AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION
            of Champaign County

Steering Committee

September 2, 2004

Present: Bill Brown,, Roger Clark, David Christlieb, Susan Cohen, Rachael
Dietkus, Ward Henson, Stuart Laird, Allan Levy, Esther Patt, Gary Peters,
Steven Portnoy, Josh Rohrscheib, Jay Rosenstein, Carol Spindel,
Shirley Stillinger, Vinay Tota, Paul Wisovaty

Absent with notice: Stan Levy, Rocky Maffit,

 

The meeting was called to order by the chair, Stephen Portnoy. The minutes
were approved as distributed with correction of the spelling of Nadine
Strossen’s name.

Announcements

Steve and Esther Portnoy will represent the ACLU in the Labor Day parade.
Any one else is welcome to join.

Steve has heard from Judith Rowan that she would like to do something for
the chapter. Steve will meet her.

Summer Correspondence

Most members of the steering committee received a letter from Ken Urban
about a former steering committee member.

Centennial High School has been making rooms available for some religious
groups. Stan Levy will investigate, but the committee thought it was
probably being done properly.

Ben Grosser has written the chapter asking us to oppose the referendum on
the November ballot to add two at-large seats to the Urbana city council.

Treasurer’s Report

Ward presented the monthly financial statement, total assets of $2,671.93.
There has been one transaction since the last report. Ward proposed
presenting quarterly reports; the steering committee agreed.

National ACLU Membership Meeting

Rachael reported on the second annual membership meeting in San Francisco,
which she attended as a helper. Highlights were talks by Richard Clarke
and Seymour Hirsch and viewing "Farenheit 911."

Candidate Forums

The steering committee voted to join with the AAUW, the League of Women
Voters, The Chamber of Commerce, the Urbana PTSA, and The News-Gazette
to co-sponser three candidate and issue forums in October.

Brief discussions

Bill brought up the arrest of a man video-taping, with audio, traffic stops
in Champaign. Steve will ask Mary Dixon if the Illinois Division would
get involved.

Esther reported a bill on emergency contraception died in the legislature
but will be introduced in January.

The Fall Gathering will be Sunday, November 7. We will sign up at the
next meeting for items to bring.

Bill plans to get the newsletter out in the middle of October.

Rachael will contact possible venues for the annual meeting in April to
get menus and prices.

Mary Dixon wants to present a marriage-equality event here. Rachael will
try to work with her on that.

Josh announced that the Law School chapter is having a picnic September 10
to which all the steering committee is invited. He said that the chapter
plans to bring in speakers during the year.

Allan will call the Champaign Police Department to ask if they have been
videotaping protesters.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45 p.m.


Respectfully submitted,

Shirley Stillinger


NEXT MEETING: Thursday, October 7, 2004