Bernice A. King will accept Spirit of Lincoln Award on behalf of her parents

SPRINGFIELD - Bernice A. King, the daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, will be the featured speaker at the annual Abraham Lincoln Association Symposium Banquet on Friday, February 12 in Springfield. Ms. King will accept the Association's Spirit of Lincoln Award on behalf of her parents and will speak on the topic, "Lincoln, King and the Civil Rights Movement."

The banquet, held to observe the 207th birthday of Abraham Lincoln, will be held at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in downtown Springfield. A reception starts at 6 p.m. followed by dinner at 7 p.m. Tickets are $85 each and can be obtained online at www.abrahamlincolnassociation.org or by calling (866) 865-8500.

Bernice A. King is the Chief Executive Officer of The King Center, which was founded by her mother in 1968. Born the youngest daughter of the late Coretta Scott King and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Bernice began her oratorical journey when she spoke in her mother's stead at the United Nations at age 17. On January 30, 2007, the first anniversary of her mother's death, Bernice returned to her alma mater at Spelman College to announce the establishment of the "Be A King Scholarship in honor of Coretta Scott King." This came about after she served as a law clerk in the Fulton County, Georgia Juvenile Court system, where Bernice perceived that a growing number of teens have been victims of society and of an ineffective legal system based on retribution instead of rehabilitation.

Bernice spearheaded the Washington, D.C. commemoration on August 28, 2013, the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington and her father's famous "I Have A Dream" speech. She founded Be A King, whose mission is to re-brand and re-image generations of people to elevate the way they Think, Act, Live, and Lead. Bernice received the 2009 Lifetime Achievement Advocate Award from the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. She has written Hard Questions, Heart Answers: Speeches and Sermons.

The banquet is one of many activities scheduled each year to commemorate Lincoln's birthday. The annual Abraham Lincoln Association-Benjamin Thomas Symposium begins Thursday, February 11 at 7 p.m. in the Old State Capitol Hall of Representatives with a free presentation by author and Lincoln historian Douglas L. Wilson on "Herndon in His Own Voice."

The Symposium, which is free and open to the public, continues Friday, February 12 with the George L. Painter Looking for Lincoln Lecture from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. at the Lincoln Home Visitor Center featuring "Lincoln and Mormon Country" presented by Bryon C. Andreasen. "Lincoln, Immigrants, and the Atlantic World" will be presented at 11 a.m. by Jason Silverman and Louise Stevenson in the Old State Capitol's Hall of Respresentatives.

The Thomas F. Schwartz Symposium luncheon, which begins at 1 p.m. Friday, February 12 at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library, features speaker Thomas L. Carson, author of Lincoln's Ethics, who will present "Lincoln as a Moral Exemplar." The luncheon is $30 per person and reservations can be made online at www.abrahamlincolnassociation.org or by calling (866) 865-8500.

The Symposium resumes with a free roundtable discussion, moderated by historian Michael Burlingame, featuring all of the Symposium presenters. The discussion will be held from 2:30 to 4 p.m. at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library.

The Symposium Banquet featuring Bernice King ends the two days of activities.

The Abraham Lincoln Association Symposium is co-sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, The University of Illinois Springfield, The Old State Capitol State Historic Site and the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency. For more information about the Abraham Lincoln Association, visit www.abrahamlincolnassociation.org.

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is offering tips to help shoppers remain safe and keep their purchases secure during the holidays.

"The holidays are a time for giving, but that doesn't mean you should give criminals a gift by letting them take advantage of you," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "By following a few common-sense tips, shoppers can stay safe and make sure their purchases reach the intended recipients."

The FOP offers the following holiday shopping safety tips, courtesy of the National Crime Prevention Council., www.ncpc.org.

Shopping in Stores

• Do not buy more than you can carry. Plan ahead by taking a friend with you or ask a store employee to help you carry your packages to the car.

• Save all receipts. Print and save all confirmations from your online purchases. Start a file folder to keep all receipts together and to help you verify credit card or bank statements as they come in.

• Consider alternate options to pay for your merchandise, such as onetime or multi-use disposable credit cards or money orders, at online stores and auction sites.

• Wait until asked before taking out your credit card or checkbook. An enterprising thief would love to shoulder surf to get your account information.

• Tell a security guard or store employee if you see an unattended bag or package. The same applies if you are using mass transit.

Walking to and From Your Car

• Deter pickpockets. Carry your purse close to your body or your wallet inside a coat or front trouser pocket.

• Have your keys in hand when approaching your vehicle. Check the back seat and around the car before getting in.

• Do not leave packages visible in your car windows. Lock them in the trunk or, if possible, take them directly home.
  
  Shopping with Small Children

• If you are shopping with children, make a plan in case you are separated from each other.

• Select a central meeting place.

• Teach children to know they can ask mall personnel or store security employees if they need help.
  
  Shopping Online

• Before surfing the Internet, secure your personal computers by updating your security software. Everyone's computer should have anti-virus, anti-spyware, and anti-spam software, as well as a good firewall installed. Visit www.bytecrime.org for free software downloads.

• Keep your personal information private and your password secure. Do not respond to requests to "verify" your password or credit card information unless you initiated the contact. Legitimate businesses will not contact you in this manner.

• Beware of "bargains" from companies with whom you are unfamiliar?if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.

• Use secure websites for purchases. Look for the icon of a locked padlock at the bottom of the screen or "https" in the URL address.

• Shop with companies you know and trust. Check for background information if you plan to buy from a new or unfamiliar company.

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

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SPRINGFIELD - The Illinois Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) is offering tips to keep trick-or-treaters and their escorts safe during Halloween.

"Illinois' law enforcement officers want to make sure the only scares during Halloween season are the make-believe kind," said Illinois FOP President Chris Southwood. "By following some simple but effective safety tips, kids and their parents can have a safe and enjoyable trick-or-treating experience."

The FOP offers the following Halloween safety tips:

• Children should only go trick-or-treating with a responsible adult. Be sure to follow all local ordinances regarding trick-or-treating times, ages, and areas.

• If you can't accompany your younger children as they trick-or-treat, make sure at least one, and preferably more, responsible adults go with them. Set a curfew for the children and make sure they understand how important it is to arrive back home on time.

• Instruct children that they should never go into a stranger's house or car unless their parents or other trusted adults are with them and say it's OK. They should never go anywhere with stranger, and if a stranger tries to make them go somewhere they should scream as loudly as possible and run to safety as quickly as they can.

• Make sure kids know how to safely cross streets - look in both directions, and only use crosswalks or well-lit street corners. Tell them to not cut through back alleys and fields and to stay in well-lit areas with lots of people around.

• Know the route your children will take while trick-or-treating if you are not going with them. Have them check in at set times, either by phone or by stopping back by your residence.

• Make sure your children have costumes that are fire retardant, contain reflective strips or material, do not obstruct their vision or movement, and that any props that depict knives or other sharp objects are made of a dull, flexible material. Have at least one flashlight per group of trick-or-treaters. Try and make each child's costume unique in some way so they can be easily spotted.

• Serve your children a filling meal before they trick-or-treat so they won't be tempted to eat the treats before they get back home. Carefully examine all of the treats before you let your children handle or consume them.

• Several days before trick-or-treating, check the local and state sex offender websites to see if there are any sex offenders living in your area. If there are, make sure your children avoid those homes.

• Remind children that it is wrong to vandalize property or hurt animals.

• To lessen the chance of allergic reactions, try any makeup products on a small area of a child's arm several days before trick-or-treating to see if they have any reaction.

• If you cannot accompany them, having the children carry a cell phone lets them keep in touch and the phones also contain a GPS chip to help locate lost children.

• Drivers, don't use a cell phone or text while driving and do not drive if you are impaired. Pay close attention while driving, especially at crosswalks, intersections, the side of the road, and by parked cars. Drive below the posted speed limit in residential areas, do not pass vehicles that have stopped in the road, and pull off the road in a safe spot and turn on your emergency flashers when picking up or dropping off children.

The Fraternal Order of Police, founded in 1915, is the largest organization of sworn law enforcement officers in the United States. With a proud tradition of officers representing officers, the FOP is the most respected and most recognized police organization in the country. The Illinois FOP, chartered in 1963, is the second largest State Lodge, proudly representing more than 32,000 active duty and retired police officers - more than 10 percent of all FOP members nationwide. Visit www.ilfop.org for more information.

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today issued the following statement regarding the passing of former State Representative Rosemary Mulligan:

"Rosemary Mulligan was an inspiring leader who was never afraid to reach across the aisle to get the job done. Today we mourn her loss.

"As a member of the House, Rosemary was a true public servant who fought for the people of Illinois. She was a respected voice on a wide range of issues from human services to early childhood education, victims' rights and transportation.

"Rosemary was an energetic bridge-builder who made Illinois a better place. She will be greatly missed.

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