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Question of the day

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Illinois

* From a press release…

Nominations are needed for the 7th annual Illinoisan of the Day program. The Illinois State Fair Museum Foundation is seeking individuals to spotlight during the 2015 Illinois State Fair. The Illinoisan of the Day program looks to honor individuals who exemplify the qualities and characteristics associated with the Land of Lincoln: integrity, dependability, sense of community, and strong ethics.

Illinoisan of the Day nominees must be a resident of Illinois and at least 25 years old. Nominees should be involved in service activities, educational projects, and /or youth programs, and have an affiliation with state and/or county fairs in Illinois. Nominees must also have shown their true Illinois spirit through continued volunteerism and community service.

Illinoisan of the Daywinners will receive honors on their special day during this year’s Illinois State Fair, which takes place August 13 - 23.

The official nominating form is here.

* The Question: Who would you nominate as Illinoisan of the Day?

No snark, please.

posted by Rich Miller
Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:03 am

Comments

A dear friend who is a special needs teacher for severely challenged children during the day, and battling breast cancer for the third time this decade. She received tough news this past week that her disease has spread. She is a lady who not only helps severely disabled children, she helps other cancer patients through her fund raising, races and many other activities.

Comment by VanillaMan Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:10 am
My son’s science teacher, who coaches track, the science olympiad team, the robotics team, science fair and has an education that would allow her to make much more in the private sector. If it wasn’t for the fair association thing, I would totally nominate her.

Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:15 am
== Nominees should be involved in service activities, educational projects, and /or youth programs, and have an affiliation with state and/or county fairs in Illinois. ==

The way I read this is that nominees must be involved in their county fair or the Illinois State Fair.

Doesn’t this disqualify everyone from the big counties in Chicago area? At least everyone who isn’t a politico.

Who in Chicago area gets involved with the state fair who isn’t involved because of politics?

County fairs just aren’t a big thing in the Chicagao area. I’ve been to county fairs in western Illinois, Indiana & New Hampshire. I haven’t even heard of county fairs in Cook, DuPage, etc.

The requirement to be involved in either a county fair or the Illinois State Fair effectively excludes a large number of Illinoisans.

It’s not hard to see this exclusion as being racist.

What are the demographics of the State of Illinois?

African-American–14.7%
Hispanic/Latino–16.5%
Asian–5.1%
Two or more races–1.8%
American Indian–0.6%

What are the demographics of the people selected for this award in 2014?

Since the award criteria effectively exclude the counties where the largest blocks of Blacks, Latinos & recent immigrants live, the award becomes White people celebrating White people.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:23 am
I have nothing to do with the state or any county fairs and as such I don’t know anyone who meets all of the qualifications.

It seems like they’ve gone out of their way to make it so that the pool of potential Illinoisans of the Day is limited to folks who have volunteered at a fair. It would seem this program is poorly named.

It should probably be “Illinois Fair Volunteer of the Day.” That’s what they sound like they’re looking for.

Comment by Anon Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:24 am
Carl, I have sighted several African-Americans, Hispanic/Latino-Americans, Asian-Americans at the Illinois State Fair over the past 20 or so years. A few were even showing livestock! Are tgey excluded also? The more we like to subdivide people, the more divisive society gets, in my opinion.

Comment by Anonymous Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:41 am
Rich Miller!

Comment by Mattman Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:47 am
Either change the name of the award or open it to all the people in Illinois.

Comment by Carl Nyberg Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 11:48 am
Carl,

DuPage, Kane, Will and Kendall all have county fairs (I have attended each of them)

Comment by OneMan Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 12:02 pm
I know someone who was Illinoisan of the Day several years ago, and she had absolutely no affiliation with either a county fair or the State Fair.

Comment by Blago's Luxurious Grey Mane Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 12:05 pm
Stick to the question, please.

Sheesh.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 12:08 pm
I would like to nominate Christopher Koch.

Comment by Cheryl44 Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 12:56 pm
“Who would you nominate as Illinoisan of the Day?”

I’d nominate Nan Warshaw.

Not only is her record label responsible for some of the best music in, of and around Illinois (Bloodshot Records co-owned by Nan and the notorious Rob Miller), her tireless advocacy on behalf of Illinois artists has made this our state a better home for creative types of all kinds.

For more than 20 years, Nan has been the living embodiment of the fact that you don’t have to be a sell-out or a bαstαrd to run a successful business in the Land of Lincoln.

– MrJM

P.S. Get some: https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/

Comment by MrJM Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 1:33 pm
===Bloodshot Records co-owned by Nan and the notorious Rob Miller===

It looks like Bloodshot is putting out Tom Irwin’s new album, so I’ll second this nomination.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 1:34 pm
I imagine that there is someone, somewhere who wouldn’t like anything released by Bloodshot — but I’ll bet I wouldn’t like ‘em.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 1:50 pm
A Bloodshot playlist “for those folks who enjoy the Mary Jane and who treat April 20th as a righteous holiday.” https://www.bloodshotrecords.com/watch-and-listen/playlists/420-dude
(I wasn’t looking at you, Rich. What’re ya paranoid or something?)

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 2:02 pm
I truly thought this would attract a lot of comments.

Oh, well.

Comment by Rich Miller Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 3:24 pm
===I truly thought this would attract a lot of comments.===

It’s a cold, damp Monday and all I’ve got is snark on this one. Sorry.

Comment by 47th Ward Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 3:56 pm
Plus and: Doug Buffone, rest in peace.

– MrJM

Comment by MrJM Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 4:25 pm
Linda Kollmeyer.

Comment by Clapton-Marley Overdrive Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 4:26 pm
I nominate Carl Nyberg for his outstanding work to diversify the Illinois State Fair. We could all learn from his leadership.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 4:34 pm
Yeah, I was in the snark column.

Apologies.

Comment by Oswego Willy Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 4:55 pm
“I would like to nominate Christopher Koch.” I second this nomination.

Comment by Mama Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 6:05 pm
Would you please open up a snark only version of this question?

Comment by Arnold Ziffle Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 6:44 pm
I nominate D-Rose’s knee doctor.

Comment by Modest Proposal Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 9:33 pm
You would have had more comments/nominees but everyone called in and took the day off.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Monday, Apr 20, 15 @ 10:45 pm