McHenry County Progressives meeting features regional collaboration
McHenry County Progressives hosted a formal session for members at large and community volunteers, drawing a crowd of over 200 people who attended the meeting in Crystal Lake on Sunday, Feb. 19.
The meeting included speakers from several regional bipartisan groups working in concert with each other in McHenry County and across the northwestern Chicago area, providing an opportunity for residents to get involved locally.
Several of these groups have been active in organizing protests of Congressmen Randy Hultgren (IL-14) and Peter Roskam (IL-6).
Project leads and board members from McHenry County Progressive provided an overview of each of six major programs focusing on civic education and engagement with three different social outreach activities. It works to promote bipartisan dialogue and collaboration to better understand how local government works, hold elected officials accountable and participate in the electoral process armed with credible, accurate information.
Volunteers for the MCP Citizen Watchdog program will attend the Feb. 21 McHenry County Board meeting as an informal training session to learn how the county board operates, the rules of order, and how ordinary citizens can participate.
Volunteers for election process research and investigative teams will participate in an overview program led by Hebron Village Trustee Andrew "Drew" Georgi which will help consolidate race and candidate information from across the entire county in one location, promoting transparency, as well as provide a cross-reference resource for fact checking on local issues.
At present, there is no other single source for tracking legislative activity in the county to promote access, transparency, and accountability to citizens. Volunteers are encouraged to join the Watchdog Program and feed the knowledge base to hold local government accountable.
Leading the social outreach programs is a bipartisan gun club, Both Barrels Gun Club (www.bothbarrelsgunclub.org), which has already organized safety class training and continues their work recruiting new members and planning group outings.
A new Cary-Grove 4-H group is also among the social outreach efforts focusing on sustainability and is currently awaiting final program certification.
McHenry County Safe Spaces (www.mchenrycountysafespaces.org) is another program dedicated to promoting tolerance and empowerment of LGBTQ and minorities in the community at risk of violence, harassment or intimidation.
To get involved in any of these programs or to stay informed of McHenry County Progressives activities, please sign up for email updates by visiting eepurl.com/cCNUf5 to register.
About McHenry County Progressives
McHenry County Progressives (www.McHenryCountyProgressives.org) are members of a bipartisan grass-roots movement committed to ensuring citizens have access to and are served by their local government. It is dedicated to promoting education and social outreach as an educated and informed public is the foundation upon which a strong and vibrant community rests.