Get out your calendars everyone, as I have lots and lots of dates for you – from now through next spring. And, awaiting you at the end of this letter is a nice surprise.
July 23, 24, 25, 28 First round of orientation sessions. Held at 224 S Michigan. Sign up!
July 29 Last walking tours depart from 224
August 1-6 Additional neighborhood Historic and LaSalle Deco tours added to the schedule. Check Volunteer Matters for sign up.
Throughout the above period, River Cruises, neighborhood and building tours depart per usual schedule.
August 7 First tours depart from CAC
August 31 Grand opening CAC to the public
November 10 (Saturday) All-Docent General Meeting
April 12 2019 (Friday) DAN (venue TBAnnounced)
If you cannot attend one of the scheduled Orientation sessions, please let Erin or Caroline know. There will be additional help. Floorplans and updated schematics will be part of the orientation program.
Many of you have probably had some sneak peeks into our new home at 111 E Wacker, as you have certified for the revised versions of the tours that leave from a central location. Plans are coming together nicely for the newly buffed up and expanded Model. There will be exhibition offerings on notable Chicago architects (all deceased, to avoid favoritism among the living), Chicago neighborhoods (including Pilsen, Pullman, Bronzeville) and Race to the Top (tall buildings from all over the world to contextualize Chicago’s role). All of the exhibits require formally trained volunteer hosts. Several docents have expressed interest in this new role and everyone is warmly invited to join the Exhibit Hosts, which will require several days’ training in content and methodology. If the prospect of heat, snow, and cracked sidewalks may be losing its appeal, you might want to think about it. Or perhaps you would just like to help CAC in a new and challenging way. Contact Caroline if you are interested.
Finally, the nice surprise. Dan Cruikshank, a British art historian and BBC presenter, has just published Skyscraper, a book devoted to the Reliance Building. Skyscraper is part of The Landmark Library, which includes volumes on Magna Carta, Guernica, and Handel’s Messiah. Donna Gabanski will order it for our library when it re-opens. Chicago’s architecture is in formidable company, and as long as I am in a British mode, we should all be properly chuffed at this recognition.
See you at orientation, Constance
Editor’s note: The minutes for Docent Council meetings are available on The Bridge. You may CLICK HERE to read the June minutes. Find previous minutes by clicking Files and Documents on the home page/then Docent/Docent Council/ then the year and month.