craver) helped me and my associates to launch the handgun control lobby now chaired by Sarah Brady.
We worked on other projects together. A few minutes ago, I was looking her up on the Internet to contact her about a new venture, and so I have just learned that she died.
Good by and thank you Polly.
Mark