Newsletter LWV Glenview

League of Women Voters^®
of Glenview

Current Activities

Newsletter LWV of Glenview

Presidents Letter. Citizenship Awards. Education Issues. Student Vote. LWVIL Position.

From The LWVG President

Hello, Glenview League members,
My family and I wish to thank all of you who were so extremely helpful and supportive during our very difficult time the last several weeks. It meant a great deal to us that so many of you responded to our family crisis in so many ways. We greatly appreciated your wonderful efforts-Leaguers are the best!
At the Annual Glenview Meeting, the nominating committee was unable to fill the whole slate. The Board would like to announce that we have appointed a new director, Sue Kravis. Sue very graciously agreed to serve on our board again; she just finished her term as an Ex Committee member for LWV Cook Co. In addition, Betty Rosenblum has agreed to fill the vice-president's vacancy. Finally, Carol Ginsburg is our newly-appointed rep to the Cook Co. Board. Thank you to all of these members for stepping up when called.
As most of you know, I had the privilege of attending the LWVUS Convention in Portland. There is always a great deal of business to take care of at these biennial meetings-a budget was adopted, programs discussed, by-laws changes considered, etc. A complete report will be forthcoming.
Our thanks to Mary-Lou Aagaard for a very enlightening presentation June 21 entitled "Let's Talk League". Many members appreciated the information given at the meeting.
Our July and August programs promise to be very interesting too. Be sure to join us at Betty Rosenblum's home July 12 for a discussion on Global Issues (see article on next page. In August we will welcome the return of Roleeta Nandan, Book Reviewer Extraordinaire, August 7 at Josie Hamilton's home. Roleeta will review Barbara Kingsolver's book ANIMAL, VEGETABLE, MIRACLE. Hope to see you there!
One more item of note: the Glenview League has received a check for $667.00 for our share of the LWVIL Phonathon! Thanks to all contributors and special thanks to our callers: Sandy Frantz, Vicky Greene, Carol Ginsburg, Roleeta Nandan, Betty Rosenblum, Ann Yoshida, Pam Petersen Joan Ziegler and Barbara Marsh. We had only budgeted $500.00 for the Phonathon so we really exceeded our goal.
Thanks to all members who make League such a vital part of our community. Barbara

Glenview League of Women Voters Honors Young Citizens

Late May and early June award assemblies are part of the right of passage of local eighth graders from their middle school accomplishments to their high school prospects. In Glenview, Attea Middle School's Awards Assembly kicked off a sunny June morning with the Flyer Wind Ensemble's resounding Star Spangled Banner. Students, teachers and guests turned toward the American Flag and recited the Pledge to the Flag. These symbols of patriotism were appropriate backdrops for the first award of the assembly, the presentation of the Citizenship Essay Contest winners by Catherine Russe of the League of Women Voters of Glenview.
Glenview League member Catherine Russe explained that citizenship is about individuals making their school and community better and being a good neighbor. Citizenship is also about being a good neighbor, protecting the environment and staying involved. Remarking that it would be only four short years until the Class of 2008 would become eligible to vote in the election of 2012 and that staying informed and voting were the most important responsibilities of citizenship. Glenview State Bank donated the $50 savings bonds presented to Sashi Ishita for displaying good citizenship qualities and Ali Mack for writing the winning nomination essay.
Four other area middle schools participated in the Citizenship Essay Contest composing essays nominating fellow classmates as outstanding citizens. League members Joanne Field, Patti Marfise-Patt, Janet Rawicki, Cathy Russe and Sally Schreiner judged the essays and awarded honors to some very promising young citizens from:

Gemini - Abraham Varughese nominated by Benson Alexander;
Golf - nominated Shana Ariaz by Kasey Karlin;
Field School - Raina Shah nominated by Ariel Reid;
Springman - Tyler Ellis nominated by Bradley Berg.

WANTED: League members who are interested in education issues.

The League is currently planning to form a standing committee on education, especially since District #34 is apparently going to a referendum in 2010. In order for the League to take a position and subsequently advocate for it, we will have to conduct a League study of the referendum. Be one of the first people on this very important committee. Please call Pat Birk to sign up today!

Illinois Student Vote Update

With generous funding from the McCormick Tribune Foundation and Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White, LWVIL is again sponsoring Illinois Student Vote. Working with the National Student/Parent Mock Election curriculum, participating classes undertake activities to study the candidates and issues of the 2008 election. Participating teachers receive age-appropriate curriculum plans to help their students debate current events, integrate government studies with reading and math and develop critical thinking skills. Students then will be able to make informed decisions as they vote for candidates in a simulated election in the fall. On October 30th, student votes from throughout the state will be tallied on our website, http://www.illinoisstudentvote.org.
To make Illinois Student Vote a success, LWVIL needs local League members to serve as coordinators in their areas. A coordinator connects with local schools to market Illinois Student Vote and assists with Mock Election activities.
A brochure was mailed to every school in Illinois in April and we will mail it again in August. If you would like copies of the brochure, please contact the state League office. So far, nearly 50 schools have signed up through the website!
Kudos to the following local Leagues who have signed up their area high schools through personal contacts: Arlington Heights/Mt. Prospect/Buffalo Grove, Collinsville, Edwardsville, Elmhurst, Evanston, Freeport, Glen Ellyn, Glencoe, Glenview, Homewood/Flossmoor, LaGrange, McHenry County, Oak Park/River Forest, Palos/Orland, Park Forest and Wheaton. The list of those high schools is enclosed.
Also, all 116 high schools in the Chicago public school system will be holding mock elections in September. We need volunteers from the Chicago area (League members and others) to help oversee these mock elections.
For more information on Illinois Student Vote, visit our website at http://www.illinoisstudentvote.org.

May 17, 2008 LWVIL POSITION ON 2009 CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION

The League of Women Voters of Illinois opposes holding a constitutional convention at this time. We believe the present constitution is serving the citizens of Illinois and may be changed using the amendatory process where necessary.
A constitutional convention opens the entire constitution to revision with the risk of losing many of the important gains achieved in 1970. It is estimated that the convention would cost at least $78 million, and this money could be put to better use at a time when state resources are limited.
The serious lack of preparation and public information by Illinois government officials on a constitutional convention means that there is insufficient time to educate the public adequately on the complexities of the issues.
REPORT ON MEMBER CONSENSUS PROCESS
Twenty-eight League chapters participated in the consensus process and all areas of the state were represented.
With a 28 out of 44 League chapter response rate, 24 chapters opposed holding a constitutional convention at this time, 4 chapters could not reach consensus, and no chapter supported a convention.
The issues most often cited for opposition included:

1. Risk of exposing the entire constitution to revision and loss of 1970 gains
2. Cost of a convention vs. possible benefits
3. Relative success of amendment process
4. Concern about special interests in delegate selection & convention
5. Concern about entire delegate election process
6. Risk of political dysfunction in state government extending to convention
7. Presidential election resulting in voters too distracted from con-con issues

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: July 8, 2008 22:47 PDT.