Newsletter Highlights
Register Now: LWVCC Annual Meeting at the Brookfield Zoo Chicago May 6, 2025
Voter Information On Upcoming Municipal Elections
New Way to Communicate: Put League in Action on Your Phone
| | | | "Something tells me it's all happening at the zoo." Paul Simon | | |
News from Cook County Governments
You can help keep medications from entering our waterways by disposing of unwanted medicine properly. The MWRD website lists drop off locations.
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LWVCC Annual Meeting
All League Members Invited
When: Tuesday, May 6th from 9:45am until 1pm
Where: Brookfield Zoo Chicago, ITW White Oak Room,
South Gate Entrance, 3300 Golf Road,
Brookfield, IL 60153
Register by April 29th on the
LWVCC Website Home Page
Parking and entrance to the Zoo will be complimentary
You will be able to stay after the meeting and
visit the Zoo.
Cost: $40 Continental breakfast and buffet lunch
Coffee, tea, and rolls will be served from 9:15am
Buffet lunch includes sandwiches, wraps, salad,
chips, and cookies
Business meeting starts at 9:45 am,
followed by lunch and program
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Annual Meeting Program
Dr. Michael Adkesson, Brookfield Zoo Chicago President and CEO, will speak on the Zoo's Next Century Plan
Dr. Mike Adkesson is a renowned leader in the care of zoo animals and the conservation of wildlife. He is a passionate advocate on the importance of modern zoos and aquariums as a means for inspiring societal compassion and concern for wildlife and nature.
| | | Local Leagues in Cook County have conducted candidate forums for contested local elections. Many of those forums have been recorded and are available on the Local League web site. Find those sites Here. | | |
The ONE-STOP SHOP for all your nonpartisan voting information, including who is on your ballot.
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APRIL 1 CONSOLIDATED ELECTION
Register to Vote (See HERE)
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Until March 16: Online if have Illinois Driver’s License or I.D. with Cook County Clerk Registration Page.
Register to Vote and Voting (Early Voting and Election Day)
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March 17 thru March 31: at Early Voting Sites
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April 1 Election Day from 6 am to 7 pm: at your home precinct (see List) or at the Voting Centers at 69 W. Washington, Chicago pedway; Maywood Public Library; and the courthouses in Bridgeview, Markham, Rolling Meadows and Skokie
Vote by Mail
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If not on the permanent vote-by-mail list, can apply by March 27, see the Cook County Clerk's Web Site.
- Completed ballots must be:
1) Mailed and postmarked on or before April 1
2) Delivered at designated secure drop boxes at Early Voting Sites from March 17 thru March 31
3) Delivered at designated secure drop boxes from March 17 through and including Election Day on April 1 at these voting centers: Maywood Public Library; and the courthouses in Bridgeview, Markham, Rolling Meadows, and Skokie.
4) Delivered at the secure box in the lobby of 69 W. Washington, Chicago (not the pedway) from March 5 through and including Election Day on April 1.
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League in Action
Follow actions and alerts from LWVUS, LWVIL, and LWVCC on your phone.
League In Action, by OutreachCircle, is a digital platform where anyone who believes in our mission can directly connect and take action on issues impacting their communities.
With the tap of a button, League in Action users can:
- Find and send letters to their elected officials on topics like voting rights, dark money, reproductive justice, and more;
- Register for rallies, workshops, and other virtual and in-person events through the League;
- Learn about important political topics;
- Find upcoming elections;
To learn more and load the app to your phone go to the LWVUS website.
Once you load the app, you can search for LWVIL and LWVCC accounts.
| | | LWVCC Interest Groups keep members informed about important activities of our local government. | |
Upcoming Meetings
All Local League members are invited to participate in these interest group meetings
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Budget & Structure Tues., April 29, 10 am via Zoom
Criminal Justice Friday, March 28, 9 am via Zoom
Contact Jan Goldberg
Forest Preserve Friday, April 4, 8:30 am via Zoom
Contact Lauramdavis90@gmail.com
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Budget and Structure Interest Group
We Learn, We Report, We Make a Difference
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MWRD Co-Sponsors Webinar on PFAS
March 19 6:30 pm
Registration Required
Click HERE for more information and to register
Commissioner Cam Davis from the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and professionals from Illinois Environmental Council, UIC Public Health, Defend Our Health, and National Wildlife Federation will conduct an educational webinar on PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Learn about the health risks of PFAS exposure, products to avoid, and what actions can be taken to protect our health/water supply.
| | Criminal Justice Interest Group | | |
- The Appleseed lawyers will be releasing a report soon on Electronic Monitoring. The two programs (one under the Sheriff and one under the Chief Judge) are supposed to be combined into one on April 1st. That date may be extended.
- The State's Attorney announced that she will not be sending gun possession offenders to Restorative Justice Court. What this means for the Chief Judge's plans to extend the locations of these courts remains to be seen.
- Suburban locations for 1st Appearance Court (formerly bond court) will be observed by the LWVCC if we can find enough volunteers.
- Our next book discussion will be on Thursday April 17th at 9AM via zoom. The book will be "The Secret History of the Rape Kit" by Pagan Kennedy.
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Our next regular meeting will be on March 28, 2025 9 am via zoom.
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To participate in these meetings, please contact Jan Goldberg
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Forest Preserve Interest Group
Nature is our Business
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- Cook County was a major sponsor of the Wild Things conference in Rosemont on March 1, 2025. Wild Things currently occurs every other year and is a celebration of nature, wildlife, ecosystem restoration, birding, botanizing, and sharing ideas, challenges and successes.
- The Cook County Forest Preserves offered many sessions and one in particular focused on the problem of encroachment. Encroachment occurs when public land is taken over not just by invasive species, but by people. The estimate is that 1000 acres of Cook County Forest Preserve land has been lost. The passage of the referendum has allowed the Cook County Forest Preserve to afford better monitoring and enforcement, and protect the land that over two thirds of Cook County residents voted to support.
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On Friday, April 18 at 11am, Chris Anchor, Senior Wildlife Biologist, Forest Preserve District of Cook County will speak at River Trail Nature Center in Northbrook about the Cook County Forest Preserves long term urban coyote research. Attendees are encouraged to bring a bag lunch for after the talk. If interested, contact Laura Davis Lauramdavis90@gmail.com
Next team meeting is Friday, April 4, 2025 - 8:30am on zoom
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LWVCC observes and reports on board and committee meetings of Cook County government entities to provide our members with an understanding of current issues. To read more: LWVCC Observer Reports
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The League of Women Voters of Lake County presented an interesting and timely program on the Illinois Supreme Court on March 6. | | |
Speaker: Justice Elizabeth Rockford
To get a link to watch this one-hour program, contact the Lake County League at
lwvlakecounty@gmail.com
Please mention the League you belong to in your request for the link.
Justice Rochford explained that all 7 Justices are elected, with 3 from Cook County, which is the 1st District, and one each from the remaining 4 districts. Justice Rochford was elected from the 2nd District, which is composed of counties north of Cook County.
While Justice Rochford could not comment on any of the issues raised by the ongoing LWVUS study of the federal courts as they pertain to the federal courts, she did discuss the issues with regard to what happens in the Illinois state courts.
For example, under the Illinois Constitution, the Illinois Supreme Court is charged with adopting rules of conduct for all the Illinois judges. There are about 80 pages of such rules divided among four “canons.” The Illinois Constitution also provides an enforcement mechanism, applying to all judges, including the Supreme Court Justices, through complaints filed with the Judicial Inquiry Board, which investigates. Determination of any disciplinary action to be taken is by the Illinois Court Commission after a hearing, also provided for in the Illinois Constitution.
| | Local League Upcoming Events | | |
Thursday, March 20, 6:30 - 8 pm In person
LWV Oak Park River Forest
Drinks and Dialogue
Speaker: Jennifer Rook of Thrive Counseling Center
Friendly’s Tap
6733 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL 60402
No registration required
Thursday, April 10, 9:30 - 11 am In person
LWV Oak Park River Forest
Coffee and Conversation
Challenges Facing the LGBTQ+ Community in 2025
Speaker: John Becvar, Co-chair Oak Park Area Lesbian & Gay Association
Nineteenth Century Charitable Association
178 Forest Avenue Oak Park, IL
No registration required.
Saturday, April 12, 10:00 am In person
LWV Palos Orland Area
How the Electoral College Impacts the Presidential Election
Speaker: Rosemary Heilemann
Palos Heights Public Library
12501 S. 71st Ave, Palos Heights, IL
No registration required.
Thursday, April 17, 6:30 - 8 pm In person
LWV Oak Park River Forest
Drinks and Dialogue
Help Save the Planet and Save Money
Speaker: Pamela Tate Certified climate reality leader (trained by Al Gore)
Friendly’s Tap
6733 Roosevelt Road
Berwyn, IL 60402
No registration required
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2024-2025 Cook County League Board Members
OFFICERS: President: Cynthia Schilsky, LaGrange Area; Vice-Presidents: Pris Mims, Chicago, Kathi Graffam, LaGrange Area; Secretary: Carolyn Cosentino, Homewood/Flossmoor; Treasurer: Trudy Turner, Evanston.
Board members: Victoria Cerinich, Palos-Orland Park Area; Laura Davis, Palatine; Diane Edmundson, Chicago; Jan Goldberg, LaGrange Area ; Sue Gregory, Glenview-Glencoe; Betty Hayford, Evanston; Sandra Slayton, Homewood-Flossmoor
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The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, political organization whose mission is to encourage informed and active participation in government; to increase understanding of major policy issues, and to influence public policy through education and advocacy. Membership in the League is open to anyone regardless of gender, race, or ethnic group.
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League of Women Voters of Cook County
332 S. Michigan Ave. Suite 634, Chicago, IL 60604
312-939-5935
lwvcookcounty.org
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