Amy Rueff

     Longtime union member and Democratic supporter, Amy Rueff, is the 2024 Penny Severns Integrity Award honoree.  She was presented with the award, sponsored by the Macon County Jefferson Jackson Club in association with Democratic Women of Macon County and the Macon County Democratic Central Committee, at the Penny Severns Memorial Reception on Tuesday, October 15th at Richland Community College Shilling Center, in Decatur.
     The Severns Integrity Award is named in honor of the late State Senator Penny Severns. It is presented to democrats at either the local or state level who embody the dedication, honesty, and integrity demonstrated by Severns in her career.
Amy Rueff has worked for the Illinois AFL-CIO for 20 years serving as an advocate for working families. She began her career at the Clinton Nuclear Power Station as a member of IBEW Local 1306 where she served as Recorder and President.
In 1996, she was recruited to become the AFL-CIO Community Services Liaison with Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly and the United Way of Decatur. Then in 2004 accepted a job as Resource Director with the Illinois AFL-CIO.
     She has served as a precinct committeeperson since the age of 21 in both DeWitt County and Macon County. She was elected two terms as Decatur Township Trustee and was a candidate for Macon County Clerk in 2018. She is currently the co-chair of the Democratic Women of Macon County and Secretary of the Macon County Democratic Central Committee.
Her work with Decatur unions includes serving as Secretary-Treasurer of Decatur Trades & Labor Assembly, chairing two scholarships and the We Are One Community fund.
     Organizers presenting the award noted that Rueff has provided decades of service to Macon County through volunteer coordination, community fundraising and charitable giving.  Her level of commitment and dedication are inspiring, and she is very deserving of the integrity award.
     The Penny Severns Memorial Reception featured keynote speaker Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton and special guests Congresswomen Nikki Budzinski (IL-13), State Senator Doris Turner and State Representative Sue Scherer.  Special guests also included Penny Severns’ brother, Rod Severns, and his wife Jane.  More than 150 people attended.
     Donations were collected at the event for Breast Cancer awareness and will be presented at the end of the month to the Cancer Care center in Decatur.