Dear Fellow Docents,
Autumn….Fall….coming so soon (September 22)! Fall brings excitement and expectation. It is not the awakening of spring, but rather the last dash before the “hibernation” of winter. It’s turning inward, to pursue indoors rather than out. This will be problematic for the coming winter, as most indoor activities are cancelled or severely limited….so I believe it is important for us all to maximize our fall activities (safely, of course).
For CAC, fall is definitely not yet hibernation time. The River Cruise sails on and certain core and neighborhood walking tours continue in earnest. CAC@Home is on a brief hiatus, as staff focuses on Open House Chicago (OHC), or as I’m calling it this year as an extended 10-day event, Openhoupalooza. In keeping with health guidelines, OHC will be different this year. There will be outdoor-only sites as well as significant virtual content. It will be interesting, exciting, and informative, as always.
You will see some advertising related to OHC. But please remember that word of mouth is huge when it comes to events like this. Encourage your family members and friends, both here and afar, to attend. Have them check out the OHC website, openhousechicago.org, to sign up for information and updates.
As with many things in this awful pandemic, there is a silver lining. The expanded dates for OHC allow many more people to participate. And the virtual nature will allow people from all over the world to be “here.” It is almost certain that future OHCs will have a virtual element, even when we are “back to normal.”
We have come through “back-to-school” time, though for the most part, students hunker down at home. I am crafting this letter after signing off from my last class of the day (I teach 4 consecutive classes for Loyola University, 200 students, all on Zoom). It’s a challenge, but as with everything else in this “different” world, we are making it work. My students, like my tour takers, need and want to learn, however we can deliver.
So, before you hibernate, look forward to a fall filled with CAC tours and of course, Openhoupalooza!
Stay safe,
Kent.