2025 Illinois State Society Highlights

Illinois State Society of Washington, DC
Jan 20
2 min read

2025 brought numerous Illinois State Society (ILSS) events and milestones that bolstered fellowship, provided valuable networking opportunities, honored Illinois’ history, culture and traditions, and kept Illinois visible in our nation’s capital.

ILSS transformed its programming and hosted various events to bring together Illinoisans in the D.C. area. They included themed happy hours, Chicago Bears watch parties, the Midwest Inaugural Presidential Gala, our annual Holiday Social, and events honoring U.S. presidents from Illinois.

Eye-level view of the Illinois State Society gathering at a historic Washington DC venue — The Midwest Presidential Inaugural Gala in January 2025 in Washington D.C.

ILSS Programs and Events Unite Illinoisans in the DMV

ILSS hosted close to 20 events around Washington, D.C. in 2025. These gatherings provided a meetup for D.C.-area Illinoisans to connect, celebrate their heritage, make new connections, and discuss important issues (like where to get the best pizza and tacos in the DMV!).

Programming highlights included:

Midwest Inaugural Presidential Gala: On January 18, the Illinois State Society co-hosted the Midwest Inaugural Presidential Gala in partnership with the South Dakota, Iowa, and Missouri State Societies. The event attracted over 300 attendees, including Congressman Darin LaHood (IL-16) and Congressman Mike Bost (IL-12), who delivered remarks celebrating the Midwest’s shared civic spirit. In addition, several Illinois state elected officials joined, along with Members of Congress from other Midwest states.
Networking and Fellowship Events: Regular networking events helped Illinois professionals in DC region build relationships and support both personal and professional growth. Among the events the Society hosted were its annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration, a Women’s History Month gathering with First Ladies-themed cocktails, the Illinois Universities Alumni Tailgate Reception, and the annual Holiday Social.
Honoring U.S. Presidents from Illinois: Commemorative events and programs were held during the year to honor past presidents from Illinois, including Presidents Reagan, Lincoln, Grant, and Obama.
Sporting Events: Throughout the year, ILSS members attended sports events when Illinois teams came to town and joined with the DC Area Chicago Bears Fan Club to cheer on the Bears at Union Pub.

These events not only fostered a sense of belonging and provided valuable networking, but also helped us promote Illinois's culture, history, sports, traditions, and education in the DMV.

Illinois Universities Alumni Tailgate Reception on September 30 at The Dubliner

Annual Holiday Social

The Illinois State Society closed out the year with our Annual Holiday Social and Annual Meeting on December 17. Members enjoyed networking, live music, food, drinks, meeting new friends, and we were honored to be joined by our Congressional Co-Chair Representative Mike Bost (IL-12). We elected our 2026 Board of Directors and Members recieved a first look at the exciting lineup of events we have planned for 2026—it’s going to be a big year for the Illinois State Society!

Close-up view of a historic Illinois landmark illuminated at night — 2026 ILSS Board Members elected at the Holiday Social and Annual Meeting

If you would like to get involved in ILSS, please join on our website or signup for our emails to get notified about upcoming events. We hope to see you at ILSS events in the year ahead!