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My fellow docents,

It is a whole new world.  And we are likely not returning to our old world without some permanent changes.  That should not be scary.  Most of us have lived a pretty long time (as I write this on my birthday, it’s feeling like a REALLY long time for me), and we’ve seen many events that changed our daily lives.  Even so, I have seen some folks dramatically predict the death of the city because of the pandemic.  I absolutely disagree.  If anything, I think this pandemic has proven how much we NEED cities.  We are more fully appreciating how much we need to be with each other and support each other.  We need connections, not isolation, to be happy.

I see this need among our docent family.  While Zoom is a paltry replacement for in-person meetings, I have enjoyed the many CAC Zoom meetings and hearing squeals of delight when docents connect!  While we came to CAC to volunteer and teach folks about Chicago’s architecture and history, along the way we have made life-long friends (and occasionally found a spouse!).  DAN—thank you again Lynne and Larry—also demonstrated how nice it was to “be together,” even if it was on our computers and communications were by chat.

And this caring for one another is demonstrated again as tours have restarted.  I give the River Cruise, and after almost every cruise, the docents have been sharing their cruise experiences, both positive and negative, mostly positive.  It has been comforting to hear how well the tours are going. So that I have taken that first step of signing up for my inaugural 2020 cruise!  I understand that similar communications are happening among docents on active core and neighborhood tours.  Kudos to the early tour givers for getting out there and filling the tour slots, and thank you for helping those of us who are more tentative feel more informed and more at ease.  But always remember, give no tours until YOU feel comfortable.

We need our city.  We love our city.  We will care for each other.  We are docents at CAC!!

Kent