Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me
Join your LWVIL friends for a night of comedy at this popular NPR news quiz show: Thursday, September 17, 7 pm, at the Chase Bank Auditorium, 10 S. Dearborn, Chicago. Click here to BUY TICKETS. The $60 price includes a post-show reception. Reserve your ticket before August 16. Don't wait!

LWVIL Wins "Visit" from the Declaration of Independence
The League of Women Voters of Illinois and Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago have won a national award for their 2008 mock election program. Click here to read the AWARD LETTER. The honor, bestowed by the National Student Parent Mock Election, is a visit from an original printing of the Declaration of Independence (loaned by its owner, Hollywood producer Norman Lear). Public viewing is planned for Fall, 2009. Check the LWVIL Website for place and time.

True Census Count Impacts Congressional Seats
LWVIL’s True Census Count: Everybody Counts project is working with local Leagues and community organizations to make sure that Illinois is fully and securely counted during Census 2010 and that the redistricting process which follows in 2011 is an open and transparent one. Data from the census is used by the federal government to distribute more than $400 billion annually to state and local governments and to ensure that seats in the U.S. House of Representatives are fairly and equitably apportioned. If Illinois' count falls short, Illinois might lose two seats in Congress.

LWVIL Endorses Civics Education Plan
At its July 21 meeting the LWVIL Board acknowledged its membership in the Illinois Civic Mission Coalition and endorsed the Coalition's Civic Blueprint for Illinois High Schools. Coalition members are committed to the idea that civics education is fundamental to our democracy. The Blueprint outlines six key concepts that can be adopted in every high school in the state. Through a civics audit process, the professional development needs of applicant high schools would be clarified, and Coalition partners would provide the resources necessary for the high schools to become certified as Democracy Schools.

Restudy of RECALL and TERM LIMITS
Help Wanted: Committee members for a restudy of these two means of reining in the power of elected officials. Delegates to our 2009 Convention decided that with one governor in jail, another about to be tried, and the legislature in gridlock, we needed to look at "recall" and "term limits" as possible solutions. Please indicate your interest by sending an E-MAIL to our new Issues chair, Kim Reed.

Help Us Reach All LWVIL Members
If someone in your League does not have email, print and share this ENews with them. If you know someone who didn't receive this ENews, ask them to send an email to Jeanne Davik at webmaster@lwvil.org. Use the same email address to send any other feedback. Thanks.