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Come and join your fellow Aurora Regional Chamber members as we reflect on the past year and toast to a new year and new successes.  We are proud to annouce this year's keynote speaker is former U.S. Speaker of the House J. Dennis Hastert. 
 

Congressman J. Dennis Hastert was elevated to the United States Speaker of the House of Representatives in 1999, when his colleagues honored him by electing him to this position.  Serving from January 6, 1999 to January 3, 2007, Congressman Hastert became the longest-serving Republican Speaker of the United States House of Representatives in history, surpassing the record previously held by fellow Illinoisan, Joe Cannon. 

During his years in Congress, Hastert has drawn from his experience as a former wrestling coach by emphasizing teambuilding and setting clear-cut, achievable goals.  Hastert broke with tradition by delivering his acceptance speech from the House floor and by allowing Minority Leader Dick Gephardt to briefly preside over the day's proceedings. These two actions served as fitting symbols for the content of the new Speaker's remarks, when he emphasized the need for both parties to come together in the House to get their work done:

During his tenure as Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Hastert focused his efforts on lowering taxes, improving education, strengthening Social Security and Medicare and bolstering national defense.     In response to the tragic attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, he was instrumental in passing historic legislation to create a Department of Homeland Security—the most significant restructuring of the federal government in the last 50 years.

In the 104th Congress, Hastert served as Chief Deputy Majority Whip and was responsible for advancing common sense legislation to the House floor by working with members to develop achievable policy strategies. His reputation is one of reaching across the aisle to develop bipartisan legislation.
 

When:
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Cocktail Reception: 5:00 P.M.
Dinner and Program: 6:00 P.M.

Where:
Aurora Country Club
1548 W. Prairie
Aurora