Chicago IWW
PO Box 18387
Chicago, IL, 60618
(224) 381-4088
chicago@iww.org

The Annual Upper Midwest WobFest

The annual Upper-Midwest WobFest is an opportunity for IWW members and friends from the Midwest Region of North America to get together, share experiences and skills, and make plans for building the IWW in our region and throughout the world.

We need every Wobbly in the region help make our annual gathering a success. You can help by filling out the form below and returning it as soon as possible, especially if you have an idea for a workshop that you would like to participate in or lead. Here's the schedule for this year's 'fest...

Friday June 25 7:00-10:00pm - Wobbly Social and WobFest Registration - 1908 S. Halsted

Saturday June 26 10:00am - 10:00pm - Upper Mid-West Wobfest UE Hall, 37 South Ashland Ave.

10:00-11:00 am - Setup, Registration and Introductions all around
11:00am-1:30pm - Organizer Training - Organizer Training Committee-IWW
11:00am-12:30pm - First Round of Workshops

  • 1. Labor and the Environment
  • 2. Direct Action - Led by the Milwaukee General Membership Branch-IWW

12:30pm-1:30pm - Lunch 1:30pm-3:00pm - Second Round of Workshops

  • 1. Class Struggle and National Liberation - Led by Tanuja
  • 2. Class Struggle and Sexual Liberation

3:00pm-3:15pm - Break
3:15pm-4:45pm - Third Round of Workshops

  • 1. Class Liberation, National Liberation Sexual Liberation - How do they relate (or not)? - Led by Penny Pixler and Dan Price of the Chicago GMB
  • 2. Cultural Diversity and Union Solidarity

4:45pm-5:00pm - Break
5:00pm-6:30pm - Fourth Round of Workshops

  • 1. Solidarity Unionism vs Service Unionism - Led by Mike Hargis, Chicago GMB

6:30pm - Break for the day and dinner.
7:30pm -9:30pm - Open Mic for soapboxing, singing, poetry, etc.

Sunday June 27 (IWW's 99th Birthday) - Labor History Tour and Picnic (Drivers needed)

10:00am - Gather at Graceland Cemetery (corner of N. Clark St. and W. Irving Park Rd.) - site of Joe Hill's cremation and last resting place of many of Chicago's robber barons - to being tour - Led by Penny Pixler
12:00noon-4:30pm - Picnic/Gathering at Forest Home Cemetery on Desplains Ave in Forest Park, IL - Site of the Haymaket Maryrs' Monument- Easily accessible via the Forest Park Blue Line (EL). Directions will be provided. Besides giving us a chance to commune with our fallen fellow workers this gathering will also give us a chance to critique the weekend's events and talk about the IWWÕs Centenial Celebration in 2005.

Yes, I will be attending WobFest.
Name __________________________
Address _______________________________________________
Tel # ______________ e-mail ____________________________

Will you need housing? ______
Will you need childcare? _______ How many and what ages? ___________
Any special housing needs? ____________________________________ (must have a bed, wheel chair access, etc.)
Any housing preferences? _____________________________________ (smoking or non-smoking, gender preference, etc.)
Any food allergies or medical conditions? __________________________
Will you need transportation? _______(CTA maps will be made available)

Fill out the form and send it to: Midwest WobFest Committee
C/o Chicago GMB-IWW
P.O. Box 18387
Chicago, IL 60618
Or e-mail: michaelhargis@netscape.net