Adam Andrzejewski told the crowd at the Effingham VFW Post Home Thursday night to continue the fight to hold government accountable, and gave examples at the state and federal level of how those efforts can bear fruit.

Andrzejewski is a former candidate for governor who founded Open the Books in an effort to make public records available, particularly financial records of various government bodies, including state and federal government agencies.

The guest speaker Thursday was Cathy Hamilton, now the chairman of the College of DuPage Board of Trustees. Hamilton is a CPA with MBA degree who said she was marginalized after she started asking questions about the way the college operated. She credited Andrzejewski with raising public scrutiny of the college and its lavish spending habits. Hamilton and two other reform candidates were elected in April, giving Hamilton's backers a majority on the board that led to her election as chairman.

Hero Awards were presented to those from this region who have worked for more openness in local governments. Recipients included the Effingham County Board, Eric Petty of Summit Township, Jane Willenborg of the Effingham Unit 40 school board, St. Sen. Kyle McCarter, Carl Miller of Neoga, and Dorothy "Dot" Behrns for her work on the Effingham County Board of Health.

St. Rep. Dwight Kay of Godfrey was also a guest speaker. Kay told those gathered "it's all about telling the truth". Kay said the chief goal should be to "fire Mike Madigan", the longtime Illinois House Speaker. Kay said Illinois will be a great state when "you decide to take it back".