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TAKE
ACTION PACKET
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- Addresses of Chicagoland newspapers
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- LETTER
TO PUBLIC OFFICIALS
- SAMPLE
LETTER TO YOUR REPRSENTATIVES OR SENATORS
- CALL ELECTED
OFFICIALS
- USE YOUR
AIRWAVES
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LETTER-TO-THE-EDITOR
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Did you know the editorial section contains
some of the most popularly read pages of the newspaper?
Letters-to-the-editor enlighten and inspire citizens and
may reveal common views in a public forum. Moreover, politicians
and their staff read letters-to-the-editor.
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These letters offer a way for constituents
to address issues the pollsters or the politicians may not
be addressing. Even so, it remains important that you write
your legislators personally. Letters-to-the-editor have
the greatest impact when they are to the point.
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Most newspapers print only letters of
400 or fewer words. If you feel that your message cannot
properly be communicated in one letter, write a series of
letters. Letters that can be tied to a current event or
a published article have a greater chance of being chosen
for publication.
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Need help getting started? Below is a
sample format for a letter-to-the-editor and following are
addresses of some Chicagoland papers.
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SAMPLE
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
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Date
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Dear Editor:
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[A short introduction to your letter. Most effective
letters pick one topic, i.e. a particular piece of legislation, an
upcoming or recent event, or one aspect of the problem.]
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I am disheartened by the current state of public health
in Illinois.
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[One or two reasons why you think the above is important.
Write and rewrite your sentences and pick words with the most meaning]
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[Call to action. For example, ask readers to call their
legislators to vote for or against legislation or tell elected officials
to change their behavior.]
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I hope that Representative _______ will support meaningful
public health legislation in the General Assembly.
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Sincerely,
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Your Name
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Title/Affiliation (optional)
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Address
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Phone number
ADDRESSES FOR CHICAGOLAND NEWSPAPERS
- Beacon News: 101 S River St Aurora 60506, Telephone 630-844-5800
Fax 630-844-1043
- Bloomingdale Press: 132 N Bloomingdale Bloomingdale 60108,
Telephone, 630-307-1101 Fax, 630-307-1190
- Chicago Reporter: 332 S Michigan Av Chicago 60604 Phone, 312-427-4830
Fax, 312-427-6130
- Chicago Sun-Times 401 N Wabash Chicago 60611 312-321-2522 630-321-2120
letters@suntimes.com
- Chicago Tribune 435 N Michigan Chicago 60611 312-222-3232 630-222-2598
tribletter@aol.com
- Copley News 3101 Route 30 Plainfield 60544 815-439-5310 815-439-5300
cnsburns@aol.com
- Daily Herald PO Box 2497 Naperville 60567 630-955-3500 630-955-0895
fencepost@dailyherald.com
- Daily Northwestern 1999 Sheridan Rd Evanston 60201 847-491-3222/
630-491-9905 forum@nwu.edu
- The Doings 118 W 1st St Hinsdale 60521 630-887-0600/ 630-887-9646
doingsnews@aol.com
- Elgin Courier News PO Box 531 Elgin 60121 847-888-7800 847-888-7836
- Examiner Newspapers 4N781 Gerber Rd Bartlett 60103 630-830-4145/
630-830-2531 staff@examinerpublications.com
- Fox Valley Labor News 726 N. Edgelawn Aurora 60506 630-897-4022/
630-892-3873
- Press Republican Newspapers 6 James St Geneva 60510 630-232-2324/
630-232-9974 edit-publisher@press-repub.com
- Glen News Printing 460 Pennsylvania Glen Ellyn 60137 630-469-0100/
630-469-4472
- Joliet Herald News 300 Caterpiller Dr Joliet 60436 815-729-6131/
815-729-6059
- Kane County Chronicle 1000 Randall Rd Geneva 60134 630-232-9255/
630-232-4962
- Lombardian/Villa Park Review 613 S Main St Lombard 60148 630-627-7010/
630-627-7027 lombardian@aol.com
- Metropolitan Newspapers Frontage Rd Bolingbrook 60439 630-739-2300/
630-257-5640
- Pioneer Press 130 S Prospect Park Ridge 60068 708-696-3133/
708-696-3229
- Press Publications 709 Enterprise Dr. Oak Brook 60523 630-368-1100
- Reporter Progress 922 Warren Av Downers Grove 60515 630-969-0188/
630-969-0228
- Suburban Life 709 Enterprise Dr Oak Brook 60521 630-368-1100/
630-368-1199
- SUN Publications PO Box 269 Naperville 60566 630-479-6423 thesun@exchange.copleypress.com
- West Chicago Press 100 Arbor Av West Chicago 60185 630-231-0500/
630-231-6813
- Windmill Herald 160 S Water St Batavia 60510 630-879-9463/
630-879-9510
LETTERS TO ELECTED OFFICIALS
Do not end your letter writing campaign with a letter-to-the-editor!
It is even more crucial that you contact your legislators in Springfield
or at their home district office.
Make them aware that you are a knowledgeable and involved citizen-that
you follow their votes. Put forth your views concerning the issues and
request their support.
Do not forget to remind your legislators that you expect them to reply.
The following is a sample format for a letter to your State Representative
or Senator. Addresses are on the next page.
SAMPLE LETTER TO YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVE
OR SENATOR
Date
The Honorable _________________
Address of Home office
Dear Representative/Senator_________________:
[Jump into your letter: who are you and what do you want, i.e., you are
a voter in her district and you want her to support House Bill XYZQ, the
"title of the legislation" bill.]
I am a registered voter in your District, and I want you to vote yes
on HB XYZQ, "The ____ _____ Act."
[What is your concern? Your letter need not be a scholarly exposition
of the issue-a short paragraph will do.]
[What do you want your representative to do? For example, introduce or
support legislation, hold public hearings, meet with you, etc.]
Please keep me informed of your efforts toward reform and vote yes on
HB XYZQ.
I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
Your name
Title/Affiliation
Address
PhoneNumber (Some elected officials will call you)
CALL ELECTED OFFICIALS
DON'T STOP WITH A LETTER-TO-THE EDITOR AND A LETTER TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES,
CALL THEM!
For other districts not listed here, call the Illinois State Board
of Elections at (312) 814-6440.
Keep in contact with your legislators. Make them aware that you are interested
and willing to participate in activities concerning certain issues. Ask
to be placed on mailing lists for newsletters and updates.
- PETER ROSKAM-R Senator-20th District 500 Pennsylvania Ave.
Glen Ellyn 60137 (630)790-1709
- CHRIS LAUZEN -R Senator-21nd District 52 West Downers PlaceSuite
201 Aurora 60506 (630)264-2334
- JAMES "PATE" PHILIP-R Senator-23rd District 50 E. Oak St.,
Ste. 250 Addison 60101 (630)941-0094
- THOMAS WALSH -R Senator-22nd District 10544 Cermak Road Westchester
60154(708) 531-0390
- CHRISTINE RADOGNO-R Senator-24th District 521 S. LaGrange Road
#104 LaGrange 60525 (708)354-6700
- DORIS KARPIEL-R Senator-25st District 400 W. Lake St. #220
Roselle 60172 (630)894-2008
- VINCENT A. PERSICO-R Representative-39th District 478 Pennsylvania
Ave.Ste. 101 Glen Ellyn 60137 (630) 858-0860
- MARY LOU COWLISHAW - R Representative-41st District 522 S.
Washington St. Ste. 119 Naperville 60540 (630)355-4113
- KATHLEEN L. WOJCIK-R Representative-45th District 514 W. Wise
Rd. Schaumburg 60193 (847)524-0461
- RANDALL HULTGREN -R Representative-40th District 211 S. Wheaton
Ave. Wheaton 60187 (630)221-0040
- TIMOTHY L. SCHMITZ-R Representative-42nd District 235 W Wilson
Street Batavia 60510 (630)879-6655
- WILLIAM O'CONNOR - R Representative-43rd District 6825 Stanley
Avenue Berwyn 60504 (708)442-0149
- CAROLE PANKAU - D Representative - 49th District 1278-B West
Lake StreetRoselle 60172 (312)582-0390
- THOMAS L. JOHNSON- R Representative - 50th District 27W031
North AvenueWest Chicago 60185 (630)231-0340
- LEE A. DANIELS-R Representative-46th District 611 N. York Rd
Elmhurst 60126 (630)530-2700
- ANNE ZICKUS-R Representative-48th District 10600 South Roberts
Road Palos Hills 60465 (708)974-8080
- EILEEN LYONS - R Representative-47TH District 1030 S. LaGrange
Road LaGrange 60525 (708)352-7700
- JAMES DURKIN - R Representative-46TH District 10544 W Cermak
Road Westcheester 60154 (708)531-1444
USE THE AIRWAVES
Local radio stations which consist entirely, or in part, of talk radio
format are listed below. Give the station a call and make them aware that
their listeners want to discuss certain issues.
- WAUR AM 930/WSPY FM 107.1200 5th Ave.Naperville, IL 60563 Phone
(630)428-1450 Fax (630)428-1453
- WBBM AM 780630 N. McClurg Ct.Chicago, IL 60611 Phone (312)202-3815
Fax (312)202-3674
- WBEZ FM 91.5Public RadioNavy Pier848 E. Grand Ave.Chicago,
IL 60611 Phone (312)832-9150 Fax (312)832-3158
- WBIG AM 1280 620 Eola Rd.Aurora, IL 60504 Phone (630)851-5200
Fax (630)851-5286
- WCKG FM 105.9 Suite 1059180 N. Stetson Chicago, IL 60601 Phone
(312)240-7900 Fax (312)565-3181
- WDCB FM 90.9College of DuPage22nd & Lambert Rds.Glen Ellyn,
IL 60137 Phone (630)942-4200 Fax (630)942-2788
- WCRX--FM 88.132 E. Congress Chicago, IL 60605 Phone (312)344-8150
Fax (312)344-8007
- WGN AM 720 435 N. Michigan Ave Chicago, IL 60611 Phone (312)222-4700
Fax (312)222-5165
- WJJG AM 1530 5629 St. Charles RoadSte. 208 Berkley, IL 60163
Phone (708)493-1540 Fax (708)493-1537
- WLIT FM 93.9 150 N. Michigan Ave. Chicago, IL 60601 Phone (312)329-9002
Fax (312)329-0267
- WLS AM 890 190 N. State StreetChicago, IL 60601Phone (312)984-0890Fax
(312)984-5305
- WMAQ AM 670 NBC Tower 455 N. Cityfront Plaza Chicago, IL 60611
Phone (312)670-6767 Fax (312)245-6143
- WLUP FM 97.9 875 N. Michigan Ave.Chicago, IL 60611 Fax (312)440-9377
Phone (312)440-5270
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