A Message from 2024 ILSS President, Howard S. Marks
The Illinois State Society of Washington, DC offers Illinoisans a sanctuary in the nation’s capital. Founded in 1854, it is the oldest of the State and Territorial Societies—Abraham Lincoln was one of its earliest members. Through the years, it has offered a wide variety of cultural, social and political programs linking the Prairie State to Washington, DC. After the Civil War, it offered discounted train tickets back to Illinois to federal employees; during World Wars I and II, it provided Illinoisans serving their nation social programs so they could cope with the loneliness of being away from home; more recently, it has orchestrated ten world class Inaugural Galas including that of the 44th President of the United States Chicagoan Barack Obama.
We are always looking for ways to help our home state: in recent years, we have contributed financially to flood relief in Illinois and developed a scholarship program for young Illinoisans coming to the Nation’s Capital to intern in the offices of members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation. We have promoted Illinois wines and craft beers at Taste of Illinois events. In 2018, we were awarded the coveted Haines Award by the National Conference of State Societies for outstanding performance.
Under the banner of “celebrate the past—reposition for the future,” we are moving to a virtual platform to provide our members with informative interviews with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, Biden White House appointees from Illinois, and programs celebrating the diversity of Illinois. For Black History month, we are featuring a program on Springfield native Julius Rosenwald who helped build 5,400 schools in the south to educate children of color. Our newly minted, Prairie State Connector lets our members know about exciting virtual programs offered by Illinois institutions of higher learning (plus DC organizations).
We hope to soon announce the revival of a program to honor Illinoisans who have made a difference in our national life.
At the ILSS Annual Meeting in December 2020 I was elected to be your President for 2021 and am serving in 2024. I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to your ideas on how we might better serve the Illinois community living and working the DMV—please contact me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Howard S. Marks
We are always looking for ways to help our home state: in recent years, we have contributed financially to flood relief in Illinois and developed a scholarship program for young Illinoisans coming to the Nation’s Capital to intern in the offices of members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation. We have promoted Illinois wines and craft beers at Taste of Illinois events. In 2018, we were awarded the coveted Haines Award by the National Conference of State Societies for outstanding performance.
Under the banner of “celebrate the past—reposition for the future,” we are moving to a virtual platform to provide our members with informative interviews with members of the Illinois Congressional Delegation, Biden White House appointees from Illinois, and programs celebrating the diversity of Illinois. For Black History month, we are featuring a program on Springfield native Julius Rosenwald who helped build 5,400 schools in the south to educate children of color. Our newly minted, Prairie State Connector lets our members know about exciting virtual programs offered by Illinois institutions of higher learning (plus DC organizations).
We hope to soon announce the revival of a program to honor Illinoisans who have made a difference in our national life.
At the ILSS Annual Meeting in December 2020 I was elected to be your President for 2021 and am serving in 2024. I am excited about this opportunity and look forward to your ideas on how we might better serve the Illinois community living and working the DMV—please contact me at [email protected].
Sincerely,
Howard S. Marks