AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION

of Champaign County
Steering Committee Minutes

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Present: Bill Brown, Ward Henson, Esther Patt, Steven Portnoy, Paul Wisovaty, Marsha Woodbury, Elaine Gehrmann,, Stuart Laird. Carol Inskeep, Carol Leff

The meeting was called to order at 7:02 p.m. by the chair, Esther Patt.

The minutes of the February meeting were approved as distributed.

The Treasurer's Report was accepted.

Illinois Division Report: Esther Patt announced an ACLU Chapters conference call-everyone is welcome to call in: Thursday March 12 at 5:00 p.m

Old Business:

a) Safe Schools Project: Elaine Gehrmann gave a brief report. There seem to be a lot of people enthused, and we may be farther along than other districts in that we have gay-straight alliances and are seeking more positive messages.

b) The Statewide Summit is in Bloomington on Saturday, March 28.

c) The Annual meeting is Sunday, April 5 from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at Milo's in Urbana
                    - Finding a public address system-Stuart and Steve will check on rental expenses. Ellen will look for a portable speaker's podium.
                    - Nominating Committee report - Mary Cory is leaving the Steering Committee. Rachel (Dietkus) Miller and Paul Debevec are joining the board. Carol Inskeep will become the Vice President.
          - Awards - Steve and Esther Portnoy are the unanimous choice for the Norton Award.

                      - Ward will pick them up the plaques for the banquet.
-         Newsletter - Thursday March 12 it will be assembled in our meeting room. 7 pm

New Business:

a.     Recently we heard of a possible Juvenile advisory council for Champaign County and would like to see if we can come up with a person to serve. We are investigating.

b.    New bills introduced:

HB 898 Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson - Chapin Rose - Lou Lang and Luis Arroyo, with the help of the ACLU in wording.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that all faculty and staff members of a university or community college are free to communicate their views on any matter of private or public concern to any member of the legislative, executive, or judicial branch of government, State or federal, without notice to or prior approval of the university or community college, so long as they do not represent that they are speaking for or on behalf of the university or community college. Effective immediately.

HB 899 - Rep. Naomi D. Jakobsson - Chapin Rose and Luis Arroyo, with the help of the ACLU in wording.

Amends various Acts relating to the governance of public universities and community colleges in Illinois. Provides that a university or community college may not prohibit any faculty or staff member from (i)
displaying political buttons, stickers, or patches while on university or community college property, provided that such display by any member of the faculty in an instructional setting is for a purpose relevant to
the subject of instruction; (ii) attending a partisan political rally, provided that the employee is not on duty; or (iii) displaying a partisan bumper sticker on his or her motor vehicle. Effective immediately.

   HB 4077 Right to Vote - Naomi Jacobsen

Amends the Election Code. Requires that the State Board of Elections by rule prescribe the specific forms of identification and proof of residency that shall be sufficient for persons voting for the first time
after having registered by mail or at a Secretary of State driver's license facility. Requires that the State Board post those forms on its official website and that printed copies be distributed to persons registering by mail or at a driver's license facility.

We had a report on the Civil Unions bill which has made it out of committee but may lack the votes to pass due to no one wanting to be the "61st vote."

c. Reproductive Health & Access Act - March 10 lobby day

d Tuesday March 10 is Share a Meal --a day long event, and Kennedy's. Luna, and Siam Terrace will give 30% of each meal to Community Shares, and please point your money to the ACLU Roger Baldwin Foundation.

e. Bill Brown is on the new advisory committee to expand minority participation on juries.

The meeting closed at 8:27 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Marsha Woodbury