afscmeretirees161.com (version 0320)

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next meeting of Subchapter 161 will be at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston on May 20, beginning at noon.

Maria Britton-Sipe, the retiree coordinator for AFSCME Illinois Retiree Chapter 31 will attend the meeting. Maria will be discussing retirement security issues and the many changes discussed in the news regarding Social Security and Medicare. The meeting will be open to all AFSCME Illinois Retiree Chapter 31 members in the area and their spouses. We also will have an update on actions related to No Kings and May 1 demonstrates as well as upcoming activity on Memorial Day.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Curt’s Café  as early as 11:30. When you order and pay for food, save your receipt so that you can be reimbursed if you win the lottery later in the meeting. The formal meeting will begin at noon and food will be delivered to the table during a recess at 12:45.

Members are reminded to vote for incumbent John Tilden for the annuitant seat on the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) Board of Trustees. Ballots will arrive in the mail and should be returned by June 1.

Members are also encouraged to support HB4827 / HB5212 / SB 3931. People with disabilities, retirees, seniors, and unions are working to “Humanize Long Term Care” so when we get older or become disabled, we can get person-centered care, including options at home or in community-based alternatives to nursing facilities.

HB4827 / HB5212 / SB 3931

Scan QR or use link to send a letter.       

https://bit.ly/3OH53HP

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

TThe monthly Members Meetings of Subchapter 16 are held at noon on the third Wednesday of each month at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston.

The next meeting of Subchapter 161 will be at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston on April 15, beginning at noon. The election of Subchapter officers will occur at this meeting. Offices to be filled for two-year terms include President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and three members of the Executive Board. In addition, one Trustee position for three years will be filled. An election slate will be prepared by the Election Chairman, Karl-Heinz Gabbey, and announced at the meeting. The names of nominees may be submitted in person to Mr. Gabbey. Nominations for positions may also be made at the meeting, by leaving a phone message on our Voice Mail (224-366-7339), or by email to afscmeretirees161@gmail.com (put “ELECTION” in the subject field).

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Curt’s Café  as early as 11:30. When you order and pay for food, save your receipt so that you can be reimbursed if you win the lottery later in the meeting. The formal meeting will begin at noon and food will be delivered to the table during a recess at 12:45.

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next meeting of Subchapter 161 will be at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston on March 18, beginning at noon. At the meeting we will be discussing recent primary election results and mobilizing for the “No Kings” Demonstrations on Saturday, March 28. The No Kings Demonstration in Evanston will be in Dawes Park (Sheridan Road and Lake Street) from 10:30 to Noon. There will be other demonstrations throughout the region, including one in Chicago at 1:30 in Grant Park. Several Executive Board members will also report on updates from Lobby Day in Springfield for pending legislation on The Prescription Drug Affordability Board, (P.D.A.B.). Fran Tobin from the Alliance for Community Services will provide updates on pending legislation on the Humanize Long Term Care Bills (HB4827 / HB5212 / SB 3931).

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Curt’s Café  as early as 11:30. When you order and pay for food, save your receipt so that you can be reimbursed if you win the lottery later in the meeting. The formal meeting will begin at noon and food will be delivered to the table during a recess at 12:45.

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next meeting of Subchapter 161 will be at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston on February 18, beginning at noon. At the meeting we will cover upcoming primary and general elections and pending legislative matters.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Curt’s Café  as early as 11:30. When you order and pay for food, save your receipt so that you can be reimbursed if you win the lottery later in the meeting. The formal meeting will begin at noon and food will be delivered to the table during a recess at 12:45.

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next meeting of Subchapter 161 will be at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston on January 21, beginning at noon. The meeting will cover local movement building from Martin Luther King Day demonstrations. Our speaker will be Willie Shaw from the Evanston NAACP (click here for information about Willie Shaw). We will also discuss union and community strikes and boycotts Friday, January 23,  against ICE in Minneapolis. We will also discuss the Prescription Drug Affordability Board , (PDAB) HB 1443 and SB 66. AFSCME will be mobilizing for the February 17 Lobby Day in Springfield. 

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Curt’s Café  as early as 11:30. The management at Curt’s Café requests you either order online prior to the meeting or at the cashier on the way into the meeting. You may order online through the website https://curtscafe-north.hngr.co/menu/start, specifying  Pickup on January 21 at 12:45. When asked for a name at the website you should enter a first and last name and “161”. The formal meeting will begin at noon and food will be delivered to the table during a recess at 12:45.   

Curt’s Café is a relatively new venue for our meetings that may not be familar to all members. 

Directions: Central Street is the main east-west street in north Evanston. From the east, Central Street can be reached from Ridge (near Evanston Endeavor hospital) or Green Bay Road. Proceeding west along Central Street, Curt’s Café will be on the left (south) side of Central Street, about 1 mile west of the intersection with Green Bay Road, about 1.5 miles west of the intersection with Ridge. From the west, Central Street can be reached from Gross Point Road or Crawford. Curt’s Café  will then be less than a mile from the intersections, next to Swan Lake Cleaners, near the intersection of Central Street and Lincolnwood Drive.

Parking: There is metered parking near Curt’s Café on both sides of Central Street. Parking fees in Evanston can be paid by credit card at the machines or by smart phone with the Park Evanston app (available at the iPhone App Store or Android Play Store). Street parking is free on side streets north of Central Street. There are a few 2-hour free parking spaces on Lincolnwood near Central Street. Further south on Lincolnwood and on other side streets south of Central Street, there is free street parking for Evanston residents. For further information about Curt’s Café see their website: https://curtscafe.org/

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next meeting of Subchapter 161 will be at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston on December 17, beginning at 11:30. This meeting will feature only a small business portion and primarily a holiday celebration consisting of a buffet luncheon including roast chicken, beef stew, a vegetarian option, and dessert. There will be music by Andrew Carson, and a movie trivia quiz (with prizes).

Curt’s Café is a relatively new venue for our meetings that may not be familar to all members.

Directions: Central Street is the main east-west street in north Evanston. From the east, Central Street can be reached from Ridge (near Evanston Endeavor hospital) or Green Bay Road. Proceeding west along Central Street, Curt’s Café will be on the left (south) side of Central Street, about 1 mile west of the intersection with Green Bay Road, about 1.5 miles west of the intersection with Ridge. From the west, Central Street can be reached from Gross Point Road or Crawford. Curt’s Café  will then be less than a mile from the intersections, next to Swan Lake Cleaners, near the intersection of Central Street and Lincolnwood Drive.

Parking: There is metered parking near Curt’s Café on both sides of Central Street. Parking fees in Evanston can be paid by credit card at the machines or by smart phone with the Park Evanston app (available at the iPhone App Store or Android Play Store). For the rest of this year, parking fees through the app will be waived by entering “Holiday2025” as a validation code. Street parking is free on side streets north of Central Street. There are a few 2-hour free parking spaces on Lincolnwood near Central Street. Further south on Lincolnwood and on other side streets south of Central Street, there is free street parking for Evanston residents.

For further information about Curt’s Café see their website: https://curtscafe.org/

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

For the past few years the monthly Members Meeting of AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 161, has been held at Sweet Basil Café. We have learned that this restaurant has abruptly closed and is no longer in business. 

Therefore, the next meeting of Subchapter 161 at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston. The meeting will be on November 19 (the third Wednesday of the month). Our speaker will be Tom Suhrbur, author of Public Education and Social Reform: A History of the Illinois Education Association. We will also get a report on the nationwide strike at Starbucks and Subchapter 161’s support for workers Starbucks.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Curt’s Café  as early as 11:30. The management at Curt’s Café requests you either order online prior to the meeting or at the cashier on the way into the meeting. You may order online through the website https://curtscafe-north.hngr.co/menu/start, specifying  Pickup on November 19 at 12:45. When asked for a name at the website you should enter a first and last name and “161”. The formal meeting will begin at noon and food will be delivered to the table during a recess at 12:45.   

Central Street is the main east-west street in north Evanston. From the east, Central Street can be reached from Ridge (near Evanston Endeavor hospital) or Green Bay Road. Proceeding west along Central Street, Curt’s Café will be on the left (south) side of Central Street, about 1 mile west of the intersection with Green Bay Road, about 1.5 miles west of the intersection with Ridge. From the west, Central Street can be reached from Gross Point Road or Crawford. Curt’s Café  will then be less than a mile from the intersections, next to Swan Lake Cleaners, near the intersection of Central Street and Lincolnwood Drive.

There is metered parking near Curt’s Café on both sides of Central Street. Parking fees in Evanston can be paid by credit card at the machines or by smart phone with the Park Evanston app (available at the iPhone App Store or Android Play Store). Street parking is free on side streets north of Central Street. There are a few 2-hour free parking spaces on Lincolnwood near Central Street. Further south on Lincolnwood and on other side streets south of Central Street, there is free street parking for Evanston residents.

For further information about Curt’s Café see their website: https://curtscafe.org/

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). Attendees who arrive on time will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Diane Stokes and others will report on the Convention of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans. Fran Tobin of Alliance for Community Services will discuss the legal and policy around enabling elders and people with disabilities to get care at home or in the “least restrictive environment.”
(Click here to view upcoming activities from the Alliance for Community Services)

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Posted on August 16, 2025 by afscmeretirees161

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). Attendees who arrive on time will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Our speaker will be Adrienne Alexander from AFSCME Council 31. She will speak on Medicare cuts and other features of President Trump’s Big Bad Bill. She will also report on the responses of AFSCME and other labor organizations.

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Posted on July 11, 2025 by afscmeretirees161

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). Attendees who arrive on time will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Tom Wilson will speak about the “Big Ugly Bill” and ways unions and organizations are fighting back. Tom is a long time activist and member of Adapt, Illinois Single Payer, the Alliance for Community Services, Health and Medicine, CAN TV Show, 46th Ward IPO and Northside Action 4 Justice. Tom will also briefly cover the recent primary mayoral election in New York.

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