Ted Gaebler, co-author of the best-selling book Reinventing Government, will address the Illinois Municipal League's 83rd annual conference at a Leadership Luncheon on Saturday, September 21, in Chicago. President Clinton has said of the book "This should be read by every elected official in America. Those of us who want to revitalize government in the Nineties are going to have to reinvent it. This book gives us the blueprint."

Pete Wilson, the Governor of California, calls Gaebler and his co-author David Osborne "the true prophets of a new paradigm" and describes the book as "fresh, persuasive and forward thinking."

Mr. Gaebler is a former municipal official, having served 23 years in municipal management in California, Oregon, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland.

On Friday, September 20th, the Leadership Luncheon speaker will be Merri Dee, Director of Community Relations for WGN-TV in Chicago. Ms. Dee recently received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Chicago Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.

Ms. Dee is known for her extensive charitable work. She has hosted the United Negro College Fund telethon for 16 years and has also hosted the Easter Seal Telethon and Bud Billiken Parade for 16 years. She is a founder of "Athletes for a Better Education."

Several years ago, Ms. Dee survived gun shot wounds to the head when she and a television guest were kidnapped from the TV station. She lobbied local and state officials and assisted in passage of Illinois' first Victims Bill of Rights legislation that has served as a model for other states.

Other prominent speakers will also address the IML conference this year. Invited speakers include:

• Mayor Richard Daley, Chicago, Illinois;
President of the U.S. Conference of Mayors
• Mayor Greg Lushutka, Columbus, Ohio; President of the National League of Cities
• U.S. Senator Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho, prime sponsor of the federal mandates legislation
• Gov. Jim Edgar
• Assistant Senate Majority Leader Frank Watson, Senate sponsor of the Unfunded Mandates Constitutional Amendment
• Rep. Bill Balthis, Chairman of the Cities and Villages Committee and House sponsor of the Unfunded Mandates Constitutional Amendment.

For additional conference information or to register, contact the League offices at 217/525-1220. •

August 1996 / Illinois Municipal Review / Page 7