April 12, 2023
In this Issue: The 2024 Democratic National Convention is Coming to Chicago! ● Tonight: Lake Dems Hosts The Nuts and Bolts of Campaign Finance Filing ● April is National Alcohol Awareness Month ● Jan Schakowsky’s 2023 Annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch ● Looking for a Summer Internship That Will Make a Difference? ● Get a Great New T-Shirt While Helping Elect Democrats ● Lake Dems Walk in Antioch Easter Parade ● State Reps Kick-Off Campaign Season in Buffalo Grove ● A Perfect Gift for Mother’s Day – Or Any Day ● Volunteer Spotlight ● ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) ● Upcoming Events
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The 2024 Democratic National Convention is Coming to Chicago!
We are thrilled that Chicago is going to be the host city for the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Delegates, invited guests, and the stars of the Democratic Party will come to Chicago from all over the United States in August of 2024 to celebrate all of our accomplishments and gear up for the fight for the White House.
President Biden made the decision himself and said on Tuesday: “Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention. Democrats will gather to showcase our historic progress including building an economy from the middle out and bottom up, not from the top down. From repairing our roads and bridges, to unleashing a manufacturing boom, and creating over 12.5 million new good-paying jobs, we’ve already delivered so much for hard-working Americans – now it’s time to finish the job.”
Click here to read the full press release.
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Tonight: Lake Dems Hosts The Nuts and Bolts of Campaign Finance Filing
When: Wednesday, April 12 at 6pm
Where: Online via Zoom. Register here.
What: Free seminar about how to comply with campaign finance filing requirements with prominent election attorney Ross Secler. During this interactive session, Ross will give an overview of the filing process, discuss the requirements for filings, and answer questions. This is particularly important for candidates, treasurers, lawyers, accountants, and interested campaign volunteers.
Lake Dems is always looking for volunteers to assist our candidates and township organizations with bookkeeping and other campaign finance accounting tasks. Reply to this email if you are interested.
The Zoom link will be sent later today. One hour of CLE credit will be available for attorneys. Open to Democrats.
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April is National Alcohol Awareness Month
Each April since 1987, the National Council on Alcohol and Drug Dependence, Inc. (NCADD) has sponsored Alcohol Awareness Month to increase public awareness and understanding, reduce stigma and encourage local communities to focus on alcoholism and alcohol-related issues.
Joe Bongiovanni, Grant Township Democratic Chair, not only volunteers for Democrats but is a founding member of New Directions Addiction Recovery Services. Their Annual Gala on May 20 supports their many different programs, including The Other Side, New Directions Sober Living and Connect to Recovery. It is a great opportunity for people to come together as a community to show their support for those who are on the path to recovery.
So mark your calendars and join us May 20 for a night of fun and entertainment all while supporting a great cause. You can find more information and register for the event here.
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Jan Schakowsky’s 2023 Annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch
Personal Invitation from Lauren Beth Gash, Lake Dems Chair
We’re so happy that Jan Schakowsky is now one of the four Members of Congress who represent Lake County. Jan’s 2023 Annual Ultimate Women’s Power Lunch, always an amazing event, will be held on Friday, May 5, at the Sheraton Grand Chicago hotel at noon. Join us!
Jan was my seatmate in the state legislature many years ago. I just love her, and was so honored to be one of the two co-chairs of her wildly successful (and sold-out) 3,000-person Annual Power Lunch featuring Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi right before Covid.
This year Jan is hosting Congresswoman and Black Caucus Chair Karen Bass, who was recently elected as the first Black American woman Mayor of Los Angeles. We’ll also get to hear from Congresswoman Katherine Clark, the Democratic Whip of the U.S. House of Representatives. And others.
Join Lake Dems, Tenth Dems and me at our tables for this inspiring event! Click here to join us, and be sure to put Lake Dems, Tenth Dems, or Lauren Beth Gash in the invited by field when you register.
-Lauren
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Looking for a Summer Internship That Will Make a Difference?
Do you have progressive values? Are you looking for a summer internship (or know someone who is)? Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) is now accepting applications for its Summer 2023 Internship Program.
This internship program offers the opportunity to develop specific, marketable skills in a variety of fields. Interns can choose a general internship or specialize in areas such as media, technology, volunteer management, or political outreach. Former interns have gone on to work in such places as Chicago, Springfield, and Washington, D.C.; helped run campaigns and nonprofit organizations; and many have gone on to become elected officials themselves.
Internships are unpaid, educational, volunteer positions, and our summer interns are expected to commit a minimum of 16 hours a week. Course credit may be available.
In order to apply, please submit a brief paragraph explaining why you would like to be a Tenth Dems intern, along with a resume summarizing your educational background and activities. Neither needs to be formal. You can submit them in a reply to this email, or send to info@tenthdems.org with “internship” in the Subject line.
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Get a Great New T-Shirt While Helping Elect Democrats
Summer festival and parade season is upon us. It’s time to order your Lake Dems shirt to wear to all of our upcoming events! Shirts are $9 each (our cost) but additional contributions are always welcome.
As recent events have shown, we’ll have to work harder than ever to make sure right-wing extremists won’t be in position to force us backward – at the national, state, or county levels. We’ll need all the resources we can get to do this.
To order, click here. And let’s keep going strong! It’s more important now than ever.
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Lake Dems Walk in Antioch Easter Parade
Esther Hebbard would like to send a shout out to Antioch Dems Chair Susan Moore for organizing our participation in the Antioch Easter Parade. Thank you, Lake Villa Township Dems, Lake County elected officials Treasurer Holly Kim, Sheriff John Idleburg, Clerk Anthony Vega, 10th Congressional District Committeeman Thomas Maillard, Lake County Board Member Esiah Campos, and newly elected Millburn School Board member Fred Skeppstrom for joining us this year. We delivered a strong presence, rounded out by Lake County Dems Chair and Vice Chair Lauren Beth Gash and Nancy Shepherdson. Sharing our values!!
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State Reps Kick Off Campaign Season in Buffalo Grove
State Reps Dan Didech and Mary Beth Canty held a fundraiser last week in Buffalo Grove to kick off their re-elections campaigns.
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A Perfect Gift for Mother’s Day – Or Any Day
These sparkly silver-tone and rhinestone donkeys make great gifts for that special person in your life — or for you!
Available for a $20 donation (additional donations always welcome), there will be pick-up available at various locations in Lake County. We can also mail them to you if you add $5 for shipping and handling.
Click here and order your Rhinestone Donkey Pin today!
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Volunteer Spotlight
This week, one of our amazing Democratic interns shares his experiences this past Election Day, proving once again that our volunteers are the secret ingredient to winning elections.
As a cold and cloudy day took shape on the first Tuesday of April, I awoke to my blaring alarm and quickly darted into the bathroom. A fast shower and quick shave later, I began the drive towards the polls, rolling into the parking lot at 5:50am. With 10 minutes until polls opened, I put up signs and prepared to greet voters. This particular polling place was expected to have the second highest turnout, making it a crucial place to be.
As the morning rain closed in and people hustled down the sidewalk toward the polls, I’d greet them while promoting my candidate. As the campaign director put it, I act as an ambassador for the candidate. Many residents acknowledged my presence with some even embracing the final effort to gain their vote. After depositing their ballot, a few voters would stop to talk. During our discussions, I discovered that they had initially planned to vote for only one person, but added my candidate’s name to their ballot because of my willingness to stand outside, brave the cold, and endure the rain for hours on end. What convinced them was not a specific policy or party; rather, the dedication to the cause and determination to win. For those voters, simply showing up and interacting with them was enough to earn their vote; and for the campaign, it was enough to win.
Every campaign team consists of many people, each doing their own thing. Whether knocking on doors, making phone calls, or greeting voters at the polls—every interaction is a chance to win votes. While individual voting makes a difference, being directly involved in a campaign can make an even bigger difference. The next time election season rolls around, every campaign team and candidate will be looking for people to make that difference; and in our democracy, you have the power to be that difference.
–By Joe Bilas, High School Senior and Lake Dems Volunteer
Lake Dems is grateful for our many active volunteers. Click here if you’re interested in helping.
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ICYMI (In Case You Missed It)
Chicago to Host 2024 Democratic National Convention
The Democratic Party of Illinois Celebrates Success of Unprecedented Municipal Race Program
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Upcoming Events
WEDNESDAY, Apr. 12
The Nuts and Bolts of Campaign Finance Filing. 6pm, online via Zoom. More.
THURSDAY, Apr. 13
Moraine Township Democrats Meet, Greet and Eat. 5:30pm eat and socialize; 6:30pm meeting, Highland Park. More.
SATURDAY, Apr. 15
How to Live Greener at the Green Living Fair. 10am-2pm, Grayslake. More.
For the complete list of Upcoming Events, go to lakedems.org/events.
Click here to submit your event for consideration.
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How Do I Join Lake County Democrats?
Lake County Democrats is made up of people like you, people who are passionate about building better communities and a better world. We’re a grassroots political organization, working with Democrats in all parts of Lake County – from Antioch to Highland Park, Libertyville to Waukegan, Barrington to Zion. Become a member online now, (individual: $35/couples $60 – though more is always appreciated), or send a check payable to Lake County Democrats to P.O. Box 671, Lake Zurich, IL 60047. Questions? Contact info@lakedems.org.
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