Through the Action Committee for Rural Electrification (ACRE), the electric and telephone cooperatives of Ilinois work to ensure a strong voice in Springfield and Washington, D.C. Illinois ACRE is a statewide political action committee established in 1969 to preserve and protect the interests of the rural electrification program in Illinois.

Cooperative employees, directors, members and friends join together through ACRE to exercise a strong voice in the Illinois General Assembly and in Congress. Members of Illinois ACRE pay annual membership dues ($25, regular; $100, Century Club; or $500, President's Club) which is used to support legislative leaders and candidates who support the electric cooperatives. One -half of the dues are used by National ACRE to support Congressional leaders and candidates from Illinois who support our goals and objectives. The other half is used by Illinois ACRE to support candidates and leaders in state government who support rural electrification.

Illinois ACRE is a bipartisan organization, making contributions to members of both the Repubican and Democratic parties. The organization supports those members of either party who have shown by their voting records or other means that they support the needs of the electric cooperatives and all rural citizens of the state. In past years, Illinois ACRE's support has been divided equally between Republicans and Democrats. This bipartisan effort has increased the effectiveness of the Illinois electric cooperatives at both the state and local level.

We urge everyone to actively support rural electrification by becoming an ACRE member. For information. contact the AIEC Legal and Government Relations Department.

<-back