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Dear League Members,
We have had a very busy November and have accomplished a great deal!
Our members participating in Census Committees in Oak Park, River
Forest, and Forest Park are making plans to ensure that every person is
counted in 2020. We will be hearing from them as events at the library
are announced so we can learn about how many more of us can assist in
this goal.
Voters Service held voter registration events at OPRF HS and Concordia
University. Second Tuesday hosted New Moms, providing information
about services available to this very vulnerable population, and Drinks
and Dialogue featured Betty Alzamora presenting "Migrant Protection
Protocalls." Once again, the back room at Shanahan's was packed!
Our outreach to local school boards to oppose the "Arming of Teachers
and Funding Firearms Training" was successful! A final vote by the
Illinois School Boards turned down the resolutions - a win for our
schools!
As we look forward to the beginning of a new decade and our Centennial
Celebration, we will contribute to the event thanks to the work of Marge
Massarello and Johan Walsh in partnership with The Historical Society
of Oak Park and River Forest to place a Suffrage Marker in front of the
home of Grace Wilbur Trout.
We wish all of our members a lovely and meaningful Holiday Season,
and hope to see you at our Holiday Social next Monday evening.
Beverly Graham
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There will be another Cannabis Town Hall Meeting this Wednesday, December 3, starting at 6:30pm at the Oak Park Village Hall. This panel discussion will be hosted by Senator Harmon and Steans, Representative Lilly, and Cook County Commissioner Johnson. Check out the flyer here.
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Just a reminder that our 2019 Holiday Social will be Monday, December 9, from 5:30-8:00pm, at Maya Del Sol, 144 S. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park. This is a great way to connect with other members during this busy season and enjoy appetizers and refreshments. Have you sent in your RSVP??
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Save the Date! Second Tuesday is taking a break in December, but we'll be back on Tuesday, January 14, 9:30am, with "Census 2020: the Complete Count Process in Our Villages." Don't miss this 3-village panel discussion on the census and what we can do to help see that everyone counts. Nineteenth Century Club, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park.
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During the month of November, our Deputy Registrars spent time at Concordia University and Oak Park-River Forest H.S. registering voters. The mail-in white forms proved to be useful when students didn't have their ID or know their Social Security number. We were happy to work with the Youth Action and Civics Club at the high school on Tuesday, November 19, to register eligible 17 and 18 year olds during advisory class. We submitted 122 mail-in forms to the County Clerk's Office and are awaiting numbers for those that registered online. We are in the process of setting dates for more high school registrations at Trinity, Elmwood Park, and Fenwick High School. Thanks to Bob Chimis, Wendy Greenhouse, Jane Hastings, and Kathy Perry for working Concordia University. Our High School volunteers were Ann Bolan, Deborah Carter McCoy, Elan Long, Roberta Jannsen, Marge Massarello, Nancy Clark, Linda Valentine, Vicki Scaman, Judith McDevitt, John Hastings, Jane Hastings, Bob Chimis, Fran Sampson, Elizabeth Bach, Margaret Prechel, Wendy Greenhouse, and Peggy Kell. You can see a picture of our high school partners on our
website. Great job everyone!
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Is the Census really confidential? Many worry about this, especially since the recent failed efforts to include a citizenship question in 2020. By law, all responses are kept completely confidential for 72 years and can only be used to produce statistics - no exceptions. Read more on this important aspect of the Census so you too can provide the reassuring facts: flyer here.
BTW, there is still time to join the Oak Park Complete Count Committee. The next meeting is on December 11, 8:30am, at Village Hall. Please consider attending this meeting. Contact Mary Cay Murray
or Judith McDevitt if you would be interested in joining our Complete Count Committee and see how you can help.
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There will be a Climate Strike Rally and March this Friday, December 6, starting at 11:00am at the Crown Fountain, 201 E. Randolph, Chicago. The rally will then proceed to Federal Plaza. Read more about the event
here
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LWV IL is participating in the LWV US People-Powered Fair Maps campaign and will concentrate its work on having the Illinois General Assembly pass the Fair Maps Amendment. The Fair Maps Amendment provides for an Independent Commission to draw legislative districts instead of state legislators as defined in the Illinois Constitution. The Constitutional Amendment needs to pass both the Illinois House and Senate by May 3, 2020 to be placed on the November 2020 General Election Ballot.
LWV IL will kick off the campaign with a training session for local League representatives on December 9 from 9:30-11:30 at the LWV IL office (332 S. Michigan, Chicago). Participants will get basic information and will be asked to give input on our campaign plan to pass the Fair Maps Amendment.
Right now LWV IL is trying to anticipate how large a room will be needed for the training.
If you will be able to attend the meeting please email Paula Lawson, from LWV IL, at
pjlawson1@comcast.net
as soon as possible.
Thank you for your interest in redistricting. This is the year to get the Fair Maps Amendment placed on the Ballot.
Paula Lawson
Jane Ballengee
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Welcome to new member Elizabeth Streit. Thanks for joining our organization and we hope to meet you at the Holiday Social.
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League of Women Voters of Oak Park & River Forest (708) 342-0803
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