The Oriole Park Community Club is a volunteer-based, non-political association of community members dedicated to fostering the general welfare of the Oriole Park neighborhood in Chicago.  We hold bi-monthly public meetings, usually in the Oriole Park field house.  Among other things, we host invited speakers, sponsor the annual fourth of July parade and sponsor tax appeal seminars.  We are an important link to neighborhood institutions, including the 41st ward office, library, park, police and school.

Main speaker from CUB (Citizen's Utility Board) on utility rates, overcharges and consumer protection.
Presentation of the 2012 Junior Citizen Award.
Election of officers.
Open Forum:  Addressing neighborhood needs.

Planning meeting for July 4th all-community, Children's Bike Parade.

Please renew your membership for the 2011-2012 year. Individual and family memberships are $10 per year and members over age 65 can renew for $5.  IN ORDER TO CONTINUE EVENTS SUCH AS THE JULY 4 PARADE, YOUR MEMBERSHIPS AND DONATIONS ARE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED!   

State Senator John Mulroe was the principal speaker. He spoke on the 2013 state budget proposed by Governor Quinn before the General Assembly on February 22, 2012. He touched on all the salient points in the governor's address. He provided an excellent handout which contained the governor's speech. It also included charts regarding the state's financial situation in fiscal year 2012, in terms of revenues and expenses. He said there will be cuts in order to put the state back on the road to solvency. And, there is a long way to go to do that. At the same time the state needs to provide for the most vulnerable of our population as much as it can. And funding for education needs special consideration. He also provided a list of senate bills he sponsored or co-sponsored. His presentation was followed by an open forum during which he responded to a variety of questions and recommendations from the floor. 

Conducted by Commissioner Michael M. Cabonargi of the Cook County Board of Review. Co-hosted by the Oriole Park Community Club and sponsored by State Representative Michael Michael McAuliffe, State Senator John Mulroe, Alderman Mary O'Connor and Cook County Commissioner Peter Silvestri. Attendees were given instructions on how to complete the form for filing a complaint on the 2011 assessed valuation of their homes. Most in attendance were able to complete the form at the meeting and turn them in to representatives of the Board of Review at the conclusion of the meeting.  

Community Family Night, sponsored by the Oriole Park Community Club, was hosted at Oriole Park Elementary School, featuring Magician Dave Marcus. He performed a wide variety of magic tricks and illusions interspersed with humor. His performance captured the attention all ages. A good time was had by all.  

State Representative Michael McAuliffe was the principal speaker. He reported on legislation, passed and pending in the Illinois General Assembly. He reported that there will be a lot of cuts in the budget. The state treasurer was looking for a 2% reduction in spending. He voted in favor of the Electrical Smart Grid bill for which ComED was seeking approval. He feels that the state needs an upgrade of its electrical network and that it will also create jobs. He did not vote for increasing the state income tax. He favors casino gambling expansion and would vote for a casino in Chicago. That vote might come up in the Spring. Pension reform is in the works and we could end up with a three tiered system. No more double dipping should be allowed. He voted for allowing bicycles and motorcycles to go through a red light after coming to a full stop and cross traffic is clear. He announced that a veteran's home is slated for the Chicago Read Mental Center. It will accommodate 200 beds and will serve vets with Alzheimers disease and vets from Iraq and Afghanistan suffering from PTSD syndrome. He will be sponsoring a Safe Driving Seminar for Seniors in the Spring.
 After Representative McAuliffe's presentation, Frank Clark, park supervisor in Oriole Park, announced that uni-directional hoods or visors were installed on the outfield lights on Diamond #4.  This improvement was put in place to more directly focus the lighting onto the playing field and reduce it on the surrounding areas.

Alderman Mary O'Connor was the principal speaker. She began with a brief profile of her personal history. She then provided details about her office and staff located at 6107 N. Northwest Highway. She also reviewed current issues she and her office are dealing with such as flooding problems, street resurfacing, pot hole repairs, dealing with reduced funding for the public schools. On the latter point, she has arranged a meeting with local school principals and the new superintendent of CPS, Jean Claude Brizzard. In the open forum that followed she fielded many questions and complaints from the audience addressing each one of them individually. Her office has developed an internet bulletin service titled 41st Ward Update for which individuals can sign up to get latest news and announcements affecting the ward. Alderman O'Connor concluded her presentation by affirming that she will work closely with the Oriole Park Community Club for the benefit of the community.