[Imc-chicago] LWVIL HOLDS LOBBY DAY IN SPRINGFIELD APRIL 14

[Nicole Poropat]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT
LAURIE HUGET					
708/383-7053 Ext. 222
laurie at huget.com


LWVIL HOLDS LOBBY DAY IN SPRINGFIELD APRIL 14

	CHICAGO, April 20, 2005...On Thursday, April 14, members of the League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL) met in Springfield for a Lobby Day, dressed in vintage Suffragist costume and traveling in .a 1930 Ford Town Sedan in honor of the League's 85th birthday.  (The group gave rides in the antique car to the state officials shown in the photo.  Photo A)

	The group created quite a stir as they visited their state legislators to talk about League legislative priorities:  state fiscal policy reform, school funding and election reform. League members also observed the Illinois General Assembly in action , getting a better picture of how state government works and adding to information being gathered for the Democracy Projects, an initiative begun in 2004 to assess and strengthen citizen participation in the state legislative process through direct citizen action or action by elected officials.

	Led by Paula Lawson, LWVIL Vice President, Issues and Action, the group first met to update themselves on LWVIL priority issues and prepare for the day before heading to the Capitol."Lobby Day educates our members by giving them an opportunity to see our legislators in action, in the legislative chambers and in committees, and trains them in how to gain access to legislators to try to influence their vote," Lawson said.

"Everywhere we went people wanted our photograph.  We kept the Senate photographer busy all day because so many Senators wanted their photo taken with us.  Absolute strangers asked us to pose and we always reminded the younger female ones to make sure they vote.  We had a really fun time and did some very unique lobbying," said Chris Slowik, LWVIL board member, Democracy Project Chair and member of the LWV Palos-Orland.

The League is a nonpartisan political organization that encourages the informed and active participation of citizens in government and influences public policy through education and advocacy.

The League of Women Voters of the United States was founded in Chicago on February 14, 1920. Knowing woman suffrage was inevitable, Carrie Chapman Catt urged the National American Woman Suffrage Association to change direction and help American women learn about the issues and "be worthy of the privilege of voting." The Illinois League was formed shortly after the national organization. There are forty-seven Illinois Leagues with about 4500 members in communities and counties across Illinois. Many of those members have used the League as a training ground for leadership positions locally, at the state level and nationally. Membership is open to all citizens, women and men, ages 18 and older.
For more information and to join, go to www.lwvil.org <http://www.lwvil.org>, or call 312/939-5935, ext 36.

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