Hello, Everyone –
No summer doldrums around CAF. We have had good tour numbers and intend to keep it up for the second half of our season.
Meanwhile, let me share with everyone the significant part of an email I just sent to Docent Council:
“Negotiations to finalize a long-term lease for CAF’s new home are progressing well. We are very close to having this deal done but we are not quite there yet. For any of you who have ever custom-built or rehabbed a home, you know all about the unforeseen things that pop up along the way; multiply that many times over to accommodate the intricacies of a long-term commercial lease for space that needs shaping and construction. Add to that the fact that many of the key people — CAF’s real estate broker, the landlord’s lawyer, CAF’s lawyer, etc — are taking planned vacations and will be out of Chicago during and after the 4th. We now expect negotiations to be concluded and a lease signed by mid-to-late July.
“These are principles I can commit to:
- Groups of docents have been, and will continue to be, involved in all aspects of the process.
- When the lease is signed, Lynn will spearhead roll-out of the announcement.
- Expect a torrent of detailed follow-up announcements along with many invitations to meetings that will provide specifics. These meetings will be for all Docents, Volunteers and Staff to come together to learn from Lynn about the location, as well as to ask questions.
- Throughout all of this, a small task force of docents has been working to help frame critical issues we will need to work through, once our new location is known. We want to hit the ground running.”
The Task Force dealing with the move has made special outreach efforts with two critical constituencies within CAF: chairs of the major committees (Tour, Education, Standards, Communications, Marketing) and Tour Directors for the 12 Core Walking Tours. These individuals are the closest link to all 400+ of us and will play a critical role in disseminating information.
One more reminder: please reserve Tuesday, August 15th for a special Docent Town Hall meeting. This gathering is independent of communications and events related to our move. It is 100% docent-initiated. We will be presenting and discussing the many initiatives and guidelines that have emerged from the Docent Council retreat.
Finally, I am sure that we are all delighted to congratulate our “North Star” Hallie Rosen on her transition to Director of Program Operations. Hallie will still have a strong presence for docents in many areas, chief of which will be Open House Chicago. Meanwhile, everyone is invited to stop by and congratulate Caroline Duda on her promotion to Manager of Volunteer Engagement. Caroline is now ensconced in the office Hallie previously occupied.
Stay tuned to The Bridge for further developments.
Happy summer,
Constance