Letter from the President
Saying Goodbye.
Dear LWVIL Member,

What an incredible last few days for me as your President! 

On Wednesday, June 5, Ann Courter (LWV-Oak Park/River Forest), my husband John and I, joined other Responsible Budget Coalition members and legislators to witness Governor Pritzker signing budget related bills. LWVIL now has a “signing pen” the Governor used to affix his signature to the bill that will place the “Fair Tax (allowing for a graduated rate income tax) Amendment to the Illinois Constitution on the 2020 ballot. LWVIL has advocated for this change to the IL Constitution for decades!

Then it was on to Champaign for our 59th LWVIL Biennial Convention with its 100 Years and Beyond theme.  To celebrate being a century old was so exciting as we realized we haven’t lost any of our amazing past and are now poised to use all that past has taught us as we look forward to our work together in the future.  I so wish that each and every one of you could have been there to feel the energy and inspiration!

The day after the convention (June 10), as a proud past president of LWVIL, I was inspired by the many LWVIL members who showed up to celebrate the 100th Anniversary of Illinois being the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment at a wonderful gathering at the State of Illinois Building.  Again, I so wished each and every one of you could have been there as Audra delivered her inspiring remarks about the role our organization continues to play in fulfilling the promises of our democracy. 

At the 2017 LWVIL Convention the first speech I gave as President urged us to think of government, our economy, and citizenship not as machines to be steered but rather as gardens to be tended.    After two years of being in a leadership role with our amazing organization, I’m as confident as ever in saying that we “Leaguers” are the “ master gardeners of democracy!”   As all good gardeners know, we can’t just let nature take its course. If our gardens are to survive and thrive, we have to accept the responsibility of learning the unique conditions in the gardens in which we toil. To nurture the good growth and control the bad, we must use our tools and techniques effectively and pass on to the next generation of gardeners what we’ve learned.  

Imagine how touched I was when the LWVIL Board presented a farewell gift at the end of our convention: a garden pole with the inscription: “Together we can do great things.” Please know that you are invited to see this gift in our Galena garden anytime!

Yours in League with love and gratitude for the honor of serving as your president,
Bonnie Cox
2017-2019 Board President
League of Women Voters of Illinois
What a Weekend!
2019 LWVIL Biennium Convention was a success.
The 59th Biennium LWVIL 2019 Convention was a great success. Over 150 delegates and visitors joined together in Champaign, IL for a weekend full of gathering, discussing key issues and participating in mission related programming.

For those who were unable to attend, you can download all of the materials, see some great photos and learn about all things convention by visiting the LWVIL website.
Women's Right to Vote Day
LWVIL celebrates the 100th Anniversary of Illinois being the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment with Lt. Gov. Stratton, Sen. Tammy Duckworth and more.
On Monday, June 10th, 2019, LWVIL commemorated the 100th anniversary of Illinois becoming the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, giving women the right to vote. This celebration, led by Illinois Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton and Senator Tammy Duckworth, also acknowledged the work and persistence of LWVIL that helped to make this day possible. A special thank you to Pris Mims (LWV Chicago), of the 100th Anniversary Committee, that helped to pen the proclamation that was used on the State, City and Local level. Don't forget to check out all of the media coverage too! Great job Morgan!
2019 LWVIL Annual Luncheon
Tickets are going fast!
Tickets are now available for the LWVIL 2019 Annual Luncheon, Rhetoric vs. Reality: Why the Time is Now for Equal Pay on Tuesday, August 6. And to no one's surprise, the tickets are already going fast. As a League member, you can purchase tickets for just $100 or become a sponsor (which includes a table of 10 and online recognition) for just $1,000. Please note that tables are limited. If you believe your local League would be interested in purchasing a table, please reach out as soon as possible to reserve space.
And don't forget... you can join the Luncheon Event Committee by reaching out to Event Chair, Heidi Graham .
100th Anniversary
100th Anniversary Committee is hard at work.
Since 2017, some wonderful and hardworking Leaguers have been gathering to brainstorm and plan some amazing events, partnerships and proclamations in celebration of the 100th Anniversary of LWVIL. Some initiatives include researching and writing historical articles , advocating for a Quarter in commemoration of the celebration, purchasing/designating 100th Anniversary Yellow Rose pins , spearheading proclamations, like this week's Women's Right to Work day that marks the 100th Anniversary of Illinois ratifying being the first state to ratify the 19th Amendment, and so much more. If you would like to know more about the 100th Anniversary Committee or join their efforts, please reach out to 100th Committee Chair, Mary Kubasak .
New Local League Leaders
We need your contact information.
We want to give a warm welcome to all the new local League Leaders who are giving their time, passion, and hardwork to help us make democracy work for all. To ensure that we are able to communicate with all the new leaders seamlessly, we are asking that you provide your contact information in the New Local Leader Contact form . If you have any questions, please reach out to the LWVIL staff .
LWVIL Observer Training
Next Observer Training scheduled for June 22nd.
The next LWVIL Observer Training will be on Saturday, June 22 from 9 a.m. to Noon at the Barrington Area Library in the Zimmerman Room (505 N. Northwest Hwy. Barrington, IL). 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 .
Get Involved
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