With the ups and downs in the weather, it is clear that spring will come – eventually rather than tomorrow, but still, it is coming. That’s good news for so many of us who are walking the streets learning and certifying for new tours.
Here’s where we’re at as of the end of February:
1. For anyone who has been walking in and around our new address, 111 E. Wacker, you would have heard the noise. Things are happening inside as Turner Construction continues to work on the interior.
2. As those of you who were signed up for the now-cancelled “old” historic tour know, docents who were scheduled for historic will now take either Evolution/Walk Though Time OR Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age. We’re hoping everyone will step up to both take the training and/or be a certifier for these tours. These tours will be going out on an expanded schedule as will the old historic tour as a neighborhood tour.
3. To keep everyone up to date, new names for the following tours have been established:
Evolution is now Chicago Architecture: Walk through Time and Treasures of Culture and Commerce has morphed into Historic Treasures of Chicago’s Golden Age. These new names better describe the content of the the tours that are being offered to our guests.
4. While anyone who had signed up for historic is eligible for training, these sessions are especially aimed at the Class of 2017, which learned Historic as one of their two tours. Those docents should make sure theytake either Walk Through Time or Historic Treasures to ensure that they have two tours in their inventory.
5. Everyone should be aware that as we move into March, things will be changing – it’s going to get a bit emptier around here.
While the docents are not directly affected, the offices of CAF will move out to 11 E. Wacker Dr. by the end of the month (March 29-30). At that time, too, the model will be removed from the atrium. Remember what that looked like?
A less robust number of staffers will be left in the first floor offices. Caroline and Erin will remain, as will the box office and call center personnel. But the group sales staff will be relocated as of April 1, as will Janine, Ruth and Casey.
We all will meet again at 111 E. Wacker in July, of course, and CAF staffers will move back and forth for meetings at various locations.
6. Please remember that if you want to practice your tours prior to certification and need some “help” in the form of people to “take” your tours, you can contact Caroline to hook up with VEVs who are eager to learn the new tours. It’s a win-win for docents and VEVs; use their curiosity to help you learn your tours.
7. Please welcome staffers who might be joining in on demonstration tours. They need to learn the new tours, too, so they can sell them to those who call in. Deb Rodak and her Group Sales department staff will be accompanying people on demos to learn all the ins and outs of the tours. Just say hi and welcome.
8. Here’s the count of what’s gone on so far: Hotel Boom refresher is over and all 20 docents are certified for the new tour when it starts July 1. The first Chicago Modern training session of two days is complete and docents are becoming certified. Same situation with the first Masterworks and Art Deco: Riverfront Favorites tours. March is crammed with trainings not only for Walk Through Time and Treasures, but Elevated Architecture is on the the calendar and Millennium Park as well . The pace begins to get a bit more hectic, but remember it is always moving forward.
Thanks for all your help and hard work. We can’t do it without you.