February 14, 2023

ILLINOIS REVIEW
— March GOP State Central Committee Meeting Now Virtual: Is Don Tracy Afraid of the Grassroots or the Spread of COVID-19? (COMMENT: Who will the Illinois Republican Party (IRP) State Central Committee (SCC) allow to watch and listen to the meeting? Will there be a public comment period? Who is your Republican Precinct Committeeman’s (PC)/Captain’s IRP SCC member? On who/what do they blame Republican losses on? Ever since I became a DuPage County Milton Township Republican PC in 1999, I have asked my DuPage IRP SCC members to give me the locations, dates, times, and agendas of upcoming IRP SCC meetings. I rarely received such notifications. Nevertheless, I have attended many IRP SCC meetings, but not recently. I should write a book a) about how I learned about those meetings and b) about how anti-conservative DuPage County IRP SCC members have treated me. I would focus on those who have blamed me and who have blamed my GOPUSA ILLINOIS newsletters the most for losses that Republican candidates on ballots in my precinct have suffered since 2000. I would also focus on those who have also blamed me the most for what I did when I a) served as the Wheaton Independence Day parade and fireworks Republican fundraiser 2005-2019, b) served as the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois chairman 2005-2012, c) served as the Milton Township Republican Organization webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, d) served as an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and e) served as the Milton Township coordinator for Pat O’Malley’s 2002 Republican gubernatorial primary campaign. I would also focus on those who have punished me the most for my wanting direct election of IRP SCC members. I pushed for direct election of IRP SCC members big time at the 2008 and 2012 IRP State Conventions.)
https://www.illinoisreview.com/illinoisreview/2023/02/march-gop-state-central-committee-meeting-now-virtual-is-don-tracy-afraid-of-the-grassroots-or-the-spread-of-covid-19.html
(FROM THE ARTICLE: With so much at stake, and school board races just around the corner – the responsibilities demand an in-person meeting. But it appears that Tracy is more concerned with stopping the spread of COVID than he is stopping the spread of socialist, Democratic policies.)

ILLINOIS REPUBLICAN PARTY
— Bylaws (QUESTION: What weighted vote does each Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee member have?)
https://illinois.gop/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/Committee-Proposed-Amendments-to-Bylaws-2017-Final.pdf
(FROM THE BYLAWS: State Central Committee Votes. At meetings of the State Central Committee, a member shall cast a statutory weighted vote except as otherwise provided by law or in these Bylaws. All questions shall be determined by a majority of weighted votes cast on the question.)

BREAKTROUGH IDEAS
— Watch our exclusive video commentary, only found on our website. You will not believe the Communist that Edison Middle School chose to honor for Black history month. Jeanne welcomes the President of the Frederick Douglass Foundation Illinois, to weigh in on the topic.
https://www.breakthrough-ideas.com/videos?wix-vod-video-id=3dfe6d33c1ab4bd0a599db397bb823c3&wix-vod-comp-id=comp-l6wfr88o

CENTER SQUARE ILLINOIS
— Federal judge in Illinois’ gun ban cases orders state to show ‘each and every item banned’ – Greg Bishop
https://www.thecentersquare.com/illinois/federal-judge-in-illinois-gun-ban-cases-orders-state-to-show-each-and-every-item/article_936ac308-abeb-11ed-83a0-e3b567a83f36.html

SOUTHLAND JOURNAL
— Illinois House Progressive Caucus Larger, More Influential in 2023 Legislative Session
https://thesouthlandjournal.com/illinois-house-progressive-caucus-larger-more-influential-in-2023-legislative-session/

WILLIAM J KELLY
— Chicago Reporter spars with Lightfoot, questions if she is buying votes with grant money
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vEkeqTjoDkg

WIREPOINTS
— Unwed births, illiterate children and black-on-black crime: What Chicago’s mayoral candidates ignore – Matt Rosenberg and Ted Dabrowski
https://wirepoints.org/unwed-births-illiterate-children-and-black-on-black-crime-what-chicagos-mayoral-candidates-ignore-wirepoints/
— Not a single student can do math at grade level in 53 Illinois schools. For reading, it’s 30 schools – Ted Dabrowski and John Klingner
https://wirepoints.org/not-a-single-student-can-do-math-at-grade-level-in-53-illinois-schools-for-reading-its-30-schools-wirepoints/

ABC7
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Americans told to leave Russia as soon as possible amid risk of wrongful detention.”
https://abc7chicago.com/us-tells-citizens-to-leave-russia-immediately-americans-united-states/12808759/

CBS2
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Mayoral candidates square off again, addressing issues most important to Black Chicagoans.”
https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/mayoral-candidates-forum-issues-black-chicagoans/

DAILY HERALD
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH PICTURE: COMMENT: Democrats say “Sandberg building sold in downtown Wheaton.” What obligations do Republican Precinct Committeemen like me have to defend Republican voters in their precinct? Sandberg was a conservative Republican voter in my precinct 1999-2015. He died in 2020. I often came to his defense. I should write a book about conservative-haters in Milton Township who continue to hate Sandberg. They continue to hate me because I came to his defense and because I continue to refuse to share their hatred of him. I would focus on those Sandberg-haters who promote hatred against those who share Sandberg’s demographics (conservative, Republican, White, male, older, and/or Lutheran) to curry favor with those who hate his demographics.
https://www.dailyherald.com/news/20230213/its-in-good-hands-sandberg-building-sold-in-downtown-wheaton
(FROM THE ARTICLE: For decades, the late shopkeeper Robert Sandberg displayed a mishmash of merchandise in his namesake men’s clothing store, a now-empty, hulking presence at the northwest corner of Main and Front streets. More than 2½ years after his death, Sandberg’s widow, Karen, has sold the cavernous building for $2,028,500 to a limited liability company associated with Bruce Bond, a driving force in downtown development. . .Sandberg opened his first clothing store in Wheaton in 1958 and later owned several properties downtown. Over the years, the city had tried to purchase or condemn Sandberg’s buildings because they had been either vacant or subject to various code violations.)

CHICAGO TRIBUNE
— FRONT PAGE TOP OF FOLD WITH BIG PICTUTE: COMMENT: Democrats use 2008 NIIU shooting to promote hatred against Republicans
https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/breaking/ct-northern-illinois-university-shooting-15th-anniversary-20230214-4kzho6p2kzhozlxfdb44lbj2kq-story.html

STARVED ROCK MEDIA
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Illinois Lawmakers Fight to Eliminate FOID Card System.” I have had a FOID card since I was 20 years old in 1968. I should write a book about those in Wheaton, Milton Township, and DuPage County who reject the Second Amendment plank in the Republican Party platform. I would focus on those who despise if not hate gun owners like me.
https://www.starvedrock.media/wlpo/illinois-lawmakers-fight-to-eliminate-foid-card-system/article_42a0a4c4-abd7-11ed-98f2-c3c779df9799.html

NPR ILLINOIS
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Nikki Haley signals a new direction for the GOP’s national ticket.”
https://www.nprillinois.org/2023-02-13/haley-signals-a-new-direction-for-the-gops-national-ticket

UIC
— COMMENT: Democrats encourage Arab Americans to hate Republicans.
https://today.uic.edu/uic-report-examines-experiences-racial-justice-for-chicagolands-arab-americans/

CAPITOL FAX
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Morning roundup.”
https://capitolfax.com/2023/02/14/isabel%e2%80%99s-morning-roundup-3/

WASHINGTON TIMES
— Nikki Haley announces presidential campaign, challenging Trump – Meg Kinnard
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/feb/14/nikki-haley-announces-presidential-campaign-challe/
— GOP megadonors look past Trump to fresh faces for 2024 presidential run – Dave Boyer
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/feb/13/gop-mega-donors-look-past-trump-fresh-faces-2024-p/
— Despite January numbers, Biden not making progress on border security – Dan Stein
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2023/feb/13/despite-january-numbers-biden-not-making-progress-/

WASHINGTON EXAMINER
— Another study refutes Left’s false claims against Voter ID and secure elections – Hans von Spakovsky & Joseph Sturdy
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/fairness-justice/another-study-refutes-lefts-false-claims-against-voter-id-and-secure-elections
— Secrets for asylum: Former Russian military engineer seeks deal to protect family – Misty Severi (COMMENT: What are all the reasons why citizens of foreign countries seek asylum in America?)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/defense-national-security/former-russian-bomber-engineer-seeks-asylum-in-us
— Conservatives need not apply under Biden administration’s proposed hiring rules – Hans von Spakovsky (COMMENT: I have always been conservative. The Democrats who ran GAO, IRS, and the Post Office in 1980, 1971, and 1966 respectively, hired me because I was qualified for the jobs and because they could not find a qualified Democrat, minority, female, veteran, or younger person who would take the job. By January of 1980, I had a) passed the CPA examination on my first attempt, b) earned an MBA from Loyola, and c) worked for IRS for almost 9 years. By June of 1971, I had a) passed the Federal Service Entrance Examination, b) earned a bachelor’s degree in management from NIU, and c) worked for Firestone Stores for 10 months. By November of 1966, I had passed the Post Office employment examination, earned a high school diploma, and owned and safely driven a car for 2 years.)
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/faith-freedom-self-reliance/conservatives-need-not-apply-under-biden-administrations-proposed-hiring-rules

NEW YORK POST
— How Mexico outfoxed Joe Biden on illegal immigration, knowing he’d never fight back – Todd Bensman (COMMENT: When WWIII officially starts, which countries will side against America?)
https://nypost.com/2023/02/13/how-mexico-outfoxed-joe-biden-on-illegal-immigration-knowing-hed-never-fight-back/

AMERICA FIRST POLICY
— State of the Union Address Glosses Over Border Crisis – ROBERT LAW
https://americafirstpolicy.com/latest/state-of-the-union-address-glosses-over-border-crisis

AMERICAN GREATNESS
— Affirmative Action: A Thought Experiment – Adam Mill (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs have always used Affirmative Action (AA) to get rid of Republicans who were conservative, White, male, older (I was born in 1948), non-veteran (I am a draft avoider), Protestant (I was baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran), German American (I am 100% German American), and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time (My ancestors have been in America since 1844). I am all of the aforesaid. I should write a book about Democrats and RINOs who have used AA to get rid of me.)
https://amgreatness.com/2023/02/13/affirmative-action-a-thought-experiment/

BLAZE
— Canada tells Mayor Eric Adams to ‘immediately’ stop sending illegal aliens from New York City – CARLOS GARCIA
https://www.theblaze.com/news/eric-adams-busing-migrants-canada

BREITBART
— South Side Chicago Residents Outraged as City Spends Millions Housing Border Crossers in Abandoned School – JOHN BINDER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/02/13/chicago-south-side-residents-outraged-migrants-in-abandonded-school/
— Dick Durbin, Lindsey Graham Propose ‘DREAM Act’ Amnesty for Nearly 2M Illegal Aliens – JOHN BINDER (COMMENT: Democrats and RINOs use Dreamers to promote illegal immigration. Democrats want illegal immigration because illegals vote for Democrats. RINOs want illegal immigration because RINOs want cheap labor.)
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/02/13/graham-durbin-dream-act-amnesty-2m-illegal-aliens/
— Ron DeSantis Expected to Secure $10M to Fly Illegal Aliens to Sanctuary Cities – JOHN BINDER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/02/13/ron-desantis-expected-to-secure-10m-to-fly-illegal-aliens-to-sanctuary-cities/
— TREASONOUS: New England Democrats Push to Give Voting Rights to Illegal Aliens – JOHN BINDER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/02/13/new-england-democrats-illegal-alien-voting/
— Ron DeSantis Expected to Secure $10M to Fly Illegal Aliens to Sanctuary Cities – JOHN BINDER
https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/02/13/ron-desantis-expected-to-secure-10m-to-fly-illegal-aliens-to-sanctuary-cities/

COLLEGE FIX
— Law school course praised for studying ‘Historical Origins of White Supremacy’ – Alexia Bianchi (COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, to get votes from hate-filled White-hating White-haters, Democrats promote hatred against Whites.)
https://campusreform.org/article?id=21294

CREATORS SYNDICATE
— American Veterans, 0; Illegal Migrants, Millions – Oliver L. North
https://www.creators.com/read/oliver-north/02/23/american-veterans-0-illegal-migrants-millions

DAILY CALLER
— Crime Has Risen Under The Watch Of Soros-Backed Prosecutors In Six Major Cities: Philadelphia, New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Chicago and St. Louis – ERINN BROADUS AND TREVOR SCHAKOHL
https://dailycaller.com/2023/02/12/soros-prosecutors-cities-crime/

EPOCH TIMES
— Eugene, Oregon, Bans Natural Gas Hookups in New Residences. City Council says it aims to be free of fossil fuels despite strong public opposition. – Scottie Barnes (COMMENT: How soon will Democrats outlaw natural gas where you live?)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/oregons-eugene-council-bans-natural-gas-hookups-in-new-residences_5053759.html
— The U.S. State Department is urging any Americans remaining in Russia to leave immediately, citing an elevated risk of arbitrary arrest by Russian security officials amid a more general warning of “unpredictable consequences” stemming from the Ukraine war and the “possibility of terrorism.” – Tom Ozimek
https://www.theepochtimes.com/americans-in-russia-advised-to-depart-immediately-due-to-risk-of-arrest-terror-threat_5053372.html
— North Americans are Divided by Ideology, Not Race – William Brooks (COMMENT: I should write a book about conservative minorities who have come to my defense. I would focus on those who were my superiors and supervisors at IRS and GAO and fellow leaders of the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Government Accountants.)
https://www.theepochtimes.com/north-americans-are-divided-by-ideology-not-race_5053870.html
— Newsom Gunning for More Gun Bans – John Seiler
https://www.theepochtimes.com/newsom-gunning-for-more-gun-bans_5050254.html
— Like many governments around the world, the Biden administration seems determined to limit Americans’ monetary freedom by taxing it away, and by manipulating and controlling how they store and spend their money. Here are a few examples of how this is happening. – MICHAEL WILKERSON
https://www.theepochtimes.com/the-coordinated-attack-on-your-money_5053447.html

FEDERALIST
— Rhode Island Bill Would Open Elections To Illegal Aliens, In Democrats’ Latest Push For Noncitizen Voting – SHAWN FLEETWOOD
https://thefederalist.com/2023/02/13/rhode-island-bill-would-open-elections-to-illegal-aliens-in-democrats-latest-push-for-noncitizen-voting/

FEDERATION FOR AMERICAN IMMIGRATION REFORM
— Why Did Illegal Immigration Apprehensions Suddenly Decrease? – Louis Focht
https://www.fairus.org/blog/2023/02/13/why-did-illegal-immigration-apprehensions-suddenly-decrease

FIREARMS NEWS
— New ATF Report Aims at Same Old Citizen Disarmament Goals – David Codrea
https://www.firearmsnews.com/editorial/atf-gun-disarm-report/469222

FOX NEWS
— Impeaching Mayorkas is a must, he violated his oath and committed ‘high Crimes and Misdemeanors’ Mayorkas caused an unprecedented border, national security and illegal immigration catastrophe. – Hans A. von Spakovsky, Lora Ries, Steven G. Bradbury
https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/impeaching-mayorkas-is-must-he-violated-his-oath-committed-high-crimes-misdemeanors
— Senators take aim at Biden’s support for bill giving illegals, Chinese Communist Party members right to vote. House passed bipartisan resolution last week disapproving of D.C. Council bill that would let non-citizens vote. – Brandon Gillespie
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/senators-biden-support-bill-illegals-chinese-communist-party-members-right-vote

HOT AIR
— MSNBC denies ChatGPT’s wokeness
https://hotair.com/jazz-shaw/2023/02/13/msnbc-denies-chatgpts-wokeness-n530470
— Suddenly Canada doesn’t want to be a sanctuary either
https://hotair.com/david-strom/2023/02/13/suddenly-canada-doesnt-want-to-be-a-sanctuary-either-n530520

LEGAL INSURRECTION
— Buttigieg Complains About Too Many Whites in Construction – Mary Chastain (COMMENT: I should write a book about those who have complained the most about there being too many Whites in the Illinois Republican Party, DuPage County Republican Central Committee, Milton Township Republican Organization, the world, America, Illinois, DuPage County, DuPage County’s 4th District, Milton Township, Wheaton, Wheaton’s West District, my precinct, GAO, IRS, Post Office, etc. I would focus on those complainers who complain the most that there are too many Whites who are heterosexual, conservative, Republican, male, older, married, gun-owners, non-poor, Christian, Protestant, Italian American, German American, and/or those whose ancestors have been in America for a long time.)
https://legalinsurrection.com/2023/02/buttigieg-complains-about-too-many-whites-in-construction-stays-silent-on-ohio-train-derailment/

NRA-ILA
— Pro-Gun Senate Bill Seeks to End Discrimination in the Financial Marketplace
https://www.nraila.org/articles/20230213/pro-gun-senate-bill-seeks-to-end-discrimination-in-the-financial-marketplace

NEW AMERICAN
— Committee on Weaponization of Fed Gov Begins by Exposing “Rot” in Biden Regime – C. Mitchell Shaw
https://thenewamerican.com/committee-on-weaponization-of-fed-gov-begins-by-exposing-rot-in-biden-regime/

TOWNHALL
— Regular Americans Understand Economics Better Than Politicians – Allen West
https://townhall.com/columnists/allenwest/2023/02/13/regular-americans-understand-economics-better-than-politicians-n2619482

CNN
— COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, Democrats, Libertarians, Greens, Independents, RINOs, and other hate-filled Republican-hating Republican-haters encourage illegal immigration to get rid of Republicans once and for all. Encouraging illegal immigration is treasonous.
https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/13/opinions/southern-border-opportunity-not-threat-svarzbein/index.html

REUTERS
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Mexico seeks to curb ‘abuse’ of asylum system by migrants who do not plan to stay.”
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/mexico-seeks-curb-abuse-asylum-system-by-migrants-who-do-not-plan-stay-2023-02-13/

MSN
— COMMENT: Democrats acknowledge that “Using cannabis in early pregnancy could increase the risk of stillbirth and low birth weight.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/using-cannabis-in-early-pregnancy-could-increase-the-risk-of-stillbirth-and-low-birth-weight-study-suggests/ar-AA17rVkT?li=BBnba9O

NEW YORK TIMES
— COMMENT: Democrats say “G.O.P. Legislative Agenda Hits Snags Amid Party Divisions. Republicans have pulled back on legislation to crack down on unauthorized immigrants and support law enforcement as internal disputes conspire with a tiny majority to freeze them in place.” To come into a country illegally and to stay in a country illegally is to show your disrespect of that country if not your hatred of that country. Democrat and Democrat plant, Libertarian and Libertarian plant, Green and Green plant, Independent and Independent plant, RINO, and other anti-conservative, anti-Republican, and anti-American legislators want Republicans to dump the immigration plank in the Republican Party platform. If/when they succeed, many many many more millions of citizens of foreign countries will invade, infest, conquer, and destroy America much much much sooner.
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/13/us/politics/republican-house-majority-divisions.html

WASHINGTON POST
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Hopeful freshman lawmakers run up against the reality of a divided House.”
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/13/freshman-lawmakers-bipartisan-compromise/

DAILY INDEPENDENT
— COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, Democrats encourage children to be LGBTQers.
https://www.dailyindependent.com/opinion/susan-estrich-trans-families-as-targets/article_815ada3c-ab18-11ed-8156-8338b68d2e75.html

FORBES
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Trump’s 2024 GOP Competition: Nikki Haley And Tim Scott Make Moves Toward Republican Presidential Contest.”
https://www.forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2023/02/13/trumps-2024-gop-competition-nikki-haley-and-tim-scott-make-moves-toward-republican-presidential-contest/

AFGE
— COMMENT: Democrats say “Expanded Leave on the Horizon for Federal Employees.” Even though my outstanding father never earned more than $50,000/year in today’s dollars, my outstanding parents did not need parental leave. My outstanding mother stayed home and raised me and my brother.
https://www.afge.org/article/expanded-leave-on-the-horizon-for-feds/
(FROM THE ARTICLE: AFGE has been a champion for paid family leave for government workers. We won 12 weeks of paid parental leave for federal employees in 2019. Last year we won better paid leave benefits for D.C. government workers.)

WASHINGTON MONTHLY
— COMMENT: Democrats say “It’s Clarence Thomas’s Court—and Lower Courts Are Saluting Him.” Which members of the Illinois Republican Party State Central Committee have the most clout? In theory, it is those who have biggest weighted vote.
https://washingtonmonthly.com/2023/02/14/its-clarence-thomass-court-now-and-right-wing-lower-courts-are-saluting-him/

CREATORS SYNDICATE
— COMMENT: Ever-increasingly, Democrats and RINOs a) justify and promote illegal immigration and b) make America more and more and more dependent on foreign countries.
https://www.creators.com/read/daily-editorials/02/23/little-heralded-corporate-pledges-could-go-far-to-stem-the-migratory-tide

ILLINOIS GENERAL ASSEMBLY
— How A Bill Becomes Law in Illinois (COMMENT: How many bills have your Republican U.S. Congressman introduced in DC and your Republican Illinois Senator and Representative introduced in Springfield to stop the Democrat promotion of a) dependency on government and charity, that is, the diminishment of personal responsibility; b) LGBTQ, that is, the destruction of traditional marriage and the traditional family, c) abortion, that is, the destruction of traditional marriage and the traditional family, d) mass/illegal immigration, that is, the destruction of America, e) booze, gambling, pot, and other vices, that is, the diminishment of personal responsibility, f) diminishment of Second Amendment rights, that is, the constructive abolition of the Second Amendment, and/or g) Affirmative Action, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, CRT, 1619, BLM, reparations, wokeness/wokeism, that is, patronage, political affiliation discrimination, reverse discrimination, and/or age discrimination?)
https://www.ilga.gov/commission/lis/98bill_law.pdf

Author: David Diersen

The opinions that I express in GOPUSA ILLINOIS emails are based on experience that I have gained doing many things since 1948. I base my opinions on what I learned a) working for the federal government for almost 30 years -- Post Office 1966-1969, IRS 1971-1980, and GAO 1980-1997, serving on the Executive Committee of the Association of Government Accountants Chicago Chapter 1983-1996, and being a union member while I worked for the Post Office and IRS; b) earning an MBA from Loyola in 1976, a masters degree in accounting from DePaul in 1980, and a masters degree in financial markets and trading from IIT in 1997; c) passing the CPA examination on my first attempt in 1979 and passing the Certified Internal Auditor examination on my first attempt in 1981; c) serving as a Republican Precinct Committeeman since 1999, the GOPUSA Illinois Editor since 2000, the TAPROOT Republicans of Illinois Chairman 2005-2012, a member of the 2008 Illinois Republican Party (IRP) Platform and Resolutions Committee, a Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee member 2003-2011, the Milton Township Republican Central Committee webmaster 2008-2010 and 2000-2004, an Illinois Center Right Coalition Steering Committee member 2003-2007, and an American Association of Political Consultants Midwest Chapter board member 2001-2004; d) attending the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2012, and 2016 IRP State Conventions as a delegate; e) being the subject of a nasty 4-page article in the February 1978 issue of Money Magazine; f) pursing litigation including Diersen v. GAO and Diersen v. Chicago Car Exchange; g) being married since 1978; h) living in Crete 1948-1972, in University Park 1972-1976, in Chicago 1976-1978, and in DuPage County, Milton Township, and Wheaton since 1978; and i) being baptized, raised, and confirmed as a Missouri Synod Lutheran.