Twenty years ago, the Secretary of State’sOrgan/Tissue Donor Registry became a real-ity. On Oct. 1, 1992, the registry wentonline, becoming the first registry of itskind in the nation.

Implementing a computerized registryserved many purposes. First and foremost, itallowed the office to determine how manypeople actually wanted to be designated apotential donor through the registry’s data-base. It also provided a geographical profileof potential donors, which became impor-tant to promoting awareness about thecritical need for donors.

At the end of 1992, the first query into thenumber of people in the registry was con-ducted. Twenty-two percent of all peoplevisiting facilities had registered as donors.Each month the numbers continued to growas customers were asked to join the registryand facility staff was trained in donationinformation.

In 1993, Live & Learn legislation was passed,which provided funding for the Organ/Tissue

Donor Program. This funding provided formaterials, radio and television advertisingand outreach activities across the state.

In 2004, Secretary of State Jesse Whiteestablished a task force to look at the issueof “first-person consent.” At the time, fami-ly or next-of-kin consent was requiredbefore a person could be a donor. At the rec-ommendation of the task force, legislationwas introduced and passed in June 2005,which established the new First PersonConsent Registry. Effective Jan. 1, 2006, aperson’s wishes to be a donor became legal-ly binding and family consent was no longerrequired for donors over age 18.

It is estimated that since the first-personconsent law became effective, more than100 additional lives have been saved eachyear. Today, more than 5 million people areregistered as donors in Illinois. We thank allfacility staff and donor advocates for alltheir hard work over the years to makeIllinois’ Organ/Tissue Donor Registry one ofthe largest and most successful registries inthe nation.

As we usher in the New Year, I want toapplaud our accomplishments andmilestones of 2012. At the top of thelist is the 20th anniversary of Illinois’donor registry. Since its inception inOctober 1992, this office has built astrong and visible Organ/Tissue DonorProgram with the help of dedicatedstaff, volunteers and partners in thedonor community. As a result, thedonor registry now has more than 5million potential donors.

This fall the Donor Program receivedtwo awards from the AAMVA for mar-keting campaigns: one for an article inthe Life Goes On newsletter and anoth-er for our counter mat displays infacilities. Accolades go out to all thoseinvolved in producing these creativeoutlets to promote donor awareness.

Throughout the year staff also partic-ipated in multiple health fair opportu-nities and our community college pro-gram has been a huge success.

On a sad note, our very dear friendand Donor Program employee VikkiTulcus passed away this month. Vikkihas been a valiant champion for thoseawaiting transplants and never losther will in her own battle with kidneydisease. She will be missed greatly byeveryone who had the pleasure ofknowing and working with thisremarkable woman.

Plans are underway to make 2013 ourbest year yet for spreading the wordabout donation. I look forward toworking with staff, volunteers anddonor advocates to ensure that morepeople on the waiting list receive thegift of life.

Jesse WhiteSecretary of State

Illinois’ donor registry celebrates 20-year milestone

♻ Printed on recycled paper. Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. January 2013 — 2.5M — EX 34

COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY— The College of Lake Countyin Grayslake is the latest com-munity college to take upSecretary of State JesseWhite’s appeal to register staffand students on the donor reg-istry. The school is well on itsway to register 150 donors inthe New Year.

*Photo courtesy College of LakeCounty photographer Bob Booker.

Secretary of State Jesse White • W

inter2013

Transplant pioneer diesDr. Joseph E. Murray, a pioneer in the field of transplantation anda Nobel Prize-winning physician, recently died at Brigham andWomen’s Hospital in Boston, the same hospital where he per-formed the first kidney transplant on Dec. 23, 1954. He was 93.

Murray’s pioneering transplant procedure — removing a healthykidney from a 23-year-old living donor and giving it to his iden-tical twin brother who was suffering from kidney failure — wasa groundbreaking surgery at the time.

Dr. Murray was the director of the Surgical Research Library atHarvard Medical School and Brigham. He continued to performtransplants on twin patients before branching out to non-relat-ed patients and deceased donors years later. He also advancedthe field of cosmetic surgery, tissue/skin transplants and recon-struction, which he learned from his years in the U.S. Army.

Despite many physicians telling him to abandon transplantationas unfounded folly, he continued transplanting kidneys in dogsuntil he had perfected the procedure and agreed to perform thesurgery on the twin brothers in 1954. In his book, Dr. Murraylater wrote, “There was a collective hush in the operating room”as the new kidney began to work immediately. The rest, as theysay, is transplantation history!

(Source: New York Times, Nov. 27, 2012)

Customer Service Week celebrated at facilitiesMany facilities throughout Illinois celebrated Secretary of StateCustomer Service Week in early October. It was a time for facil-ity staff to thank customers for their business throughout theyear. Some facilities offered themed days such as “Crazy HatDay,” “Donor Designation Day,” or days where all employeeswore their “Donate Life” blue polo shirts. Facilities were judgedon creativity and enthusiasm. Following are the winners of thisyear’s Customer Service Week. Congratulations to everyone whoparticipated!

Workplaces with 12 or fewer employees:First place — Tie between Plano and Wheaton Express facilities Second Place — Greenville and Watseka facilities Third Place — Gibson City facility

Workplaces with 13 or more employees:First Place — Woodstock facilitySecond Place — Chicago West facility Third Place — Tie between Business Services Chicago Office andWaukegan facility

FESTIVAL OF TREES — Secretary of State Jesse White with the holiday tree decoratedby the Springfield Life Goes On Committee for Springfield’s Memorial Medical Center’sFestival of Trees. More than 30,000 people attend the weeklong event each year. Thecommittee’s tree was purchased by PEC Mobile Communications Inc.

Woodstock facility staff promoted donor awareness during Secretary of State CustomerService Week. Standing left to right are Marci Letheby, Pam Brockman, Kevin Molloyand Patty Robertson. Seated is Donor Program regional coordinator Jan Eschen.

Donor Program wins AAMVA awardsThe Organ/Tissue Donor Program recently won two American Associationof Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) PACE awards for top market-ing campaigns.

A Public Affairs Award was given for the Life Goes On newsletter story,“Where Are They Now,” published in spring 2011. The story featuredJoseph Kralicek, the Secretary of State’s first Organ Donor Poster Contestwinner in 1991. The article discussed how transplantation benefited hisfather, Joe, who was on the waiting list for a liver transplant at the timeJoseph entered the contest as an elementary school student. Joseph’sarwork depicted a plea for a donor for his father. The poster was reprint-ed and displayed at Driver Services facilities as well as schools andlibraries across the state.

A PACE Customer Awareness Award was given for the Donor Program’scolorful, 10”x10” counter mats placed in facilities across the state. Themats feature an Illinois driver’s license with the donor emblem highlight-ed as a reminder to customers to join the registry.

LIFE GOES ON. BE AN ORGAN/TISSUE DONOR.

Employee ConnectionAre l i F ranco hasalways been regis-tered as an organ/tissue donor. As anemployee at theJoliet Driver Servicesfacility, she asks thedonor question manyt imes a day and

knows firsthand the importance of dona-tion.

Areli’s father, Alex, waited three years fora kidney and finally received one from ayoung woman. Areli’s mother did notalways believe in donation and was not inthe registry. However, when her husbandbecame ill and was on the waiting list, sheunderstood the importance of being adonor. Alex’s illness made her realize thatdonation is a gift and that her husbandcould have a second chance at life becauseof a generous donor.

Today, because of their personal experi-ence, Areli’s entire family supports dona-tion and would like to meet the family ofAlex’s donor. “He is doing so well,” saidAreli. “We would love to meet the familyto say thank you in person.

“I tell people how important their giftcould be to someone else. I know whensomeone says ‘yes’ in the facility, that asmany as 25 people can be helped.”

ABOVE LEFT: Father Gene Szarek, Father John Clemens and Secretary Jesse White promoted organ/tissue dona-tion at Our Lady of Hope Church in Rosemont. ABOVE RIGHT: Ariel Fuller, Miss Black Chicago Southland USA 2013and Miss Black Illinois runner-up joined the donor registry at Our Lady of Hope Church.

National Donor Sabbath celebrated in IL

Areli Franco

Donor Program welcomes newmanager, assistant managerThe Organ/Tissue Donor Program is pleased to wel-come Connie Boatman as its new program manager.She replaces former manager Nadine O’Leary.

“Over the past 10 years, Nadine has steered theOrgan/Tissue Donor Program to the success it istoday,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Ourcommunity outreach has improved, registry numbershave increased and awareness about the program isat an all-time high. We owe this in part to Nadine’sstalwart leadership and commitment to the pro-gram. We wish her the very best in her new profes-sional endeavors.”

Connie comes to the Donor Program from theVehicle Services Department. She holds a B.A. inhealth administration, and her professional experi-ence spans more than 20 years in the fields of mar-keting and sales, event planning, managerial admin-istration, and training and development.

Connie has had several family members and lovedones benefit from donation. She intends to maintainthe integrity of the program by sustaining its rela-tionship with Donate Life partners, expanding edu-cation efforts and further strengthening the donorregistry.

Sitha Hun has been named assistant program man-ager. Sitha has been with the Donor Program 12years, and his new duties include fiscal responsibili-ties and overseeing regional coordinator staff, train-ing and development, the Life Goes On newsletterand the website.

“I have full faith in the commitment and dedicationthese two individuals have demonstrated,” saidSecretary White. “I congratulate Connie and Sithaon their efforts and look forward to working withthem as we continue our education and outreachefforts on the lifesaving potential of donation.”

ABOVE LEFT: Virginia Holt of Carbondale, and her son, Craig, to whom she gave a kidney 21 years ago, shared theirfamily’s donor story at the Walnut Street Baptist Church in Carbondale. ABOVE RIGHT: Books about donation weredonated to the Moweaqua Public Library in honor of donor Casey Williams. Left to right are Casey WilliamsFoundation Board member Barbara Collins, Casey’s aunt, Chelbi Williams, mother Cheryl Swigert and Alicia Gullidge.

ABOVE LEFT: The Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner and Rosemary Captain, wife of a kidney recipient, joined Donor Programregional coordinator Damarius Blanks at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Lebanon. ABOVE RIGHT: Sixteen-year-old Ben Sims of Tower Hill distributed Donor Sabbath materials at his church. Ben received a heart transplantwhen he was just 5 days old.

It’s easy to join theOrgan/Tissue Donor Registry:

• Visit LifeGoesOn.com (it only takes60 seconds to register online).

• Visit any Driver Services facility andsay “yes” to the donor question.

• Call the Organ/Tissue Donor Programhotline at 800-210-2106.

• Complete and mail the registrationcard on the “It’s Up To YOU”brochure.

Every year, two weekends before Thanksgiving, National Donor Sabbath isobserved, a time when faith leaders are encouraged to discuss organ/tissue dona-tion with their congregations. All major world religions embrace donation as afinal, charitable act of giving.

This year during the weekend of November 9-11, transplant recipients, donor fam-ily members and those waiting for a transplant shared their inspiring stories withothers in faith communities across the state. For more information about NationalDonor Sabbath, visit organdonor.gov.

Connie Boatman Sitha Hun

Vikki Tulcus memoriamIt is with deep regret andsorrow that the Organ/Tissue Donor Program staffannounces the loss of a verydear friend, coworker anddonor advocate, Vikki Tulcus.Vikki died of major organfailure on Jan. 9, 2013. Vikkiwas on the transplant listand awaiting a kidney.

Vikki was featured in the Secretary of State’s 2012 donor commercial,where she said, “Before, my job depended on organ donation; now, mylife depends on it.”

“Vikki’s lively spirit and enthusiasm will be greatly missed in the officeand in the donor community,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Vikki,who championed donation for years, has touched countless lives throughher work and through her personal organ donation experience. Vikki hada giving spirit. Although Vikki died waiting for her gift of life, in the end,she continued advocating donation while she herself waited for a donor.I know that Vikki’s legacy will live on as she continues to inspire othersto become organ and tissue donors.”

Vikki lived in the Chicago suburb of Westmont and held a master’s degreein business from North Central College in Naperville. She began hercareer in organ/tissue donation with Gift of Hope in 2004. She startedworking for the Secretary of State’s Donor Program in 2007 as an advo-cate for donation. She will be greatly missed.

Donor Program wins AAMVA awardsThe Organ/Tissue Donor Program recently won two American Associationof Motor Vehicle Administrators (AAMVA) PACE awards for top market-ing campaigns.

A Public Affairs Award was given for the Life Goes On newsletter story,“Where Are They Now,” published in spring 2011. The story featuredJoseph Kralicek, the Secretary of State’s first Organ Donor Poster Contestwinner in 1991. The article discussed how transplantation benefited hisfather, Joe, who was on the waiting list for a liver transplant at the timeJoseph entered the contest as an elementary school student. Joseph’sarwork depicted a plea for a donor for his father. The poster was reprint-ed and displayed at Driver Services facilities as well as schools andlibraries across the state.

A PACE Customer Awareness Award was given for the Donor Program’scolorful, 10”x10” counter mats placed in facilities across the state. Themats feature an Illinois driver’s license with the donor emblem highlight-ed as a reminder to customers to join the registry.

LIFE GOES ON. BE AN ORGAN/TISSUE DONOR.

Employee ConnectionAre l i F ranco hasalways been regis-tered as an organ/tissue donor. As anemployee at theJoliet Driver Servicesfacility, she asks thedonor question manyt imes a day and

knows firsthand the importance of dona-tion.

Areli’s father, Alex, waited three years fora kidney and finally received one from ayoung woman. Areli’s mother did notalways believe in donation and was not inthe registry. However, when her husbandbecame ill and was on the waiting list, sheunderstood the importance of being adonor. Alex’s illness made her realize thatdonation is a gift and that her husbandcould have a second chance at life becauseof a generous donor.

Today, because of their personal experi-ence, Areli’s entire family supports dona-tion and would like to meet the family ofAlex’s donor. “He is doing so well,” saidAreli. “We would love to meet the familyto say thank you in person.

“I tell people how important their giftcould be to someone else. I know whensomeone says ‘yes’ in the facility, that asmany as 25 people can be helped.”

ABOVE LEFT: Father Gene Szarek, Father John Clemens and Secretary Jesse White promoted organ/tissue dona-tion at Our Lady of Hope Church in Rosemont. ABOVE RIGHT: Ariel Fuller, Miss Black Chicago Southland USA 2013and Miss Black Illinois runner-up joined the donor registry at Our Lady of Hope Church.

National Donor Sabbath celebrated in IL

Areli Franco

Donor Program welcomes newmanager, assistant managerThe Organ/Tissue Donor Program is pleased to wel-come Connie Boatman as its new program manager.She replaces former manager Nadine O’Leary.

“Over the past 10 years, Nadine has steered theOrgan/Tissue Donor Program to the success it istoday,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Ourcommunity outreach has improved, registry numbershave increased and awareness about the program isat an all-time high. We owe this in part to Nadine’sstalwart leadership and commitment to the pro-gram. We wish her the very best in her new profes-sional endeavors.”

Connie comes to the Donor Program from theVehicle Services Department. She holds a B.A. inhealth administration, and her professional experi-ence spans more than 20 years in the fields of mar-keting and sales, event planning, managerial admin-istration, and training and development.

Connie has had several family members and lovedones benefit from donation. She intends to maintainthe integrity of the program by sustaining its rela-tionship with Donate Life partners, expanding edu-cation efforts and further strengthening the donorregistry.

Sitha Hun has been named assistant program man-ager. Sitha has been with the Donor Program 12years, and his new duties include fiscal responsibili-ties and overseeing regional coordinator staff, train-ing and development, the Life Goes On newsletterand the website.

“I have full faith in the commitment and dedicationthese two individuals have demonstrated,” saidSecretary White. “I congratulate Connie and Sithaon their efforts and look forward to working withthem as we continue our education and outreachefforts on the lifesaving potential of donation.”

ABOVE LEFT: Virginia Holt of Carbondale, and her son, Craig, to whom she gave a kidney 21 years ago, shared theirfamily’s donor story at the Walnut Street Baptist Church in Carbondale. ABOVE RIGHT: Books about donation weredonated to the Moweaqua Public Library in honor of donor Casey Williams. Left to right are Casey WilliamsFoundation Board member Barbara Collins, Casey’s aunt, Chelbi Williams, mother Cheryl Swigert and Alicia Gullidge.

ABOVE LEFT: The Rev. Dr. Donald Wagner and Rosemary Captain, wife of a kidney recipient, joined Donor Programregional coordinator Damarius Blanks at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Lebanon. ABOVE RIGHT: Sixteen-year-old Ben Sims of Tower Hill distributed Donor Sabbath materials at his church. Ben received a heart transplantwhen he was just 5 days old.

It’s easy to join theOrgan/Tissue Donor Registry:

• Visit LifeGoesOn.com (it only takes60 seconds to register online).

• Visit any Driver Services facility andsay “yes” to the donor question.

• Call the Organ/Tissue Donor Programhotline at 800-210-2106.

• Complete and mail the registrationcard on the “It’s Up To YOU”brochure.

Every year, two weekends before Thanksgiving, National Donor Sabbath isobserved, a time when faith leaders are encouraged to discuss organ/tissue dona-tion with their congregations. All major world religions embrace donation as afinal, charitable act of giving.

This year during the weekend of November 9-11, transplant recipients, donor fam-ily members and those waiting for a transplant shared their inspiring stories withothers in faith communities across the state. For more information about NationalDonor Sabbath, visit organdonor.gov.

Connie Boatman Sitha Hun

Vikki Tulcus memoriamIt is with deep regret andsorrow that the Organ/Tissue Donor Program staffannounces the loss of a verydear friend, coworker anddonor advocate, Vikki Tulcus.Vikki died of major organfailure on Jan. 9, 2013. Vikkiwas on the transplant listand awaiting a kidney.

Vikki was featured in the Secretary of State’s 2012 donor commercial,where she said, “Before, my job depended on organ donation; now, mylife depends on it.”

“Vikki’s lively spirit and enthusiasm will be greatly missed in the officeand in the donor community,” said Secretary of State Jesse White. “Vikki,who championed donation for years, has touched countless lives throughher work and through her personal organ donation experience. Vikki hada giving spirit. Although Vikki died waiting for her gift of life, in the end,she continued advocating donation while she herself waited for a donor.I know that Vikki’s legacy will live on as she continues to inspire othersto become organ and tissue donors.”

Vikki lived in the Chicago suburb of Westmont and held a master’s degreein business from North Central College in Naperville. She began hercareer in organ/tissue donation with Gift of Hope in 2004. She startedworking for the Secretary of State’s Donor Program in 2007 as an advo-cate for donation. She will be greatly missed.

Twenty years ago, the Secretary of State’sOrgan/Tissue Donor Registry became a real-ity. On Oct. 1, 1992, the registry wentonline, becoming the first registry of itskind in the nation.

Implementing a computerized registryserved many purposes. First and foremost, itallowed the office to determine how manypeople actually wanted to be designated apotential donor through the registry’s data-base. It also provided a geographical profileof potential donors, which became impor-tant to promoting awareness about thecritical need for donors.

At the end of 1992, the first query into thenumber of people in the registry was con-ducted. Twenty-two percent of all peoplevisiting facilities had registered as donors.Each month the numbers continued to growas customers were asked to join the registryand facility staff was trained in donationinformation.

In 1993, Live & Learn legislation was passed,which provided funding for the Organ/Tissue

Donor Program. This funding provided formaterials, radio and television advertisingand outreach activities across the state.

In 2004, Secretary of State Jesse Whiteestablished a task force to look at the issueof “first-person consent.” At the time, fami-ly or next-of-kin consent was requiredbefore a person could be a donor. At the rec-ommendation of the task force, legislationwas introduced and passed in June 2005,which established the new First PersonConsent Registry. Effective Jan. 1, 2006, aperson’s wishes to be a donor became legal-ly binding and family consent was no longerrequired for donors over age 18.

It is estimated that since the first-personconsent law became effective, more than100 additional lives have been saved eachyear. Today, more than 5 million people areregistered as donors in Illinois. We thank allfacility staff and donor advocates for alltheir hard work over the years to makeIllinois’ Organ/Tissue Donor Registry one ofthe largest and most successful registries inthe nation.

As we usher in the New Year, I want toapplaud our accomplishments andmilestones of 2012. At the top of thelist is the 20th anniversary of Illinois’donor registry. Since its inception inOctober 1992, this office has built astrong and visible Organ/Tissue DonorProgram with the help of dedicatedstaff, volunteers and partners in thedonor community. As a result, thedonor registry now has more than 5million potential donors.

This fall the Donor Program receivedtwo awards from the AAMVA for mar-keting campaigns: one for an article inthe Life Goes On newsletter and anoth-er for our counter mat displays infacilities. Accolades go out to all thoseinvolved in producing these creativeoutlets to promote donor awareness.

Throughout the year staff also partic-ipated in multiple health fair opportu-nities and our community college pro-gram has been a huge success.

On a sad note, our very dear friendand Donor Program employee VikkiTulcus passed away this month. Vikkihas been a valiant champion for thoseawaiting transplants and never losther will in her own battle with kidneydisease. She will be missed greatly byeveryone who had the pleasure ofknowing and working with thisremarkable woman.

Plans are underway to make 2013 ourbest year yet for spreading the wordabout donation. I look forward toworking with staff, volunteers anddonor advocates to ensure that morepeople on the waiting list receive thegift of life.

Jesse WhiteSecretary of State

Illinois’ donor registry celebrates 20-year milestone

♻ Printed on recycled paper. Printed by authority of the State of Illinois. January 2013 — 2.5M — EX 34

COLLEGE OF LAKE COUNTY— The College of Lake Countyin Grayslake is the latest com-munity college to take upSecretary of State JesseWhite’s appeal to register staffand students on the donor reg-istry. The school is well on itsway to register 150 donors inthe New Year.

*Photo courtesy College of LakeCounty photographer Bob Booker.

Secretary of State Jesse White • W

inter2013

Transplant pioneer diesDr. Joseph E. Murray, a pioneer in the field of transplantation anda Nobel Prize-winning physician, recently died at Brigham andWomen’s Hospital in Boston, the same hospital where he per-formed the first kidney transplant on Dec. 23, 1954. He was 93.

Murray’s pioneering transplant procedure — removing a healthykidney from a 23-year-old living donor and giving it to his iden-tical twin brother who was suffering from kidney failure — wasa groundbreaking surgery at the time.

Dr. Murray was the director of the Surgical Research Library atHarvard Medical School and Brigham. He continued to performtransplants on twin patients before branching out to non-relat-ed patients and deceased donors years later. He also advancedthe field of cosmetic surgery, tissue/skin transplants and recon-struction, which he learned from his years in the U.S. Army.

Despite many physicians telling him to abandon transplantationas unfounded folly, he continued transplanting kidneys in dogsuntil he had perfected the procedure and agreed to perform thesurgery on the twin brothers in 1954. In his book, Dr. Murraylater wrote, “There was a collective hush in the operating room”as the new kidney began to work immediately. The rest, as theysay, is transplantation history!

(Source: New York Times, Nov. 27, 2012)

Customer Service Week celebrated at facilitiesMany facilities throughout Illinois celebrated Secretary of StateCustomer Service Week in early October. It was a time for facil-ity staff to thank customers for their business throughout theyear. Some facilities offered themed days such as “Crazy HatDay,” “Donor Designation Day,” or days where all employeeswore their “Donate Life” blue polo shirts. Facilities were judgedon creativity and enthusiasm. Following are the winners of thisyear’s Customer Service Week. Congratulations to everyone whoparticipated!

Workplaces with 12 or fewer employees:First place — Tie between Plano and Wheaton Express facilities Second Place — Greenville and Watseka facilities Third Place — Gibson City facility

Workplaces with 13 or more employees:First Place — Woodstock facilitySecond Place — Chicago West facility Third Place — Tie between Business Services Chicago Office andWaukegan facility

FESTIVAL OF TREES — Secretary of State Jesse White with the holiday tree decoratedby the Springfield Life Goes On Committee for Springfield’s Memorial Medical Center’sFestival of Trees. More than 30,000 people attend the weeklong event each year. Thecommittee’s tree was purchased by PEC Mobile Communications Inc.

Woodstock facility staff promoted donor awareness during Secretary of State CustomerService Week. Standing left to right are Marci Letheby, Pam Brockman, Kevin Molloyand Patty Robertson. Seated is Donor Program regional coordinator Jan Eschen.