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Matt Noonan (left)of Noonan True Value, Springfield, visits with Illinois State Representative Rich Brauer (R-100, Petersburg) and IRMA Director Jim Havey (right)of Young's Security, Springfield during the legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield. |
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Jackie Weatherford of Saputo's in Springfield serves food for guests of the legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria on May 2. |
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A sign signifying the sentiments of business leaders to Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich's proposed Gross Receipts Tax hangs on the wall of the Illinois Manufacturers Association building in Springfield during Retail Day 2007. |
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IRMA Director Lee Blankenship and Sherrill Blankenship of Village Commons Bookstore, DeKalb, visit legislators at the Illinois State Capitol during Retail Day 2007. |
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Illinois House Assistant Minority Leader Brent Hassert (R-85, Romeoville), speaks to business leaders at the Retail Day luncheon on May 2 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield. |
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Bob Anselmo of Target Corporation, visits with IRMA Staff Attorney Nicole Julal, Sherrill Blankenship and IRMA Director Lee Blankenship of Village Commons Bookstore, DeKalb, during the legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield. |
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Members of IRMA and the Illinois Manufacturers Association lobby their Illinois State Representatives outside the House Chambers inside the Illinois State Capitol during Retail Day 2007 on May 2. |
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Illinois Speaker of the House Michael J. Madigan addresses business leaders during the Retail Day luncheon at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel on May 2. Speaker Madigan drew a lot of attention from the media as he told the audience of his plans to convene a special Committee of the Whole to discuss alternatives to Governor Rod Blagojevich's proposed Gross Receipts Tax. |
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Mark Strawn (left) and Paul Lucas, representing Miller Brewing Company, serve guests of the legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria, Springfield. |
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Keynote speaker Neil Newhouse, Partner/Co-founder, Public Opinion Strategies, addresses Illinois business leaders at the Retail Day luncheon on May 2 in the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield. |
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The band Mariachi Tequila performs for legislative reception guests at Tienda de la Victoria, Springfield, capping off Retail Day 2007 with a Cinco de Mayo celebration. |
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The legislative reception for Retail Day 2007 was held at Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield. The theme this year was Cinco de Mayo. |
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Rich Niemann, Sr., (left) of Niemann Foods, Quincy, visits with Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-51, Greenville) under the bright lights of television news cameras after Senator Watson's speech at the Retail Day luncheon on May 2. |
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Senate Minority Leader Frank Watson (R-51, Greenville), speaks to business leaders at the Retail Day luncheon on May 2 at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel, Springfield. |
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Ashlie Keener (left) of Anheuser-Busch and Mychelle Evans and Gary Hoskins of Skeff Distributing, serve legislative guests at Tienda de la Victoria on May 2 in Springfield. |
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Bruce Heitzinger of the International Council of Shopping Centers discusses retail issues with Illinois Representative Karen May (D-58, Highland Park) at the Illinois State Capitol during Retail Day on May 2. The ICSC was one of several sponsors for the event. |
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Coors representatives offer cold drinks to guests of the legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield as part of Retail Day 2007 on May 2. |
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Servers prepare drinks on behalf of Diageo for guests of the legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria as a part of Retail Day 2007 in Springfield on May 2. |
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Brian Kienzler and Jeff Amerson from Glazer/Hamburg Distributor represent The Gallo Winery during the Retail Day legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield on May 2. |
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Tatiana Tchoryk of the American Bottling Company serves drinks for the Illinois Beverage Association during the Retail Day legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield on May 2. |
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IRMA members gather at the Illinois State Capitol on May 2 to lobby legislators during Retail Day 2007. From left to right are: Chris Murphy (SuperValue), John Elliott (Kroger), Bob Jones (American Sales), IRMA Director Linda Johnson (Village True Value Hardware), IRMA Chairman C.J. Schnakenberg (Chicago Brass), and IRMA Director Bob Lando (Community Home Supply). |
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An Outback server heats food for guests of the legislative reception for Retail Day at Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield on May 2. |
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Representatives of Wendy's stand ready to serve guests of the legislative reception at Tienda de la Victoria as part of Retail Day 2007 on May 2. |
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Illinois Representative Ron Stephens (R-102, Troy), greets IRMA member reteailers outside the House Chambers in the Illinois State Capitol during Retail Day on May 2. |
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A panel of speakers discusses Governor Rod Blagojevich's health care proposal with business leaders after the Retail Day Luncheon at the President Abraham Lincoln Hotel in Springfield on May 2. From left to right are Illinois Representative Frank Mautino (D-76, Spring Valley), Mike Brady, Partner with Brady & Pack, representing BlueCross/BlueShield of Illinois, and Michael Murphy, Director of Government Affairs, UniCare. |
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Illinois State Senator Michael Jacobs (D-36, East Moline), chats with IRMA Board Chairman C.J. Schnakenberg of Chicago Brass (center), and IRMA Director Bob Lando (right) of Community Home Supply at a legislative reception inside Tienda de la Victoria in Springfield during Retail Day on May 2. |
