Illinois NOW State Conference / Women’s Equality Day

Join Illinois NOW for our first in-person conference since 2019! The theme is Rising to the Challenge and the date chosen is significant as it is Women’s Equality Day – the anniversary of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. Kicking off the day will be a special performance by Her Story Theater. Featured will be workshops such as You Can’t Fool Us, exposing the lies and deceptive tactics used at anti-choice fake clinics right here in Illinois. You won’t want to miss our awards presentations. NOW members will elect our Executive Committee for the next two-year term. Proposed bylaws changes can be found below. The conference begins at 10:30 AM. Lunch will be served. Best of all, this conference is free to attend. Instead of charging a conference fee, Illinois NOW is collecting menstrual products that we will donate to a local charity.

This conference will also include a silent auction to raise funds for the continued operations of Illinois NOW. Please consider supporting the work of Illinois NOW by donating an item, basket, or service to the silent auction. A fabulous print, an autographed book or beloved feminist memorabilia are always popular. Individuals or businesses that contribute items will be listed as sponsors in our conference materials, in addition to the auction display.

If you are attending the conference simply bring your donations with you. Otherwise, drop off items on the day of the conference at the CUMC site or mail ahead of the conference to: Illinois NOW, c/o 415 S. Adelia St., Springfield, IL 62704.

Please join us in-person on August 26. It will be a day of camaraderie, learning, accolades and action planning.

Illinois NOW is pleased to announce State Representative Dagmara “Dee” Avelar (D-85) as our conference keynote speaker!

PROPOSED BYLAWS CHANGES: (To be voted on by NOW membership during the August 26 conference)

Proposed changes listed in RED

Bylaws Change #1: Eliminate term limits for Executive Committee officers.

“Article VIII: Executive Committee
Section 5. Terms of Office. All members of the Executive Committee shall be elected at the State Conference for a term of two years. No member of the Executive Committee shall serve more than two consecutive terms in the same office.”

Bylaws Change #2: Dissolution – change recipient of remaining funds of Illinois NOW.

“Article XIX: Dissolution
Section 2. Upon dissolution of Illinois NOW, the Executive Committee shall, after paying, or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of Illinois NOW, transfer split all of the assets of Illinois NOW between all of the active chapters of NOW in Illinois, to the National Organization for Women, or such organization as shall qualify as devoted to the purpose of Illinois NOW.”