Elect Laura

Way back in 1991 the Cook County Clerk’s Office had judicial district maps drawn up. We decided to bring the Cook County 12th Subcircuit into the digital age with an interactive Google Map of the area. A map like this is useful for voters and candidates to understand the areas served. This map is where Laura Morask, judicial candidate’s voters live.

To build this map we used Google’s map editor tools and the Cook Country Clerk’s Office map and boundary information. We then created a permanent home on ElectLaura.net for the map. Sharing the map was the main reason we did this, it is helpful to everyone to be able to quickly review.

It was interesting to build the maps as some things have changed since 1991 and Google Maps doesn’t include the names of rail lines or have township borders defined.

We touch:

• Elk Grove
• Wheeling
• Mt. Prospect
• Prospect Heights
• Arlington Heights
• Glenview
• Northbrook
• Des Plaines
• Kenilworth
• Winnetka
• Glencoe
• Northfield
• Buffalo Grove

We would love your feedback on the map, tell us what you think. Did you know how far the 12th Subcircuit extends?

Original map we built on Google.com

My mom and I went to march in the Arlington Heights parade with some volunteers that were helping us out. As we went down the streets, people enthusiastically cheered Laura while we passed out the candy and conversed with the crowd. There were as many as up to 10 people that knew Laura personally and came to give her a hug on the street while she was marching in the parade.

Thinking we had enough candy we were generous as we passed through the huge crowds. But we had no idea how huge and popular the Arlington Heights parade actually was and ran out before the end. This crowd was so great as we walked large groups of kids and their parents would start chanting “elect Laura”! We all felt terrible for the kids on the second half of the parade but they were troopers and equally enthusiastically (well, maybe not quite…) collected our business cards and fliers. I remembered from my youth that kids just like to collect anything-but of course candy is far better than stickers or business cards so in between parades our volunteer crew ran to Sam’s Club and restocked with 15 more pounds for the next parade!

Although We ran out of candy to pass out quickly because of the large amount of people there but we made the most out of what little we had left when the crowd starting chanting “Laura!” for the candy. I believe that the Arlington Heights parade was a very large success and it was also a lot of fun. We also appeared at the Mount Prospect parade as well. This time we had much more candy to give out and went down the streets with more volunteers, a pick up truck with speakers playing the beach boys, and a shiny red Chevy Camaro. Again, the crowd was very kind and energetic. Some people knew Laura personally and some were yelling about seeing her on T.V. The Mount Prospect Parade was a great time and was very good for the
campaign.

On a recent Saturday, my mother and I traveled to the Elk Grove Township Republican Organization’s rally of precinct captains and volunteers. This event was hosted by recently appointed Committeeman and State Senate Candidate Mike Sweeney to discuss the concerns of the Republican voters in the area and give the voters a good chance to meet and learn new things about their candidates and representatives.

The featured guest speaker was Cook County Republican Committeeman Lee Roupas whose energy and enthusiasm set the tone of the morning.

Before each candidate spoke, different subjects were discussed including generating enthusiasm for the ticket, reaching undecided voters, and the current logjam in Springfield under the Democrats. Eventually each candidate spoke about who they were, what their background was, and why they should be elected/ what they would do if they were elected. They were interesting and persuasive, as they explained their current situations to the audience.

The group was very responsive to the candidates.

Christine Prochno, candidate for State Senate introduced a new food drive for the soldiers who are still fighting in Iraq for the Fourth of July. Local Dignitaries including Mayor Craig Johnson of Elk Grove Villiage and Mayor Irvana Wilks of Mt. Prospect enthusiastically started off the food drive by contributing as did everyone else in the room. Over $300.00 was raised to send Pizzas to the soldiers for the 4th.

Laura Morask received a big round of applause as she explained her background, the importance of electing good judges, and the situation in the local and federal judicial system.

Each candidate was given a table to display their literature, signs, or volunteer cards. I was in charge of my mom’s table and after her speech many people came up wanting to chat with her and we signed up many new volunteers.

Next on our upcoming agenda we will be in two different July 4th parades and the ever popular Taste of Park Ridge.

Laura Morask, candidate for Judge of the 12th subcircuit of Cook County, is heavily invested in the local community. As part of her community outreach, she presented her second Gang Awareness presentation with MaineStay Youth and Family Services along with Julia Morales on June 4th.

Uniquely this presentation was shared bi-lingually in English and Spanish. Attendees included parents and police officers from Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Niles as well as Cook County Sheriff’s Police and teachers from the Maine Schools.

The presentation covered keeping your kids away from gangs, how to be aware of gang colors and symbols, other signs a child might be involved in a gang and how to get them help.

Laura’s career as a prosecutor gives her a unique position in the community to educate on gang awareness. She was recently and expert for WGN News discussing some of the modern gang tactics. Watch this informative segment to learn more.

Show your Team Laura support at the Taste of Park Ridge.

Team Laura needs YOU! Simple. Easy. Fun. Join us as we spread the word at the Taste of Park Ridge about Laura’s campaign. If you can smile we want you! No experience needed, just show up and have a fun time meeting and greeting. It’s a great way to get involved in your community and help.

Sign up for a short 2 hour block, here’s where Team Laura will be:

Taste of Park Ridge

Volunteer in 2 hour blocks

Thursday, July 10 - 5pm - 11pm - Help Bus the Beer/Food Tent

Friday, July 11 - 5pm - 11pm - Help Bus the Beer/Food Tent

Saturday, July 12 - 5pm - 11pm - Help Bus the Beer/Food Tent

and

Saturday, July 12 - 10am - 6pm - Work the Team Laura booth

FREE T-shirt to all volunteers!

Our goal is a huge team all three nights and at the booth. To make this happen we need you to:

Email - joinus@electlaura.net

Call - 847-951-8208

Rachel Scott - Volunteer Coordinator

Laura appeared before an enthusiastic and energetic crowd of over 100 people when she was invited to be one of the featured candidates at the recent meeting of the Chicago Chapter of the Republican Jewish Coalition.

Laura was one of six candidates at the event featuring guest speakers Senator Jim Durkin who spoke on behalf of John McCain, United States Senate candidate Dr. Steve Sauerberg, and United States Congressional candidate Steve Greenberg. Laura, along with state representative candidates Brendan Appel and Timothy Stratton were invited to be featured presenters after the first round of guest speakers.

Each candidate briefly highlighted their credentials and the audience was then invited to ask questions. The event drew over 100 people on the first Sunday of June and was so well received that people stayed for over three hours talking to the candidates. Laura received a shout out of thanks from the chairman of the chapter, Dr. Michael Menis for sponsoring a team in the Avon Walk For Breast Cancer.

Enjoy 4th of July? How about a good parade? Please contact us to volunteer for either or both of the 4th of July Parades.

Arlington Heights - 10am

Mt. Prospect - 1pm

Let’s pack the parade with volunteers. We need you to:

Email - joinus@electlaura.net

Call - 847-951-8208

Rachel Scott - Volunteer Coordinator

Thursday night May 29th, Club Casa was the setting for the Kickoff of Laura’s general election Campaign for Judge of the Circuit Court in the 12th Judicial Subcircuit. It was a special night as Laura had teamed up with another Laura; Laura Hudgins, a Des Plaines native and 26 yr. old , who was recently diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent a partial mastectomy and re-constructive surgery.

To Candidate Laura Morask, the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer is a personal cause. Having witnessed her mother and grandmother succumb to breast cancer at an early age, Laura decided to donate 10% of all proceeds raised at this event to sponsor a team in the Avon Walk.

Through an amazing series of synchronicity of what a small world we really live in, or six degrees of separation, Laura Morask was introduced to Laura Hudgins by a mutual friend who worked at Maine Township where Laura Morask is a trustee. Township Food Pantry supervisor, Carol Langhan knew the Hudgins family and knew that they had put together a team to walk in the upcoming Avon Walk; Team Cosmonaut. When the two Lauras first spoke, Laura Morask was instantly impressed with the 26 yr old’s grit, determination and guts, and decided to sponsor their team. As it turned out at the event Thursday night, everyone who came was somehow connected through Maine West, or Des Plaines or a mutual friend, to the Hudgins’ family.

Guest speaker Kathy Menis (Laura’s sister) spoke passionately about the long journey their family has taken together and brought tears to grown men’s eyes when recounting the story of how Laura, her sister and mother learned the diagnosis at Christmas time. She told how her sister Laura researched all her available options with incredible maturity, optimism and determination.

Kathy recounted how Laura asked her sister and mom to meet her at a restaurant near Christmastime so she could tell them what she planned to do. Laura told her family she had decided to have a mastectomy but she had also decided she wanted to do something to help others in this situation and wanted to walk the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. She and her sister decided to form a team of their friends and family members to walk and in a play on words, according to Kathy, “they wanted to reach for the stars, the cosmos, but also enjoyed their favorite drink, the cosmopolitan. Thus Team Cosmonaut with their slogan of “Reach for the Stars” was born. Friends and family were so supportive that Team Cosmonaut in six months raised over $80,0000 and became the highest ranked team in Chicago.

Longtime Des Plaines activist Mary Rohde donated her gifted artistry to making unique photo memory boxes in various shades of pink which were raffled off to much acclaim, leaving people clamoring to buy more of these limited edition boxes. Pink Balloons and flower arrangements rounded out the festive atmosphere.

Numerous local dignitaries, politicians, family, and friends attended, including Township Supervisor Carol Teschky, Highway Commissioner Bob Provenzano, Township Clerk Gary Warner, Elk Grove Township Committeeman, and State Representative Candidate Michael Sweeney as well as local Maine Township Republican Precinct Captains.

Candidate Laura Morask in her remarks introducing Kathy Menis, reminded everyone that there are life events far more important than anything else and this cause was one of them. Remarkably, everyone who attended stayed the entire evening and were so overwhelmed by Kathy Menis’ speech that their team received numerous donations and a standing ovation. At the conclusion of Kathy’s speech, Laura Morask presented Laura Hudgins with a complimentary photo album box with a check from Committee to Elect Laura Morask.

MAINE TOWNSHIP AND LAURA MORASK REACH OUT TO EDUCATE, PROTECT AND PREVENT GANG VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

Video courtesy of WGN TV. Video may take a few minutes to load.As a veteran prosecutor, and incumbent Maine Township Trustee, Laura has fought to protect our communities from the scourge of gang violence that has been highlighted in the news with the recent onslaught of gang shootings in the city. The weekend of violence in the city was analyzed by WGN Morning News as they asked expert gang prosecutor Laura Morask to appear on their April 21st broadcast in a compelling segment after an unparallelled weekend of gang crimes. Laura spoke about recent statistics and trends as well as offered tips to parents, educators and community members as to how best to best protect our children. Laura’s appearance was the third time she has been featured as an expert by WGN and/or FOX News.

WGN also promoted the second annual Maine Township Gang Awareness Seminar which was given by Laura on Wednesday, April 23rd, 2008 at Maine Township Hall. This marked the second year that Laura has taught this continuing education series. This year’s seminar featured a two hour presentation of tips, strategies, and education of gang signs, colors and tatoos to watch out for in our youth, our communities, and our schools. Over fify people crowded town hall including representatives or Chiefs from all the surrounding police departments; Park Ridge, Des Plaines, Niles, as well as the Cook County Sherriff’s Police. Our local schools were particularly well represented. Administrators and teachers from all the Maine High Schools as well as many of the schools in District 63/64 were eager to learn gang prevention strategies. Park Ridge Chief Tom Swoboda also spoke, echoing Laura’s call to promote education of this topic so as to prevent gangs from gaining a presence in our communities. Laura also prepared a fifty page take-home manual for attendees listing major gang indicators, colors, insignia, and graffitti. The manual was so well received, a second printing had to be ordered. Laura was also requested by numerous schools to come speak to their individual communities of students.

JOIN Us Thursday, May 29th as Laura Kicks off her campaign with a plea for a bigger cause!
Committee to Elect Laura Morask is taking the lead in the race to eradicate breast cancer. In addition to our April and May online donations, we are hosting a gala Kickoff the Campaign Fundraiser at Club Casa on Thursday, May 29th, 6PM-8:30PM, cocktails, hor d’ouevres, raffles, guest speakers and the appearance of Team Cosmonaut pictured above. Tickets are available either through the Host Comittee or you can buy at the door. Suggested donation is $100.00, of which 10 % of all proceeds from this fundraiser will be contributed to sponsor Team Cosmonaut, a team of breast cancer survivors, family and friends that are all based in the Maine and Northwest Township areas. They have the distinction of being the highest ranked team in the Chicago Avon Walk! www.AvonWalk.org Please join us to show your support for Laura and the Avon Walk at the same time!