The 2010 NASW IL Chapter elections, conducted online, ended this past Friday. I would like to acknowledge the newly elected chapter leadership who will be joining current board members when their terms begin on July 1, 2010. They include:
Three Rivers District Chair:
Mary Cortes-Benjamin, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
Southern District Chair:
Travis Nottmeier, LCSW, CADC
Member At-Large:
Joan Ente, LCSW, ACSW, C-ASWCM
MSW Representative:
BSW Representative:
Jennifer Hoye (Northeastern Illinois University)
As our CapWiz alert sent out to the membership on Friday noted, today NASW IL is joining other organizations in hosting a call-in day so that legislators hear about the need for a responsible budget from advocates every day until the end of the session, which is tentatively scheduled to adjourn for the summer by Sunday, May 9th. Even if you make the call tomorrow and any day this week, we urge to call your legislator and tell them to:
• Pass a revenue and tax reform package now to address the current and long-term budget crisis.
• Protect vital human services from cuts.
• Don’t leave Springfield until the budget crisis is resolved.
The general phone number for the General Assembly is (217) 782-2000. A complete list of member phone numbers can be found at http://www.ilga.gov.
We simply can’t let up now. We need to continue to remind our State Representative and State Senator how important it is to pass a responsible budget that funds critical human services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Illinois residents. We need to keep the pressure on until a just and responsible revenue and spending plan is approved.
Over the next several days, many social work students will be graduating from social work programs throughout the state. We welcome you to one of the most exciting and challenging professions. As National NASW Director Dr. Betsy Clark notes in her 2009 paper, A Broader Vision for the Profession, “Social work is the “profession of hope.” It is not simple “optimism” that defines us, but a grounded, full bodied hope.” We look forward to many of our graduates becoming engaged in the NASW IL Chapter, the largest profession of social workers in the state of Illinois.
President Elect:
Yolanda Jordan, MSW, LCSW
Yolanda Jordan, MSW, LCSW
Secretary:
Maudette Carr, MSW, LSW
Three Rivers District Chair:
Mary Cortes-Benjamin, MSW, LCSW, ACSW
Chicago District Chair:
Alexander Brown, PhD, MBA, LCSW
Southern District Chair:
Travis Nottmeier, LCSW, CADC
Member At-Large:
Joan Ente, LCSW, ACSW, C-ASWCM
MSW Representative:
Jervai Drago-Dumas (Loyola University Chicago)
BSW Representative:
Jennifer Hoye (Northeastern Illinois University)
I would like to thank all of those members who ran for elected office and encourage them to stay involved and engaged with the chapter. We had a very strong slate that Sue Razbadouski, chair of the Nominating Committee, and her committee worked hard to put together.
• Pass a revenue and tax reform package now to address the current and long-term budget crisis.
• Protect vital human services from cuts.
• Don’t leave Springfield until the budget crisis is resolved.
The general phone number for the General Assembly is (217) 782-2000. A complete list of member phone numbers can be found at http://www.ilga.gov.
We simply can’t let up now. We need to continue to remind our State Representative and State Senator how important it is to pass a responsible budget that funds critical human services to meet the needs of the most vulnerable Illinois residents. We need to keep the pressure on until a just and responsible revenue and spending plan is approved.
