Congratulations Claudia Winkler!

A special congratulations to Claudia Winkler, Class of 2007! She is the recipient of the 2020 Outstanding Volunteer Award from the Chicago Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals. This award recognizes Claudia’s her many contributions to the cultural landscape of Chicago. In addition to giving the river cruise and Rookery tour, Claudia is also one of the few docents who conducts our French tour.

Claudia is very active with us but she also volunteers at the Field Museum (ask her anything about Sue!), the Lyric Opera, and the Fourth Presbyterian Church. Congratulations Claudia and thank you for all that you do for Chicago!

This Post Has 32 Comments

  1. Robin

    Félicitations, Claudia!

    1. Claudia

      Merci bien Robin!

  2. Gregory

    Congratulations, Claudia!

  3. Susan

    A well-deserved honor! Congratulations.

  4. Ellen

    We always knew Claudia was terrific. It is great that another organization realizes it, too. Congrats, Claudia, and hopefully we can drink a glass of champagne to celebrate with you sometime soon.

  5. Emily

    Brava, Claudia! It’s great to see you being recognized for all of your hard work,

  6. Joan

    SO well deserved, Claudia ! And you make us all VERY proud ! Many congratulations —

  7. David

    Fantastic news, Claudia! It’s always a delight to share the Rookery tour with you.

  8. Merry Ann

    Claudia, VERY impressive volunteer “bill of fare” Congratulations for all you do for Chicago!

  9. Bill

    Yay! Well earned.

  10. Rebecca

    Congratulations, Claudia! You’re a stellar representative for our city and organization.
    You’re also such a warm and friendly person to everyone you meet.
    Best to you!!

  11. Peg

    So glad to see this very well deserved honor. Miss seeing you. Peg

  12. Nancy

    Congratulations Claudia! Well deserved!
    Yes, she does know everything about Sue and everything else at the Field Museum. I enjoyed of her tours there.
    She has also helped organize many of our docent trips. You have always been so helpful to me..

  13. Jill

    Congratulations Claudia! Well deserved honor for all you do!

  14. Karen

    Yeah Claudia – you deserve this honor!

  15. Douglas

    Claudia, I have been impressed and grateful for years with all of the information and tour opportunities you have provided for docents. I had no idea that you were simultaneously doing amazing work for several organizations. What a contributor! Thanks!

  16. Jill

    Claudia,
    Congratulations on your well deserved recognition. You are a treasure to CAC and other cultural organizations in Chicago.

  17. Susan

    Bravo Claudia — well-deserved and a great inspiration to us all.

  18. Alina

    CONGRATULATIONS Claudia what an accomplishment! Thank you for relaying of of your many updates on various topics and inquiries that you’ve made to your many contacts, I always look forward to reading them. Hope you’re well. See you on the River next year! : ))

  19. Bobbi

    congrats Claudia!!! No one else could have done Farnsworth as a brand new Docent and in French! Well deserved!

  20. Ronnie Jo

    You’re a marvel, Claudia! And you gave so many tours on the river during COVID-19! When I recall all the enrichment programs you planned for us, I’m so grateful for your leadership, organization, and inspiration. May you go “from strength to strength”!

  21. Sylvia

    BRAVO many times over!

  22. Cynthia

    Claudia, you are a Chicago treasure.. it is wonderful that you volunteer for all these outstanding institutions and organizations..
    (And a Sue specialist! Big fan here).

    In acknowledgement of your Outstanding Volunteer Award, wouldn’t it be terrific if all of these could collectively do something to honor you,?
    Here is a scenario. The Lyric Opera could commission a new opera about Sue. Tragic, of course, ending with the death of the iconic T-Rex. Who will be able to forget the moving final aria, “When I am Fossilized and Installed in the Field Museum.” We will need a stupendous soprano voice…if only Joan Sutherland were still around. For the chorus, the choir of the Fourth Presbyterian Church will step up, and they’ll get plenty of rousing Verdian choruses. The premier, concert version will be staged on our River Cruise, maybe the Emerald Lady. Great publicity for all institutions.
    Imagine Sue’s comments on their Twitter account.

    Notes. Sue has already been inspiring artistic endeavors. There is the 2014 movie, “Dinosaur 13”. And from around 2000, “Tyrannosaurus Sue-a Cretaceous Concerto” by Bruce Adolphe.
    Also, according to Field Museum and Sue’s acerbic and hilarious Twitter account, the iconic T-Rex identifies as non-binary and prefers plural pronouns. Every time I read their Tweets, I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.

    1. Claudia

      Hi Cynthia – I love it! An opera about Sue would be very fitting and I know “SHE” would appreciate it! Claudia

  23. Marcia

    Congratulations, Claudia, on a well deserved honor.

  24. Corinne

    Congratulations

  25. Jean

    Congratulations Claudia! You are a Chicago treasure.

  26. Adina

    Quelle femme!! Felicitations!

  27. Elizabeth

    Claudia, Congratulations! But no surprise! I had the great pleasure of taking your River Cruise Tour with out-of-town guests before applying and training as a docent. Your love and knowledge of the subject manner was apparent and your willingness to answer questions after tour completion went the extra mile. Your tour was one of the positive experiences I had with CAC that served as a catalyst for me to look into volunteer opportunities as a docent. I can attest that you touched my own life with your volunteer spirit. With all of your volunteer activities, that multiplies many fold! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and joy!

  28. Virginia

    Claudia, let me add to the chorus of those singing your praises. Let’s celebrate next summer in Aspen, Lunch is on me.

  29. Hallie

    Congratulations Claudia! So well-deserved. Every organization you volunteer for is a lucky organization.

  30. Bill

    Well done!

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