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Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in our 50th Docent Anniversary series, “The Year of the Docent.” It has been updated – so read on!

By Jill Carlson, Class of 2013

Docents love to celebrate together, and the first Docent Appreciation Night celebration in 1981 recognized achievements and service during 1980. Along with docents (100-150 at the time), staff and friends were invited.

The Standards Committee planned the program for DAN because it was responsible for keeping records for tour hours that recorded tour requirements. Committee members knew who should be honored, supplemented by nominations from other docents. This arrangement continued until 2002 when Docent Council approved an ad hoc committee to plan DAN, encouraging more docent involvement. Planning DAN has always been a labor of love for those involved.

The first DANs were held at Glessner House. Funds were limited, so these were potluck dinners with food supplied by staff and docents. Michael Weiland remembers his first DAN in 1985:  “…buffet style dinner at Glessner House. Food was served out of the kitchen, and we had to scrounge for someplace to sit. I think my wife (then fiancée) and I sat on one of the staircases with plates on our laps.”

As the number of docents continued to grow (250 by the mid 80’s), DAN moved to larger venues, incurring more cost. Docent Council asked the Board of Trustees for support, and since 1986 the trustees have provided the budget for DAN. The 1991 DAN was held at Hotel Florence in Pullman. The venue was full to capacity at 160, and some docents were disappointed when they could not attend. This would never happen again! Even larger venues were needed.

In 1996, DAN celebrated 25 years of docent education at The Drake’s Gold Coast Room. Docents received a special souvenir glass commemorating the event. The Chicago Athletic Association, Knickerbocker Hotel, Midland Hotel (held on the night of an early March snowstorm – nothing keeps docents from celebrating), and Congress Hotel rounded out the 90’s venues. That March snowstorm may be the reason that DAN has been held in April (Volunteer Month) or May since 1999.

In 1996, colored ribbons indicating different areas of service (Docent Council, Tour Director, committee chair, 100+ tour hours, etc.) were added to the DAN nametags, 14 categories in all. It was a labor intensive undertaking for the DAN committee. Donna Gabanski commented, “People looked like major generals with stripes.” The 2003 program is the last time the ribbons are listed.

Sometime early in the 2000’s Docent Appreciation Night officially became DAN.
Beginning in 2001 the venue was kept secret until the official invitation was sent out, about a month before the event. Hints were given in Docent News for several months preceding the event. Two longtime docents, Joe Frey and Don Wiberg, made a game of locating the site. Don was always successful by calling hotels, pretending to be on the committee. This message appeared in the January, 2002, Docent News:

“…unsubstantiated rumors place April 19th DAN festivities on a disused Chicago Metropolitan Water Reclamation District intake bunker in Lake Michigan. Ferry costs could be substantial, but it Is assumed they would be offset by the low fee for the venue itself.”

Keeping the venue secret ended in 2015.

The 2003 DAN was the first planned by the new Docent Council-approved committee. With the added docent participation in the planning, attendance again increased. The 2004 DAN was held at the Sofitel Hotel and almost required a second room because of the number of docents attending. DAN had never assigned seats, and there was a mad dash when the dining room doors were opened. With increased attendance, table assignments (usually with your docent class) were added.

The first official theme that was included on the invitation was “Magic on the Magnificent Mile” in 2007, when DAN was held at the Hotel Intercontinental. Since then a theme has been part of the program cover, including “Look At Us Now,” “Paris on the Prairie,” “Docents Out and About,” “The River Runs Through It,” “Peace, Love and Architecture,” “Putting on the Glitz,” and “Movin’ On Up.”

In the “20 teens” DAN continued its mission of celebrating docent service and achievement in a spectacular venue with a delicious meal. In 1991 the first photo montage was on corkboards at the entrance to DAN. The addition of technology for videos and photo montage added to our enjoyment. We love to see ourselves – and our friends – on screen. We visited the Mid America Club, Hotel Intercontinental, Palmer House, Radisson Blu, Loews Chicago, The Drake, Chicago Hilton, and in 2019, the Hyatt Regency, our new next door neighbor.

Who knew we could enjoy a virtual DAN in 2020 almost as much as being there in person. Lynne Hensel and Larry Kameya did an amazing job of capturing the magic of DAN. The theme was “Docents for All Seasons” (the original venue was the Four Seasons Hotel), and Lynne and Larry brought the theme to life. While a lovely meal at a wonderful venue is important, just “being together” made the night special.

Dealing with Covid continued in 2021. Celebrating 50 years of docent history, Chairman Constance Rajala and her committee members planned another fantastic virtual experience – “The Year of the Docent.”

Speakers included John Rutledge, Chairman of the Board of Trustees; Lynn Osmond; and Kent Foutty, Docent Council president. All praised the excellence, dedication, flexibility, and resilience of docents – “the backbone of CAC.” The always-anticipated photo montage assembled by Kathleen Carpenter and Susan Pappas and a wonderful history of CAF/CAC narrated by Sylvia Dunbeck added to the enjoyment of the evening.

Following the announcements of Milestones and awards, we received a gift – the June delivery of “Celebrate,” a priceless book containing remembrances of these 50 years. “Thanks for the Memories” played in the background as DAN ended.

Now we are a week away from creating a 2022 DAN memory. Join us on June 9 at CAC for our first in-person all docent event in over two years. Be there!

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