The Illinois Association for Advancement of Archaeology (IAAA) would like to provide you with the following information. The future of the Illinois State Museum has been put in a precarious position due to the dispute over the state’s budget. The Governor has stated that, should there be a failure to put a balanced budget in place by July 1, the museums in Springfield and… other locations (including Dickson Mounds, Lockport etc.) would be closed. News reports discussing this topic are here:
http://chicago.suntimes.com/news/7/71/656741/rauner-orders-cuts
http://www.sj-r.com/article/20150610/NEWS/150619927
If you wish to voice your opinion on this issue, one option would be the petition provided here. A link to this petition will also be available soon on the ECIAS Facebook page.
http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/governor-rauner-dont
https://www.facebook.com/pages/East-Central-Illinois-Archaeological-Society/1421250221465043?fref=nf
This petition is provided by MoveOn.org, a public policy advocacy group and political action committee, described here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MoveOn.org
Other options for expressing your opinion would be to write or communicate directly with key state officials, including the Governor, your state senator, and/or your state representative. We encourage you to express your own views through the channels you deem most appropriate. Thank you for your consideration of this subject. If you have any questions, please email ECIAS President Fred Christensen at fchriste@illinois.edu or Secretary Holly Labisky at BootHHL12@aol.com.
