Things continue to march on toward our Move date of July 1, 2018, with trainings, refreshers and certifications taking place every week (including during the upcoming 10-inch snow, because as we all know, like the post office, docents work through rain, snow, sleet, etc.). Here is the newest information about our move to 111 E. Wacker.
Turner Construction is on the site in 111 E. Wacker Drive. You can hear the noise, as workers make the space ready for The Move.
Docent Council has approved service hour credits for those who take trainings and/or refreshers to prepare for the move. Following up on the recommendations of the Service Corps Committee (Jill Tanz, chair), which has jurisdiction on how docents receive credit for tasks that are not traditional touring, the following was unanimously adopted at Docent Council:
- For every one-day refresher taken, docents will receive 10 hours of service credits. Therefore, it you take three refreshers, you’d get an additional 30 hours; one refresher, 10 hours, etc.
- For every 2-day training taken, docents will receive 20 hours of service. This is for those who are learning the new tours that require certifications and two days of learning.
While we know this will not equal all the hours spent in class, walking the tour route and certification, this formula will be equal for all participants. You will not see the service hours on your record during the year; Caroline will add them to your record at the end of 2018, when all docents will be finished taking all the new trainings and refreshers. The total will be added up next January for the listing in the DAN program, as we do now with service hours.
Tour training continues going well, according to Delta Greene, Move Task Force member and co-chair of training (with Lance Friedmann). She reported to Docent Council this week that Engaging Your Audience (EYA) training, which has undergone some changes as we’ve moved along, is going well. A survey has gone out to docents who completed EYA training. If you’ve received the survey, we hope you will record your thoughts about using the new questioning procedures and storytelling.
Delta also lauded those docents who are learning the new tours early in order to serve as certifiers. “Certifiers are really stepping up,” she said. Thanks to everyone who is involved in that process.
So far, we have had training for Hotel Boom, Masterworks and Chicago Modern tours. Others will be added as we move through the months.
Leslie Clark Lewis, co-chair of the communications task force with Sandy Guettler, reports that the east wall in the Docent Library has been cleared. Displays will be going up showing Time, Place and Space – visuals of the new CAC spaces. At the same time, remember that The Bridge has updates regarding the move and all the FAQs about the move. So if you have questions, just troll through the material on The Bridge and hopefully you’ll find your answer.
Ellen Shubart noted that many docents, staff and VEVs are taking advantage of available Pedway walks, where docents from the Pedway tours guide people through the Pedway to help them acclimate to the new location, pointing out bus stops, parking opportunities, food court offerings and doorways that are and are not open on weekends. Thanks to Lorie Westerman, Pedway Tour Director, and her crew for scheduling these walks. If you are interested in coming along, opportunities for sign ups are listed on The Bridge or contact Caroline.