By Ellen Shubart, Class of 2006
If measured by shouts, applause and whoops, DAN 2023 was certainly a success! Last Thursday, June 15th, docents cheered for those fellow docents who won awards and for those who were honored for their long years of service for the Chicago Architecture Center.
The lecture hall, the entry to the lecture hall, and the upstairs gallery (currently holding the Framed exhibit) were filled with docents, some wearing traditional red shirts, others dressed a bit spiffier, celebrating. Food stations offered edibles—Greek chicken, Chicago dogs, Pilsen’s tacos. Cold, windy weather prevented using the outdoor plaza, but the weather didn’t stop people from mingling, talking, eating, and cheering each other on.
Lisa Voigt, (2013) was named Outstanding Docent. Lisa is co-chair of two committees, Tour and Education. She has been involved with training recent docent classes and designed evaluations for prospective docents. Lisa’s counsel was invaluable assisting CAC to transition to The Bridge and Volunteer Matters from older, online platforms. Certified for six tours, Lisa is co-tour director of Walk Through Time. She won three previous service awards, indicating her continuing strong presence and contribution to the docent community.
Lisa was not present to accept the award; her co-Education Committee chair, Kathy Baker, accepted the award for her, noting that Lisa was in Spain celebrating her twin nieces’ high school graduation.
The Above and Beyond Awards, are selected by the staff to recognize docents who “went the extra mile. “
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- Marcia Ross serves as the co-chair of the Enrichment Committee. She has created new programming for docent enrichment and restored the annual docent trip, this year to New Orleans. Simultaneously, she gave more than 80 walking tours and river cruises during the past year, frequently answering the help-wanted SOS calls.
- Steve Haddad certified for the river cruise in 2022, and he never failed to heed the many help-needed SOS calls to fill open cruises.
The One Team Award, also awarded by staff, recognizes outstanding service through non-tour work in the past year. Mark Purdome, winner of this year’s award, upgraded the Barry Sears Docent Library. Mark’s extraordinary technological expertise made it possible to digitize cataloging and circulation. Using these same skills, Mark established websites for training, facilitating communication between docents and docents-to-be. He was also honored for his genial disposition and easy “yes, I can do that” when asked about solving a problem.
Other awards were selected from peer nominations.
The Neighborhood Tour Director Award recognizes exceptional training, creating, or updating materials that enhance a tour. Virginia Gerst received this award. She refurbished and renovated a long-standing tour with new material, new points of interest, and an incredible amount of enthusiasm. Many nominations came from the docents who give the tour as they so appreciated her guidance and training.
Docent Service Awards are also presented based on peer nominations. Six Docent Service Awards were presented this year.
Lori Nelson (2020) was honored for stepping up her involvement with CAC in a big way. She has added tours beyond the two she learned during training, including the river. Due to Covid, she was class rep to Docent Council for the longest time anyone has ever been a class rep! Lori then ran for DC, was elected, and voted by her peers as Vice President/Treasurer. As a member of the Education Committee, Lori spent many hours interviewing applicants, and she helped with the training process. Way to go, Newbie!
Matt Sheffer (2019) also came on board quickly. Employed full time, he nevertheless worked with new docent classes since 2020 as an unofficial member of the Education Committee. He has been a sponsor, reader, coach, and certifier. For the past two years Matt has given the presentation “Introductions, Conclusions, and Connections” to the new classes. Matt is certified on six tours and is a member of the Tour Committee.
Erica Myles (2019) has worked on many committees, particularly those dealing with Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity. She is the co-chair of the new Defining the Docent Experience Task Force. Erica was honored for her work last year on the Enrichment Committee, where she stepped up to lead the CAC Book Club, co-chaired with Bill Lipsman. Erica was cited by her nominating peer as a competent professional who manages to combine a career with volunteering.
John Schneider, a long-time docent, serves as the secretary of Docent Council. He was nominated because he is conscientious, precise, and timely in recording minutes of Docent Council meetings. He gets the minutes out to the docent community via The Bridge as rapidly as possible. According to his nomination, John exemplifies all the best qualities we seek in a docent.
Lisa Ciota serves both as an Education Guide and a docent. , giving dual service to CAC. She is active on the Communications Committee writing articles for publication on The Bridge. Lisa developed a tour of Sears Kit Homes in Downers Grove; first presented to fellow Communications Committee members, she later presented the tour as a PowerPoint presentation for CAC@Home. She was involved in creating the CAC Family Fire tour as well. Lisa is generous with her time and talents and deserves an award for service above and beyond the ordinary, according to the fellow docent who nominated her.
The last, but certainly not least, Service Award went to Susan Frost (2015). Described as tireless, creative, and always delivering the highest quality contributions, Susan has written for CAC’s magazine and The Bridge. She created a presentation for CAC@Home titled “Things I Wish I Could Have Told You on the Boat.” And she led the development of Project Polyglot, a multi-lingual narration technology allowing cruise passengers to hear the tour in several languages. Over more than eight years, Susan served river cruise docents as a model for pacing, nuance, and emphasis.
Congratulations to all of the recipients! See you next year at DAN!
from left: Above and Beyond Award winners Steve Haddad and Marica Ross; One Team Award winner Mark Purdome; Neighborhood Tour Director winner Virginia Gerst.
from left top: Docent Service Award winners Lori Nelson, Matt Sheffer, Erica Miles
from left bottom: Docent Service Award winners John Schneider, Lisa Ciota, Susan Frost
2022 Outstanding Docent Achievement Award winner Lisa Voigt.
Here are a few photos from the evening – you’ll find MORE HERE on CAC’s Facebook page.
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