AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION       

of Champaign County

Steering Committee

 November 6, 2008

Present: Bill Brown, Elaine Gehrmann, Ward Henson, Carol Leff, Hiram Paley, Esther Patt,

 Steven Portnoy,  Shirley Stillinger, Paul Wisovaty, Marsha Woodbury

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by the chair, Esther Patt.  The  minutes of the October  meeting were approved as distributed.   Ward Henson, treasurer,  submitted a financial statement; our total assets are $4,110.83.  The statement was accepted.

Old Business

a) Fall gathering:  a sign-up list to bring food was passed around.

b) Freedom To Vote program:  about 25 people came to watch the video and to hear a presentation by Colleen Connell.

New Busines

a) Lapsed-member recruitment:  we will send a mailing, perhaps in March

b) Safe Schools Project: Esther received information from Colleen Connell that Bloomington  and Peoria have launched projects.  Hiram suggested talking to Sen. Durbin’s staff about programs and funding.  Elaine will check to see what relevant books are in the libraries.

c) The Kite Runner in the Champaign schools:  not an ACLU issue

d) The U. of I. interpretation of the state ethics law:  Naomi Jakobsson sent a letter  to Pres. White criticizing him for his interpretation; she will sponsor  new legislation.  There is also a faculty committee working on this.  There was extensive discussion on this issue.

e) Voting problems, especially on campus: some students were told that a photo ID was necessary to vote: that is not true.  The County Clerk told election  judges that a lease, postmarked envelopes, and voter registration cards were not  proof of residence for purposes of voting.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.

                                                           Respectfully submitted,

           Shirley Stillinger