On January 21, 2023 we visited the Union League Club of Chicago. This is a famous historic location.

Our speaker was Vivica Lewis, who made her circumnavigation in the summer of 2022. Clicking on her name will give you more information about her and her research topic: "Birth Control Bans to Contraceptive Care".

To learn more about all 22 scholars our Chapter has sponsored over the past 2 decades: Click here.

On March 22, 2023 we assembled in the Community Room, 505 N. Lake Shore Drive, home of Mary Houston for a light dinner and a presentation.

Our speaker & Foundation Scholar for 2021 was Mackenzie Gentz. She made her circumnavigation in the summer of 2022 due to Covid complications. Clicking on her name will give you more information about her and her research topic: "Linguistic Baggage: A Global Examination of Adult Accent Training in English as a Second Language".

To learn more about all 22 scholars our Chapter has sponsored over the past 2 decades: Click here.

This was a bittersweet moment for our chapter. We had managed to catch up after the damage Covid did to the plans of our Foundation Scholars, who are supported by Deanna Padgett, VP - Foundation.

But earlier this month a long-time chapter member and officer, Barb Franch, passed away. Only a week after this chapter meeting there was a celebration of Barb's life set up by her family and friends.

To recognize and honor Barb, our chapter made a donation to the Foundation which supports our Foundation Scholars.

And Barbara Gail Franch's name was entered on our Over the Horizon Page where we honor our dear members and remember our beloved friends.

On September 20, 2023 we assembled at the Cliff Dwellers Club located on the 22nd floor at 200 S. Michigan. This is a very popular location with our members because of its outdoor terrace and magnificient views of Chicago's lake front. There are several photos of views from the terrace in last year's event report.

This year members spent a lot of time chatting with other members and guests. Result was few photos of members; everyone was so focused having fun talking to old and new friends to take photos.

Our speaker was Dr. Nina Kraus of the Brainvolts Laboratory at Northwestern.

She explained how our brain processed sound in some depth, but her colorful slides made it easier to understand. Some of this material is on the Brainvolts Laboratory website. How do children process sound and learn a language? The advantages of bilingualism in hearing, etc. Our members and guests asked a lot of questions.

The members of the Illinois Chapter of TCC were kindly invited to join the members of the Circumnavigators Club Chicago Chapter at the December Meeting / Holiday Dinner. Seven TCC members, including three who are also Circumnavigators Club members, attended.

We all enjoyed a delicious dinner at Francesca’s on Chestnut in Chicago. It has a cozy feeling like being in a storage cave of a vineyard. After electing our officers for the next two-year term, guest speaker Steven Cory Solomon talked about his experiences as a Rotary Scholar in Durban, South Africa. He shared how Dr. Jane Goodall and Archbishop Desmond Tutu changed his life through global opportunities.

Steven also told some of his favorite travel experiences living with a Mayan family in Guatemala, drinking at dog cafes in Thailand, swimming in a cave in Belize, sleeping on a raised platform in the Amazon, eating at the dark restaurant in Berlin, experiencing the tölt on Icelandic horses, and more!