Illinois Library Association
Vol. 6, Issue:  1| January 7, 2013
Illinois House Pension Plan Passed Out of Committee, But Illinois House Adjourns for the Day Without Voting on the Pension Overhaul
A new pension reform bill affecting active and retired members of Illinois' state-funded pension systems was introduced and passed out of a House committee today.  Please click here to view the status of Senate Bill 1673 or read the complete text of Amendment #10 on the General Assembly website.

The pension systems included in this proposed legislation are the General Assembly Retirement System, State Employees' Retirement System, State Universities Retirement System, and Teachers' Retirement System. The Judges' Retirement System was not included. 

As currently written, the proposal would change the following for the state systems:  
  • Member and retiree benefit cost of living increases
  • Member salary increases
  • Member contributions

These proposed changes do not affect IMRF.  Nothing in this bill changes 

IMRF benefits for any past or current IMRF member. 

 

ILA opposes any legislation that reduces a present employee or retirees' earned retirement benefits.  If passed, this legislation would undoubtedly be challenged in court and the court could well determine that it unconstitutionally reduces pension benefits.

 

We will continue to update on the status of this pension reform bill as the 97th General Assembly draws to a close. 

The New 98th Illinois General Assembly Will Be Sworn in Wednesday.  Are You Ready to Get to Work with Your Local Legislators?
New Session, new members, new legislative districts, and with last November's election behind us, you may have new local legislators.  Here's what to do:

  

1.  It's time to reach out to your legislators and introduce yourself or renew your friendship!  If you don't know who they are, check the ILA website on Thursday to put in your address and find out your federal and state elected officials. 

  

2.  Ask to meet with them in person at the local district office, or invite to the library for a tour.  As the 2013 Spring Session is just beginning, now is the perfect time to make this connection.

  

3.  After you meet with them, make sure you have all their contact information so it will easy to reach them when we have a pressing issue.  Get their address, e-mail, phone, and even cell number if you can.  Also find out who their office assistants are and build those relationships as well.

  

4.  Connect with them every way you can.  Sign up to follow them on twitter, e-newsletters, mailing lists, bookmark their websites, and friend them on Facebook or Linkedin.

  

5.  Finally, remember that relationship building is a continuous process.  Keep looking for reasons to get them to the library, to involve them in programming, and to update them on all the great things you are doing.  Most importantly, build the relationship BEFORE you get the ALERT to contact them and ask for their help.

  

Thank you for your advocacy and support of ILA.  If you have any questions, reach out to ILA for the answer.
Congratulations to Representative Mike Quigley
Rep. Mike Quigley (D-Ill.) just snagged a coveted seat on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee.  If Quigley had not been tapped, Illinois otherwise would have lost representation on the influential panel--where now former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) served before his resignation.

"This new role is an incredible opportunity to advocate for important projects that encourage economic development in the Chicago area," said Quigley. "As the Appropriations Committee focuses on deficit reduction, creating American jobs and strengthening our economy, I am humbled to have the privilege of ensuring that taxpayer dollars are spent responsibly."

Since joining Congress, Quigley has been a member of the House Judiciary and Oversight and Government Reform Committees.

 

Quigley was first elected to Congress in April, 2009 in a special election to replace then Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.) who was stepping down to serve as chief of staff for President Barack Obama.

 

The 5th congressional district of Illinois spans much of the North Side of the City of Chicago from Lake Michigan into the western suburbs.  It includes Schiller Park, Franklin Park, River Grove, Elmwood Park, Northlake, and Melrose Park.

ILA would like to know if anyone from the Illinois library community has developed a good working relationship with Representative Quigley.  Please click here and let us know.  Thanks.
What's the Difference Between PR and Promotion?
Do you know the difference between "PR" and "promotion" and between both of those and "marketing?"  Understanding the correct use of these terms can help us to more effectively market our libraries' products and services.  If you're not entirely sure how to use these sometimes confusing terms, please click here to check out Kathy Dempsey's recent post to the "Illinois Libraries Matters" blog.
 
"Illinois Libraries Matter" is the blog of the Marketing Committee of the Illinois Library Association; subscribe to have posts delivered directly to your inbox and keep up with the library marketing conversation in Illinois.
In the News

Library-related stories appearing in local news media are reflected in this section of the ILA E-Newsletter.  The intent is to alert and inform the Illinois library community about issues and events that are considered significant by the general media.
Susan Westgate Selected as Carol Stream Director
To read this story, please click here.

Elgin Couple Runs Little Library that Could
To read this story, please click here.
 

Beyond the Bookshelves:  Highlights of Aurora Public Library's Year

To read this story, please
click here.     


Who's Running for Batavia, Geneva Library Seats? 

To read this story, please click here
 
Granite City Library Celebrates Century with Open House
To read this story, please click here.
 
Fountaindale Public Library Releases Sneak Peak to Audio, Video Creation Lab 
To read this story, please click here.

 

Objections Filed in Gail Borden Library Race
To read this story, please click here.
 
If your library has a newspaper story with link, send it to us at [email protected] for possible inclusion in the next ILA E-Newsletter.  Thanks.
Sincerely,
 

Robert P. Doyle
Illinois Library Association
If you use spam filters to protect your in-box, please take a moment right now to add [email protected] and Illinois Library Association to your e-mail address book, spam software whitelist, or mail system whitelist.  Adding the address will help ensure that you receive the ILA E-Newsletter and that your e-mail software displays HTML and images properly.   Disclaimer: Links to non-ILA sites have been provided because these sites may have information of interest. The Illinois Library Association does not necessarily endorse the views expressed or the facts presented on these sites; and furthermore, ILA does not endorse any commercial products that may be advertised or available on these sites.  

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