The Prairie Landscape

Write Your Legislators

Dear Friend:

Thank you for your support of the Illinois Humanities Council. Your attendance at our events, participation in our programs, and applications to our grants and speakers bureau programs lets us know that you are committed to the IHC's mission of providing civic engagement and life-long learning in Illinois.

We need your help now to make our case to the Governor and leadership of the Illinois General Assembly.

The IHC is seeking to RESTORE our funding in the state 2009 budget to $992,000, our state funding level from 2001--2007. This request is not for an increase.

Best Actions to Support Our Cause:

  1. Contact the legislators in state leadership by phone, fax, or e-mail. Find names of legislative leaders with all contact info here.
  1. Develop a brief letter to the leadership, using the outline here. For further talking points, click here.
  1. Call these Legislative Offices using the telephone numbers listed above. Introduce yourself to the Chief Legislative aide. Briefly, but firmly, state your wish [restore level funding to Illinois Humanities Council, part of the Illinois Arts Council budget]. If you can tell him/her how many local people are involved and what local programs have been funded, so much the better.

Remember: We are asking these key legislators in leadership to simply restore to level funding -- not for an increase. We want to show "critical mass" and give them a reason to gain their support.

For your information, you can download maps of the Council's program activity for past three years by clicking here. Please feel free to send these maps to the legislative leadership with your letter.

Please send us -- by e-mail or fax 312.422.5588 -- copies of the letters for our files by May 1, 2008. Please also let us know what responses you receive from legislators.

Please call the IHC if you need additional information about IHC activity in your area or if you have any questions.

We hope we can count on you.

Kristina A. Valaitis
Executive Director
Illinois Humanities Council
Suite 1400
17 North State St.
Chicago, IL 60602.3296
312.422.5580
312.422.5588
kav@prairie.org

P.S. If you don't know who your legislators are, please go to the Congressional website and enter your address to get a listing of your U.S. and Illinoislegislators.