Meetup Niles Township

Register new voters outdoors, surrounded by beautiful artwork! We very successfully registered voters here before the '04 election and are certain to be just as successful this year.

You don't have to be a deputy registrar, but if you aren't, we'll try to pair you with one.

Please send an e-mail to lkyarrow@yahoo.com if you have even a short time to devote. Tell me what time(s) you are available, and I'll put together a schedule.

Last week, the 1 percent increase in Cook County’s sales tax went into effect, making Chicago’s sales tax rate—10.25 percent—the highest in the country. What impact will this have on us and on Cook County businesses—and is there another tax hike in our future?

Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin will join the Niles Township Democratic Meetup on Thursday, July 17th, to shed some light on the new sales tax and to update us on county services.

Commissioner Suffredin represents the 13th District, which includes the 49th & 50th Wards in Chicago, Evanston, Glencoe, Glenview, Kenilworth, Lincolnwood, Morton Grove, Niles, Northbrook, Skokie, Wilmette, Winnetka

Speaker starts at 7:00 p.m.; come early to get a start on dinner and discourse.

RSVPs to lkyarrow@yahoo.com are helpful to plan for adequate seating.

Get in the Independence Day spirit by registering voters along the parade route in Skokie on July 4th and later on the Niles Township High School grounds before the fireworks display Friday night.

These are captive audiences! All we need to do is get out there and register! With a clipboard and motor voter forms, anyone can do it. And of course deputy registrars can register on official forms.

Please send an e-mail to lkyarrow@yahoo.com if you have even a short time to devote. Details below:

Skokie 4th of July Parade
Crowds line the parade route for hours before the parade begins at noon. Parade route is north on Lincoln Ave (starting in front of Oakton Community College parking lot, 7701 Lincoln Avenue), then north on Niles Center, then east on Oakton until Kenton Street, just east of the east end of Oakton Park.

4th of July 3-D Fireworks Festival
Friday, July 4, 9 p.m.
Niles West High School grounds (Oakton Street, west of the Edens Expressway).

Illinois took a step on the road to ethics reform last month when the bill to curtail pay-to-play politics passed the Legislature and was sent to the Governor for signing. At this month's meetup, David Morrison, deputy director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, will talk with us about ethics reform and campaign finance reform in Illinois.

We'll also celebrate the end of the primary season and the selection of Barack Obama as the presumptive nominee of the Democratic Party.

Last month, we started a new tradition for the meetup: A food drive to help stock the Niles Township Food Pantry. The pantry helps more than 1,500 area residents every month--people who are having trouble feeding themselves and their families. With food prices skyrocketing along with fuel prices, families are suffering. We can do more than talk about the issues! So if you come, please bring a food donation with you.

Speaker begins at 7:00. Come early to get a start on dinner and discourse.

RSVPs to lkyarrow@yahoo.com help plan for enough seating.

The Niles Township Democratic Meetup is back! It's Spring, and Democrats are blossoming all over: Come celebrate our rejuvenation!

There's lots to discuss since we last met in February. And lots of plans to make.

*Info on speaker to come.

Meetup begins at 7:00 as always. Join us early to get a start on dinner and discourse.

RSVPs to lkyarrow@yahoo.com help plan for enough seating.

The Niles Township Democratic Meetup Debate-Watching Party in November was so much fun, we're going to have a watch-party again next week for the Democratic debate in Las Vegas. We'll be meeting next Tuesday night, January 15th, instead of our usual Thursday.

Come by at 7:00 to reconnect, opine about the presidential race, and hear from anyone who went to Iowa or New Hampshire to support a candidate. That will prime us for the debate, which is scheduled to begin at 8:00 CT.

It's lots more entertaining and exciting to watch together. Please say you'll come! RSVPs to lkyarrow@yahoo.com are helpful to plan for adequate seating

Our November meetup next Thursday, November 15th is coincidentally the night of the next scheduled Democratic debate. It looks like it will be airing in Chicago at the same time our speaker usually begins: 7:00 p.m.

That makes it perfect timing to have a Niles Township Democratic Meetup Debate Watching Party at Edwardo's! It's lots more fun and exciting to watch together�and we can even do our own post-debate poll to see who won.

The restaurant has agreed to put up a partition for us and let us tune the TV in to CNN.

So what do you say?

You get seven speakers (well, 6 if Mike Gravel isn't invited to participate) for the price of one!

Please say you'll come!

The debate begins at 7:00. Come early to socialize and get a start on dinner.

RSVPs to lkyarrow@yahoo.com help plan for enough seating.

Come meet Daniel Biss, candidate for state representative (IL-17), and find out why he has already attracted the attention of the Wall Street Journal (9/28/07), the Chicago Reader (8/17/07), and Pioneer Press (7/19/07). Daniel will tell us about his vision for progressive, independent Democratic leadership in Springfield, the issues he's concerned about, and the grassroots, inclusive campaign that he is running.

Speaker begins at 7:00. Come early to socialize and get a start on dinner.

RSVPs to lkyarrow@yahoo.com help plan for enough seating.

This is a meeting to discuss the February Primary and to hear from candidates. Committeeman Lou Lang will also report on the budget mess in Springfield.

The Obama campaign would like to connect with Illinois veterans and is hoping to enlist their help in contacting fellow veterans in Iowa. The campaign has a vet-to-vet phonebanking event planned for next Wednesday evening, July 25th, from 6 to 8 p.m.--and they can really use your help.

Senator Obama has been a vocal advocate for veterans in Washington. If you're a vet, your outreach to veterans in Iowa is vital to helping the Senator win the Iowa primary and secure the Democratic nomination. Please come down to Volunteer Headquarters and make a few calls and explain why YOU support the Senator.

If you know a veteran, please forward this information on.

Date: Wednesday, July 25th
Time: 6 to 8 p.m.
Location: Obama Volunteer Headquarters, 300 W. Adams, 10th floor

If you'd like to assist the campaign, please contact Alex Okrent, aokrent@barackobama.com

Unfortunately, Tammy Duckworth, Director of the Illinois Department of Veterans Affairs, has been called to Springfield by the Governor and won't be able to attend the meetup Thursday night.

Because the meetup was planned for a special time and there isn't a replacement speaker, it is being cancelled. Apologies for the inconvenience, especially to those of you who made special arrangements to be able to attend. Please pass the word along.

Questions? E-mail Leah Yarrow at lkyarrow@yahoo.com

Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn plans to join us, his schedule permitting, to show his support for Barack Obama's presidential campaign — and to see how the grassroots grows in Niles Township!

This is going to be a special night, one you won't want to miss!

We'll be hearing about the Obama campaign from Bridget Gray, Chicago field director for Obama for America, and you'll learn how you can be a part of transforming our country. There are lots of exciting ways to get involved--there's something to suit everyone's interests, talents, and time.

Join us any time after 6:15 to dine early, or you can get a bite to eat throughout the meetup. The speaker begins at 7:00. (RSVP below...)

Our speaker this month is a recently returned Iraq war vet. Joe Baez, a staff sergeant who served as a medic in Iraq, came home just before the November election. He'll share his experiences and his view of the current -- and ever-deteriorating -- situation with us.

The speaker begins at 7:00, but some of us arrive earlier to get a start on dinner. Join us any time after 6:15 p.m. (Sign up below...)

The finance committee of the Cook County Board will hold one of its four public hearings on the proposed 2007 budget, including corporate, public safety, and Cook County Health Program budgets. The public is invited to testify at these meetings.

If you'd like to speak, you can register at the time of the meeting or in advance by calling the Secretary of the Board at 312-603-6127.

Our first meetup of the year is this Thursday night (Jan. 18th). On the agenda is a celebration of the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi at the helm, along with freewheeling conversation about politics, current events, and whatever else is on our minds. This is the first time in more than a year that we haven't had a speaker, so let's get together and speak our own minds! (Sign up below...)

Joe Moore, 49th Ward Alderman and DNC executive committee member, will give us a post-election wrap-up and discuss the upcoming aldermanic races, including his own re-election campaign. We'll also hear from Greg Brewer, who is challenging Alderman Bernie Stone in the 50th Ward. (Sign up below...)

Our special guests are Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin. They'll give us a pre-election roundup and their perspective on the county, state, and federal races. And they'll fire us up for the last push to Democratic Victory on November 7th!

Please note the earlier start time, as well as the day of the week -- a Tuesday night this month. (Sign up below...)

It's just 54 day until Election Day--and we're gearing up for the final push. Our September and October meetups will be focused on the election: the hot races, the winning strategies, and most importantly, how each of us can contribute to Democratic Victory in November.

Our speakers this month will include senior staff from Tammy Duckworth's campaign to win the 6th Congressional District (replacing retiring Republican Henry Hyde) and from Dan Seals' campaign to oust Republican Mark Kirk from the 10th Congressional District, as well as State Rep. Lou Lang and Pat Hughes from the Governor's campaign. Pat is also chief legal counsel to the office of the Governor. (Sign up below...)

Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley and 49th Ward Committeeman David Fagus will join us to shed some light on the Democratic Central Committee's slating meeting and the Cook County Board's selection meeting. These meetings determine the interim Cook County Board President and the nominee for Cook County Board President on the November ballot.

Quigley's and Fagus' perspectives will be fresh and their insights invaluable. You won't want to miss this meetup! (Sign up below...)

The Evanston Democratic Meetup will be joining us for what promises to be a special meeting.

Speakers begin at 7:00; come early to dine!

We're heading into those hazy days of summer--and that means ozone alerts, beach closings, and other environmental impediments to enjoying the out-of-doors. This month, we're going to focus on the environment,  including air and water quality, as well as global warming and mercury. With the release of Al Gore's movie on global warming, "An Inconvenient Truth," this is the perfect time to learn more and to find out how we can help improve our environment. (Sign Up!...)

Louise Gross Motel, an attorney with the EPA and an expert on the Clean Air Act; Albert Ettinger, a senior attorney with the Environmental Law and Policy Center and an expert on water pollution; and Debra Shore, Democratic candidate for Metropolitan Water Reclamation District and a long-time conservationist, will be our speakers.

Speakers begin at 7:00; come early to dine! For more info and to rsvp, contact Leah Yarrow, lkyarrow@yahoo.com 

This month, we'll be addressing universal health care coverage. Speakers will include a representative from the Illinois Health Care Referendum 2006, a group that is building a grassroots movement working for universal health care in Illinois, and a doctor who is a member of Physicians for a National Health Program, a nonprofit that supports a national health insurance program--specifically a single-payer system.

Please join us for these presentations and a dialogue about this critical issue. Speakers begin at 7 p.m.; come early if you'd like to eat dinner together. 

Join us for our second candidates' forum. Guest speakers include State Rep. Lou Lang and Richard Reeder, who are candidates for Niles Township Committeeman; Tom Dart, candidate for Cook County Sheriff; and Bill Marovitz, candidate for Democratic State Central Committeeman.

Speakers begin at 7:00; come early to socialize and dine. 

Join us for a candidates' forum. Guest speakers include Forrest Claypool, who is challenging John Stroger for president of the Cook County Board; Debra Shore, an environmentalist and candidate for Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District; Siobhan Maura Murphy, candidate for Circuit Court judge, and Martha A. Mills, candidate for the Circuit Court vacancy of Charles Travis.

This is a combined meetup with Jefferson Park, Maine Township, and Evanston meetups.

Come early to socialize and dine! 

Ed Yohnka, communications director of the ACLU-Illinois, will be our guest speaker just as the Alito hearings get underway. While that may be the top issue of the night, there certainly are other civil-right-related topics to address (NSA domestic spying without warrants, portions of the Patriot Act--to mention a couple recent hot subjects). Please come for a lively and informative presentation and conversation. Speaker begins at 7:00; come early to dine.

We are very fortunate to have Julie Sweet, program coordinator for People for the American Way's Illinois office, to speak at our September meetup. When we enlisted Julie, we knew the hearings on John Roberts' nomination to the Supreme Court would be in full swing--and likely close to a vote. What we didn't know, of course, is that there'd be two openings on the Supreme Court and that Roberts would be nominated for Chief Justice.

There will be so much to talk about. I hope you can join us for what promises to be a fascinating presentation and a lively discussion about the Supreme Court vacancies, nominations, and what's at stake for the Court and for the country.

(Speaker begins at 7:00; come early to socialize and dine.)

Several members of the Illinois Ballot Integrity Project will be sharing their work and answering questions on election reform issues. The Illinois Ballot Integrity project is a nonpartisan citizens group that is exploring the problems with computerized voting systems and possible solutions to them.
Hope you can join us!

Our speaker will be Christine Krambeer, a member of the Chicago Area CODEPINK. CODEPINK, if you haven't heard about it yet, is a worldwide grassroots peace and social justice movement initiated by women. The Chicago chapter is new and growing rapidly.

Come early (6:15 or so) to dine.
RSVPs are helpful but not required.
For more information, contact Leah Yarrow at lkyarrow@yahoo.com

Ray Parrish, a Viet Nam vet and GI counselor for Viet Nam Veterans Against the War, will talk about the difficulties that soldiers returning from Iraq are facing, as well as the benefit cuts, diminished health services, and other problems facing veterans of all wars. A representative from Chicago Youth for Conscientius Objectors will be available to answer questions about becoming a conscientious objector and how students and parents can avoid being taken in by military recruiters.

7:00pm for meetup, 6:15-6:30pm to dine Lee Goodman, who ran for Congress in 2004 against Mark Kirk in the 10th congressional district, will be speaking about the Northbrook Peace Committee.