Cigar Society of Chicago
presents

[Ranked-choice ballot]

ANDREW SZILVA
Executive Director, FairVote Illinois

RANKED-CHOICE VOTING

A simple upgrade to our voting process that makes elections fairer and more functional.


(An exercise in Social Choice Theory and the
Science of Alternative Voting Systems)

Tuesday, March 12, 2024
5:30-8:30 pm CST
This will be an in-person event in The Lounge at Iwan Ries & Co., 19 S. Wabash Av. Cocktails and cigars at 5:30pm CST. In addition to the usual open bar, our resident mixologist Dan Gardiner will introduce a signature cocktail for the evening, the Presidential Suite.

Andrew Szilva’s presentation will begin at 6:00pm CST and last 30-45 minutes, followed by a very active Q&A session, and more cocktails.

$60 includes lounge fees, cigars, premium open bar, and food. Attendance will be limited to 35, so get your registrations in early.

[Register for the Event]
Our speaker writes, "This event combines three of my favorite things: cigars, cocktails, and ranked-choice voting. I’m really looking forward to the discussion."
[Andrew Szilva]
 Andrew Szilva joined FairVote Illinois in 2019 and became the organization’s executive director when it incorporated in 2020. Since that time, FairVote Illinois has become the grassroots leader for ranked-choice voting in the state. The organization has played a central role in the adoption of ranked-choice voting in Evanston and has provided expertise to many other governing bodies on the benefits and implementation of ranked-choice voting. Andrew has represented FairVote Illinois in dozens of talks and presentations including radio and TV appearances on NPR’s WBEZ Chicago, Cities Talk 92.9FM, and Chicago Tonight – WTTW.

Andrew hails from the south suburbs of Chicago. He has a PhD in Computational Chemistry where he developed computer algorithms to reduce the scaling of quantum mechanics calculations. He also has nearly two decades of business experience managing optimization projects in the transportation sector. Outside of his work advocating ranked-choice voting, Andrew enjoys solving interesting math and logic puzzles.


About the Cigar Society of Chicago

ONE OF THE OLDEST AND greatest traditions of the city clubs of Chicago is the discussion of intellectual, social, legal, artistic, historical, scientific, musical, theatrical, and philosophical issues in the company of educated, bright, and appropriately provocative individuals, all under the beneficent influence of substantial amounts of tobacco and spirits.  The Cigar Society of Chicago embraces this tradition and extends it with its Informal Smokers, University Series lectures, and Cigar Society Dinners, in which cigars, and from time to time pipes and cigarettes, appear as an important component of our version of the classical symposium.  To be included in the Cigar Society's mailing list, write to the secretary at curtis.tuckey@logicophilosophicus.org.

Cigar Society Officers for 2024: Len Kutyla, Architectural Director; Cathy Hareas, Whip; R. U. Dunne, Chief; Ed Bronson, Sound Reasoner, and with a new office for this year, Dan Gardiner, Resident Mixologist.

[Dan Gardiner]
 Dan Gardiner will be constructing a line of signature cocktails appropriate to each of our upcoming events. For this event, it is the Presidential Suite. For the upcoming presentation by Gus Higginson on Mae West, for example, it will be the Double Entendre. Dan entertained the Cigar Society in August 2020 with My Life as a YouTube Star during Lockdown: How I Produced 50 Videos in 3 Months. You can check out his unparalleled YouTube channel at Dan's Bar.