Leaders Update
Dear Fellow Leaders,

By now you've heard about our annual State of the State event.

How do Women Manage the Politics of Politics?

WHEN:  Saturday, September 29, 2018, 5-11pm
WHERE: Arlington International Racecourse
2200 W Euclid Ave, Arlington Heights, IL 60005

We have arranged an amazing lineup of speakers:

Keynote address: Sheila Simon-former Lt. Gov. (D)
Moderator: Elaine Nekritz (Suburban D)
Panelists:
Beth Coulson-former state Rep. (R)
State Senator Karen McConnaughay (Retiring 9.3.18) (R)
Harriet Rosenthal-Undeclared-Deerfield Mayor

This is a truly non-partisan event, celebrating all that makes each and every one of us passionate about Empowering Voters and Defending Democracy.

We need your support.  Our membership dues do not cover our full LWVIL budget and I'm guessing your local League is the same. So we must fundraise to bridge the gap. This event is our single largest fundraiser of the year.  Funds raised help us pay for staff, advocacy efforts, and all of the myriad of ways the State League works to support Local Leagues. Every dollar raised at this event stays in our state.

How can you support these efforts?
  • Buy a ticket. Better yet! Buy a whole table!
  • Submit an ad (Local League Only discounted ad rate!)
  • Sell an ad! Your League can earn money through every ad sold. Deadline for submission has been extended to September 14.
Worried about the cost? Remember, every dollar earned stays here in Illinois to support our programs. Plus, your ticket gets you an exclusive Winner's Circle Tour of Arlington International Racecourse and a coupon book for Woodfield Shopping Mall.

You live far away? Make it a weekend! We have booked a block of   hotel rooms  (deadline to book rooms is September 7) and have plenty of local members willing and able to host fellow League members! In Chicago? The Metra train drops off at the front door to the racetrack!

The committee tried to think of every obstacle and overcome it. You work, and can't make a daytime lunch program? It's on a Saturday night. Get a sitter. Gr ab a plus one and celebrate all you do to Make Democracy Work.

Finally, look at this view! You've earned this evening celebrating all of the work you do in your community to Educate, Engage, and Empower!


We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, September 29!

Sincerely,
The SOS Committee
Voter Service

Illinois Voter Guide
In order to aid with the rollout of the guide, LWVIL has created an "Illinois Voter Guide Toolkit ."

A new candidate forum page will be added to Illinois Voter Guide. It is crucial that LWVIL receives timely notice of your events so they can be added and gain visibility through the guide. Please use the Event Submission Form on  lwvil.org to submit your candidate forums. Find a button on the Events Calendar page to access the form, or click directly to it:  http://www.lwvil.org/event-submission-form.html. 

Would any of your local Leagues want to include a questionnaire for your area candidates on our  illinoisvoterguide.org site? Contact us and we will explain what needs to be done:

National Voter Registration Day is  September 25th .  Plan a registration drive!

In the last Leader's Update we talked about data collection.  Make sure you record all your voter registrations here.

The LWVILEF/ABC7/Univision Gubernatorial Debate is scheduled for  October 3, 2018 .  We are still trying to facilitate another Gubernatorial debate in Peoria with PBS stations throughout Illinois and a possible Attorney General forum.
Fall 2018 Questions for Legislative Candidates

This year the Issues Specialists are providing a large number of questions so that local Leagues can pick and choose which are most important to people in your districts. Most of the questions are for state legislative candidates, but some are labeled for candidates running for US Congress.
Letter to the Editor Template

LWVUS submitted  organizational comments to the Department of Commerce regarding the inclusion of the citizenship question on the 2020 Census. LWVIL encourages all local leagues to submit a Letter to the Editor regarding this issue. Here is a template: 
Local League Leaders Google Group

If you have not already joined, you are still welcome to give the Local League Leaders Google Group a try.  We're up to  members!

If you'd like a new invitation sent to you or another member of your league, please send the name and email address to  [email protected].
 League of Women Voters of Illinois 
332 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 634| Chicago, Illinois 60604 
Phone:  312-939-5935 | Fax:  312-939-6887 |  [email protected]