CUB Services
Attend one of our popular “phone-bill clinics”
CUB holds free “phone-bill clinics” across Illinois. Bring your phone bill and
a CUB expert will sit down with you one on one, explain all the confusing
charges and give you money-saving tips. We show many people how to cut their
calling costs by $200 a year. Look at our
upcoming events.
Attend one of our popular “phone-bill clinics”
Check out this video segment of CUB Executive Director Dave Kolata talking on CBS 2 Saturday Morning News about ways to save money on your phone bills.
Sterling, August 13
The Whiteside County Senior Center bustled with activity Wednesday as CUB helped 35 consumers save an average of $12.49 a month on their phone bills, or $150 a year. One consumer cut $468 off his annual phone bill.
Steger/South Chicago Heights, August 11
CUB showed 13 people how to cut their monthly phone bills by an average of $12.61 a month, or $151 a year. One lucky consumer cut her annual phone bill by more than $320.
Freeport, August 4
CUB helped 40 Verizon customers save an average of $107 annually. This includes one consumer who learned how to save $26 a month on long distance alone, $312 in annual savings!
Morris-Bourbonnais, July 22
CUB showed more than 90 people at two clinics how to cut their monthly bills by about $150-$180 a year, on average. One consumer learned how to save about $40 a month. LaSalle, July 16
About 50 people learned how to cut their monthly bills by an average of $14.67, or $176 a year. Addison, July 15
On the night of Major League Baseball's All-Star game, 45 people got to see CUB's very own all stars in action. Our phone-bill experts were at the top of their game, showing participants how to save more than $17 per month or $200 a year, on average. One consumer learned how to cut annual calling costs by more than $1,000! And thanks to the longest All-Star game in baseball history, a 15-inning contest that lasted nearly five hours, everyone had plenty of time to get home to their TV sets to see those other pros. Lincolnwood Town Center, June 28
Watch the video on the right. Northlake, July 9
The 35 people who attended CUB's Northlake clinic learned how to save more than $144 a year, on average. That includes one consumer who could cut costs by $300 a year. Bloomingdale, July 8
Fifty-three people came to CUB's clinic, learning how to save an average of $18 a month, or $216 a year. One lucky phone customer learned how to cut costs by $490 a year. Palatine, June 24
The 120 people who packed the Palatine Township Senior Center learned how to save an average of $16.34 a month, or about $196 a year. Alton, June 17
The 58 consumers who streamed into the Alton Square Mall learned how to save about $17.28 a month, or $207 a year. CUB showed one consumer how to cut calling costs by $276 a year. Wheeling, June 3
CUB showed 65 people how to save about $14 a month, or $168 a year. That includes one consumer who learned how to cut annual calling costs by $516 a year. Decatur, May 7
We helped more than 75 people, showing them how to cut their phone bills by an average of $14.11 per month, or $169.32 a year. One phone-bill analyst, Shari Currie, was able to save a couple $53/month, or $636 per year. Chicago, May 2
We saw more than 60 people at ShoreBank’s Chatham Banking Center, where one happy participant learned how to cut her phone costs by $288 a year. Springfield, April 29
CUB looked at more than 40 phone bills, showing people how to save an average of $15.96 per month, or about $192 a year. CUB Phone-bill Analyst Ben Reike showed one woman how to save $60 a month, or $720 a year. Melrose Park, April 15
Fourteen people learned how to cut there monthly phone bills by about $17 per month, or $200 a year. One consumer learned how to save about $480 a year. Franklin Park, April 3
Twenty-two attendees learned how to save $22 per month, on average, or $264 a year. One happy customer learned how to cut phone costs by nearly $672 a year. Gurnee Mills Mall, March 29
The hundred people who came to the mall in Gurnee learned how to cut their bills by an average of $19 a month, or $228 a year. Champaign, March 20
More than 100 consumers showed up at the public library. They learned how to save about $19 a month, on average, or $228 a year. Collinsville, March 19
The CUB clinic in Collinsville showed people how to save $28 a month, on average, or $336 a year. Peoria, Feb. 4
Despite horrible fog, we still pulled in around 40 people in Peoria. One couple learned how to cut their bills by about $39 a month, or $468 a year. Overall, the average savings was $14.85 a month, or about $178 a year. Rockford, Jan. 31
The CUB crew got stranded in a blizzard that hit Rockford, but we still managed to help 17 people learn how to save an average of $162 a year. Rock Island, Jan. 31
54 people attended CUB's clinic at the local library and learned how to save on average $14.43 a month, or about $173 a year. Northlake, Jan. 24
The 31 people in attendance learned how to save an average of $17.45 per month, or $209 a year. Phone-bill Clinic Facts, 2007
CUB held a record 50 phone-bill clinics across Illinois to educate consumers about how to cut calling costs. Here’s a summary of some of the clinics we held. Norridge, Illinois, Nov. 28, 2007
CUB held its 50th clinic of 2007 at the beautiful Norridge Community Center. At the event, CUB's phone-savings team analyzed nearly 50 phone bills, with an average savings of $16.90 per month, or $202.80 a year. As CUB celebrated its 50th clinic, one attendee celebrated her 90th birthday. CUB gave her a great gift by showing her how to save $23 a month! Richton Park, Illinois, Nov. 14, 2007
At the lovely, little Richton Park Library, CUB's experts showed consumers how to cut their costs by an average of $22 a month last night at the Richton Park phone-bill clinic. That's $264 a year! CUB Outreach Manager says the audience included "some of the sweetest, most delightful clinic-goers I've encountered." Morton Grove, Illinois, Nov. 12 and Oct. 30, 2007
About 90 people came to two phone-bill clinics held at the Morton Grove Civic Center. Consumers learned how to cut their bills by an average of about $170 a year. Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Nov. 8, 2007
More than 70 people came to the Glen Ellyn Public Library, and CUB's phone-bill analysts showed them how to save an average of $17.52 a month, or $210.24 a year. It was so crowded, reports CUB Outreach Manager Sarah Moskowitz, that the CUB crew had to bring 14 phone bills back to the office "so we could analyze them here." Elgin, Illinois, Oct. 18, 2007
CUB’s cost-cutting crew drew smiles from a crowd of about 80 people at a “Fall Senior Safety Academy” in Elgin Township this week. After an excellent presentation by a mechanic on how to avoid getting ripped off on car repairs, CUB took center stage with a phone-bill clinic. Staffer Jim Chilsen asked if there were any CUB members in the audience, prompting several people to raise their hands. Suddenly, an organizer of the event decided to crack a joke. “I’m a Cubs fan!” she yelled, raising her hand and causing the crowd to laugh. “I’m sorry,” Jim, a fellow Cubs fan, shot back, causing more laughs. Anyone who works for CUB, the consumer group, has grown accustomed to jokes comparing us to the baseball team. It was a nice ice breaker before we got into the business of cutting phone bills. One woman who was on an expensive calling package learned how to save about $25 a month, or $300 a year. Another man learned how to cut about $20 a month off his bill. That included dropping Line-backer, the $7 per month AT&T insurance plan for telephone-wire repairs that on average are needed about once every 30 years. The man revealed that his niece used to work for AT&T. She would be sure to look over what we recommended, he said, laughing. CUB was impressed with how well-organized the event was, and we made it clear to the organizers that we want to come back. Waukegan, Illinois, Oct. 12, 2007
This clinic at Park Place Senior Center brought in the largest group CUB has ever met with in Waukegan. Luckily, CUB phone-savings experts were able to analyze all consumers’ bills and save consumers there an average of $16.67 per month, if they follow CUB’s expert advice. South Shore, Chicago, Oct. 9, 2007
Kingston Place in Chicago, an 80-unit building, hosted CUB’s phone-savings experts in an effort to save their residents money on their local calling service. And this is just what happened. On average, consumers who attended t he clinic could save $17.34 per month, or a total of $208 annually, if they follow CUB’s advice. Dolton, Illinois, Oct. 4, 2007
CUB phone-savings experts saved consumers at the Dolton Public Library an average of $14.72 per month on their local calling, totaling an average of $176 annually. However, the team also helped the Dolton Public Library itself by analyzing their phone bill, which had recently jumped from $200 per month to more than $400. Northfield, Illinois, Sept. 27, 2007
At the beautiful North Shore Senior Center in Northfield, Illinois, CUB staff members met with a singles group. However, this group of single seniors not only spent the day playing games and meeting new friends, they received invaluable information from CUB’s phone-savings experts. With an average savings of $14.50 per month on their local phone bills, these singles walked away happy. One of the organizers of the group also mentioned the great service she had received earlier this year from CUB’s Phone-bill Analyst Marc Selio. “He was just the sweetest, nicest man,” she said. “He really helped explain everything.” Glen Ellyn, Illinois, Sept. 26, 2007
Although a small gathering, the beautiful Grace Lutheran Church in downtown Glen Ellyn served as a backdrop as consumers learned how to cut their local-phone service costs. With the average savings of $13.20 per month if consumers take the advice given, each consumer could save as much as $158 annually. Lifescape Senior Expo., Loves Park, Illinois, Sept. 20-21, 2007
This huge Senior Expo coincided with CUB’s consumer alert about new natural gas suppliers and tied in well to the press conference we hosted at the conference. At the expo, which was co-sponsored by State Sen. Syverson and State Sen. Brad Burzynski, CUB phone-bill experts looked at more than 40 bills from both AT&T and Verizon service territories. In fact, CUB’s tables at the conference were so popular both CUB Board President Craig Neff and CUB Board Secretary George Miller had to lend a hand. CUB’s Executive Director David Kolata also pitched in to save consumers money. If all of the consumers we saw followed our advice they could save as much as $150 annually on their local phone bills. Woodlawn Neighborhood, Chicago, Sept. 10, 2007
This clinic was held at the beautiful Edwin C. Berry Manor senior housing in the Woodlawn neighborhood of Chicago. While it was small, those attending could save as much as $13.00 per month if they take CUB’s expert advice. Cicero, Illinois, Sept. 7, 2007
In the bustling setting of Morton College in Cicero, Illinois, CUB staff members helped consumers save an average of $14 per month on their phone bills. The event, which was co-sponsored by Rep. Elizabeth Hernandez and Cicero Town President Larry Dominick, brought in consumers from across the state. In fact, one couple came from as far away as Hinsdale to learn how to cut their local calling costs. Senior Suites of Gage Park, Aug. 29, 2007
Associate Director Pat Clark came across a consumer at this clinic in Gage Park whose situation really got her blood boiling. The AT&T customer was overpaying on her phone bills by more than $100 a month, or $1,200 a year! The AT&T consumer had been sold numerous expensive features she didn’t want or need, along with a second line for her computer, which used DSL. Next, the DSL package she was enrolled on was the most expensive package Pat had ever seen, and could be gotten for a lot less. In addition, this poor woman was on an overpriced long-distance plan; and to make matters worse, she was also sold an Internet package by her cell phone company, which she didn’t even know about! After seeing all of these over charges, Pat recommended the customer switch to one of the CUB-designed Consumer’s Choice plans. And while it took a full 20 minutes to explain all of these changes, this woman will for sure save money with our advice. The Lincoln Mall, Matteson, Aug. 24-25
Despite a thunderous, tree-snapping, flood-inducing storm that slammed the Chicago area the day before, more than 100 people came to CUB's two-day phone-bill clinic at the Lincoln Mall in Matteson. They learned how to save about $17 a month, or $204 a year.
Each clinic
has its memorable phone-bill clutching consumers. One couple were so
grateful to cut their bills by about $100 a year that they decided to
share their savings by giving CUB a $10 donation on the spot.
The next day, a man graced one CUB phone-bill analyst with tales of a
close encounter with a shark (he was in an underwater cage), and
he had photos to prove it. He may have felt as if he were swimming
with a shark of a different kind—his phone company—when CUB showed
him how he was overpaying for phone and Internet service by hundreds of
dollars a year.
Palatine, Illinois, Aug. 21, 2007Sixty people packed the Palatine Public Library for a CUB phone-bill clinic co-sponsored by state Sen. Matt Murphy. Consumers learned how to cut their yearly calling costs by an average of $156. CUB Board Secretary George Miller, of Melrose Park, made a surprise visit to the clinic, giving much-needed logistics help in keeping the information-hungry crowd content. Thanks, George! Huntley, Illinois, Aug. 15, 2007
It was another good crowd in Huntley. Last year, CUB saw more than 90 consumers eager to cut their phone bills. This year, about 70 people came to Drendel Hall, at the beautiful Del Webb Sun City senior community. CUB showed consumers how to reduce their bills by an average of about $18 per month. One of the best efforts of the day came from CUB Outreach Manager Sarah Moskowitz who showed one consumer how to save $600 a year on phone costs. South Chicago YMCA Senior Housing, Aug. 13, 2007
CUB always saves people a lot of money, but sometimes the clinic stories are more memorable than the numbers. For example, one consumer was burning up a lot of money on phone services she simply didn’t need. She paid for a long-distance plan, but she didn’t make any long-distance calls. She paid for an AT&T insurance plan called “Line-Backer,” but the “inside-wire” problems it covers only occur about once every 30 years. CUB staffer Bryan McDaniel actually called AT&T on the spot and helped her drop the unnecessary services, immediately saving her more than $100 a year. McHenry County, August 7, 2007
CUB’s staff members were greatly outnumbered by consumers at this phone-bill clinic 10 to 1, the phone-savings experts were able to see everyone within an hour. And the savings were worth the wait. If the each of the individual 60 consumers seen Tuesday takes CUB’s advice, he or she will save approximately $20 a month on phone service. CUB was joined by staff members from State Sen. Pamela Althoff’s office and State Rep. Jack Franks’ office. Although both area representatives wished they could be there, they were stuck in Springfield. Rogers Park, Chicago, July 26, 2007
CUB didn't expect a large crowd at the small office of the Rogers Park Community Council, but we were surprised when about 40 people packed the cozy confines of the community group that has worked since 1952 to improve the quality of the surrounding neighborhood. Consumers came clutching their phone bills, and CUB's phone-bill analysts showed them how to cut an average of $18 a month off their calling costs—or more than $200 a year. Thanks to the Rogers Park Community Council for pulling off a great phone-bill clinic. Westfield Louis Joliet Mall, July 21, 2007
This was our biggest phone-bill clinic ever. A record 208 people lined up at the Westfield Louis Joliet Mall to get their phone bills analyzed. CUB staffers worked feverishly to keep the wait time down, and people were amazingly patient. It was worth the wait. People were shown how to cut their phone bills drastically, including one consumer by about $480 a year. This was our second mall phone-bill clinic, but definitely not our last. Wheeling, July 11, 2007
CUB's five staffers had their hands full when more than 50 people came to the Wheeling Public Library to get their phone bills analyzed. In fact, we were very thankful for the helpful library staffers who copied phone bills so we could analyze them in the relative calm of the CUB office and prevent people from having to wait too long at the library. As usual, consumers were not disappointed. One person learned how to cut calling costs by $360 a year! We also want to thank Sen. Matt Murphy and Rep. Sidney Mathias for sponsoring the event with CUB. Chicago's Park National Bank, June 23, 2007
The best part of a phone-bill clinic is the people you meet, and the clinic at a branch of Chicago's Park National Bank was no exception. Prince and Grace, two 80-somethings who learned how to cut their annual calling costs by about $100, raved about CUB's phone-bill analysts. "Their demeanor is such that it makes it so conducive to ask questions," said Prince, who's retired from the Illinois State Police. "No question seems too dumb to ask." He added: "They're all friendly. It's just like a family." Well, CUB's "family" showed some consumers how to cut hundreds of dollars off their calling costs. Many thanks to Annie Warnock, one of CUB's bilingual consumer counselors, who worked with a lot of people who spoke Spanish and needed their bills analyzed. Nice job! Mather’s More than a Café, Chicago, June 18, 2007
CUB gave out its money-saving tips to an overflow crowd at a Chicago Internet cafe for seniors this week. Mather's More Than A Cafe had set up about 30 seats for the event, but that wasn't nearly enough as more and more people arrived. CUB staffers scrambled to analyze phone bills for about 45 people, who waited patiently to get help. One analyst showed a consumer how to cut about $25 off the monthly phone bill. That's a savings of $300 a year. CUB staffers were showered with positive comments, and participants gave us a clear message: Keep doing these free clinics! Marion Senior Center, Marion, June 8, 2007
Despite a stormy morning in southern Illinois, bill-clutching consumers came to the bustling but friendly Marion Senior Center to hear CUB Executive Director David Kolata give tips on how to untangle their Verizon phone bills. One former phone-company operator thanked CUB for the helpful, money-saving information. Another woman who had come to eat lunch at the center ran home to get her bill so CUB could show her how to save about $120 a year by dropping her overpriced long-distance plan and using a prepaid calling card instead. Mount Prospect Public Library, May 22, 2007
This was one of CUB’s best clinics ever. Nearly 100 consumers packed the well-run Mt. Prospect Public Library and got FREE advice on how to save money on their phone bills. CUB’s phone-bill analysts worked stayed until nearly 10 p.m., showing some consumers how to cut as much as $50 off their monthly phone bills. That’s $600 a year! CUB Board member George Miller dropped by and raved about the CUB crew. “What a great experience,” he wrote in an e-mail to his fellow board members. “Just to be acknowledged as part of the CUB Team is a great experience but to watch them at work is a step beyond!!” Thanks, Mr. Miller, we’ll keep working at it. Hanover Township Senior Services, Bartlett, April 24, 2007
Consumers learned how to save nearly $200 a year on their phone bills at this packed clinic in a beautiful new senior center. Westfield Chicago Ridge Mall, April 13-14, 2007
The library made CUB feel welcome, serving us chips and water, and drawing a crowd of about 50 to hear CUB’s money-saving tips. Phone-bill analysts showed people how to shave nearly $150 a year, on average, off their calling costs. Two moms on a library trip with their children saw the clinic and rushed home to get their bills. Rantoul, April 4, 2007
CUB staffers made the trip to this community to talk to a group of seniors about Verizon South rates—and how to cut their long-distance costs. Rantoul is served by a tiny sister company to the larger Verizon North, but that didn’t stop CUB from traveling to this community just north of Champaign. CUB Executive Director David Kolata has made it clear to his staff that CUB is a STATEWIDE organization and he wants us to hit many different communities served by different phone companies in the Land of Lincoln. Mather’s—More Than A Cafe, March 22, 2007
CUB always likes to visit this vibrant Internet cafe geared for seniors throughout Chicago. Every community should have places like this! While an art class carried on at the back of the room, CUB gave out its “Rules to Live By” for phone customers, showing several people how to save more than $100 on their phone bills. Waukegan Public Library, March 21, 2007
Like the Post Office, CUB doesn’t let sleet, snow—or flood-inducing torrential rains stop it from holding a phone-bill clinic. CUB staffers braved rainstorms and showed people how to save money on their phone bills in the Ray Bradbury Room of the public library—named after one of the community’s favorite sons. On the way home, one car in the CUB caravan had to turn off a highway because of rising water. Everyone made it home safe and sound. We had to. There was another phone-bill clinic to do the next day! University of St. Francis, Joliet, March 8, 2007
The CUB crew left Bloomington and headed for Joliet for the second clinic of the day. Again, about 50 people attended and many sat down with a CUB staffer and learned how to cut their phone bills by an average of about $188 a year. CUB Board Representative Michael Hilliard, of Plainfield, pitched in at the event and was a big help. Miller Park Senior Center, Bloomington, March 8, 2007
The center, nestled in a scenic park complete with a duck pond and zoo, was the site of our first Verizon North-focused clinic of the year. CUB staffer Jim Chilsen introduced his four co-workers as the “finest group of telephone nerds” in the state of Illinois, which led to laughs from the enthusiastic crowd of about 50. Seriously, CUB is made up of people who take great joy in researching phone rates to give people solid advice. In Bloomington, several people learned how they could cut about $100 a year off their phone bills. Park National Bank, Feb. 28, 2007
This marked the first time CUB held a phone-bill clinic at a bank. CUB Board Treasurer Kris Thomsen provided valuable help guiding interested people to the CUB tables set up at the bank’s cafeteria. People who came for banking business wandered in and were glad to get CUB’s packet filled with free money-saving tips on how to cut phone bills. Many people brought their bills and learned how to save on average about $270 a year. That included one woman who was still renting her phone. CUB Tip: If you’re renting your phone, stop! You can buy a phone at a local convenience story for a ONE-TIME FEE of about $15-$20. Sulzer Regional Library, Feb. 22, 2007
The people who came to this beautiful library and talked to CUB’s phone-bill analysts learned how to save, on average, about $184 a year on their phone bills. South Chicago Branch Library, Feb. 13, 2007
People hungry for good information about their phone bills braved blizzard-like conditions to come to this clinic. It took CUB staffers three hours to drive back to our office, but it was well worth the trip. They had shown people how they could save nearly $200 a year, on average, on their phone bills. Chicago Lawn Library, Feb. 7, 2007
CUB kicked off its “Put Your Phone Bill on a Diet” campaign with this winter clinic. The crowd that gathered at the library learned how to save big bucks. On average, CUB’s phone-bill analysts showed people how to cut their annual calling costs by some $148.
Visit to Arlington Heights, August 22, 2006
 A participant at the Arlington Heights phone-bill clinic reads over CUB's packet of publications filled with money-saving telephone tips. |
 "One of a telephone company's greatest fears is an educated consumer," CUB staffer Jim Chilsen told the crowd at the Arlington Heights phone-bill clinic. |
 State Sen. Cheryl Axley co-sponsored the CUB phone-bill clinic in Arlington Heights. Sen. Axley (front row, center) is pictured at the clinic along with (from left to right) CUB staffers Jim Chilsen and Aimee Gendusa-English, CUB Board Treasurer Kris Thomsen, and CUB staffers Chris Thomas and Sarah Moskowitz. |
 More than 100 people listened to CUB's money-saving presentation " Rules to Live by in the Phone Market" at the Arlington Heights phone-bill clinic. |
It became clear early on that the consumers at this clinic had strong ideas about what they wanted and needed from their phone companies. Several of the people there were proud of their low bills and just wanted to make sure they couldn’t go any lower. Others, however, were able to benefit from the information provided by CUB. One particularly handy woman who had already redone the phone wiring in her house discovered that her skills meant she could probably drop AT&T’s $6-per-month “Line-Backer” maintenance plan. Another couple learned that they could save more than $20 each month if they got rid of their long-distance service and simply used their cell phone, which they already owned, to make long-distance calls. Consumer after consumer offered warm thanks to the Cubbies and Senator Axley for holding the meeting.
One consumer surprised Consumer Rights Counselor Sarah Moskowitz with a hug after discussing her high-speed Internet bill. Wrong turn aside, this was one of CUB’s most successful clinics ever.
Visit to Elmhurst, July 26, 2006
For the fifth phone bill clinic of July, CUB Associate Director Pat Clark,
CUB Board Representative George Miller, of Melrose Park, and CUB staffers Laura
Jaskierski, Katie Schmit, and Annie Warnock met over forty consumers at the
Elmhurst Public Library.
 CUB staffers diligently analyze consumers' phone bills at the Elmhurst clinic. |
George acted as the resident photographer, while the rest of the staff began looking through bills. Laura was shocked to find a bill that she couldn’t improve upon. It turned out that Ernest and Ellie Pett were longtime CUB members. Ellie, an avid CUB Voice reader, had done her homework and already trimmed her bill of any unneeded or overpriced services, using AT&T’s basic, standard rates of 3 cents per call 0-15 miles away and a low-priced calling card for long-distance service.
But most consumers walked away with lighter bills than when they arrived. Pat showed one man how he
 CUB Associate Director Pat Clark (right) refers to CUB's 20-page "Untangling Your Phone Bill" guide to help a consumer save some money. That's right, we had to write a 20-page guide to explain a two-page phone bill! |
He was paying for one of the most expensive AT&T local calling packages you can buy, offering a host of special features he didn’t need, and paying an $8 monthly fee for an AT&T long-distance plan. Yet, he said: “I never use my phone.” In fact, he made just 33 local calls, which on standard rates would have cost him a whopping 99 cents, and 33 minutes of long-distance calls, which would have cost him $1.32 on a 4-cents-per-minute calling plan. His bill was over $50, when it should have been around $20. The man was thrilled with this news and said he was going use some of his savings to join CUB.
While it was rewarding to have helped him, we couldn’t help wondering how many other Illinois consumers are in the same boat as he is. That’s why reaching out to more phone users across the state will be a huge goal for CUB in the coming months and years.
Visits to Galesburg, Peoria, Normal, Mt. Prospect, July 11-13,
2006
CUB’s statewide ‘Phone Bill Diet Tour’ swept through Central Illinois,
 State Sen. Dale Risinger, of Peoria, was a gracious host for clinics in Peoria as well as Galesburg. At the far left, listening to Risinger, is CUB Board President Randy Fritz. |
State Sen. Dale Risinger hosted the clinic at the town’s Community Center, a renovated fire station. Forty area residents, the town newspaper, and local
 CUB Executive Director David Kolata gives money-saving tips to phone customers at the Bloomington phone-bill clinic. |
After a brief stop at Galesburg’s Pizza House, the staff was off to Peoria,
 CUB staffer Laura Jaskierski talks to a tableful of consumers at the Galesburg phone-bill clinic. |
The rain followed CUB’s travel brigade the next morning to Bloomington-Normal, where the Community Activity Center opened its doors to host CUB as part of its weekly Wednesday morning speaker series. After analyzing a bill of one of the 50 clinic attendees, Aimee showed the consumer that she could save almost $200 a
 CUB Board Treasurer Kris Thomsen talks to a bill-bearing consumer at the Peoria clinic. |
Three clinics down and one to go…
For the fourth clinic of the week, CUB staffers Jim Chilsen, Laura Jaskierski, Katie Schmit and Lila Walsh joined State Sen. Cheryl Axley, of Des Plaines, at the newly built Mount Prospect Village Hall. Chairs had to be added throughout the meeting as sixty consumers filled the room. That meant CUB served nearly 200 consumers over the course of three days—not to mention the consumers who didn’t attend the clinic but got our helpful tips through broadcast and newspaper stories.
Visit to Huntley, June 13, 2006
CUB’s “Put Your Phone Bill on a Diet Tour” was in full force
 Nearly 100 Huntley residents gather at Sun City to learn money-saving tips. |
The event was sponsored by State Sen. Pamela Althoff and Pat Oakley, chair of the Civics Committee for Sun City, a community for active adults “ages 55 and better,” where the clinic was held. Pat Clark, a 20-year veteran of CUB, along with staffers Laura Jaskierski, Sarah Moskowitz and Lila Walsh analyzed individual phone bills for three
 Sarah Moskowitz and Lila Walsh analyzed individual phone bills. |
Pat made her fan club proud when she was deemed the money-saver of the day. Huntley’s Patricia Hemmer was making 270 minutes of local-toll calls (calls between 15 and 30 miles away) a month at 16 cents per minute totaling a whopping $43.20. But Pat showed Ms. Hemmer that a different long distance company would charge her less than 5 cents per minute for the same calls. That’s a savings of nearly $500 per year!
Visit to Elk Grove Village, May 19, 2006
Executive Director David Kolata, and CUB staffers, Pat Clark, Laura
Jaskierski, Bryan McDaniel, and Anne McKibbin went to Elk Grove Village for the
latest stop on CUB’s “Put Your Phone Bill on a Diet” tour. It was CUB’s seventh
clinic in less than a month! (Travel-weary Laura gets CUB’s “Employee of the
Month” award for logging hundreds of miles across Illinois to attend all
seven.)
 CUB Executive Director David Kolata (left) presented the consumer group's "Rules to Live by in the Phone Market" at a phone-bill clinic hosted by State Sen. Cheryl Axley (right) at the Elk Grove Village Public Library. |
CUB’s phone-bill analysts weren’t the only ones doing a lot of traveling this time of year, according to Anne McKibbin, who once was a part-time wildlife keeper nursing eagles, falcons, hawks, and owls back to health in Miami, Florida. CUB’s senior policy analyst was excited to spot the Great Egret, a sleek white, yellow-eyed heron that was passing through Elk Grove Village from the Gulf Coast to a summer vacation along the Mississippi River. Still an avid bird watcher, “Eagle Eyes” McKibbin also spied a Gray Catbird. Anne explained that after a long trip from the Gulf Coast—even Central America, or the Caribbean—our feathered friend chose the area for a summer rest.
There’s little rest for CUB, however. We’re planning more clinics throughout the summer and adding some senior fairs too. Check CUB’s website for dates and times of upcoming events and give us a call if you too are interested in hosting a clinic for your organization or neighborhood.
Visit to Champaign and Charleston, May 16, 2006
CUB Senior Policy Analyst Anne McKibbin, far left, and CUB Communications Assistant Laura Jaskierski, far right, hang out with two "interpreters" who were recreating life in the 1850s at the site of the last home of Abraham Lincoln's father and step-mother.
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The audience listens intently to CUB's money-saving tips during the utility-bill clinic at the Charleston Area Senior Center.
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Anne, left, talks to two women about their phone bills at the Charleston Area Senior Center.
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Anne, left, and Laura, right, show off their Illinois pride before the phone-bill clinic in Champaign.
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Executive Director David Kolata was up at the crack of dawn doing media interviews in Champaign and he ends his long day giving consumers from that community CUB's "Rules to Live By in the Phone Market."
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Aside from being dotted with beautiful farmland and old Victorian houses, Charleston also is home to the 86-acre Lincoln Log Cabin State Historic Site, where the last home of Abraham Lincoln’s father and step-mother has been recreated.
It was fun stepping back in time to the 1850s, but duty called so we headed off to the clinic at the Charleston Area Senior Center. The CUB staff, joined by Executive Director David Kolata, was welcomed by the organizer of the event, State Sen. Dale Righter.
CUB had researched Illinois Consolidated Telephone Co.’s prices to find ways for consumers to save. The biggest tip: avoid Illinois Consolidated and go wireless when possible. One person promised to use her extra cell phone minutes to call a cousin in California instead of paying Consolidated’s expensive long-distance rates.
Then it was on to Champaign. After a brief visit to the University of Illinois, we arrived at the Douglass Branch of the Champaign Public Library. Dave had been up at the crack of dawn promoting the clinic in the media and his efforts paid off because every consumer brought a phone bill, ready to learn how to save money.
David was able to explain the benefits of Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) as a low-cost option to a computer savvy consumer who paid dearly for calls to friends and family in China.
Anne beamed after saving a consumer $30 a month by suggesting basic phone service in place of an expensive calling package loaded with unwanted calling features.
The CUB staffers didn’t get home until midnight, but trimming down some overweight phone bills in central Illinois was well worth the trip.
Visit to Centralia and Mt. Vernon, May 9-10, 2006
Aimee Gendusa-English stands under a Centralia banner.
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After the clinic, Rep. Granberg graciously guided the hungry phone-bill analysts to the Downtown Lounge, where the CUB staffers ate too many deep-fried appetizers, including breaded black olives and cheese. Before leaving for a clinic in Mt. Vernon the next day, Jim tried to satisfy his interest in history by checking out the historical society’s display on Centralia’s 1947
From left to right, Jim Chilsen, Aimee Gendusa-English, and Rep. Kurt Granberg stand in front of the Centralia's South Central Regional Tech Center, where the first clinic was held.
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Next, we visited Mt. Vernon's Sunshine Center, at the invitation of state Sen. John O. Jones, a friendly man who uses a sturdy white pick-up to get around his district. One of the more interesting people there was Perry, an 80-something World War II veteran who sadly reflected on the friends he lost in fierce fighting aboard the USS Lexington, but still spontaneously jumped up and clicked his heals—twice—to show how happy and healthy he was overall.
State Sen. John O. Jones (left) stands with Aimee Gendusa-English, Laura Jaskierski, and Jim Chilsen at Mt. Vernon's Sunshine Center.
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Visit to Moline and Rock Island, April 27-28, 2006
Aside from helping consumers save money on their phone bills, the best
thing about CUB's "Put Your Phone Bill on a Diet Tour"
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CUB staffer Bryan McDaniel shows off CUB's new and improved "Untangling Your Telephone Bills" guide, which was debuted in Moline.
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Accustomed to holding clinics in church basements, libraries, and community centers, we were pleasantly surprised to be at Moline's majestic Butterworth
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CUB staffers Bryan McDaniel, left, and Laura Jaskierski, right, analyzed phone bills for grateful phone callers in Rock Island.
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The next day we were treated to the hospitality of the Rock Island County Senior Center. It's not a big center, but it gets big things done, providing
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CUB Board President Randy Fritz, far left, stands with clinic participants and staffers at the Rock Island County Senior Center after a phone-bill clinic there. Fritz is a high school teacher from Williamsfield but volunteers his time to travel all over Illinois to educate people on how to save money on their phone bills.
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Thanks for a great trip, Rock Island and Moline!
