By Mark Rhoads -
U.S. Rep. Aron Shock (R-Peoria) is slated for election to become president of the 158-year-old Illinois State Society of Washington, DC next Wednesday, May 23 when the society holds its annual meeting at the Army-Navy Club in downtown DC. By long custom and tradition, the nonpartisan Illinois State Society normally rotates the chairmanship by party. Democratic members have held the chair since Rep. John Shimkus (R-Colliinsville) gave up the gavel in 2009.
About 23 Illinois Members of Congress from both parties have held the chair over the last 100 years but the majority of presidents have not been Members of Congress. Almost all states have active state societies in DC that serve as nonpartisan booster clubs for their states. Membership in the Illinois State Society is largely compoosed of about 900 Illinois expatriates who live and work in the national capital region of DC, Maryland, and Virginia. Click Here to read more about the long history of the Illinois State Society of Washington, DC
