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The Better Government Association launched a brand new membership program to build closer relationships with our supporters and give them an inside look at the important mission of the BGA.

The mission of the Better Government Association is to achieve transparency, efficiency and accountability in government in Chicago and across Illinois. Our members make this mission possible with their support.

To thank our new members and get to know them a little better, the BGA hosted a membership launch party at Rock Bottom Brewery on Thursday, September 19th, 2019. Approximately 65 members were in attendance.

Members explored various booths highlighting the different types of work the BGA conducts. BGA investigators showed members their work in print and talked to them about their recent stories. Long-time board member and former BGA investigative reporter Luke Kolman displayed annual reports from our archives dating back to 1976 and entertained members with stories of his time working undercover as a bartender at the Mirage Tavern. BGA Engagement Editor Mia Sato collected members’ burning questions about Illinois government for her series, What the Gov? And finally, members were encouraged to voice their “demands” for better government as a part of our #DemandBetter campaign.

BGA President & CEO David Greising welcomed members with a brief preview of membership benefits to come then interviewed BGA Policy Director Marie Dillon on Mayor Lightfoot’s progress toward BGA’s policy agenda. Marie noted that while Lightfoot has been in office only a few months, she’s making headway on ethics reforms that were stymied for decades by the old guard in the City Council. Marie had high hopes, however, that this administration would set a new standard for government transparency, but early evidence is disappointing.

We rounded out the night with a drawing for our door prize: a signed copy of BGA Director of Investigations John Chase’s book Golden: How Rod Blagojevich Talked Himself out of the Governor’s Office and into Prison.

PHOTOS

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BECOME A BGA MEMBER

Become a member to receive invitations to events like this in the future. Memberships start at just $10 a month. 

JOIN NOW

SPECIAL THANKS

Free Spirit Media, Kyle Flubacker Photography, and Rock Bottom Brewery.