Blog

Robin Simon to Volunteer at Paris Olympics

by Emily Clott, Class of 2012

Dreamers dream and planners plan. Docent Robin Simon (1997) is both. For years attending the Olympic Games in a French-speaking country has been her dream. To make it come true, she studied French for 6 years in middle and high schools, minored in French in college, spent a semester in Paris in the ‘80s, and took classes at the Alliance Française. Robin was one of the first docents to offer Loop tours in French. 

The French Olympic Committee announced in 2022 that it was seeking 45,000 volunteers. Applications opened in March of ’23, and selections were expected by December. While selected as an alternate, Robin decided to proceed with her plan to attend the Games, whether or not she would serve as a volunteer. She bought plane tickets, planned to stay with her school friend Magali in her apartment in the 17th arrondissement, and to attend some Olympic events both sporting and cultural. Just weeks ago Robin learned that she has been selected to work the games. Of a pool of over 300,000 applicants, she is one of 45,000 selected as a volunteer at the Paris Olympics. 

And you thought the CAC docent program was selective! All candidates must be fluent in French and/or English. Of those selected, only 20% are not French. The gig is strictly volunteer except for meals during her shifts,  transportation to and from the volunteer site, and a uniform provided by the committee. Robin will work on the accreditation team at the International Broadcast Center, giving out and checking credentials required of every person involved in any form of media covering the games. 

Online training demonstrated how to vet IDs and identify fraudulent identification documents. She will work the same venue for all 10-12 assigned shifts and will spend the remainder of her three-week stay attending the most appealing events for which she can get tickets. Her top picks: swimming, diving, volleyball, and beach volleyball. 

Robin, we are so proud of you, and look forward to a full report when you return to the States from the Jeux Olympiques de Paris, 2024.

Kelly Manteck Spreads the Word

by Diane Wagner, Class of 2005

Kelly Manteck (2020) gave her typical River Cruise—a dynamic, lively presentation that always engages her audience. Among those fascinated was a British journalist who was in the crowd. She interviewed Kelly about Chicago, the city’s architecture, and Kelly’s passion for architectural photography. This same journalist wrote a second piece—a what-to-do-in-Chicago travel article—that included CAC’s River Cruise among other offerings.  These two articles appear in the online Fused Magazine. Read all about it by activating this link:  https://www.fusedmagazine.co.uk/iconic-architectural-landmarks-in-chicago-a-photographers-guide-by-kelly-manteck/. You can also explore and purchase Kelly’s work at www.kamerachicago.com and photo greeting cards at the design store at the CAC.

Kudos to Kelly for spreading the word so widely!

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