Photos of 2024 Events
This page is the historical archive of the 4 events sponsored by the Chicago Chapter of the Circumnavigators Club in 2024. It has copies of the invitations to the events as well as photos from each event. This was the third year of the Covid plague but all 4 of our meetings were held in person as customary. |
See our 2023 events and photos in the archive. Also view all events and photos from 1986 to 2023.
The entire history of the Chicago Chapter can be found grouped by year in
the Photos and Events archive.
Below is a listing of early info and invitations for our 2024 events.
Click on the photo thumbnails for early event info. Save the date on your calendar.
A text thumbnail indicates the invitation with full info is available in pdf format.
Sunday, April 28th, 2024
"Meet Elizabeth Hyun, 2023 Scholar"
at the Koi Fine Asian Cuisine and Lounge (website)
624 Davis Street in Evanston (map) starting at 12:30pm.
Cash bar -- 12:30 - 1:15 Appetizers and Conversation
Lunch ----- 1:15
Program -- follows lunch
Sunday, July 14th, 2024
"Climbing to the Top of Africa"
at the LaVilla Italian Restaurant, 3638 N. Pulaski Road in Chicago (map)
Click on thumbnail to get invitation to this event.
Circumnavigators can sign up for this event using their credit card at eventbrite.com.
Sunday, September 15th, 2024
"Foundation Fundraiser Brunch"
at the home of Carol Sommers, 1558 N Hoyne Ave in Chicago (map)
Click on thumbnail to get invitation to this event.
Saturday, December 7th, 2024
"Annual Holiday Party"
Francesca's Restaurant Wine Cellar, 200 E. Chestnut in Chicago (map)
Click on thumbnail to get invitation to this event.
Circumnavigators can sign up for this event using their credit card at eventbrite.com.
On Sunday, April 28, 2024, we gathered at 12:30pm at the Koi Fine Asian Cusine and Lounge at 624 Davis Street in Evanston. This was a cozy and friendly restaurant within walking distance of the Northwestern University Campus. So a number of NU students joined us.
We were meeting to enjoy fellowship and to listen to the trip/project report from Elizabeth Hyun. She is the Foundation Scholar sponsored by the Chicago Circumnavigators Chapter. Her research topic is sadly even more topical than when Elizabeth selected it. Her project: A Comparative Study on Psychotraumatology: Investigating Trauma Care in Post-Conflict Countries.
Liz's research involved a series of expert interviews with professionals and scholars in the fields of mental health, social science, and community support in Buenos Aires, Argentina; Belfast, Northern Ireland; Sarajevo, Bosnia; Tokyo, Japan; and Seoul, South Korea.
We also recognized and presented new membership certificates to three new members. See their photos below.
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Left: David Warning and his guest joined Chapter President Jim Franch wearing a new Club-logoed shirt. Right: Deanna Padgett, VP-Foundation, 2024 Foundation Finalist Lucia Barnum, and new members Katie Valleau & Nathan Martin. | |||
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Left: Former Chapter Presidents, Karen Schuelter & Jeneane Blom and former Secretary Don Blom. Right: Webmaster, Don Parrish and Secretary Mary Houston. | |||
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Left: Our newest member Carol Sommers and her husband Nick. Right: Dan Peterson, President-Elect of Circumnavigators Club, Elizabeth Hyun, our speaker, 2 NU students and Pat Smith, former Secretary. | |||
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Left: Jan Aaron, VP Communications and Deanna Padgett, VP Foundation enjoy the ambiance. Right: Elizabeth Hyun gives her presentation. | |||
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Left: Audience view as Elizabeth talks Right: This Slide captures the root of the problem in her research topic. | |||
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Left: Deanna bursts with joy to present the flags of the countries Elizabeth visited. Liz then named them in sequence per club tradition. Right: A hug seals the bond for the successful accomplishment of this round the world research trip. | |||
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Left: Jim presents membership certificates to Katie Valleau and Nathan Martin. Right: Mary Houston, our Secretary, presents a membership certificate to Carol Sommers, our newest member. |
On Sunday, July 14, 2024, we gathered at 12:30pm at the La Villa Restaurant in Chicago. This is a classic family-run Italian Restaurant with authentic food and a fully stocked bar. It is a popular local place and hidden gem.
Like everyone else, David Waring has a bucket list. Getting to the top of Mount Kilimanjaro is on his list. But at his age, only 4% who start actually succeed and the number decreases with age! After an intense preparation he signed on with a small group tour that had a good success rating.
He thrilled us with his audio and visuals as well as his twists and turns as he reached the summit. Unfortunately his tent mate had to turn back due to altitude sickness. .
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Left: David Waring (with a Globus monkey behind him) in the hot and humid base camp bush. Right: The team is well above the tree line and in the clouds slowly moving higher. | |||
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Left: David and the group at the final base camp starting to climb to the top before dawn. Right: In the high winds, cold, and snow the hikers almost lose sight of each other! | |||
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Left: At the summit! But only for minutes as they need to get down before nightfall. Right: The lucky 20 guests who got to experience David's journey as well as a great meal! |
On Sunday, September 15, 2024, we gathered at 1:00pm at the home of Carol and Nick Sommers in Chicago.
Their home is a lovely and amazing place filled with treasures they have collected on their many travels. All of the circumnavigators were immpresed with their home and the hosptality of Carol and Nick. This was one of a kind event.
Carol got her Circumnavigators membership certificate at the April event. And now she and Nick were hosts to our annual fundraising event for the Foundation scholar our chapter sends on a research trip around the world.
An added bounus this time around was a competition to name each numbered artifact (1 point) and its origin country (2 points). The 4 teams were quite competitive and the scores were close.
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Left: Nick's Backyard Minature Train Landscape complete with two running trains and a live koi pond. Right: Host Nick Sommers explains to Chapter President Jim Franch how the pond and tracks were laid to withstand the Chicago winters. | |||
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Left: Hostess Carol Sommers with snacks in downstairs bar. Right: Nick Sommers, Circumnavigators President Dan Peterson and TCC guest Mike Thiemann. | |||
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Left: Long time former officers Jeneane & Don Bloom. Right: Some of the historic and beautiful windows from the Gilded Age. | |||
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Left: Foundation Coordinator Deanna Padgett with NU Professor and liaison Dr. Peter Civetta. Right: member Mary Houston admiring one of the Sommers' artifacts from their travels that fill literally every niche and corner of the house. | |||
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Left: The attendees at the long dining table enjoying a brief respite between courses. Right: Kent and Jaqui Winship with their guest Mike Thiemann after the event. |
On Saturday, December 7, 2024, we gathered at 12:30pm at the the wine cellar of Francesca's on Walnut in downtown Chicago. It is a popular local place and a hidden gem.
Everyone enjoyed catching up with each other before settling down to lunch and the talk.
This time we had Leslie Pollock (a noted author, architect, local urban planner and world traveler) share his thoughts and recollections from his largely walking journey "following the sun" as it moved westward from Chicago to the Orient then Europe and eventually back to Chicago.
His insights, critiques and kudos concerning how each city addressed the unique needs of their population in light of local conditions was truly spell binding.
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Left: Speaker Les Pollock outlines his East to West zig-zag route follow the sun trip around the world. He is a noted architect who rates cities from a foot walker's perspective. Right: Here is Les summarizing his observations on his stay in Hanoi, Viet Nam. He pointed out the positives and negatives of each city he visited. |
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Left: In the foreground newly announced member candidate Jack Piliponis, members Karen Schuelter, Pat Smith, Mary Houston (standing) and Bob Compton (KC's new at large member) check on each others travels before brunch. Right: The front table shows International President Dan Peterson with our long-time webmaster Don Parrish (both standing), Nick Sommers in authentic Tyrolean finery, Carol Sommers and her guest Olga Tipton. |
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Left: Guest Mark Thienman and members Don and Jeneane Blom share an excellent glass of wine before brunch. Right: Later on they are joined by Kent and Jaqui Winship (Mark's hosts today and membership VP). |