Guidelines for Gathering Signatures on Petitions

In the next month Caucus members will need to circulate the petitions for our Alderman candidates. 

Please keep the following things in mind:

 1.  Petitions must be signed by registered Lake Forest voters who live in the candidate's Ward.

2.  You may sign the petition as a "voter".

3.  Signers should use the same signature as appears on their voter registration filing.

4.  Voters must sign the petition in your presence.

5.  Standard abbreviations may be used in writing the signer's address.

6.  Do not number the petition at the bottom of the page.  (We will number all the petitions after they have been signed by a Notary Public.)

7.  Do not sign your name on the "Signature of Circulator" line until you are in the presence of the Notary Public who executes the bottom line. 

**We will have a Notary Public available at the November 29^th meeting.  If you cannot make the meeting, your local bank will likely have a Notary who could execute your petition and I would be happy to pick it up if you give me a call.

8.  We need petitions signed by 25 voters per candidate for Alderman.  To be very safe, we should try to get 50 signatures total per candidate just in case any of our signers are challenged.  (As an example, signers may not be registered voters even though they may think they are.)   We get in to trouble if we have too few signatures: we have no trouble if we have too many.

9.  If you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call at 847-295-5719.

Gary

Welcome the 2011-2012 Caucus Season   

The 2011-2012 Caucus Season is beginning and unlike last year's heavy workload that included finding School Board and Aldermanic candidates, this Caucus year has no local elections and should be a relatively lighter work load.  Because of this, we are going to try something new to improve both the efficacy and the efficiency of the Caucus.  To gain further insight into the requirements and talents necessary for candidates to serve on the City's Boards and Commissions, the 2011-2012 Caucus Executive Committee has decided to initiate a Monitoring Pilot Program for City Boards and Commissions.

This Monitoring Pilot Program is an attempt to enhance the goal of having qualified and committed community members serving on City Boards and Commissions and to educate and assist the Caucus members as they work to find representatives for positions on Boards and Commissions.  Through the Monitoring Pilot Program, we hope to provide greater depth and breadth of information about the functions of and issues before the Boards and Commissions, the mix of talents necessary for successful operation and the candidate qualifications that ultimately make for a successful result.  This strategy would give the Caucus a more expert-based approach, while also giving the full Caucus a better understanding about the operation of each of the Boards and Commissions.

The Monitoring Pilot Program:

1. Four sub-committees
     a. 3-4 Caucus Committee members for each sub-committee
     b. Ward parity will sought on each sub-committee
     c. Members with a special interest or affinity can request a specific Board or Commission

2. In the pilot the four sub-committees will monitor
     a. Plan
     b. Building Review Board
     c. Historic Preservation Commission
     d. Parks & Recreation

3. Members will monitor their assigned Board or Commission
     a. By attending or watching meetings on TV
     b. Talking with the Board or Commission Chair and City representative

4. Report findings to the full Caucus
     a. Findings
     b. What issues that board is dealing with
     c. What qualities or experiences should we target for new candidates

5. Responsible for evaluating and interviewing any 're-up' candidates and recommending whether they need to be interviewed by the full Caucus.

6. Representatives will likely be more weighted towards second and third year Caucus members

On June 10, 2011 the Lake Forest Caucus helds its annual picnic at Norcroft Park.  A great time was had by everyone despite the mist and cool temperatures. 

Caucus President, Susan Franzetti. and Vice President, Gary Peet warm up by the fire before the guests arrive.
      

Susan Franzetti welcomes Mayor and Mrs. Cowhey and Caucus Past-President, Dick Block to the picnic.


 Alderman Palmer shows Susan and Gary his official badge.
 

Caucus President Susan Franzetti and Past-Presidents, Bob Reda, P.J. O'Neil, Dick Block and Connie Maines were all together at the 2011 Caucus Picnic.


A delicious picnic dinner was enjoyed by everyone.


A very enjoyable evening was had by all!