Colleen Ruddy, Executive Director of the Valley Industrial Association and members of her board were in Springfield on March 23 rd to discuss manufacturing issues.

The Kendall County Republican Women's Club brought their essay contest winners to Springfield on March 29 th . Hillary Schiltz and Drake Hislop wrote excellent essays on the Bill of Rights, saw a lot of the Capital and its hearing rooms, and then served as pages for the day.

The Conference of Women Legislators held its semi-annual fundraiser in April. The Conference is a bi-partisan group of women legislators whose mission is to further the economic independence of women. The fundraiser is held to raise money for college scholarships. This year the theme was “Dancing with the Stars”. I was the co-chair and emcee with Representative Karen May. Several legislators and staff people danced the salsa, rumba, tango, etc. They were all winners!