Thank you to everyone who attended the 2008 ACLU of Illinois Membership Conference! In the next few days, we will be posting information and podcasts related to the Membership Conference. Here's the article that the Peoria Journal Star wrote about the ACLU of Illinois Membership Conference:

Civil unions, the death penalty and abortion were hot issues of discussion among politicians and activists Saturday at the American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois conference here.

State Sen. Dave Koehler, D-Peoria, and U.S. Rep. Ray LaHood, R-Peoria, were among the dozen participants who discussed the future of civil liberties both in Illinois and across the nation at the Hotel Pere Marquette.In one of the event's several panel discussions, Koehler spoke briefly about Senate Bill 2436, legislation he introduced in February. It would legalize civil unions in Illinois and entitle unmarried couples, including those of the same sex, to the same protections and benefits currently afforded to traditional married couples.

"It's the right thing to do," he said. "It's something Illinois should have done a long time ago."

As with other hot-button issues like abortion and the death penalty, he said that finding common ground and facilitating open discussion is paramount.

More than 200 ACLU members and supporters attended the conference, titled "Raising Freedom's Voice in Illinois." It was the first time the ACLU of Illinois has held the annual event in Peoria.

ACLU of Illinois communications director Ed Yohnka said the organization has about 23,000 members statewide.

"What we really want people to see is that you don't exercise freedom and liberty on a single day," he said. "It's something you need to mobilize and be engaged with all year long, every day."

He said the event allows members of the organization to hear elected officials' positions on issues and further understand the functions and pressures of different bodies of government.

On the state level, he said Koehler's civil union bill is receiving the most attention from the organization, and nationally President Bush's warrantless wiretapping has generated the most interest.

Barbara Kitz of Kankakee joined the ACLU last fall and attended her first conference Saturday. She said the wiretapping under Bush motivated her to join the organization.

"I was hopeful when the Democrats took control of Congress that they would stand up to him," she said. When the Democrats didn't fulfill her expectations, she decided to join the ACLU.

Today, "I just came to see what they're like, what do they talk about, who's on the panels," she said. "I'm trying to see what all is going on. I've learned a lot about the state of civil unions in the state of Illinois - that's from a straight, white female."

Online: http://www.pjstar.com/stories/040608/TRI_BG8TIB0Q.020.php