afscmeretirees161.com (version 0320)

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next meeting of Subchapter 161 will be at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston on December 17, beginning at 11:30. This meeting will feature only a small business portion and primarily a holiday celebration consisting of a buffet luncheon including roast chicken, beef stew, a vegetarian option, and dessert. There will be music by Andrew Carson, and a movie trivia quiz (with prizes).

Curt’s Café is a relatively new venue for our meetings that may not be familar to all members.

Directions: Central Street is the main east-west street in north Evanston. From the east, Central Street can be reached from Ridge (near Evanston Endeavor hospital) or Green Bay Road. Proceeding west along Central Street, Curt’s Café will be on the left (south) side of Central Street, about 1 mile west of the intersection with Green Bay Road, about 1.5 miles west of the intersection with Ridge. From the west, Central Street can be reached from Gross Point Road or Crawford. Curt’s Café  will then be less than a mile from the intersections, next to Swan Lake Cleaners, near the intersection of Central Street and Lincolnwood Drive.

Parking: There is metered parking near Curt’s Café on both sides of Central Street. Parking fees in Evanston can be paid by credit card at the machines or by smart phone with the Park Evanston app (available at the iPhone App Store or Android Play Store). For the rest of this year, parking fees through the app will be waived by entering “Holiday2025” as a validation code. Street parking is free on side streets north of Central Street. There are a few 2-hour free parking spaces on Lincolnwood near Central Street. Further south on Lincolnwood and on other side streets south of Central Street, there is free street parking for Evanston residents.

For further information about Curt’s Café see their website: https://curtscafe.org/

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

For the past few years the monthly Members Meeting of AFSCME Retirees Subchapter 161, has been held at Sweet Basil Café. We have learned that this restaurant has abruptly closed and is no longer in business. 

Therefore, the next meeting of Subchapter 161 at Curt’s Café, 2922 Central Street, Evanston. The meeting will be on November 19 (the third Wednesday of the month). Our speaker will be Tom Suhrbur, author of Public Education and Social Reform: A History of the Illinois Education Association. We will also get a report on the nationwide strike at Starbucks and Subchapter 161’s support for workers Starbucks.

Attendees are encouraged to arrive at Curt’s Café  as early as 11:30. The management at Curt’s Café requests you either order online prior to the meeting or at the cashier on the way into the meeting. You may order online through the website https://curtscafe-north.hngr.co/menu/start, specifying  Pickup on November 19 at 12:45. When asked for a name at the website you should enter a first and last name and “161”. The formal meeting will begin at noon and food will be delivered to the table during a recess at 12:45.   

Central Street is the main east-west street in north Evanston. From the east, Central Street can be reached from Ridge (near Evanston Endeavor hospital) or Green Bay Road. Proceeding west along Central Street, Curt’s Café will be on the left (south) side of Central Street, about 1 mile west of the intersection with Green Bay Road, about 1.5 miles west of the intersection with Ridge. From the west, Central Street can be reached from Gross Point Road or Crawford. Curt’s Café  will then be less than a mile from the intersections, next to Swan Lake Cleaners, near the intersection of Central Street and Lincolnwood Drive.

There is metered parking near Curt’s Café on both sides of Central Street. Parking fees in Evanston can be paid by credit card at the machines or by smart phone with the Park Evanston app (available at the iPhone App Store or Android Play Store). Street parking is free on side streets north of Central Street. There are a few 2-hour free parking spaces on Lincolnwood near Central Street. Further south on Lincolnwood and on other side streets south of Central Street, there is free street parking for Evanston residents.

For further information about Curt’s Café see their website: https://curtscafe.org/

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). Attendees who arrive on time will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Diane Stokes and others will report on the Convention of the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans. Fran Tobin of Alliance for Community Services will discuss the legal and policy around enabling elders and people with disabilities to get care at home or in the “least restrictive environment.”
(Click here to view upcoming activities from the Alliance for Community Services)

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Posted on August 16, 2025 by afscmeretirees161

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, August 20, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). Attendees who arrive on time will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Our speaker will be Adrienne Alexander from AFSCME Council 31. She will speak on Medicare cuts and other features of President Trump’s Big Bad Bill. She will also report on the responses of AFSCME and other labor organizations.

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Posted on July 11, 2025 by afscmeretirees161

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, July 16, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). Attendees who arrive on time will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Tom Wilson will speak about the “Big Ugly Bill” and ways unions and organizations are fighting back. Tom is a long time activist and member of Adapt, Illinois Single Payer, the Alliance for Community Services, Health and Medicine, CAN TV Show, 46th Ward IPO and Northside Action 4 Justice. Tom will also briefly cover the recent primary mayoral election in New York.

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). Attendees who arrive on time will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Diane will update us on the Council 31 Executive Board meeting.

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Posted on April 12, 2025 by afscmeretirees161

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). All attendees will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

We will have a speaker who will provide an overview of threats to Medicaid and Medicare. The speaker will cover what the Republicans are doing with the budget and how people are fighting back, including actions locally on May 31.

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For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). All attendees will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Our speaker by Zoom will be Maria Britton-Sipe, Council 31 Retiree Coordinator. She will be discussing the big changes occurring in Medicare and Social Security. In addition, efforts to
change how health insurance and prescription drugs are dealt with in Illinois.

The meeting will also include the election to fill one Trusteeship position for a three-year term.

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Announcement of Members Meeting, March 19

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 19, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). All attendees will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Our speaker will be Lenny Lamkin who will discuss the April 1 election in Evanston, union organizing at Starbucks in Evanston, and organizing by Unite/HERE.

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Posted on January 13, 2025 by afscmeretirees161

For latest announcements and updates from previous meetings click here to go to Bulletin Board page.

The next Subchapter 161 Members Meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 19, 2025. The meeting will occur at Sweet Basil Cafe, 5203 Old Orchard Road, Skokie, IL 60077. The meeting will begin at noon. Attendees may arrive as early as 11:30 and should order food before the meeting begins (click here to view Sweet Basil Cafe menu). All attendees will be eligible to be selected by lot for a complementary meal.

Our speaker (by Zoom) will be Krystle Able from the Illinois Alliance for Retired Americans. She will update us on activities of the IARA.

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