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Happy April! Is Spring finally here?
I was so moved by the inspirational speeches of the students at the March for Our Lives in Chicago. Let's hope these marches and speeches will have an impact on our elected officials. We need to unite with them to make legislative changes. Please continue with witness slips and phone calls to your representatives. Did you know that only 25% of Illinois registered voters cast their vote in the March primaries?
On Tuesday evening, March 27th we had the opportunity to have Rosemary Heilemann and Joyce Williams share the history, myths and facts about the Electoral College. They explained why it should be abolished and how to do it. If you missed the presentation you may go to the LWV Wilmette website to view it. There will also be a video of the presentation on our website and Facebook page soon.
On Thursday, April 12 at 7 pm, Go Green Oak Park is sponsoring a free lecture by Dr. Thierry Vrain, "Engineered Foods, Glyphosate Toxicity and your Health." at Trinity High School in River Forest.
Stop by our booth at the Earth Fest on Saturday, April 21, 10;00-2:00 at the Public Works Center, 201 South Blvd., in Oak Park. Learn about the "Shed the Straws" project and find out how you can support it.
We do have many events scheduled for April. I hope you will join us to fulfill our goal of educate and advocate.
Marge Massarello
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At the
March Second Tuesday, we had the opportunity to learn about the role of Sarah's Inn "to improve the lives of those affected by domestic violence and to break the cycle of violence for future generations." On April 10th, Tracy Dell'Angela Barber from the Oak Park Education Foundation will present, "What's Doing This Summer for D97 Kids?" Read more about the Education Foundation here. Join us from 9:30-11:00am at the Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park. Invite some neighbors from your block!
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At the March Drinks & Dialogue, "American Promise" presented the issue of "Dark Money" and the need to pass the 28th amendment to "end outsized influence of global corporations, unions,super PACs and other forms of concentrated money in American politics". Two books were recommended,
Dark Money
by Jane Mayer and
Democracy in Chains
by Nancy MacLean. On Thursday, April 19, in St. Giles McDonough Hall, 1045 Columbian, Oak Park, from 5:30-7:00pm, D & D will show the documentary "Equal Means Equal" followed by a discussion. The U.S. still doesn't have an Equal Rights Amendment! Nevada passed the ERA in 2017 and now only 2 more states are needed to ratify the ERA. Illinois hasn't passed the ERA but it could be next! Come and watch the definitive film on the status of women in America. This is a new location for our monthly D&D, and it has lots of space, so invite your friends!
There is an
Equality and ERA Lobby Day
in Springfield on
Tuesday, April 10.
Leaguers and other ERA coalition members will meet in Springfield at the State House Inn, 101 East Adams Stree, a block from the Capitol. Check in starts at 10:30am, briefing at 11:30am, lobbying legislators from approximately noon till 2:00 pm. A box lunch will be provided.
Those interested in participating in the
event must send their commitment to attend plus email address, cell phone number, and state representative/state senator names and/or district numbers to
illinoisnow@aol.com
no later than
April 3.
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Oak Park Township Annual Town Hall Meeting
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The Oak Park Township will have their Annual Town Meeting, Tuesday, April 10, at 6:30pm in the Township Senior Room, 130 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. Voters registered in Oak Park that created a
supporting petition (with exact wording of the referendum question
for the ballot), gathered 15 signatures of registered Oak Park voters, and submitted the petitions to the Township Clerk by March 1, will have their resolutions voted on at the April 10 meeting. This year there were two resolutions submitted before the deadline. Those referenda that pass at the Annual Town Meeting must be submitted to the County Clerk for the ballot of the next election. Read about the two resolutions here. All registered Oak Park voters are invited to attend and vote on these resolutions.
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Mark your calendars for LWVIL Lobby Day on
Wednesday April 18 in Springfield.
Join with fellow LWV members from throughout the state to lobby for important ballot initiatives on Fair Tax and Redistricting. The deadline for both initiatives is May 8th, so your one on one meetings with legislators in the Capitol will be of vital importance. More details will be coming straight from LWV IL.
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On Saturday, April 28 from 2:00-3:30, the Historical Society of Oak Park and River Forest is offering a "Women's History Walk: 105 Years of Voting and Activism." To purchase tickets, go here.
On Sunday, April 29, the Historical Society of Forest Park is celebrating International May Day with food, history, music and fun at the Howard Mohr Community Center. Our League will have an information table from 1:00-5:00 at the event. Please contact Marge Massarello if you would like to volunteer at the table and share the League information with the visitors. For ticket purchase go here.
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Here's your first chance to sign up to volunteer to work at the LWVUS Convention, to be held June 28-July 1 in Chicago. We need lots of volunteers, and it's an interesting and exciting way to be able to participate in the convention! You'll have a chance to attend the plenary session on the day you volunteer. Sign up to volunteer here.
Also during the convention, there will be a fundraiser to benefit LWVIL and LWV Chicago. On Friday, June 29, right on site of the convention at the Chicago Hilton Hotel Grand Ballroom, "The Best of Second City" will preform from 7:30 - 8:30pm. Order tickets for you and your friends. You do not need to be registered for the Convention to participate! Note: $52 ticket price plus fees has a pre-convention purchase deadline of June 25. Purchase your Second City tickets
here.
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The Annual Meetings are coming!
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The LWV Cook County Annual Meeting is Monday, May 14, from 9:30-1:00pm at the University Center, Chicago. All are welcome to attend. We need two more voting delegates. Contact
Marge Massarello
to be a delegate. All members will be receiving an invite with more information this week.
Our Annual Meeting will be Tuesday, May 22, at the Oak Park Township Senior Center, 130 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park, starting at 5:30pm. We need your support and input to make our 2018-19 program a success. There will be a panel with some of our 50+ members sharing their early League experiences and how they were instrumental in making a difference in our communities. And these women did make a difference! Come celebrate them and another year of our hard work to keep our League thriving.
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Illinois Campaign for Political Reform
Program - Illinois Primary:What Happened & Why, Panel Discussion, Thursday, April 5th, Noon - 1:00pm, Chicago Board of Elections, Pedway Room, 69 W. Washington St., Chicago, Tickets
here.
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