Caroline Duda, Casey Crail, Blake McFadden, Michael Malak, CAC Staff – Continued Learning
A group of River docents were invited to the boat yard where the new Chicago’s First Lady boat is being built. A two-day trip, the staff organized stops in Milwaukee and Manitowoc, highlighting historic places and structures (including a submarine). To those who organized the Manitowac trip to see the new Emerald Lady tour: Now you know what it’s like to be “bus docents.” Thanks for a great trip. – Ellen Shubart
Leslie Clark Lewis, Class of 2009 – Collaboration
As chair of the Communications Committee, Leslie works tirelessly to ensure that docents, volunteers and staff are kept informed and engaged in the CAC community. The committee meets monthly, but Leslie works non-stop to ensure that we are all informed of what’s going on at CAC. She has included representatives of the volunteer community to work with docents and staff to help bring our “One Team” core value to fruition. – Emily Clott
Mary Jo Hoag, Class of 2007 – Collaboration and Continued Learning
Mary Jo is the personification of these core values. In developing the new tour “What’s New in Chicago,” she conceived a tour that fills a need in CAC’s tour offerings, did a great deal of research, and invited other docents to collaborate by researching architects and buildings featured on the tour. While the tour is her brainchild, she encourages teamwork and embraces the contributions of others. – Emily Clott
Chicago’s First Lady, the Agras, and CAC Staff – Continued Learning and Collaboration
About 20 River Cruise docents and several staff members and Bob Agra took a trip to Manitowoc WI to see the newest boat being built at the Berger Boat Yards. We saw several other things of great interest along the way. We learned so much on the trip and got to know each other better. Great trip and thanks to all who arranged it. – Mary Jo Hoag
Joan Winstein, Class of 2012 – Continued Learning and Respect
I learned in Brent Hoffman’s very good article about Joan that she is researching the life and career of architect Patricia Swan. Swan directed the offices of SOM in Denver for many years and designed several buildings. Joan is planning on a tour of her buildings. Great idea and wonderful way to bring to life Swan’s work. – Mary Jo Hoag
Bob Sutter, Class of 2019, Education Guide, Exhibit Host – Collaboration
There was a new Geoffrey Baer program on WTTW last week. Title Chicago By L. Bob thought of the Elevated Architecture docents (which is not one of his own tours). He sent a friendly reminder to the tour directors about the program so we could pass the word to all the Elevated docents. Way to look out for fellow docents, thanks, Bob! – Polly Kawalek
Joan Johns, Class of 2008 – Collaboration and Continued Learning
Joan graciously spent a great deal of time reviewing the draft revisions to the Historic Treasures manual last month. Her suggested changes were right on point and we enthusiastically adopted them. Thanks so much for your help, Joan. – Leslie Clark Lewis
Kathy Baker, Class of 2016; Donna Gabanski, Class of 1994; Delta Greene, Class of 2008; Lisa Voigt, Class of 2013 – Collaboration, Continued Learning, and Integrity
The Class of 2020 training team has been doing amazing work. CAC Closure due to COVID-19 has meant postponing and redesigning new docent training. Kathy, Donna, Delta, and Lisa have been so proactive in working on new plans and it has been inspiring to see how quickly they were able to come together and figure out what we need to do going forward. Their commitment is unparalleled and they deserve many kudos. – Michele Kuhn
Lance Friedmann, Class of 2015; Constance Rajala, Class of 2008; Tom Carmichael, Class of 2007; Kathleen Carpenter, Class of 2006; Kathleen Hanley, Class of 2015 – Collaboration and Continued Learning
The river cruise training team has been working diligently for months on plans for training a new class of river docents. Class was meant to begin last Saturday, but due to COVID-19 and CAC closure, we had to postpone. The training team has been working very hard to come up with alternative methods of training while maintaining communication with river cruise docents. Great work, team! – Michele Kuhn