roundtable: Illinois Grassroots Meeting A Hugh Success!

roundtable: Illinois Grassroots Meeting A Hugh Success!

Illinois Grassroots Meeting A Hugh Success!

Jack Koenig (jkoenig@concentric.net)
Tue, 29 Jul 1997 08:56:31 -0500 

Message-Id: <3.0.16.19970729084821.28171f28@pop3.concentric.net>
Date: Tue, 29 Jul 1997 08:56:31 -0500
To: jkoenig@cris.com
From: Jack Koenig <jkoenig@concentric.net>
Subject: Illinois Grassroots Meeting A Hugh Success!

The Impact Voters of America (SM)
P.O. Box 493
Deerfield, IL 60015

                	* * * P R E S S   R E L E A S E * * *

July 28, 1997
For Immediate Release
For Further Information: Jack Koenig At 847-948-1158

                	Grassroots Meeting A Hugh Success!

Twenty-six diverse organizations sent 47 delegates to the recently held
Impact Voters of America/Impact Alliance meeting held in Rosemont, IL on
Sunday, July 27, 1997. The meeting was called to discuss methods and means
by which members could come together and fight government and bureaucratic
arrogance, irresponsibility, and non-responsiveness on all levels. After
the introductory period, in which each individual briefly stated their
name, organization, and mission statement, so called "pet" issues were
taken off the table. By the time the meeting ended at 5:00PM, the
enthusiastic delegates were in agreement The Alliance was a definite
vehicle which could assist each member with their individual organization's
efforts.

Participants listened to guest speakers including former Secretary of State
and citizen activist Pat Quinn, who spoke on initiative, referenda, and
recall. The meeting also focused on ways to help one another through
networking, sharing a massive fax database, supplying vital information to
one another on a timely basis, installing a computer bulletin board system
tied into the Internet, holding workshops, and using other means of
enhanced communications including phone dialers. 

A Steering Committee, whose primary function is selecting key issues on
which the Alliance will focus, was also impaneled. Members of the Steering
Committee include:

	Bob Redfern, Chairman, Illinois Forum (Fairfield)
	Ken Bohnsack, Chairman, Sovereignty (Freeport)
	Joe Daleiden, Exec. Director, Midwest Citizens For Immigration
Reform (Evanston)
	Val Zimnicki, National Taxpayers United Of Illinois (Chicago)
	Michael Irving, Co-Chair, Illinois Businessmen's Association
(Elmhurst)
	Randy Reid, Committeeman (Ingleside)
	Dave Pittenger, Chairman, Taproots and also a Committeeman
	Ted Biondo, Chairman, R.E.A.C.H. (Rockford Educating All Children)
	An un-designated Member of the Slocum Lake Management Association
 
In addition to Chairman Jack Koenig and Pat Quinn, the group heard from two
other speakers who proposed additional issue possibilities.

Ken Bohnsack discussed the Sovereignty Proposal, a method to provide
interest free loans to municipalities for capital projects as well as
retiring existing debt. The proposal has been endorsed by numerous state
legislators including Illinois, but has been stalled by special interest
groups, including those making a living off  taxes used to pay the interest
fees.

Ted Biondo discussed the explosive situation in Rockford resulting from a
former arrogant, out of control school board who brought the state's second
largest city to it's knees. By refusing to implement adequate integration
procedures, a federal magistrate was installed to oversee Rockford's school
integration plan and has imposed "user fees" (read taxes) so high they
sometimes exceed mortgage payments. Many homeowners, especially the
elderly,  have had to abandon their homes.

In closing the meeting Chairman Koenig thanked the audience for their
enthusiastic response and participation in the meeting. After a brief
discussion, it was estimated the combined groups had a total database
approaching 200,000 members. A follow-up meeting will be scheduled as soon
as the Steering Committee meets for their first session. 

Some of the participating organizations included:
	Citizens Advocacy Center (Elmhurst)
	The Heartland Institute (Palatine)
	Illinois Family Institute (Glen Ellyn)
	Illinois Forum (Fairview)
	Illinois Businessmen's Association (Villa Park)
	Illinois Citizens Action (Libertyville)
	Midwest Citizens For Immigration Reform (Evanston)
	Taproots (Woodridge)
	R.E.A.C.H (Rockford Educating All Children) (Rockford)
	Impact Voters of America (Deerfield)
	Impact Coalition of Western Lake County (Ingleside)
	National Taxpayers United of Illinois (Chicago)
	S.T.O.P (Send Township Officials Packing)
	Community Forums, Inc. (Ingleside)
	A.R.C.O (Alliance of Residents Concerning O'Hare - Arlington         Heights)
	Libertarians (Rockford)
	Rock River Times (Rockford)
	Sovereignty (Freeport)
	Maine Tax Analysis Group, Inc. (Des Plaines)
	Citizen Activists Of Volo, IL (Volo)
	S.T.O.P.-U (Sewage Treatment Or Pay-Up) (Wauconda)
	Slocum Lake Management Association (Slocum Lake)

	
###
	
	

Have a great day!

Jack In Illinois
The Impact Voters Of America (sm)

Communications without intelligence is noise!
Intelligence without communication is irrelevant!

[CNI Home Page]