Illinois Consumers Form Group to Push for Direct Shipping
A group called the Illinois Wine Consumer Coalition has been formed “to ask for fair and equitable laws for all products, and a return of our right to purchase wines directly from any retailer or winery in any state.”
The Steering Committee consists of:
Matt Borneman — Director of Planning & Analysis for a large private company, living in Palatine, Illinois. He is an avid wine consumer accustomed to finding and buying hidden gems wherever they may be – even outside of Illinois! Matt and his wife enjoy traveling to wine country, where, in the good ol’ days one could buy a case and bring it home as carry-on luggage.
John Danza — a member of the International Wine & Food Society and an employee of a “large health insurance software vendor.”
Jordan Jacobs – “financial advisor at the senior level with the Chicago North Financial Group.”
Gretchen Neuman — a Chicago food and wine blogger.
MaryAnne Spinner – a retired corporate banker.
Marc Stubblefield – production director for Chicago’s Court Theatre.
Chris Weishaar –a Supervisor at Mueller & Co., LLP, a large public accounting firm in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Thank you for your post about our fight to educate consumers about how our right to purchase the wine of our choice has been infringed upon.
Those of you not from Illinois are probably not aware that last year, a law was passed that prohibited Illinois consumers from purchasing wine from out of state retailers (although, strangely, in state retailers can still ship out of state). A group of wine-loving citizens have gotten together and formed a non-profit group advocating the change of this law to re-grant the right to shipping that we had for 15 years – The Illinois Wine Consumers Coalition.
We’re hoping that with enough voices, enough signatures on the petition, we can get the attention of our legislators and change this anti-consumer law.
Please visit our website at http://www.illinoiswineconsumers.org and sign up, sign the petition, and most importantly, share this info with your Illinois wine drinking friends! As little as a few thousand names can really make our voice heard – we need your help.
Let us know if you have any questions, ideas for us, or want to get more involved, or would like to donate in support of IWCC. The legal tide is turning in our favor – now is our time to make a difference!