CONVERSATION WITH THE PUBLISHER

Special circumstances call for unusual activities. That's why all our subscribers received a letter last December asking them to become "Anniversary Patrons." And that's why you'll get a follow-up letter this month. We're asking for a special contribution to help us observe the magazine's 25th anniversary, which occurs in January 2000. By making a contribution of at least $50, you'll become an Anniversary Patron.

We need the extra money to put together a special series of articles this fall and early next year; tracking important changes that have occurred in Illinois over the past 25 years. We will also analyze the effect of public policy on these changes, and anticipate what might happen in the next 10 or 20 years.

We don't have operating funds in our budget for this kind of special project. Regular readers of this column know it is rare for me to be so persistent and blunt in asking for donations. We need it. Please become an Anniversary Patron. You'll be treating yourself to some great reading in a few months.

Mostly hidden from public view on our staff are some talented graduate students. Now that their school year is nearing the end, I want to acknowledge the two graduate assistants who have done so much for us this year: Rosalie Warren of Springfield and Jill Barfield of Pekin. Rosalie took a leading role in gathering information and compiling our J999Roster of State Government Officials. She is getting her master's degree this spring and will enter a Ph.D. program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in the fall. Jill will be back with us again next year - we're delighted - and will continue to assist with various editing projects. These two have been among the best grad assistants we've ever had. They deserve public recognition, and our thanks.

Welcome Chuck Scholz to the Illinois Issues Board. He has been Quincy's mayor the past six years, and prior to that was an assistant state's attorney and director of the western Illinois office of Illinois Attorney General Neil Hartigan.

Among his other accomplishments, Scholz received national attention during the great flood of 1993. He worked with local, state and national agencies on flood prevention and flood relief. Some days were dreary, indeed, when another levy broke and water inundated more land. But a highlight of all that activity occurred one day when he got home and had a message on his answering machine that President Bill Clinton wanted to talk to him. When he returned the call, the President, who was aboard Air Force One with U.S. Sen. Paul Simon, promised more federal assistance.

MEMBERS
Michael J. Bakalis, professor public management and policy, Northwestern University, Evanston.
James M. Banovetz, professor emeritus Of public administration, Northern Illinois University DeKalb.
Penny Cate, Vice president government relations, Quaker Oats Corp., Chicago.
Robert J. Christie, director public affairs FMC Corp, Chicago.
Christopher Cohen, attorney Holleb & Coff, Chicago.
Darcy Davidsmeyer, director, state government relations, Motorola Inc,, Schaumburg.
James L. Fletcher, attorney, Fletcher Topol & O'Brien, Chicago.
Nancy L. Ford, executive director, Institute for Public Affairs University Of Illinois at Springfield.
Sharon Gist Gilliam, executive vice president, Unison Consulting Group Inc, Chicago.
Rey Gonzalez, Hunan office director diversity, McDonald's Corp., Oak Brook
Samuel K. Gove, professor emeritus of political science, University Of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Jetta Norris Jones, attorney, Chicago. Robert J. Klaus, president and CEO, Oral Health America, Chicago.
Jack H. Knott, director, Institute Of Government and Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign.
Joan W Levy, past president, Illinois Association of School Boards, Winnetka.
William L Lowry, vice president for Human Resources and Administration, The John D. and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation, Chicago.
Roberta Lynch deputy director American Federation of State. County and Municipal Employees, Chicago.
M. Veronica Lynch, chief deputy assessor Cook County,
Diana Nelson, director Of public affairs, Union League of Chicago.
Dawn Clark Netsch, professor Of low emeritur Northwestern University School of Law Chicago.
Taylor Pensoneau, president, Illinois Coal Association, Springfield
Betsy A. Plank, principal, Betsy Plank Public Relations, Chicago.
Nina Shepherd, higher education governance consultant, Winnetka
Chuck Seholz, mayor of Quincy.
Paul Simon, director The Public Policy Institute. Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Hon. Williams G. Stratton, vice president, Associated Bank of Chicago.
Douglas L. Whitley, president, Ameritech Illinois. Chicago.
Wim Wiewel dean, College Of Urban Planning & Public Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago.
Edward R. Wojcicki, ex officio.

MEMBERS EMERITUS
(years served on board in parentheses)
William C Harris (1986-93), David Kenney
(1978-90), Louis H. Masotti (1978-92), James T.
Otis (1973-94), David J. Paulus (1988.94), Carl
Shier (1978-87).