Hello, everyone! Here's the latest Chicago Independent Press Association update on upcoming events--plus a special Chicago membership deal.

Reminder: If you are a publisher, please put IPA Chicago on your mailing list (address below) so we can become familiar with and promote your publication--or at least send a sample copy.

I'll be following up with an announcement of our next workshop in the next couple of weeks. Also, if you didn't make the lively Chicago Independent
Press Empowerment Meeting last month, let me know and I'd be happy to e-mail the notes to you.

Please feel free to contact me for more information or to get involved in planning or hosting events!

Jackie Lalley
Chicago IPA
2040 N. Milwaukee Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
773/973-4690
773/454-6153 (mobile)

Advancing social justice in the Chicago area through a strong independent and ethnic press

www.indypress.org/programs/ipachicago.html

chicagooffice (at) indypress.org

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(1) Chicago IPA Social Hour

Thursday, Feb. 26, 6:30-8:30 pm
New Life Vegetarian Restaurant (owned by Isaac Lewis of North Lawndale Community News)
3141 W. Roosevelt Ave., Chicago

(2) Chicago IPA Open Meeting

Thursday, March 4, 6:30-8:30 pm
Residents' Journal
4859 S. Wabash, Chicago

(3) Membership Special

From now through the end of February, get 18 months of IPA membership for the price of 12! This is a special for Chicago-area independent publications. Membership for locally distributed publications starts at $150. Click here to join on-line--it takes less than 5 minutes:

www.indypress.org/join/index.html

Chicago IPA membership offers you:
(1) access to capital--borrow up to $50,000 from the Independent Press Development Loan Fund, including an audit assistance fund
(2) a local network you can tap for support
(3) higher visibility and recognition--our recent report was sent to hundreds of organizations, major media, and funders
(4) techical assistance--manuals, listservs, & workshops tailored to independent publishers' needs
(5) advocacy for fairer policies ...

and more! In New York, an ad service, press club, directory, and editorial translation / distribution service have made independent publishers stronger. We want to
do the same in Chicago as our network grows.

(4) Chicago IPA Steering Committee Elections

Nominations are being accepted through February 25 for the Chicago IPA steering committee. The committee is made up of Chicago IPA members. It meets every two months and plays a large role in setting and carrying out the organization's agenda. We are looking to fill three seats. If you would like to nominate yourself or
another publisher / publication staff member, please:

(1) Send the following to chicagooffice (at) indypress.org: (a) nominee's name, publication title, role at the publication, telephone number, and e-mail address and (b)
your name, publication title (if applicable), telephone number, and e-mail address.

AND

(2) Send a sample of the publication with which the nominee is affiliated to: IPA Chicago, 2040 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chicago, IL 60647.

If you have any questions about the role or duties of the steering committee, please write Chicago IPA coordinator Jackie Lalley at chicagooffice (at) indypress.org.