LWVCC News

League of Women Voters^®
of Cook County

LWVCC posts news for its members several times a year.

Tour of Deep Tunnel Pumping Station. Meeting Elects Officers, Adopts Position, Hears Shakman Speak. Results from the February Primary Poll Reporting Project.

Tour of Deep Tunnel Pumping Station

The League of Women Voters of Cook County Invites you to Tour the Mainstream Pumping Station of Deep Tunnel On Saturday, September 20, 2008, at 10:00 am, in Hodgkins, Illinois.
The 31-mile Deep Tunnel & Reservoir system helps to control floodwaters and prevent pollution of our waterways from Wilmette to McCook. Gain an understanding of how the system works at this tour of one of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District's three pumping stations.
Afterward, if you have time, join us for lunch at a nearby restaurant. Laurie Morse, who has recently signed on as a MWRD Observer, will share her initial impressions with us.
Respond by August 15. The tour is free, open to family and friends (ages 18+), and we are told that it is fully accessible. Do not delay--no late responses are allowed. Due to security concerns, the MWRD requires all participants to complete the two attached forms, and provide a copy of a state-issued identification card, one month prior to the tour.
Click here for Tour Application
We will submit the documentation as a group.
Mail the forms and the copy of your ID to: Krista Grimm, Vice President LWVCC P O Box 542 LaGrange, IL 60525
A confirmation notice, including driving directions, will be mailed to you prior to the tour.
This event is co-sponsored by the Salt Creek Watershed Network http://www.saltcreekwatershed.org

Meeting Elects Officers, Adopts Position, Hears Shakman Speak

The Cook County League, which is an inter-league group made up of the 16 leagues within the county, held its annual meeting on May 19 at Brookfield Zoo. Those attending heard Michael Shakman speak about his law suit that has led to the famous "Shakman Decrees" which are court orders affecting patronage in Chicago and Cook County governments.
Mr. Shakman originally brought suit back in 1969 when he was defeated in his bid to be elected as a delegate to the Illinois Constitutional Convention, a supposedly non-partisan position, as a result of what he alleged was old-style, and illegal, patronage politics. The lawsuit is still pending, making it one of the longest ever! There have been two major judicial decrees which have tried to eliminate patronage as a basis for hiring or firing, or as a requirement for working as a city or county employee. As a result of continued allegations by others that patronage continues, both the city and county governments are still under scrutiny by the court.
After a review of the significant activities of the past year and an update of the study and action committees' work, delegates at the meeting revised the bylaws, adopted a budget, elected new officers and board members, and adopted by concurrence a revised position on juvenile justice. To see the new position, go to the County League's web site: http://www.cookcounty.il.lwvnet.org. On the left of the page, click on "LWVCC Positions," and on the next page, click on "Juvenile Justice."
Officers elected at the annual meeting were Cynthia Schilsky (LaGrange Area) as president, Krista Grimm (LaGrange Area) and Marjy Gilbert (Palos/Orland Area) as vice-presidents, Penny Shnay (Park Forest Area) as secretary, and Donna Moore (Homewood/Floosmoor) as treasurer.
Nancy Stauton and Pris Mims (OPRF), Arline Doblin, (W/N/K), Millie Juskevice (Chicago) and Betty Rosenblum (Glenview) were elected as Board members. Betty Hayford (Evanston) continues as a Board member. Sue Kravis (Glenview), Karen Hunt (Evanston) and Mary Ellen Matthies (OPRF) were elected to the Nominating Committee.
If you have any interest in County issues, please consider getting involved with the County League. The Employment Practices Study Committee expects to have an organization chart of the departments reporting to the Cook County President on the website later this year, and is continuing to study the county's employment practices. The Budget Process Action Committee will continue to monitor the county's budget process and urge reforms in line with the CC League's budget position. A new Juvenile Justice Action Committee is forming to take action on the newly revised position. As a follow up to a very successful poll reporting project for the February primary election, another similar project is being planned for the November election, along with another televised debate for State's Attorney. And, new observers are always needed to monitor Cook County meetings. All of these committees welcome new members to join them.
For more information on the Cook County League and to join a committee please contact the League at info@cookcounty.il.lwvnet.org or at 312-939-5935.

Results from the February Primary Poll Reporting Project

Poll Watching Project Report

Comments, suggestions, questions? Contact our webmaster. Last revised: July 15, 2008 12:58 PDT.