Observer Corps
What is the League of Women Voters Observer Corps?
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League Observers are the eyes and ears of the League. We send representatives to public board meetings and commissions in the county. Observers learn how government works and about issues that are or may become items for local study and action. They advise the LWVCC board of opportunities for action on League positions and periodically prepare short reports on what they observe.
Consistent League presence at these boards can add to the League's visibility and credibility and build relationships with local officials. League observing promotes transparent and responsive government in the community. Interested in becoming an Observer? Scroll down to see what boards and commissions need Observers now and get more information. |
What's New?
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Video now available: Observer Corps: Contributing to Citizen Oversight. December 8, 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm. Brant Houston, Professor, College of Media UIUC and Jan Dorner, Observer Trainer, League of Women Voters of Illinois (LWVIL). For December's Timely Topics program, Professor Brant Houston, Knight Foundation Chair in Investigative and Enterprise Reporting at UIUC, will speak on the reduction in local news reporting and the importance of citizen oversight. Jan Dorner of the Illinois League will tell us about LWVIL’s support of local Leagues’ Observer programs. This program was part of LWVCC's Timely Topics series. It's available on our Youtube site (1 hour, 11 minutes.)
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Jean Flood, Observer for the Champaign Park District, developed a nice overview on the Champaign Park District. Click the image to see/download the full presentation (pdf).
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Video of 2021 Annual Observer Report
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Each year the LWVCC Observer Corps makes a report to the League. Click the image to see the video (56 minutes) of this year's report from a April 21, 2021 meeting. Or scroll down for individual printed reports.
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Current Observers
Below is a list of government offices currently covered by LWVCC, a few public links to each office and the latest LWVCC Observer reports for the office.
County Board Observers: Jane Santogrossi and Ruth Wene
- Thursday following 3rd Monday, 6:30 pm
- Meetings Meetings are live streamed here. Recordings of prior meetings are posted on the County Clerk's YouTube Channel.
- Agendas, packets
- County Board Meeting Minutes are posted under County Board on the County Clerk's website.
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Champaign County Forest Preserve Observer: Ed Roy
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Champaign Library Board Observer: Natalie Frankenberg
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Champaign Unit 4 School Board Observer: Lucy Moss
- 2nd Monday, 5:30 pm
- Champaign Unit 4 School Board
- Videos
- Minutes
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Regional Planning Commission Observer: Nancy Morse
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U-C Sanitary District Observer: Trisha Crowley
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Urbana Plan Commission Observer: Karen Fresco
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Urbana Civilian Police Review Board Observer: Vacant (Sarah Nixon attends as community member.)
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Village of Rantoul's Human Relations Committee Observer: Sarah Nixon
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Observer Report: Village of Rantoul's Human Relations Committee (report not yet available)
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Needs for Future Observers
The League is seeking observers for the following governmental groups in Champaign County. Nothing beats having a human presence at a governmental meeting. Many League observers report that authorities notice when the League is there and that it makes a difference. To discuss what's involved, send an email to: info@lwvchampaigncounty.org with "Observer Corps" in the title.
However, the public can also monitor our government online because many government bodies now make their agenda, minutes and even videos of meetings available online. Below is a list of links to this information. It will be amended from time to time, as more governmental links are available. You can use this information to check out the activities of these entities and perhaps consider becoming an Observer.
However, the public can also monitor our government online because many government bodies now make their agenda, minutes and even videos of meetings available online. Below is a list of links to this information. It will be amended from time to time, as more governmental links are available. You can use this information to check out the activities of these entities and perhaps consider becoming an Observer.
Champaign City Council Observer: <vacant>
Champaign Plan Commission Observer: <vacant>
Champaign Mental Heath Board Observer: <vacant>
County Board of Health Observer: <vacant>
Housing Authority of Champaign County Observer: <vacant>
Parkland College District 505 Observer: <vacant>
Urbana City Council Observer: <vacant>
Urbana Free Library Board Observer: <vacant>
Urbana Board of Education Observer: <vacant>
Urbana Park District Observer: <vacant>
- 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 7:00 pm
- City Council
- Videos
- Minutes
Champaign Plan Commission Observer: <vacant>
- 1st and 3rd Wednesdays, 4:00 pm
- Plan Commission
- Agendas, Reports, Minutes
Champaign Mental Heath Board Observer: <vacant>
- Wednesday after 3rd Monday, 5:30 pm
- General information
- Mental Health Board
County Board of Health Observer: <vacant>
- Meets 4 times a year, day varies, 4:30 pm
- County Board of Health
- Meeting schedule
- Meetings information
- Main page
Housing Authority of Champaign County Observer: <vacant>
- 4th Thursday, 3:00 pm
- Main page
- Documents, board packets
Parkland College District 505 Observer: <vacant>
- 3rd Wednesday, 7:00 pm
- Meeting schedule and board books
- Meeting Minutes
Urbana City Council Observer: <vacant>
- 1st and 3rd Mondays, 7:30 pm
- City Council
- Agenda, Packets
Urbana Free Library Board Observer: <vacant>
- 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 pm
- Board - Meetings links are at the bottom of the page.
- Annual calendar - http://www.co.champaign.il.us/cal/2020annualcal.pdf
- Videos
Urbana Board of Education Observer: <vacant>
- 3rd Tuesday, 7:30 pm
- Urbana Board of Education
- Meeting Schedule
- Agendas and Documents
- Youtube Videos After live broadcast, meeting sare available on UPTV YouTube Channel
Urbana Park District Observer: <vacant>
- 2nd Tuesday, 7:00 pm
- Urbana Park District
- Videos - UPD monthly board meetings are taped and broadcast on UPTV, channel 6. See the UPTV broadcast schedule.
- Public meetings agendas and materials - Go to this documents link and pull down the menu item.
Other useful links:
- Champaign County - Links to many county departments, some of which are hard to find . .. http://www.co.champaign.il.us/HeaderMenu/departments.php
- Observing Your Government In Action by the League of Women Voters - This is an easy-to-read "how to" resource guide on organizing and conducting observer corps programs. Building on its decades of experience in empowering citizens to monitor local governmental meetings through these programs, the League has compiled best practices about starting and maintaining an observer program. https://www.lwv.org/sites/default/files/2018-05/lwvef_observingyourgovernment.pdf
