ILLINOIS GREEN PARTY E-NEWSLETTER
October 1, 2006 - Volume 029

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RICH WHITNEY EXCLUDED FROM DEBATE!  TAKE ACTION!
WHITNEY THIS WEEK IN DECATUR, BLOOMINGTON, EVANSTON, CARBONDALE!
GET INVOLVED! www.ilgp.org/join    DONATE! www.ilgp.org/donate
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  -  CONTENTS OF THIS ISSUE
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  1. RICH WHITNEY EXCLUDED FROM DEBATE IN DECATUR -
     PROTEST AND OTHER ACTIONS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY NIGHT

  2. GET INVOLVED - ILGP AND WHITNEY CAMPAIGN SEEK LOCAL
     ORGANIZERS, HAVE YARD SIGNS AVAILABLE, AND MUCH MORE

  3. UPCOMING GREEN PARTY EVENTS

  4. GREEN PARTY NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY

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  1. RICH WHITNEY EXCLUDED FROM DEBATE IN DECATUR -
     PROTEST AND OTHER ACTIONS SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY NIGHT
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Actions are planned for Decatur this Monday night, October 2, to
coincide with a gubernatorial debate that Green Party candidate
Rich Whitney has been excluded from.

Monday night at 8:00, the Illinois Radio Network (IRN) is holding
a gubernatorial debate at Millikin University in Decatur.  The
debate will be broadcast on IRN affiliated across Illinois,
including WBBM in Chicago.  While it was IRN's decision not to
invite Rich, IRN's position has been that if they were to invite
Rich, the debate would not happen at all, because Rod Blagojevich
would pull out.  Blagojevich did precisely this with the debate
scheduled for September 23 in Marion.

Millikin has arranged for Rich to answer the questions asked of
Blagojevich and Judy Baar Topinka immediately following the
debate.  Some radio stations may be carrying Rich's response live
but most IRN affiliates will not be doing so.

The Illinois Green Party and the Whitney for Governor campaign
intend to protest Rich's exclusion from the debate.  Millikin is
allowing a rally space for all three gubernatorial campaigns, and
the Whitney space will have Greens and supporters passing out
literature explaining why Rich was excluded from the debate and
letting debate attendees know what Rich's positions are and that
he will be there to answer the same questions.  We feel that we
need a turnout of at least 100 people supporting Rich Whitney to
demonstrate Rich's popularity in Illinois and to send a clear
message to WTTW in Chicago that they should not exclude him from
the next scheduled debate.

The debate is being held in Albert Taylor Theater inside Shilling
Hall at Millikin.  People are asked to arrive between 6:30 and
7:00 and come to the parking lot adjacent to Shilling Hall, which
is supposed to be heavily marked.  Illinois Green Party and
Whitney for Governor shirts will be available (recommended
donation is $15 for each) and a lot of other campaign supplies
will also be on hand.  The debate starts at 8:06 and
attendance is by invitation only; it is not clear at this time
how long the rally/protest will last past 8:00.

For information about getting to Millikin, visit
http://www.millikin.edu/visit/maps.asp which includes links to
two maps, one for Decatur and one for the campus.  Note that
when directed to take "51 south", they mean BUSINESS 51 South!!

If you are able to make it, please confirm by emailing
phil@mcgreens.org in advance so we can have an idea of our
numbers.  If you are not able to make it, keep your eyes peeled
the next couple of days for newspaper articles and talk radio
hosts covering the debate, and make your voice heard with letters
to the editor and call-ins!

Rod Blagojevich pulled out the stops to try to get Rich Whitney
thrown off the ballot.  Now Blagojevich is too afraid to debate
Rich Whitney.  The people of Illinois should not have to put up
with this kind of governance, and deserve a full opportunity to
hear what Rich Whitney has to say.  We need your help to bring
Rich's message to the electorate now - read the following section
to learn more about how to Get Involved in other ways!

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  2. GET INVOLVED - ILGP AND WHITNEY CAMPAIGN SEEK LOCAL
     ORGANIZERS, HAVE YARD SIGNS AVAILABLE, AND MUCH MORE
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  -  YARD SIGNS

Rich Whitney yard signs are now available!  To request a yard
sign, go to the ILGP Get Involved! page at www.ilgp.org/volunteer
and give us your name, email address, and address, and check "Put
a campaign sign up" under Volunteer Skills.  If you're an ILGP
member and we already have your information on file, just give us
your name and email address.

  -  GRASSROOTS PRECINCT CAPTAINS

The Whitney for Governor campaign is seeking Grassroots Precinct
Captains!  Since people tend to identify more with communities
based on social networks instead of geography, the Whitney
campaign is seeking Precinct Captains whose "precincts" are
actually self-identified communities!

Captains are asked to take the following pledge:

I promise to be honest, respectful, responsible, and assertive in
recruiting voters for Rich Whitney and other Green candidates.

Captains' basic duties include:

* Contacting acquaintances who might be interested in voting for
Rich Whitney or other Green candidates either because of their
stands on issues or because they are simply sick of business as
usual in Illinois politics.

* Giving contacts flyers and referring them to other information
including websites.

* Compiling a list of those willing to vote for Green candidates,
including name, email, city, and phone.

* Send compiled lists to the Whitney campaign (if people OK it),
including getting new people on the ILGP News list.

* Pass on messages from the campaign to people.

* Recruit at least three motivated persons to become Grassroots
Precinct Captains.

* Get Out The vote:  Email people on November 1 reminding them to
vote on November 7, then follow up with phone calls on November 6
and before noon on November 7.

* Attend Election Night celebrations.

Captains' additional duties may include:

* Join the Illinois Green Party if you have not already done so.

* Encourage precinct members to join the Illinois Green Party and
donate to the party and/or campaigns.

* Hold meetings to discuss the campaign, showing Rich Whitney
video.

* Contact local peace, environmental, and other grassroots groups
to recruit new members and new Precinct Captains.

* Leaflet various events, at train stations, et al with a goal of
engaging interested people to get them involved.

People interested in signing up as Grassroots Precinct Captains
should contact George Ochsenfeld, Field Coordinator for the
Whitney for Governor campaign, at ochsenfeld@aol.com.

  -  MEDIA WATCH

The Whitney campaign has received unprecedented media attention
in recent weeks, but many media outlets are still not giving full
coverage to the campaign.  Read your local paper and look for
articles on the gubernatorial race, and if Rich Whitney is
excluded, make sure we know, and write a letter to the editor!
Send information to Patrick Kelly, ILGP Media Coordinator, at
media@ilgp.org.

  -  AND MUCH MORE!

Check out the ILGP Get Involved! form at www.ilgp.org/volunteer
and sign up to volunteer in other ways.  Key things we need right
now are help with literature design, adding web content, and
fundraising, plus whatever unique skills you can offer!

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  3. UPCOMING GREEN PARTY EVENTS
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Have an event to add?  Email phil@mcgreens.org to get your GP
event on the list!

OCTOBER

MON  2 - Illinois Radio Network Debate at Millikin University in
          Decatur; Greens protest Rich Whitney's exclusion; see
          above for complete information

TUE  3 - Rich Whitney in Bloomington, morning at candidate events
          at State Farm Insurance, on WJBC 1230 AM at 3:40,
          speaking at Illinois Wesleyan University at 4:30,
          fundraising dinner at Grand Cafe, downtown Bloomington,
          with Phil Huckelberry (candidate for 88th State Rep),
          7:00, email phil@mcgreens.org for complete information

WED  4 - Rich Whitney in Evanston, speaking at Pick-a-Cup, 2823
          Dempster, 6:00; speaking at Northwestern University,
          University Hall 102, 8:00, topic is "Clean Energy and
          Clean Government: the Green Message"

FRI  6 - Tom Abram (candidate for 103rd State Rep) in debate on
          WILL-TV (PBS), Champaign-Urbana, 8:00; debate to be
          rebroadcast on WILL-AM 580 at 5:00 p.m. Saturday

SAT  7 - Homecoming events at Southern Illinois University,
          University of Illinois, Illinois Wesleyan University;
          Whitney for Governor marches in SIU Homecoming Parade

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  4. GREEN PARTY NEWS FROM ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTRY
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For more press releases from across the country, see the GPUS
Press Room at http://www.gp.org/press.shtml

09.27.2006 - NATIONAL - U.S. Warships Nearing Iran May Ignite
Global War, Warn Greens
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2006_09_27.shtml

09.27.2006 - PENNSYLVANIA - Romanelli Expects to Return to PA
Ballot in U.S. Senate Race
http://www.gp.org/press/states/pa/pa_2006_09_27.shtml

09.25.2006 - NATIONAL - Greens Call for Sane Drug Policy & End to
the War on Drugs
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2006_09_25.shtml

09.25.2006 - MAINE - LaMarche: Universal Health Care Plan Cure
All for Maine's Health and Economic Crisis
http://www.gp.org/press/states/me/me_2006_09_25.shtml

09.20.2006 - NATIONAL - Green Party Files With FEC to Form
Senatorial Campaign Committee
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2006_09_20.shtml

09.17.2006 - D.C. - Statehood Green Party Challenges Congress to
Support Statehood for D.C.
http://www.gp.org/press/states/dc_2006_09_17.shtml

09.07.2006 - NATIONAL - Greens Win Ballot Access in 31 States, Up
from 17 in January
http://www.gp.org/press/pr_2006_09_05.shtml

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  -  ILGP CONTACT INFORMATION
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Illinois Green Party
P.O. Box 623
Urbana, Illinois 61803
http://www.ilgp.org/

ILGP Voicemail: 312-924-1803

David Black, Secretary
secretary@ilgp.org

Erika Schafer, Treasurer
treasurer@ilgp.org

For submissions, suggestions, and any administrative questions,
email newsletter@ilgp.org

To subscribe to this e-newsletter,
email ilgp-news-subscribe@lists.ilgp.org.

To unsubscribe from this e-newsletter,
email ilgp-news-unsubscribe@lists.ilgp.org.

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  -  WHITNEY FOR GOVERNOR CONTACT INFORMATION
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Whitney for Governor
Jennifer Rose, Campaign Manager
whitneyforgov.org
PO Box 3803
Carbondale, IL 62902
Campaign Phone: (618) 528-VOTE

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Paid for by the Illinois Green Party. A copy of our report filed
with the State Board of Elections is (or will be) available for
purchase from the State Board of Elections, Springfield,
Illinois.
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