Letter from the President
Some are going back to school while we are still hard at work.
Dear LWVIL Member,
The season of back to school is nearing. That means sharp pencils, crisp notebooks for some, and brand-new iPads with a stylus for others. 
For LWVIL it is the time to put those pencils, notebooks and IPads in full gear on our ambitious list for the 2019-2021 Biennium. A small sampling of our future includes: advocacy for eight State program action foci; a federal election cycle; a 100th anniversary to celebrate; and many local League activities throughout the state. 

While local Leagues and their new boards are hard at work, our state Executive Director, two full-time staff members and fourteen members of the Board of Directors are doing the same. We are dedicated to carrying out the LWVIL mission, working on initiatives to improve internal operations and service to local Leagues, as well as looking outward to engage new supporters, partners, individuals and like-minded organizations who share our mission values and nonpartisan approach to voting rights and advocacy. 

Here’s just some of what’s happening at LWVIL: 
The Voter Service Team is hard at work getting the Illinois Voter Guide in place for primary and general elections for the Biennium. They are also advancing our Observer Corp Training Program, including development of a Train the Trainers Program. 

The Issues and Advocacy Team is full steam ahead on all action foci including Census 2020. Watch for LWVIL Census information soon, meanwhile LWVUS has shared materials including a recent webinar.  

The Membership Team has partnered with local leaders to facilitate formation of two new leagues and three MAL units. Please welcome our newest leaguers
  • Aurora Area and Clair County become official local Leagues
  • DeKalb County, Northwest Lake County and Rock Island County become MAL Units
  • Kankakee County is reemerging with hopes of becoming a MAL unit

100th Anniversary event planning is in the works. Please save these dates: 
  1. February 14th, 2020 100th Anniversary Commemorative Event (with a giant birthday cake)
  2. September 24th, 2020, 100th Anniversary Celebration Luncheon – fundraiser, friendraiser, reflection and kick-off to the next 100 years of LWVIL Making Democracy Work. 

All of our accomplishments are thanks to the smarts, passion and generosity of our almost 4000 members.  Please take part with LWVIL in any way that works for you. 

I hope to meet you or hear from you soon. Brainstorms, comments, questions and concerns are always welcome. 
Allyson Haut
ahaut@lwvil.org
2019-2021 Board President
League of Women Voters of Illinois
Luncheon SOLD OUT
2019 LWVIL Annual Luncheon was a SOLD OUT success.
The LWVIL 2019 Annual Luncheon, Rhetoric vs. Reality: Why the Time is Now for Equal Pay was a roaring success raising close to $50,000 in ticket sales, sponsorships, donations, and program ads. Featured speaker, Laurel Bellows, spoke to a sold out crowd of 250 League members, legislators and community supporters about what we can do to make equal pay happen now. And we applauded the work of Barb Yong, the founder of Equal Pay Day Chicago and LWV La Grange member, with the inaugural Sapphire Award for her dedication and commitment to creating equal pay for all. A BIG thank you to Luncheon Event Chair, Heidi Graham, and the event committee: Barb Laimins, Erin Roeper, and Becky Simon. Check out pictures from the event on the LWVIL website or social media.
Let's Get Out the Vote
Get your local League prepared for Voter Registration Month and
National Voter Registration Day
September is Voter Registration Month and September 24th is National Voter Registration Day. These dates are great ways to promote your local League as resources for civic education and voter services. Your local League can get involved by:

  • Starting a relationship with your local high schools or community college to reach many young voters. Remember that 17 year olds who turn 18 by November 3, 2020 can vote in the primaries.
  • Partnering with local events, like concerts, farmer's market, parades, to provide voter registration to their audiences.
  • Highlighting the LWVIL's Illinois Voter Guide, an online resource to that helps voters to learn more about the candidates, ballots and issues.
  • Submitting your event to National Voter Registration Day to get your voter registration events noticed and to receive some helpful materials.
  • Using your social media platforms to reach out to your community on National Voter Registration Day.
  • Planning more than one event on multiple days in various locations to encourage all to become registered.

And the most important thing that you want to do is keep track of your numbers and share them with LWVIL . This helps us to show our impact in the community and our value as the leading civic organization in the state. Questions? Reach out to Jan Dorner and Kathy Kenny .
Welcoming New Leagues, MAL Units and Emerging Leagues
Aurora and St. Clair County become official local Leagues, DeKalb County, Northwest Lake County and Rock Island County become MAL Units and Kankakee County is reemerging.
LWVIL keeps growing. We are proud to welcome LWV Aurora Area and LWV St. Clair County as two new full fledged local Leagues. The Aurora League, which has expanded from LWV Central Kane County, has not had a League of Women Voters presence in more than a decade. Aurora is the second largest city in Illinois and we are glad that we will now have an active and growing League to help serve as a resource for civic education and advocacy. The St. Clair County League has been an invaluable group, that has been working diligently in the southern part of the state. We also are welcoming DeKalb County, Northwest Lake County and Rock Island County as new MAL units and Kankakee County is emerging as a MAL unit. Welcome to all!
New Issues & Advocacy Newsletter
Keep up to date on all of the public policy and legislative advocacy of the LWVIL.
We are excited to announce that next month we will be sending out the first LWVIL Issues & Advocacy Report Newsletter. This newsletter will be chalked full of information about what the Issues & Advocacy Committee and Issues Specialists do and how you and your local League can get involved. There will also be great information about the 2019-2021 action focii as approved at the most recent state convention as well as the 2017-2019 legislative progress and wins. A great way to keep up to date on those governmental issues that members have chosen for concerted study and action. And don't forget to share with your friends and family so that they can learn about the impact of the League.
100th Anniversary Committee Needs YOU
Looking for a representative from every local League to help us celebrate.
All local League members in Illinois are invited to join the 100th Anniversary Google Group. We want at least one person from each local League (but more is better) to join the group to  receive  information and ideas and to  post  information and ideas about ways to celebrate and commemorate the two upcoming 100th anniversaries in 2020 of the creation of the League of Women Voters (February 14) and the enactment of the 19th Amendment (August 26).

Please contact Morgan Lyn and you will receive an email invitation to join this Google Group along with instructions as to how to use it.

Let's make this an amazing year and a half of celebration, commemoration, and action, as we look forward to the next 100 years! Questions?   Reach out to 100th Anniversary Committee Chair, Mary Kubasak .
Nominating for the National Board
Do you know someone who would be a great LWV National Board Member? Nominate them today!
The LWV US National Committee is seeking dynamic League members from across the country to serve as members of the next LWV National Board. National Board members serve in a governing role, including fiduciary oversight, strategic visioning and planning for LWV US, and also serve as liaisons to individual states. Although some travel may be required, the majority of your work will be done remotely. For more information about becoming a national Board member, email LWVIL Executive Director Audra Wilson .
LWV Lake Michigan Region Board Opportunity!
Help work for the environment and against climate change as an ILO board member.
Love our Lake Michigan? Is the environment your thing? Care about climate change?  
Then please use your smarts and passion as an LWVIL rep to the LWV-LMR Board.  
Two positions are available.

First step - Learn more and complete the brief application form

Questions? Contact Allyson Haut .
Upcoming Observer Training
Next Observer Training will be in La Grange.
The next LWVIL Observer Training  will be on Saturday, October 12th from 10:15 a.m. to 1:15p.m. at the La Grange Public Library. During the training, Observers will learn what actions to take and what to report. Numerous units of government have few, if any, community members observing. This training will empower you to be the eyes and ears in the room! If you would like to sign up or have any questions, please  reach out to Jan Dorner .
ACTION NEEDED:
Contact your municipal leader, mayor or president and ask that:
1)       your municipality appoints a voting representative to the International Code Commission meeting, and
2)       the representative be directed to vote for greater building efficiency standards in accordance with the  Energy-Efficient Codes Coalition  (EECC) forthcoming Voter Guide.
WHY IT MATTERS:
The International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for newly constructed and renovated buildings is being updated now. Municipalities can have an important role in how these codes impact the environment. Every 3 years, the International Code Council (ICC) solicits input to modernize America’s Model Energy Code (IECC). 

First, find out if your municipality is a member of the ICC. If so, they are able to vote. Members must designate people (staff and/or elected officials) to cast these votes by September 23, 2019. Actual voting occurs in mid-November, 2019. The EECC has put together a  helpful guide and timeline to help municipal leaders participate .

During the last cycle, only .5% of the local government officials in the US that were eligible to vote exercised their option to do so, and the potential benefits of new energy efficient buildings was lost. Your municipal representative’s vote in favor of efficiency will have a significant impact.

Buildings use 40% of the nation’s energy and account for 50% of the greenhouse gas emissions in our region.

The  National Renewable Energy Lab   (NREL)  identified building energy codes as the most impactful policy action cities can take  to meet greenhouse gas reduction targets.  The  Focused Acceleration  report  commissioned by  C40 Cities  underscores the value of optimizing building energy efficiency as the most  significant and impactful step cities can take to meet Paris Accord GHG emission targets . Utility cost savings will also be enjoyed by building owners and occupants over the long-term. 

LWVUS POSITION IN BRIEF:
The League of Women Voters supports the regulation of pollution sources by control and penalties.

Questions? Reach out to Issues & Advocacy Co Chairs Jean Pierce and Rosemary Heilemann or Issues Specialist Krista Grimm .
Important Dates to Remember
Mark your calendars.

  • August 22: Black Women's Equal Pay Day
  • August 26: Women's Equality Day
  • September: Voter Registration Month
  • September 10th: Money in Politics Forum from Noon to 1:30 pm at Columbia College, Stage Two,, 618 S. Michigan Avenue, Chicago
  • September 24: National Voter Registration Day
  • October 12: Observer Training from 10:15 am to 1:15 pm at La Grange Public Library

Please note that these are not all the dates that are important. Don't forget to add your local League events to the LWVIL website .
Get Involved
Here are some ways to get involved in making democracy work at the LWVIL:
Take Action
Issues & Advocacy
Donate
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