No Need for Jesse to Flip

by Cal Skinner

Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White refused to sign Governor Rod Blagojevich's appointment of paperwork for Roland Burris as United States Senate.

Now the Illinois Supreme Court has ruled that White's signature is not needed.

White had maintained that his signature was not necessary.

So White won't have to flip like one of his skilled tumblers.

The move is up to the United Senate now.

What will the weak Harry Reid do now?

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The Jesse White Tumblers were in Crystal Lake at the corner of Dole and Crystal Lake Avenues at the 4th of July Parade in 2007.

Posted first on McHenry County Blog.

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Coming with a Title in Your Mailbox, Compliments of Jesse White

Local media haven’t quite figured out the impact that NASA Education is having in the State of Illinois. Yesterday, McHenry County Blog wrote of the transitional living quarters soon to be operational in Crystal Lake near the intersection of Virginia Street (Route 14) and McHenry Avenue.

There were articles in the Northwest and Daily Heralds about the Monday and Tuesday Stand Down at Camp Algonquin.

But this is probably the first article about the one million and a half inserts that Secretary of State Jesse White is inserting into every envelope containing a title.

It is a pitch printed by NASA (National Association of Systems Administrators) Education asking for people to donate their old cars “and put a veteran to work!”

“NASA Education has received grants from the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs and McHenry County Community Foundation to transport and repair the vehicles, and to pay for title and license plate fees. All we need is your donated vehicle!” says one side of the insert. It has two American flags, one with a female soldier and another with a soldier in a wheel chair.

The other side explains, “Who we are, What we do and How you can help.”

It explains that NASA Education is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1999 by John Blanchard, an 8-year Navy veteran who “has a passionate commitment to helping veterans in need.”

“Project Fresh Start” provides “community reintegration for U.S. veterans who are displaced, disabled or homeless. This includes free training, employment services and use of vehicles when available.”

Donations of cars, vans and pick up trucks are requested, plus cash donations to support Project Fresh Start and the Stand Down for Veterans. Office machines, electronics and manufacturing equipment is also wanted.

I asked Blanchard how he pulled this really inexpensive direct mail campaign off.

He gave the credit to Illinois Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth.

Duckworth keynoted the Stand Down last spring at Camp Algonquin. She appeared in a pre-recorded talk this year.

The web site is NASAEducation.org.

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All the images can be enlarged by clicking on them.

John Blanchard talks with two of the Stand Down volunteers--Chuck and Elaine Slack of VFW Post 5915 Carpentersville--on Tuesday at Camp Algonquin.

The reflection in the screen where Tammy Duckworth can be seen is of the Vice Chairman of the Illinois VFW.

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Jesse White and Tammy Duckworth Talk About Adding “VET” to Veterans’ Driver’s Licenses

Earlier on McHenry County Blog, I wrote about a petition campaign being conducted by Crystal Lake’s John Blanchard to urge state officials to put the word “VET” on the driver’s licenses of veterans.

Blanchard already has over 100,000 signatures on the petition, the wording of which you can see here.

Wednesday I learned that last week Secretary of State Jesse White talked to Department of Veterans Affairs Director Tammy Duckworth about the idea.

White’s Public Information Officer, David Drucker, told me,

Jesse met last week with Tammy Duckworth last week and they discussed the idea of doing that.

They do tell me that we would need to get the approval of the General Assembly.

Duckworth's press person, Jessica Woodward, confirmed the meeting:

The Secretary of State thought it was a good idea.

It was just a first meeting. It’s a possibility that that will happen.

She added, "The director did talk to John Blanchard at the Stand Down."

Duckworth was the featured speaker at the early March Stand Down sponsored by Blanchard’s National Association of Systems Administrators Educational Foundation, which hires and trains homeless veterans for good paying jobs. Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to Camp Algonquin for her talk, but did attend the second day. Blanchard also put together an earlier October Stand Down.

So, which member of the General Assembly wants to get legislation passed that would allow the Secretary of State to follow Georgia’s example?

If you look closely on the image, which is a copy of a copy of a Georgia veteran’s driver’s license with the man's identifying information removed, you can see the word “VET” in the bottom center.

Drucker reminded me that Jesse himself is a veteran himself, having served as a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division.

Drucker even knew how many veterans there are in Illinois:

We have 1.2 million vets in Illinois.

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State Senator Pam Althoff and State Rep. Mike Tryon talk to Crystal Lake's John Blanchard at October's Camp Algonquin Stand Down for homeless veterans.

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