He's back: Ayers to address Elgin Kiwanis in May

In the past, former U.S. Speaker Dennis Hastert has addressed the Elgin Kiwanis Club.

Same thing with U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald and a few Catholic cardinals.

In an effort to bring in different points of view and discuss the fall 2008 election, the group will welcome controversial professor William Ayers next month.

"We've always had an active, inquisitive speaker program. For years and years, we've had people all over the spectrum come to speak," said Ron Razowski, Kiwanis program chairman.

Ayers, an education professor at University of Illinois at Chicago who gained notoriety in the 1960s and 70s by cofounding an anti-Vietnam war group that bombed public buildings, became a figure in the fall campaign because of his past ties to President Barack Obama.

"The show's going on unless (Ayers) decides not to appear. Our intention is to go forward with this," Razowski said.

Ayers recently made headlines after a Naperville North High School teacher invited him to speak to a small class in early April.

A storm of protest followed and school officials pulled the plug on the visit. Officials at Anderson's Bookstore in downtown Naperville also canceled an appearance by Ayers because employees feared for their safety.

A follow-up forum about free speech on Monday at Anderson's drew hundreds of people, many of them critical of the school's decision.

Razowski said his group's decision to invite Ayers to Elgin had nothing to do with the recent uproar in Naperville.

The Kiwanis asked Ayers to speak last fall after his ties with Obama were raised in the campaign, but he simply was too busy, Razowski said.

Razowski doesn't expect that level of protest in Elgin because the Kiwanis is a private, not-for-profit group that does not accept funding from the city.

But a look at the many comments on this story Wednesday on dailyherald.com suggests readers, on the whole, are not supportive of his appearance.

The club's meeting is open to the public and begins at noon May 12 at Hickory Stick Bar & Grille Restaurant, 875 Sports Way, Elgin. The venue holds about 120 people.

Razowski said speakers usually have the forum from 12:30 p.m. to 1:15 p.m. Ayers also has agreed to answer questions afterward.

Lunch is $11 and reservations must be made by calling (847) 429-5976.

The Kiwanis Club does not pay for speakers.

"We'll give him lunch if he's so inclined," Razowski said.