<div>Good afternoon, </div><div> </div><div>I am including the Illinois Humanities Council's press announcement listing our invitation to be part of our Road Scholars program, our program that musicians, professors, storytellers, historians, actors and others to present to audiences statewide. Below is the press release, and attached is the calendar listing. </div>
<div> </div><div>Applications will be accepted May 1-31. Applications are accepted only once every two years. </div><div> </div><div>We are making a conscious effort to entice not only 'scholars' but also individuals amongst the general public with a grand hobby, an interest in a subject that is palpable, and can inspire curiosity in the same way that attracted them to the subject in the first place. </div>
<div> </div><div>We would appreciate any opportunity to pass this information on to your audiences. Photos, or interviews with current Road Scholars and IHC staff are also available. </div><div> </div><div>Thank you so much for your support, </div>
<div>-- <br></div><p style="background-color:rgb(255,255,255)"><i style="font-size:13px"><span style="font-size:10pt"><font face="'Book Antiqua'">Carlos Velázquez</font><font face="Arial"><br></font></span></i><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">~~~~~<br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Communications Manager<br></span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Illinois Humanities Council<br></span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Suite 1400<br>
</span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">17 North State St.<br></span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Chicago, IL 60602.3296<br></span><a style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px" value="+13124225580">312.422.5585</a><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px"> ext 233<br>
</span><a style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px" value="+13124225588">312.422.5588</a><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px"> </span><span style="font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px">Fax<br>
</span><a style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:"Book Antiqua";font-size:13px" title="http://www.prairie.org/" href="http://www.prairie.org/" target="_blank">http://www.prairie.org</a><br><a style="font-family:Arial;font-size:13px" href="mailto:cav@prairie.org" target="_blank">cav@prairie.org</a><font style="font-size:13px" face="Arial"> <br>
</font><span style="font-family:arial,sans-serif;font-size:13px">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><font face="arial, sans-serif">~~~~~<br></font><a style="color:rgb(0,0,204);font-family:Arial;font-size:11px" href="http://twitter.com/ilhumanities" target="_blank"><span style="color:rgb(42,93,176)">Follow</span></a><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:11px"> us on Twitter - @ILhumanities<br>
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</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

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</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">Illinois Humanities Council Seeks Passionate Individuals for Statewide
Speaker Series</span></b></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"> </span></i></b></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">CHICAGO</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">, IL-<b> April 26,
2012</b>— Musicians, professors, story-tellers, historians, actors, and others
are being invited by the Illinois Humanities Council to share their passion
with Illinoisans statewide.<span style>  </span></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">The
Road Scholars Speakers Bureau, a program of the </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">Illinois Humanities Council (IHC) will be opening
applications during the month of May to be part of the next roster of speakers who
will present at </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">libraries, historical societies, museums, civic,
community, and other public places </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">across Illinois. </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">Since 1996, the IHC Road
Scholars Speakers Bureau<b> </b>has been deploying speakers to present to audiences
all over the state. <i>Road Scholars</i> topics range from American culture and
Illinois history, literature and sports. The program is a delight for both
scholars, who are thoughtful and passionate about sharing what they know, and
for non-profit organizations around Illinois, who for a small fee can give
their community a memorable humanities program that will keep audiences
returning for more. </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">“The
Road Scholars program is one of the very best outreach programs in the
Midwest,” mentions Chris Vallillo, current Road Scholar. “It is a rare
situation of win, win, where small presenters are given the ability to present
high caliber programming to underserved audiences”. Vallillo uses historic
narratives, contemporary folk music, and period folk songs in his Road Scholars
program<i>, Abraham Lincoln in Song</i>. </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">The IHC hopes to generate
interest from not only scholars, but also those among the general public with a
deep, palpable interest in a subject, who are eager to share and elicit the
same curiosity that gravitated them to the subject to an audience. Said one
Road Scholar, “I enjoy very much sharing my own expertise and passion with the
public… I am always impressed by the depth of questions asked and the intense interest
these folks show towards these topics. It is my best way to give something back
to the community.” </span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Programs may cover any topic, in any format, as long
as it is addressed from the perspective of the humanities. <br style>
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</span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt" lang="EN"></span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">Applications
for the Road Scholars Speakers Bureau will be accepted May 1-31, 2012, and
forms and more detailed information are available through the IHC website, </span><a href="http://www.prairie.org/"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN"><font color="#0000ff">www.prairie.org</font></span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">. Speakers receive an honorarium, and if
necessary, meals, lodging and mileage are reimbursed. IHC Road Scholars are
contracted for 2 years, during which they present up to 8 times per year around
the state of Illinois. <br>
For more information on the program, or for organizations interested in hosting
a speaker, please contact Mallory Laurel, Program Coordinator, at (312)
422-5585, or by email at </span><a href="mailto:mal@prairie.org"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN"><font color="#0000ff">mal@prairie.org</font></span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">.<span style>  </span><span style> </span><span style> </span></span></p>
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</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><b style><u><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">About the Illinois
Humanities Council </span></u></b></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt;layout-grid-mode:line"> </span></i></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt;layout-grid-mode:line">The Illinois Humanities Council is an independent,
nonprofit state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, </span></i><i><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt;layout-grid-mode:line" lang="EN">dedicated to fostering a culture in which the
humanities are a vital part of the lives of individuals and communities. The
IHC creates programs and funds organizations that promote greater understanding
of, appreciation for, and involvement in the humanities by all Illinoisans,
regardless of their economic resources, cultural background, or geographic
location. The IHC is supported by state, federal, and private funds. </span></i><i style><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt;layout-grid-mode:line" lang="EN"></span></i></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:8pt"> </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Media
Contact: </span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">Carlos
Velázquez</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt">(312)
422-5580, x233</span></p><font size="3" face="Times New Roman">

</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><a href="mailto:cav@prairie.org"><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"><font color="#0000ff">cav@prairie.org</font></span></a><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt"><span style>  </span></span></p>
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</font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt;text-align:center" class="MsoNormal" align="center"><b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt" lang="EN">D A R E T O K N O W</span></b><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:10pt" lang="EN"><br>

<b># # #</b></span><span style="font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";font-size:11pt" lang="EN">
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