Dems urged to fight like winning Blackhawks

The Blackhawk's title victory provided a rousing metaphor for local supporters as State Senator and Committeeman Jeff Schoenberg donned a hockey jersey to kick off the Democratic Party of Evanston's annual meeting Sunday. Approximately 150 people turned out to hear the inspiring call to action from the state's most prominent political leaders.

Keynote speaker Gov. Pat Quinn, noting that "there are 140 days to election but 280 if you don't sleep," vowed to do without sleep,  but also to work to get the state back on track.

Other speakers included senate hopeful Alexi Giannoulias, who promised to support Obama's plan for a clean energy future, as well as U.S. Rep. Jan Schakowsky, State Rep. and Comptroller candidate David Miller, State Rep. Robyn Gabel, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District Commissioner Debra Shore, DPOE Executive Director Toni Gilpin and President Adam Finlayson. All urged local Democrats to helps swing the election by voting and volunteering.

In addition, the group swore in new board members, awarded Irv Levinson a lifetime membership and approved a change in the organization's committee structure, eliminating the Legal Committee and creating an Issues Committee to reflect the group's ongoing commitment to engaging and mobilizing members around important issues.

Media coverage of the event included live streaming at Evanston Online, and reports in Evanston Now and the Evanston Review.