News You Can Use
Reunion Tour 2008: 150th Anniversary of the Lincoln-Douglas Debates
The Lincoln Douglas Debates 150th Anniversary Celebration kicked off on June 16 in Springfield, home of the famous “House Divided” Speech. The Reunion Tour 2008 will be ongoing during the summer and fall months, consisting of special commemorations in Bement, Ottawa, Freeport, Jonesboro, Charleston, Galesburg, Quincy and Alton.
Reunion Tour 2008 features Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas re-enactors who take part in each debate community’s commemoration event.
These events are scheduled for:- Bement on July 26
- Ottawa on August 22–23
- Freeport on August 29–September 1
- Jonesboro on September 12–14
- Charleston on September 20–21
- Galesburg on October 3–5
- Quincy on October 11–13
- Alton on October 17–19
The chosen dates correspond as closely as possible to the dates the debates occurred in 1858. Lincoln and Douglas debated the monumental issues in their race for the U.S. Senate seat. The Lincoln and Douglas re-enactors will meet in each debate community and, in character, will reminisce, share their recollections and discuss some of the important issues that were the focus of the debates. An accompanying naval officer will moderate the discussion and invite local news media and audience members to ask questions of the candidates. Plans vary in each location, but activities include parades, period balls, historic festivals, art shows, picnics and even a tour of historic sites on a Segway®. For more information on activities in your area, visit www.lincolndouglasreunion.com.
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, IBOT, Illinois Historic Preservation, Looking for Lincoln and the Lincoln Douglas Debate Community Committee have partnered together to make this a successful tour.
Illinois Great Rivers Ride
This year marks the fourth Great Rivers Ride in Illinois. Beginning on September 7, the week-long ride winds through southern Illinois. The 350-mile route is new this year and offers beautiful scenery and the chance to discover some of the great destinations Illinois has to offer. Some of the stops include the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, Fort de Chartres and Giant City State Park.
Biking between 30 and 70 miles each day, the non-competitive ride is open to only 300 cyclists. Unlike past years, this route is on paved surfaces for the entire ride and includes more hills than usual. Updated on a regular basis, the Web site offers riders information about hotels, registration, the route, meals and much more.
In spite of recent weather conditions, the trail remains open. Please let residents and visitors know the GRR is scheduled to take place as planned. To help areas affected by the floods, please contact your local American Red Cross. For more information about the Illinois Great Rivers Ride, call 877-GRR-7007 (ext. 217) or visit www.illinoisgreatriversride.com.
Local Hispanic Celebrities Enjoy Illinois
As part of its Hispanic campaign, ¡Illinois. Vive la Emoción! (Illinois. Live the Emotion!), IBOT has gathered stories from local Hispanic celebrities about their most memorable experiences in Illinois.
Tsi-tsi-ki Felix, an anchor on Chicago’s Telemundo, shares her memories at the Museum Campus and some of her favorite shopping spots and restaurants in Chicago. Tsi-tsi-ki is an Emmy Award-winning anchor and was the first and only woman to serve as a solo anchor for any local Chicago newscast. She was recently featured on the cover of Today’s Chicago Woman and is a well-known figure in the Hispanic community.
Jose Ovalle is the artistic director for the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago, and visitors can read about his experiences traveling with his family and performing with his dance company throughout the state. His story includes stops at several Illinois towns and state parks, describing the unforgettable natural beauty of the state. Jose founded the Mexican Folkloric Dance Company of Chicago 26 years ago. The company has performed for Mexican President Vicente Fox and U.S. Presidents Reagan and Clinton, in addition to its hundreds of performances for the public.
Both stories can be found on IBOT’s new Hispanic Web site at www.disfrutaillinois.com.
Olympic-sized Impact at International Pow Wow Convention in Las Vegas
The 40th Annual International Pow Wow provided new visibility for the state’s offerings to an audience of more than 5,300 international travel buyers and sellers, with record-setting media attendance from across the globe. In addition to hosting a full appointment schedule of more than 180 meetings, the Illinois Bureau of Tourism and the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau, along with its 26 statewide booth representatives, welcomed a new unified aisle look. And—just in time for a special announcement—TIA president Roger Dow stopped by the newly designed Illinois aisle to congratulate Chicago on becoming a candidate city for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We look forward to following up on the trade and media opportunities for the state and its endless offerings!