AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION   
    of Champaign County

    Steering Committee

April 2, 2009
      

Present: Bill Brown, Elaine Gehrmann, Ward Henson, Carol Inskeep, Esther Patt, Steven Portnoy, Richard Schnuer, Shirley Stillinger,
   
The meeting was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by the chair, Esther Patt.  The  minutes of the March meeting were approved as distributed.  Ward Henson presented the annual treasurer's report for review; copies will be placed on the tables at the annual meeting.

Illinois Division Report
The chapters' conference call date has been changed to April 7 at 5:00 p.m.  
 
Old Business
The Safe Schools project met last Wednesday.  A forum is planned for September 29, probably at Parkland.  The State Superintendent is expected to attend.  The next planning meeting is at 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, May 13, at the Unitarian-Universalist Church.   

Annual meeting: 69 people have registered.  Rachael will bring a sound system; Steve will arrange for a podium.  Carol Inskeep will arrange for the speaker to be filmed for later showing on UPTV.

New Business
Bill Brown reported on the Statewide Summit.  The focus was on the media and legislation.  The group role-played legislative visits.

Legislative update:
Two bills protecting freedom of speech for state employees, including those at state universities, were introduced by Rep. Naomi Jakobsson and approved by the House and sent to the Senate.  The Reproductive Health Act has been killed for this session.

Market at the Square: we will have an ACLU table August 22 and September 26.

The meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.


                                                                Respectfully submitted,
                                                                Shirley Stillinger


    NEXT MEETING: Thursday, May 7       
 

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