LWV IL President Becky Simon had a letter published in the Chicago Tribune on January 19, 2024, about the Migrant Crisis. You can read it here.

Hello Out There! LWV OPRF is ramping up the Spring season with lots to do! Members are welcome to attend our Board meetings on the fourth Thursday of each month at 6:00pm via Zoom, including a Members' Forum just for us. Join, observe, make suggestions, volunteer! If you’re interested, let Judy Crown know two days in advance to make sure you get the agenda and link. See you there! The Board meeting for January is this Thursday at 6pm.

Concerned about gun violence ? So is your League! LWV IL is updating its Gun Policy Position, and you can help. You are invited to share ideas and discuss a variety of gun violence prevention topics for this study. When working on a study, the League attempts to consider a wide range of opinions and points of view on the issue. The League has a track record of influencing legislation based on their careful study of issues and diligent lobbying for the preferred outcomes. Approved studies can rally all 41 local Leagues to support the conclusions. The next Zoom meeting is:

Thursday, February 1 - 1:30 pm – 2:45 pm Register here.

These discussions will be lively and have the ultimate potential to help save lives. This work will assist our State and local Leagues, as well as individual members, to make a difference in Illinois laws affecting the safety of our communities. Contact Lois Love or Susan Poisl with any questions.

It’s our League's Centennial and a critical election year. There’s never been a better time to get involved in your local League chapter! It’s a great way to make a difference and work with talented and informed fellow volunteers.

We have openings for key positions:

--In joining the Nominating Committee, you can help fill key roles and get to know who’s who in the League.

--Our chapter needs a volunteer to handle publicity for our programs. You can do it on your own time – no meetings involved!

--Serving on the League Board of Directors is a great way to influence program and policy and learn how the League ticks.

--By volunteering for a League committee, you can dip your toe in the water and discover how you can make a difference.

--You can nominate yourself or someone else.

To learn more, contact Tina Birnbaum or Judith Crown, co-chairs of the Nominating Committee.

Great Decisions 2024 will meet at the Maze Branch of the Oak Park Public Library, 845 Gunderson, every other Thursday from 1:00-2:30pm starting February 15, 2024. You can see the schedule of topics and dates here.

The Foreign Policy issues DVD will be shown at the beginning. Contact Alex Matthews to purchase the Great Decisions 2024 briefing book.

Join the League of Women Voters of Illinois for our annual look at current issues on Saturday, February 24! We'll cover a range of topics, from government corruption to gun violence prevention. Learn from legislators and nonpartisan experts and be informed and prepared so you can advocate for change in your community and state.

This is a hybrid event—join us in person for idea-sharing, networking, and camaraderie (this year we'll gather at Northern Illinois University in Naperville!), or, if you can’t make it, tune in from the comfort of home. Tickets are $10 to attend online or $20 to attend in person. Register here.

At the January Second Tuesday meeting, Sara Samelka and Chelly Richards discussed one of Oak Park’s Public Health Department’s responses to the opioid overdose crisis. Naloxone (Narcan) nasal spray is used to reverse an overdose, and kits with the spray and information are now located throughout Oak Park, including the main library. The kits are free and available to everyone.  

The project website includes information on where to find the kits in Oak Park and Chicago. You will also find links to training videos, FAQs, and links to other organizations. Go here to learn more. The Google Map link of the location of the Narcan kits in Oak Park is here. When you click on the icons on the map, you will see a photo of each box. And when you click on the photo, it will get bigger.

On Tuesday, February 13, our Second Tuesday series will host a Zoom presentation with speaker Tim Daly, Director, Gun Violence Prevention & Justice Reform, The Joyce Foundation, and Chair, Fund for a Safer Future. Mr. Daly will join us to discuss the current trends in gun violence in Illinois, how new policies and practices are faring to curb this violence, and what we can expect in the months and years ahead on this issue. Register for this Zoom presentation here. The event goes from 9:30-11:00am.

Learn about immigration. How can it be fixed? The League of Women Voters invites you to attend our Drinks & Dialogue presentation by Sara Dady, a seasoned immigration attorney of the Dady Law Group, who will share her expertise and insights on immigration reform. The presentation will be at Friendly's Tap, 6731 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn, IL., Thursday, February 15, at 6:30. Snacks, a cash bar, and engaging conversations – Free and open to the public! Live music to follow the presentation.

The Tuesday, January 16 Oak Park SD 97 Board Meeting was canceled because of the weather. We will let you know when the Secure Firearm Storage Notification Policy is back on their agenda.

Mark your calendars for our Saturday, March 9 Membership Meeting at Brookdale.

If you missed the LWV IL Candidate Forum Training held on January 13, you can watch the video of the presentation here.

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