By Ross Wirth, Class of 2019
If the weather the last couple of days is to be believed – it’s nearly spring and not just the beginning of the year. I’m sure it’s not!
2024 is off to a big start for the CAC! We already hosted our 2nd annual Design Film Festival at the end of January and kicked off training a new class of docents with an orientation session on January 13 and Week 1 of Fundamentals on January 20. My heartfelt thanks to the Education Committee and CAC Staff for structuring and executing such fantastic training. Of course, a big kudos and thanks goes out to all the docents acting as Mentors and Coaches to our future peers!
Speaking of docent training, I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of guest lecturer Tom Leslie’s presentation where he shared his fascinating perspective on early skyscraper skeletons and foundations – including some controversial opinions on what the first skyscraper was. I’ll just leave it at that, so we can begin an exciting discussion in the comment section below.
I also had the privilege of joining members of the class of 2024 after they came back from their work on the streets and along the river. I was once again excited and engaged by a new class preparing to join our ranks – lots of different backgrounds and perspectives who will soon be joining us!
At the January Docent Council meeting, we thanked the 2023 Council and Committee Chairs, welcomed new council members and elected our 2024 officers. It is a privilege to serve as your Docent Council president for another year. Congratulations also to Lori Nelson and John Schneider who will both serve another term as VP/Treasurer and Secretary, respectively. Thank you for all your work this past year and I look forward to the next.
I also want to reiterate my thanks to Docent Council members who just finished their terms: Lance Friedman, Jill Carlson, Cynthia Karabush, and Catherine Thomson, the Class of 2023 representative. Thank you also to Susan Pappas and Kathy Baker whose terms as Co-chair of Standards and Education Committees, respectively, just ended.
Please join me in welcoming our new Docent Council Members: Steve Haddad, Delta Green, and Kelly Manteck, as well as new Committee Co-Chairs: Lisa Ciotta – Communications, Mark Purdome – Education, Ellen Shubart – Marketing, and Kathy Baker – Standards. The Class of 2024 representative will join us after their election in the coming weeks.
With the end of the year, each Committee published their annual report summarizing their goals and accomplishments for the year. Links to these reports are below and I encourage you to take a read through – there’s some fantastic work going on, as always! If what you read sparks a desire to get involved, please reach out to a committee chair or Docent Council member (click HERE for the full listing of Docent Council members & Committee Chairs).
I’m looking forward to the annual Docent Council Strategy Workshop coming up in early March. We will spend a day together and define priorities and actions for our focus in the year ahead as we seek to help in delivering the CAC’s strategy! More to come on this following the workshop.
I’ll close with a thought about tours – our primary focus as docents. In looking back, I was reminded of the increase in both walking and river tours in each of Eleanor’s quarterly reports. We’re about to enter busy season and things could not look better! And for the future – the call for new 2025 tours is open on The Bridge thru June 1. Make 2025 your year – highlight your neighborhood, your favorite theme, or your favorite architect, and submit your ideas for a new tour! Not sure what makes for a good tour, or how to create one – join the info session on Tuesday, February 20th at 5:30PM: RSVP here.
Wishing everyone fantastic 2024. See you on the streets!
-Ross
rw****@ar**********.org
Links:
- Docent Council Meeting Minutes – January
- Docent Council Meeting Minutes – February
- 2023 Committee End of year Reports:
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