Last Thursday, Kathy Perry, Suzanne Poisl, and Peggy Kell helped celebrate Jane Addams' 164th birthday by registering voters at Concordia University. The Social Work Program at Concordia and their director, Dr.Carol Jabs, had cupcake treats to celebrate Addams' birthday with information about the Cedarville, Illinois native. An active suffragist, it was fitting to celebrate her birthday while we registered voters.

River Forest joins the villages of Forest Park and Oak Park in issuing a celebratory proclamation recognizing the League's 100th birthday! Join us today, Monday, September 9, at 7:00pm at the River Forest Village Hall, 400 Park Avenue, River Forest, to celebrate with the River Forest Village Board. See the agenda here for the order of business.

Ranked Choice Voting will be a binding referendum question on the Oak Park November ballot. This referendum question is for RCV to be used for the election of Village President and Trustees, and if passed, RCV would be used for the 2027 Municipal Election. If you would like to have a FREE lawn sign to support RCV, please let Peggy Kell know and one will be delivered to your home.

Do you believe that voters should select their representatives and not the candidates and their parties? This November there will be a non-binding referendum question on the ballot. "Shall the State of Illinois adopt an independent citizens commission for the federal and state redistricting process?" This vote will be an important way to send a message to our legislators about the importance of this issue. Need more information? Register here to attend an online information session on Monday, September 16, at 6:00pm sponsored by Change Illinois.

If you would like to help register citizens in person, check out the list here for upcoming voter registration events. You can help as a Deputy Registrar or just a Leaguer who passes out palm cards with voter information on it. More dates are being added daily, so keep checking the list! Contact Peggy Kell with any questions or dates of local events that we can include on our voter registration calendar.

On Tuesday, September 24, 6:30pm at the Main Oak Park Library, the LWV OPRF Fall Kick-off will discuss the implications of mis/dis-information. The panel will include the leaders of the LWVIL mis/dis task force. Joining them will be Michael Spikes, Ph.D., lecturer and director of Teach for Chicago Journalism at the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University. This event is free and open to the public. Share this with your friends and neighbors!

Our first Coffee and Conversation program (formerly Second Tuesday) will be on Thursday, October 10, from 9:30-11:00am. Held at the Nineteenth Century Charitable Organization, 178 Forest Ave., Oak Park, please join us for an interesting discussion on the 100-year history of the League of Women Voters of

Oak Park/River Forest. A quote from Mrs. Guy W. Cornwell, President of LWV OPRF -- 1925-1926:

“…we have started toward the goal that was our dream

But we find the road obstructed with indifference, greed extreme, Bitter foes that we must Vanquish

By a process tried, not new, Education, love of mankind, And hard work will take us through.”

From Young Filmmakers to the Annual Environment and Spirituality Summit, check out all the activties in the One Earth Collective Calendar of upcoming events.

The League's Observer Corps plays a key role in community education and engagement, helping their communities stay informed about decisions that impact them locally while encouraging government transparency and accountability. Take the training on Thursday, September 12, at 1:00pm to become a trained Observer. Register here.

Have you paid your League dues? Go online or download a paper copy and send it in ASAP!

LWV UMRR September Newsletter

LWV IL September Newsletter

LWV US September 5 Update

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