BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION from the president & ceo Dear Friends of the BGA, The Better Government Association is here for one reason, and that is to work for the citizens of Illinois in the fight for a government that is honest, fair, accountable, transparent and efficient. People are fed up with politicians who prioritize their friends over their constituents, and the BGA is here to shine a light on government and hold public officials accountable. inside 2010 annual report FROM THE PRESIDENT & CEO ... MISSION & HISTORY ... INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM ... POLICY & ADVOCACY ... CIVIC ENGAGEMENT ... FINANCIALS IN SUMMARY ... BOARD & STAFF ... CONTRIBUTORS This report highlights 2010—a year of remarkable success. Focusing on investigations, policy, advocacy and civic engagement, we had a tremendous impact by exposing the waste of millions of taxpayer dollars, promoting transparency, revealing unethical behavior and prompting improvements in the operation of government. We conducted hundreds of hard-hitting investigations in 2010, many of which are summarized in this report. Our investigators took in-depth looks at government salaries, conflicts of interest and inefficiencies. We also expanded the scope of the BGA mission with the establishment of our new Policy Unit, which identifies and advocates for solutions to the problems exposed through BGA investigations, analyzes policy proposals and researches best practices. The Policy Unit also provides critical information on important issues through public forums and the newly created Think Tank blog on our redesigned website at www.bettergov.org. Consistent with the strategic plan approved by the Board of Directors, we began the Citizen Watchdog Training Program, which conducts free training sessions to build a force of dedicated watchdogs, equipped with a few basic tools of journalism and advocacy, to monitor government and inform the public on civic issues that affect their families and communities. With the tremendous help of the BGA’s Young Professionals Board, we also began holding clinics for individuals to receive free legal advice on the filing of Freedom of Information Act requests. We spread the BGA message far and wide with dozens of public appearances, TV and radio interviews, newspaper op-eds and blogs on our new and dynamic website. I’m extremely proud of the work we did in 2010 and how it set the stage for additional accomplishments in 2011. None of it, however, would have been possible without your support. We thank you for your confidence in the BGA. We’re eager to continue working together to give us the better government we deserve. Andy Shaw President & CEO B E T T E R G OV E R N M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . BGA Mission The BGA promotes integrity, transparency and accountability in government by exposing waste, fraud and corruption, promoting effective public policy and engaging the community. BGA History The BGA was founded in 1923 to protect the integrity of the political process in Chicago. Through the 1920s and again in the 1960s, the organization focused on combating massive fraud in Chicago’s elections. For its first 30 years, the BGA pursued an active program of voter education, election reform and encouragement of efficient government. In 1957, the BGA took on a major new role by adopting a policy that placed the emphasis on investigative work, leading to some of the most significant journalistic exposés published in Illinois. Among the most noted was the Mirage Tavern investigation (conducted in conjunction with the Chicago Sun-Times and 60 Minutes,) which documented the systemic corruption that plagued small businesses through government shakedowns and payoffs. In 2009, the Board of Directors decided to reorganize the BGA by expanding its mission and building its resources in an effort to strengthen its role as a force for government reform. They hired Andy Shaw, former ABC-TV political reporter, as president & CEO. Andy brought a vision for modernizing the organization, as well as great passion and commitment to the BGA mission. Under his leadership, the BGA developed a comprehensive agenda that combines in-depth journalistic investigations, along with advocacy and strategic civic engagement campaigns, to effectively educate and mobilize citizens across the state of Illinois in pursuit of better government. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W W W. B E T T E R G O V. O R G investigative journalism Investigative Program In-depth investigative journalism has long been at the core of the BGA mission. The Investigative Unit looks into allegations of waste, fraud and corruption in city, county, suburban and state government, and the results are made public through partnerships with local media. The BGA’s partners include: The New York Times through the Chicago News Cooperative, Chicago SunTimes, Crain’s Chicago Business, the Daily Herald, and the Daily Southtown and the Chicago television affiliates of ABC, CBS, NBC, WGN and FOX. BGA journalistic investigations are guided by the newly adopted BGA Guidelines for Investigations and Oversight Protocols. 2010 was marked by an aggressive strengthening of the BGA’s Investigative Unit and a sharpening of the organization’s watchdog teeth. In the fall, the BGA increased the number of investigators from one to four: Robert Reed, Robert Herguth, John Conroy, and Patrick Rehkamp. The Investigative Unit focused and continues to focus on day-to-day investigations into examples of waste, fraud and corruption, along with long-term investigations into systemic problems in government. The BGA investigators also launched the Investigators’ Notebook in 2010, a blog featuring investigations and stories behind the investigations. M AY 2 010 Salaries Rise Even As Economy Sags at Water District A joint investigation with the Chicago News Cooperative found that the number of employees with six-figure salaries more than doubled since 2005 at the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago. The number of district officials with salaries exceeding $200,000 a year more than tripled—from 5 to 16—during the same period. The investigation disclosed that 16 district employees were set to make more than Mayor Richard M. Daley in 2010. M AY 2 010 Some Judges Caught Skipping Out Early: Full-Time Pay for Part-Time Work A BGA/FOX Chicago News investigation exposed some Cook County judges routinely leaving work early despite a court system clogged with a backlog of cases. Cook County Chief Judge Timothy Evans reassigned four judges in response to the investigation, citing “unacceptable behavior.” AU G U S T 2 010 Cook County Board of Review Employees Take a Day Off to Help Joe Berrios Raise Campaign Cash An investigation with FOX Chicago News found that while a severe backlog of property tax appeals sat at the Board of Review, so many that the boxes were spilling into the lobby, Commissioner Joe Berrios, chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party, hit the links with Board of Review employees to raise campaign cash—on a weekday. B E T T E R G OV E R N M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . investigative highlights continued AUGUS T 2010 A Troubling Assessment of Insider Joseph Berrios O C T O B ER 2 010 CTA Joyride Highlights Security Lapses A joint investigation with Chicago Magazine shined a light on the backroom meetings and apparent conflicts of interest of power-player Commissioner Joe Berrios, Democratic Party boss and Springfield lobbyist. An investigation with WGN revealed that a man wearing a CTA uniform stole a Chicago bus and got away, exposing an array of security errors, despite the CTA recently spending nearly $19 million on security measures. S EPTEMBER N OV E M B ER 2010 2010 Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting 2 010 Riding While Dead The BGA hosts the first Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Awards for Investigative Reporting. Raquel Rutledge of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel wins first-place for her series, “Cashing in on Kids.” A joint investigation with FOX Chicago News examined RTA’s Seniors Ride Free program, revealing widespread abuse and lax oversight. The program was eliminated following the investigation. O CTOBER D EC E M BE R 2010 Leaked CTA Report Blames June Fire on Batteries, Grease and Bad Decisions After obtaining a scathing CTA internal report that criticized the cause of a 2010 tunnel fire, as well as the agency’s response, the BGA and FOX Chicago News investigated the incident. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . W W W. B E T T E R G O V. O R G 2 010 Chicago Park District Supervisor Resigns After Questionable Contract A BGA/FOX Chicago News investigation revealed that a top Chicago Park District supervisor resigned after being questioned about a contract awarded to a woman he was apparently living with, marking the first in a series of 2011 BGA investigations into the Chicago Park District. policy & advocacy Policy Program When Andy Shaw joined the BGA in 2009, one of his goals was to transform the organization into one that not only exposes waste, fraud and abuse, but one that also works to propose long-term solutions that make government more transparent, streamlined and accountable. The BGA implemented its Strategic Plan Framework in early 2010, formally adding advocacy and civic engagement to the organization’s goals. The BGA created a Policy Unit in 2010, hiring a policy and government affairs coordinator, Emily Miller, who with the BGA’s director of programming and investigations, works to establish the BGA as a leading advocate for better government across the state. The Policy Unit also builds on the results of the BGA investigations to propose policy solutions to corruption, inefficiency, lack of accountability and waste in government. In 2010, the Policy Unit advocated for open government in Springfield and established the BGA Think Tank, a policy blog that’s used to turn complicated policy concepts into comprehensible bites. J U LY 2 010 BGA hosted a free public debate on term limits at the Union League Club, featuring Dick Simpson and Dawn Clark Netsch. S EP T EM BE R 2 010 BGA held a free public forum and panel discussion on TIFs at DePaul University, featuring Ben Joravsky, Rachel Weber and Thomas R. Henderson. O C T O B ER 2 010 Policy Unit released a voter guide to help explain voting rules in advance of the Nov. 2, 2010 election. N OV E M B ER 2 010 The State Journal-Register published an op-ed from the BGA on FOIA legislation, asserting the public should have access to government employee performance reviews. D EC E M BE R 2 010 After the BGA registered its objections to a Buffalo Grove ordinance that would allow the village to destroy some email records, the Buffalo Grove trustees called off voting on the measure. B E T T E R G OV E R N M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . civic engagement Citizen Watchdog Training Program In the summer of 2010, the BGA launched Citizen Watchdog Training, a free program that empowers citizens to examine government and demand the changes they seek. The idea is simple: to give people the tools they need to act on issues that concern them. The BGA teaches people how to use two important transparency tools: Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and the Open Meetings Act. In six short months, the BGA trained more than 300 people on the North, West and South Sides of Chicago. The BGA has partnered with numerous other watchdogs to investigate and draw attention to issues in local communities. Citizen Watchdog Training provides a new path for civic engagement. Prepared with the tools of transparency, the BGA’s power to litigate and direct access to media outlets, regular citizens can become engaged in a responsible and effective way. 2010 Citizen Watchdog Training Highlights BGA hosted its first Citizen Watchdog Training Program in Rogers Park in Chicago. Tammy Raynor shared her story about how she blew the whistle on a licenses-for-bribes scandal in some Illinois Secretary of State facilities. Raynor’s tip sparked a federal investigation that led to 75 convictions. JU LY 2 010 BGA’s second Watchdog Training program visited the South Side and featured perspectives from Raise Your Hand for Illinois Public Education. S EP T EM BE R 2 010 2 0 1 0 Co-sponsored with Kirkland & Ellis LLP and the Center for Open Government, the BGA hosted its first Free FOIA Clinic, where people signed up for a free, oneon-one meeting with a lawyer to receive assistance with their FOIA request. N OV E M B ER Citizen Watchdog Training traveled to the Austin neighborhood, and BGA investigators worked with watchdogs Ron and Serethea Reid to address their growing concern about slow police 911 response times in Austin. The Reid’s got some of their questions answered, and their concerns generated media attention with stories on FOX Chicago News and NPR’s WBEZ. N OV E M B ER D ECEMBER . . . . W W W . B E T T E R G O V. O R G 2010 Citizen Education and Communication Programs The BGA is committed to responsible civic engagement that keeps the public informed with reliable facts, in-depth information and thoughtful perspectives. The BGA website serves as the hub of all the organization’s units, information and dialogue. Through traditional media and social media, as well as its website, the BGA reaches hundreds of thousands of citizens to educate them on developments in local and state government, provide information for whistleblowers and generate vigorous debate. Throughout 2010, Andy Shaw actively spread the BGA’s message, speaking to more than 100 groups and organizations. He also moderated several debates during the 2010 election cycle. During the summer of 2010, the BGA used the Blagojevich trial as a “teaching moment” in the quest for better government. The BGA had a permanent seat at the trial and reported on the good-government lessons on its website and on TV and radio, with regular commentary on WBEZ. In October 2010, the BGA launched the first phase of a new website that has helped to redefine the organization. For the first time, the BGA has a flexible platform that allows for publishing dynamic investigations, active communication with supporters and expanded reach and resources. On our website, users can easily submit tips to our investigative team, search important government data and documents and learn how to become a more engaged citizen. The website launch set a foundation for further upgrades in 2011, including an e-Advocacy tool for citizens looking to advocate for specific issues, a mobile version of the website and other improvements to the presentation of investigations. The strategic development, design and management of the website, along with all other digital efforts (BGA blogs, social media, etc.) is led by the BGA’s web editor, Solomon Lieberman. BGA 2010 Annual Budget Expenses = $1,391,938 BGA Organizational Budget Breakdown ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Investigations (50%) Policy and Government Affairs (7%) Citizen Watchdog Training and Coordination (3%) Civic Engagement (12%) Administration (16%) Development (12%) Revenue Sources ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Foundations and Corporations (44%) Major Donors (12%) Individual Donors (10%) Annual Luncheon (32%) Speaking Engagements (1%) Interest and Other Income (1%) BGA Staff Andy Shaw President & CEO Rita McLennon Chief Operating Off icer Robert Reed Director of Programming & Investigations 2010 BGA Board of Directors David Lundy President Francis Beidler III Heidi Rudolph Margaret Daley Vice President Carole Brown Lois Scott Eric Berlin James Newcomb Vice President of Development John Conroy Sheila Saegh Henretta Secretary Jessica Curry Craig McCrohon Assistant Secretary Mark LaMet Robert Carson Treasurer Stephanie Crets Robert Herguth Solomon Lieberman Phil Clement Patrick Coffey Patrick Collins Samuel Fifer Jan Grayson Joseph Hasson Ted Hawkins H. Roderic Heard Scott Hodes Barb Macholz Peter Kane Mary Frances O’Connor Ludwig Kolman Emily Miller Gary Kleinrichert Patrick Rehkamp Jonathan Kovler Steve Miller Rachel Niewohener Lisa Snow Kristofer Swanson Lori Yokoyama 2010 BGA Life Trustees Board Howard Alper Seymour Cohen Granger Cook, Jr. E. David Coolidge William Donnell Melvin Katten B E T T E R G OV E R N M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . thank you Foundation, Corporation, & Law Firm Contributions JA N UARY 1, 2010-DECEMBER 31, 2 010 Aileron Communications, Inc. Alper Services LLP Alphawood Foundation Americaneagle.com Aon APCO Worldwide Inc. Ariel Investments, LLC ASGK Public Strategies, LLC. Asinof-Shaw Family Fund Baskin Family Foundation Bensinger, Dupont & Associates Boeing Company Burke, Warren, MacKay & Serritella, P.C. The Canning Foundation Chicago Title and Trust Company Foundation Clifford Law Offices Crain's Chicago Business Crowe Horwath LLP DePaul University Des Plaines Chamber of Commerce & Industry Foundation Duff & Phelps East Bank Records Storage Edward and Rose Donnell Foundation Employee's Community Fund of the Boeing Company Exelon Corporation Fleishman-Hillard Fox Chicago News Francis Beidler III and Prudence R. Beidler Foundation Fred J. Brunner Foundation FTI Consulting, Inc. Gofen and Glossberg, LLC . . . . . . . . . . . W W W . B E T T E R G O V. O R G Gould & Ratner LLP Henry Crown and Company Hirsch-Schwartz Foundation Horton Chiropractic Ltd. Howard L Gottlieb Living Trust The Inland Real Estate Group of Companies Inc. J.B. and M.K. Pritzker Family Foundation Jasculca/Terman & Associates, Inc. Jenner & Block LLP Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago The John R. Houlsby Foundation John R. Lee/John Marshall Law School Foundation Jones Day The Joyce Foundation Keefer's Restaurant Kelley Drye & Warren LLP Kirkland & Ellis LLP Kovler Family Foundation KPMG The Lloyd A. Fry Foundation Locke Lord Bissell & Liddell The Louise H. Landau Foundation Louise R Lurie Foundation Mayer Brown LLP MB Financial Bank The McCormick Foundation Melange Enterprises, LTD Melcher & Tucker Consultants, LLC Motorola Foundation MWW Group Navigant NBC 5 Chicago Northern Trust Company Oasis Legal Finance Company, LLC. Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. P-K Tool & MFG. Co. Perkins Coie Polk Bros Foundation Power, Rogers, & Smith, P.C. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC Richard Day Research The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation Ricketts Family and Chicago Cubs Baseball Club Robert D & Phyllis A Jaffe Family Foundation Robert Galvin Foundation Robert Half Legal The Robert Thomas Bobins Foundation Safeway Insurance Co. Sara Lee Scott Balice Strategies, LLC Seigle Family Foundation Sharpwatch of Olympia Fields Sidley Austin LLP Siebert Brandford Shank & Co. LLC Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP SNR Denton US LLP The Steans Family Foundation Sun-Times Media UGL Equis Ungaretti & Harris LLP Union League Club United Conveyor Foundation Vedder Price P.C. Westlaw/Thomson Reuters Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP William Blair & Company WLS Television, Inc. Yokoyama & Associates, P.C. .......... thank you Individual Contributions JA NUARY 1, 2010 -DECEMBER 31, 2010 Darrow Abrahams Wendy and Jim Abrams Carlos Acevedo Carolyn Adams Robert Adams Nick Agliata Patrick Agnew Dirk Ahlbeck Jimmie Alford and Maree Bullock Michele Allen Vanessa Allmon Albert and Nancy Allred Howard Alper Michael Alter Jill Anderson Stephen Anrod Anonymous Robert and Patricia Atkins John Atkinson Gregory Bailey Helen Baker Marcia Balonick Richard Barancik Jane Barnes William Barnhart Karl Barnickol Bruce Barron Michael Bauer Peter Baugher Morton and Marcia Bearman Mary and Louis Bedell Francis and Prudence Beidler Jay Beidler and Deborah Witzburg Robert Beiser Brandon Bell James Bennett William Bennett Peter Bensinger Marjorie and Charles Benton Tom Berarducci Eric Berlin Robert Black P. D. Block Stanley Block Stephen and Nancy Bloom Mary Alyce Blum Kathleen Boege H. Woods Bowman Jane Bradbury Ronald Braver Charlene Breedlove Dea Brennan Robert Bresticker Greg Brewer Judith Brewer David Brinn Gila Bronner Carole Brown Charles Brown Ralph and Rona Brown William Brown William Bucholtz George Burditt Susan Burkhardt Constance Burns James Burns Amber Buycks K. and J. Cabala Patricia Cadagin Kenneth and Karen S. Calvin Kyle Campbell Paul Campbell Ray Capitanini Robert Carson Margaret Cartier Daniel Casey and Dolores Connolly William Caskey Michael Cason Kelly Cassidy Harry Cendrowski Mike Charewicz Tammy Chase Alvin and Rita Chester Joseph and Barbara Chevalier Russell Chibe Debbie Chizewer Jean Churchman Thomas Cimino Phil Clement Kathryn Clement Terry Clerkin Benjamin Cleveland Robert Clifford Iris Clough Mitchell Cobey Patrick Coffey Bruno Cohen Seymour Cohen Steven Cohen Wendy Cohen Rosemary and Dennis Colbert Louise Collins Patrick Collins Timothy Collins G. Virginia Conlee Kevin Conlon Todd Connor Thomas Conrardy Granger Cook, Jr. E. David Coolidge Leslie Corbett Arthur and Judith Coren John Cortese Jane Coscia Thomas Courtney Cynthia Crane Travis Cronkhite John Crump Mark and Kelly Cummings David Curkovic Carl and Cynthia Curry John Curry John Cusick Lynn Cutler Alan Czarnik Angela D’Aversa William Dahlborn Margaret Daley Vince Daley Bruce Davidson R. Tamara de Silva Marti DeGraaf Patrick Delacey Bernard Delgiorno Michael Dennis Jay Paul Deratany John Dern Carol Derner Kelly Dettman Owen Deutsch Ashley Devick Andrew J. Dixon Brian Dobray Florence Dolan Robert Don William Donnell James Donnelley David Doyle Frank Dreier Candace Drimmer Kelly Drinkwine Thomas and Coletta Druffel John and Antoinette Drury Henrietta DuBois Kit Duffy Paul Dykstra Margaret Egan Tim Egan Gary Elden and Phyllis Mandler Allen Eliot Paul Engel Linda Englund Deborah Epstein Mark Erickson Margaret Essary Russell Ewert Sally Faust Jan Feldman Steven and Carol Felsenthal Clifton and Judith Fenton Judy and Rick Fenton Clark W. Fetridge Samuel Fifer Janet S. Fisher Dennis Fitzgerald Elaine Fox Wendy Fox Deveda Francois Bud Frankel Margery Frens Marc and Andrea Friedman Robert and Barbara Fullone Terry Gabel Roberto Garcia Tyrone Gaultney James Geocaris B E T T E R G OV E R N M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... thank you Tom and Diane Geraghty El Gerson Caroline Gibbons Ronald Gidwitz Allen Giedraitis Thomas and Madeleine Gilbertson Dennis Gillig Brad Gillum Larry Ginsburg Therese Glatzhofer Lynne Glovka Thomas Godfrey William Gofen Jack Goggin Arthur and Jacqueline Goldberg Stephen Goldberg Shirlee Goldman-Herzog Lawrence Gordon Gerald Gorski Elizabeth Gracie Graham Grady Thomas and Ann Grant Millard Grauer Jan Grayson John Greene Andrew Griffin Joanne and Joseph Griffin Carolyn Grisko Cory Gumm Ann Gutierrez Kevin Hacker Donald Hahn David Hall Ray Hallowell Marj Halperin Gary and Karen Hamity M. Hill Hammock Howard Handler . . . . . . . . . . . W W W . B E T T E R G O V. O R G Albert and Chris Hanna Nicole Harkin William Harman and Alzada Tipton Michael Harvey Joseph Hasson Harriet Hausman Ted Hawkins H. Roderic Heard Dennis and Elizabeth Hebson Joseph and Patricia Heery Christie Hefner Richard Heise Terry and Donna Hendrickson Sheila and David Henretta Bob Hercules Daniel Herr David Herro John and Rachel Heuman David Hiller Richard and Joyce Hirsch Robert Hirsch Scott Hodes Colette Holt Tem Horwitz William Howard John Howlett Dan Hrycyk Bruce Iglauer Geoffrey Ihnow Maggie Jablonski Joseph Jackson Steven and Marge Jacobs Harry Jaffe Joel and Diane Jastromb Leroy and Karen Johnson James Jones Suzanne Jones Thomas Jones Nancy Jones Emrich Robert and Eleanor Kaden Helen Kaminski Arthur Kane Gordon Kane Jim Kanichirayil Richard and Claudi Kapnick Audrone Karavius Brian and Tripti Kasal James Kastenholz and Jennifer Steans Mel Katten Richard Katz Justin Kay Meryl Kay Dennis Keene Michael and Rosalind Keiser Carolyn Kelly Donald and Kathleen Kempf Michael and Kathryn Kennedy Jane Kim Anne Kimball and Peter Stern Nathan Kipp Thomas Kirk Judith and Jules Kirshner Barbara Klein Gary Kleinrichert Jim Kock Nicholas Koclanis Mary Koczorowski Keith and Claire Koeneman David Kohn Frank Kokoszka Peter Kolch Ludwig Kolman Sanfred Koltun Electra Kontalonis Stacia Kopplin and Tom Mitchell Jan Kostner Wes Kott Jonathan Kovler In October, the 2010 Annual BGA Luncheon honored Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens, who was introduced by Judge Ann Williams. With more than 800 people in attendance, it was the BGA’s most successful fundraiser to date. Photography: Peter Holderness . .......... thank you Henry and Lucille Krasnow Michael Krauss and Carol Sulkes Ralph Kravis Virginia Kriho Clint Krislov John Krupka Linda Kuczka Mary Kuhn Duane Kullberg H. Michael Kurzman George Kwak John and Kay Kyle John La Marre Jade Lambert Routson Michael Lamble Peter Landau Sheldon Landy Gordon and Clara V. Lang Victor LaPorte Norman Lathrop William Lawlor Christopher Lawrence Mary Lee Leahy William Lear Vaughn C. Leath Mimi LeClair John Lee Ed Lefevour Jane Lehmann F. Lent Eileen Letts Christina Lev Mark Levey Arlene and Hezi Levy Paul Levy Susan Levy Susan Lewers Susan Lewis Roland Ley Robert B. Lifton Grant Linsky Dirk and Cathy Lohan Daniel Lombard William Lowry David Lundy Matthew Luzadder James Mabie Meredith Mack John Maki Bashir and Meenal Mamdani Susan Manos Lois Marchini Margaret Margarites Sheryl Markman Ronald Marmer Matt Martin Richard Mateles Ronald May Audrey and John McAdams Michael McCann Craig McCrohon Jeremy McGannon Richard and Florine McKay Gloria McKeague John McLean Peter McLennon Richard and Barbara Melcher Ann Mendelsohn Charles and Wanda Menghini Paul Mesnick Robert Milan Ronald Miller Steven Miller Joanna Miner Newton Minow Lorraine Mitchell William Mitchell Fred Mocking Jack Modzelewski and Susan Kiner Clifford Moos John Moran Laura Moran Scott Morgan Robert Morris William Muenster Thomas and Madeleine Mulchrone Ed Mullen Kristin Munsch Gerald Murphy David Narefsky and Linda Goodman Delmer R. and Yvonne M. Neel Louise Neff Collins Theodore and Kate Nelson Dawn Clark Netsch James Newcomb Grace Allen Newton F. Oliver Nicklin Rachel Niewoehner Nikki Nocera John Noonan Seymour Nordenberg Christopher Nugent Donald O’Brien Mary Frances O’Connor Pat and Jean O’Malley Daniel O’Neil Mary O’Neil William O’Neill Richard O’Toole Timothy and Jill Ogrady Rob and Terri Olian Keith Olsen Bruce Orenstein Regina Ori Nancy Pacher-Berry Sherwin Pakin James Pappachen Harriet Parker Jeff Parkhill John Nooner and Carolyn Parmer Barbara Parson Kenneth Pedersen Richard Pepper James and Mary Perry Gordon Peters Elsie Pichman Mary Jo Pienton Matthew Piers Barbara Piltaver Emil C. and Judith M. Pirok Ryan Pisarik Martin Plecki Stanley Pollock Joseph Power Thomas and Ann Powers Richard Prins Stanley Pruss Neil Putz Roxanne Quigley David E. and Beatrice L. Radcliffe Andrea Raila John and Mary Raitt Tom and Susan Rakow Steven Rasher James and Hildegund Ratcliffe Spencer Raymond Mack Reed Robert and Janet Reed Joel Reifman David Reisinger Miriam Reitz Thomas Reynolds Daniel Riess Jason Roberts Richard Roberts David and Kathy Robin Cuyler Robinson Joseph Robinson Jennifer Roche Patricia Rochelle Phil Rock James Rocksa Janice Rodgers LaRaye Rodriquez Gerry Rohrer Jaime Rojking Royce Rollins Herbert Root David Rosen Warner Rosenthal Richard Rosicky June Rosner Malou Roth Robert Roth Seymour Rothstein Carol and Bob Ruderman Heidi Rudolph John Ruh Martin Runkle Raymond Rusnak John Rutledge Carrie Ruzicka Tim Ryan Gerald Ryberg Van Salmans Bettylu and Paul Saltzman B E T T E R G OV E R N M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N A N N U A L R E P O R T 2 0 1 0 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... thank you Rebecca Sanchez-Moschorak Maria Santonato John Sapiente John Schmidt Frank and Karen Schneider Herbert Schneiderman Steven and Ellen Scholly Jack Schwager Sheldon Schwartz Lois Scott Richard and Rose Seely Benjamin Seigle Harry and Susan Seigle Mark and Robin Seigle Joyce Shanahan Anthony Shaneen Thomas Shapiro and Madeleine Grynsztejn Dan Sharon Elizabeth Sharp C. Ryan Sheets Kay Shelton Melinda Shelton Linda Sher Michael Sheridan Lawrence Sherman Mike Shorton Edwin Simon Harry Simon Greg Simoncini Dick Simpson Adrienne Singer William Singer Gary Slack Leo Smith Walter and Kathleen Snodell John Snow Lisa Snow G. Scott Solomon Earl Solon George Spencer Anne Marie St. Germaine David Stachura Julie Stagliano . . . . . . . . . . . W W W . B E T T E R G O V. O R G Frederick Stanton Niki Stathos-Vander Bloomen Harrison and Lois Steans Robin M. Steans and Leonard A. Gail Nikki and Fredric Stein Scott and Moira Stein Seth Stein Louis and Rhona Stern John Stevens Robert and Molly Stine Robert Stracks Jeanette Sublett Harold and Peggy Sutton Martha Swaney Kris Swanson Heather Tarczan John Thissen Thomas and Coletta Tinley C. Steven Tomashefsky and Rebecca Sive Jeffrey Tone and Mary Hester-Tone Robert Topping M. Trees Constantine and Jean Trela Thomas and Merle Tresser Steven Van Dorf James L. Van Thorre L. Byron Vance Thomas Vicek Marilou von Ferstel David Wadner Dan Wagner Steve and Lynn Wagy Donald and Eleanor Walker John Walsh Margaret Warren Steven Weberski Sarah Weil Billy Weinberg Chuck and Lynn Werner John Werner R. Westerfield Sandye Wexler John White James Whitehead and Marilyn Mead Nina Whitsel Bruce Wilkens Jill Wine-Banks Luke Wojtasik Jaimey and Kelly Wood Sexton Lori Yokoyama Mary Adams Young Gertrude Zaja Richard and Allyson Zak Robert and Barbara Zaniolo Lauren Zaremba and Roger Germann Eugene and Steccia Zeffren Joel Zemans Natalie Zitek Robert Zofkie Marvin Zonis Pro Bono Donors JA N UA RY 1, 2 010 - D E C E M B E R 31, 2 010 Gould & Ratner LLP Navigant Consulting Sidley Austin LLP SNR Denton US LLP Wildman, Harrold, Allen & Dixon LLP  Citizen Watchdog Training in Rogers Park Photography: Bill Glader BETTER GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION 223 West Jackson Suite 900 Chicago IL 60606