A Message to the CAF Docent Body from the Move Task Force:
By now, most everyone knows that with the CAF move to 111 East Wacker Drive, many of our so-called “core” tours (leaving from the shop, going out two times a week or more, running year-round and self-scheduled by docents/staff) are being revised – rerouted and re-conceived.
We are making great progress on this important task. At its October meeting, the Tour Committee approved the new routes for these tours. And this means that tour directors for these core tours are now working hard on creating the new tour manuals. The deadline for them to be completed is December 13, 2017.
Here’s what you need to know about what’s next:
If you are a docent who gives one of these four major core tours – Modern, Art Deco, Evolution and Masterworks, you have probably already received an email from the tour director(s) about the proposed new routes and the expectation for new training for these tours. Training for these tours will require two days of class and re-certification.
If you are a docent who gives Historic you probably received an email outlining the new route from the two new co-TDs, Nancy Carter and Ed McDevitt. These two have been selected to co-direct the new tour, which we now are calling Early Skyscrapers. They were selected to be TDs by Tour Committee but still need Docent Council approval, which will come early next month. Everyone who wants to be certified in this tour will need to take two days of training and re-certification.
If you are a docent who gives Treasures, Must-See, Elevated Architecture, Millennium Park, and/or Hotel Boom, you, too, have likely received an email from the tour directors talking about the new routes and advising you that you will asked to take a “refresher” class, an updating but not a full training. Refresher means that you will be expected to take a one-day refresher course to update you on the new route.
For all of you who give either the current Historic and/or the Art Deco Downtown tour, both will be turned into neighborhood tours, which means they will meet at a given site (not at the Chicago Architecture Center) and be done as our other current neighborhood tours without GTS. That means we have not abandoned the buildings in the south loop but will interpret them to tourists in another manner. Art Deco TDs Bill Coffin and Fawn Gottlieb, and Historic TD Jack Kremers (with a soon-to-be appointed co-TD) will work on these tours and will be in touch with you about them.
For those who give Food and Architecture 1893 and/or Tiffany, these, too, will become neighborhood tours. You should have heard about that from the TDs involved. A half-day refresher will be required for these tours.
Training Expectations
Re-training will be held multiple times in the first half of next year. Sessions required for the core tours will be offered two or three times to accommodate those who are snowbirds, on vacation, or have other plans. Refreshers also will be offered more than once so we can accommodate everyone who wants to continue to give these tours. More details will be spelled out at the November 18 All Docent Day.
At this time, we envision being able to train everyone who is currently certified in the tours that they now give. If you want to learn a new tour, only those tours with full training will be open to you and only if we have space. Priority will be given to those who currently give the tours.
Critical Survey to Complete
On November 19, you will receive a training survey. Please give it your immediate attention. You will be asked whether you want to continue to give any of the core tours you are certified for and when is the best time for you to learn the new tour – whether it be through a refresher or a full training. We will then know how many people want to take the new training, and how many can come in the time-frames available. We will try to match your best time to learn with the availability of our speakers and the training space at CAF.
In other Move news:
- Ellen Oberhart, Chair of the Volunteer Steering Committee, has joined the Move Task Force to ensure that we are moving in concert with VEV re-trainings, changes, etc.
- Thanks to all of the docents on various tours who have agreed to step up and help TDs get the new manuals in shape. If you are interested in helping as well, contact your TDs and let them know what you’d like to do.
- Keep up-to-date with the news about the Move by watching for posts on The Bridge. And notice that there is new place to click on FAQs About The Move in the right-hand column in RED. In addition, a new Move communications committee has been set up to keep you up-to-date.
Remember, questions and comments are always welcome – just contact a Move Task Force member: Tom Carmichael, Kathleen Carpenter, Caroline Duda, Lance Friedmann, Delta Greene, Leslie Clark Lewis, Michael Malak, Jen Masengarb, Ellen Oberhart, Bobbi Pinkert, Hallie Rosen, Constance Rajala, Ellen Shubart, Shera Street, and Lisa Voigt.