You are cordially invited to the VMA Kick-Off to Summer Reception:

June 15th from 7:30-9:30 p.m
Oak Park Place Club Room / Rooftop Deck
7th floor of the Oak Park Place Apartments
479 N. Harlem (Trader Joe’s building)

Wine, beer, soft drinks and light appetizers will be served. Please also feel free to bring a friend to meet the other members of the VMA. We would like to use this event as an opportunity to introduce new people to the organization and reacquaint old friends, so we encourage you to bring a friend our two. We also want to let people know what is going on within the organization and around town. Of course we want to have a little fun too.

Please RSVP to me by June 8th at (708) 386-3228 or send me an email.

I look forward to seeing everybody on June 15th!

Very truly yours,

Bob Tucker
Vice President Membership

Saturday, February 27, 2010
3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Held at the Dole Branch of the
Oak Park Public Library
255 Augusta Street, Oak Park, IL 60302

• Meet the VMA Board of Directors and learn how to become involved!
• Become a member or renew your membership

Sunday, 9/13, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm
Back Patio of 1033 South Blvd., Oak Park

Plan to bring a friend for music, food, and catching up on VMA news.

Please RSVP by Wednesday, 9/9 to Gail Moran

We need you!

Sunday, 11/23/08, 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Oak Park Conservatory
615 Garfield Street
Oak Park, IL 60304

At the meeting, you will have an opportunity to:

• see the first public appearance of our VMA-endorsed slate of candidates AND
• renew your membership ($20/year to join/renew)

Please plan to join us!

We need you!

The Village Manager Association (VMA) is hosting a Wine and Cheese Party at Marion Street Cheese Market on August 26th at 7:00 pm, to meet fellow citizens who may be interested in either:

• Running in the Spring 2009 Village election for Village President, Clerk, or Trustee,

OR

• Joining the Selection Committee, a group of citizens like yourself who will help interview applicants for the above positions and choose the best candidates to run for Village President, Clerk, and Trustee with VMA endorsement.

If you want to learn more about these exciting opportunities, come join us!

Marion Street Cheese Market
101 N. Marion
Oak Park, IL
Tuesday, August 26th

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

You can also read more about the Selection Committee. If you have any questions, contact Bob Tucker at (708)386-3228 or robert_g_tucker@comcast.net

Forty years ago, Oak Park made history and became a beacon for change for the entire United States. It was one of the first municipalities in the country to adopt and enforce its own Fair Housing Ordinance.

The Oak Park Fair Housing Ordinance protects the rights of individuals of any race to purchase or rent a home. As simple as it sounds today, in 1968, it was groundbreaking.

The Fair Housing Ordinance, and the philosophy behind it, are part of Oak Park’s culture—not only did it prevent white flight, but it protected Oak Park’s diversity in the future. This didn’t happen easily. In the 1960s, white families were leaving neighborhoods bordering Oak Park, and there were many who feared that a pro-integration law such as the Fair Housing Ordinance would cause housing declines and white flight here too. Amid protests and demonstrations, courageous visionaries fought for and helped pass the legislation. The family members of some of those visionaries joined the VMA on Sunday, March 30th, 2008, for a recollection of those times.

• The family of the late John Gearen, Sr—John was a VMA endorsed Trustee who was on the Board and voted for the legislation.
• Former Village President Jim McClure and his wife Lynn—Jim was also a VMA endorsed legislator, and as Village President in 1969, he was involved in the challenges Oak Park faced in enforcing this groundbreaking ordinance.
• The family of the late John Donaker, Sr.—John was Village President in 1968, when the Fair Housing Ordinance was passed, and was an important advocate for the legislation. Former VMA Trustee Rupert Wenzel recalls him as “being very open to listening to everybody”…“not afraid to take action when that was needed”, and was “one of the finest people [he had] ever known.

At the event on Sunday, John Gearen, Jr. and Jim McClure made a few comments about those times, and were joined by three of our current VMA Trustees, Ray Johnson, John Hedges, and Jan Pate, who made some remarks as well. VMA member Pauline Coffman also added her recollections of how Oak Park’s leadership was recognized throughout the United States.

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Join us on Sunday, March 30, 2008

Papaspiros Greek Taverna!
733 Lake Street
Oak Park, IL
4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Tasty appetizers and wine, and a serious conversation about diver- sity in our Village. We will be joined by family members of the visionaries that were instrumental in bringing about Oak Park’s Fair Housing Ordinance 40 years ago!

Cost: $20.00 at the door

Here is a printable version of your invitation.