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Canadian Women’s Club of Chicago Newsletter
June 2009

President’s Message

As is so often the way, it seems like the year has raced by, but on the other hand last September seems to be ages ago. TIME flies and crawls at the same time somehow TIME is in short supply but it’s something we’re willing to give to something we care about. We’ve spent TIME together at all the wonderful events this year, and it was all possible because many special ladies cared enough to “donate” their TIME so willingly to the club. So I’m going to use my last TIME with you here to thank all these ladies for their TIME, and I hope you’ll take the TIME to read this, and maybe even pass along your personal thanks to them if you have the chance. I am overwhelmingly grateful to:

	Anne Rizzolo, Mirella Caputo, and Robin Allison, our “Programme and Hospitality” committee. They toiled unseen, months in advance, to plan everything from the obvious to the minute details that made each of our luncheons wonderful (and look so effortless!).
	Jan Dengis, our newsletter editor, and Lucie Dumas, newsletter distribution. Each month Jan gathered the raw information and turned a very readable newsletter to share our club news. Lucie made sure it, along with the invitation, made it to all our members and prospects. Both of them deserve an extra thank you for working out the kinks to initiate email distribution last fall.
	Treasurer Joan Ridyard, who handled everything to do with money: she collected, recorded and deposited luncheon payments; made sure all the bills were paid and philanthropy donations sent; prepared and tracked our budget: and presented the Board with very informative financial reports at each Board meeting. We are very grateful for her accounting skills!
	Membership chair Janet Walker, who made sure the club had lots of enthusiastic members. She, along with Sheila Chin, is also responsible for producing that indispensable “little red book,” our directory.
	Beth Van den Berg and Paula  , our Social committee, who arranged two fun social events this year – last summer’s Ravinia outing, and the recent trip for brunch and a play at the Marriott Lincolnshire.
	Secretary Jackie Brennan took and made wonderfully clear minutes at each Board meeting, even when she had to travel from Iowa just for the meetings!
	Norah Johnson, who coordinated our philanthropies throughout the year and is arranging some major donations at the end of the Club year in June (we’ll share details in the fall!)
	Paula  , Publicity Chair, and her husband. Together they shared information about the club, and made a great impression online.
	Projects Chair Bev Paonessa, who was responsible for selling the wildly popular hand-painted maple leaf pins along with a variety of other exclusive CWC products.
	Susanna Doolin, Special Events Chair, who arranged some special activities this year, including two wonderful tours of Grant Park.
	Past President Carol Taylor, who provided me with guidance based not only on her experience as President but her years of active involvement with the club.
	“The Christmas Tree Ladies”. The Canadian Tree at the Museum of Science and Industry is now in the capable hands of Elsa Bruining, after many years of loving care by (name withheld). Kris Lewis takes care of two other trees, one at the office of Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas, and one at Navy Pier.
	Barb Miller, the club’s “ray of sunshine”, who kept track of events, both happy and sad, in the lives of our members and acknowledged them with cards.
	Garden Club (name withheld), who organized the recent Plant Exchange party at (withheld), and has several other activities in the works over the summer – watch for more information.
	And finally, Beth Van den Berg, my Vice President and “right hand woman”, who was a wise and calm sounding board over and over again throughout the year.

These women were all great at their individual jobs, but most importantly the Board worked as a team.  Throughout the year, we worked together to deal with the routine and the unusual. We didn’t always agree, but we shared our thoughts and ideas and made the decisions that needed to be made. I cannot thank them enough for caring so much about the club to give their TIME and their hearts to make it the best it could be. I couldn’t have made it through the year without their support and encouragement!
 

Unfortunately, due to work and family commitments, Beth Van den Berg will be unable to take over as President this coming year. But I’m delighted to announce that we’ll have not one but two wonderful Presidents for 2009-2010 – Bev Paonessa and Paula   will be Co-Presidents, and I know the club is in very capable hands.
 

Have a wonderful summer, and watch your mailbox or email in-box over the summer for CWC news!
- Michelle Gillis, President

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
 

The deadline for submitting articles to be included in the September newsletter is August 26, 2009.  All articles should be submitted to Jan Dengis. Please put CWC on the subject line. Any questions, please call Jan.
 

MEMBER NEWS
 

In July we will say a sad farewell to Janet Walker, who will be returning to Canada for good with her husband Tony, who is retiring. Janet has been an active member of the club and the Board in the few short years she’s lived in Chicagoland, and we’ll miss her – a delightful lady (with a delightful accent!) and an organized Membership chair! All the best, Janet, in this next phase of your life!
 

Joan Ridyard and family are going to visit her eldest daughter Sarah this month. Sarah is teaching English for a year in Seoul, South Korea.

Summer Birthday Wishes:

	June: Bridget Gillen on June 5th, Marie-Claire Alves on June 13th, Bev Paonessa on June 18th, Kris Lewis on June 20th, Margaret Warren on June 23rd, Susanna Doolin and Mirella Caputo on June 29th.
	July: Sharon Gray on July 6th, Beth Van den Berg on July 7th, (name withheld) on July 16th and (withheld) on July 28th.
	August: Kathleen Hurley on August 6th, Barbara Dickie on August 7th, Sue Willis on August 8th and Joanne Carlson on August 16th.

2009-2010 BOARD ELECTIONS
 

At the June luncheon, elections will be held for the 2009-10 Board. Before the election, all members should be aware of the following sections from the Constitution and Bylaws of the Canadian Women’s Club of Chicago:

ARTICLE VII – NOMINATIONS
C. Nominations may also be submitted by a petition signed by 3 active members and sent to the Chairman at least one week before the annual election.
D. Nominations from the floor may be made at the annual meeting provided consent from the candidate has been obtained.
F. Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting in June. A majority of members present who vote shall constitute an election.

The proposed board is as follows:

MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL

Our year comes to the end as we take a break from our monthly meetings for the summer. I hope that you have all enjoyed being part of this great club as much as I have. It is now time to renew your membership in the Canadian Women's Club for the 2009-10 year. You will soon be getting the new membership forms. There has been a slight change to the form from last year. You can now receive your newsletter and monthly invitation by e-mail. Many of you chose this option in the 2008-09 year.  You will now see a place on the form to indicate whether you would like to have it this way, or not, in the 2009-10 year.
 

Do please send the CWC membership form and cheque as early as you can. This is very important as it makes processing the forms and getting the directory printed for the fall possible. As an incentive to renew, you will get a $5.00 discount if you renew before September 1, 2009. To be included in the directory, the completed membership form and full payment must be received by Sept 16th.
 

I will be moving back to Canada in July so all further correspondence should now be directed to our 2009-10 Membership Chair Sheila Chin.  Make sure you mail your renewal to her address, which will be printed on the form.
- Janet Walker, 2008-09 Membership Chair
 

PROGRAMME AND HOSPITALITY COMMITTEE REPORT

Wow! In May we had a fantastic turnout to the Consul General's Residence. Georges Rioux was very hospitable and we enjoyed hearing his overview of Canadian-American issues and what the consulate is working on, especially now with the change in administrations. If nothing else, he let us know that now is a great time to travel to Canada with the lower dollar and new flights on Porter flying us to Ontario from Midway. With any luck, WestJet will be coming our way soon, too!
 

We hope to have another great turnout on June 10th when we meet at (withheld)'s. She has lovely planters decorating the pool patio and we'll enjoy a simple picnic lunch in the party room. We want everyone to get there, so if we can help you find a car pool or help to get you there, please let Mirella know when you RSVP. Come out and connect with your CWC friends before summer is here and we take a break from our general meetings for a couple of months.

Next year's Programme Committee will be hard at work over the summer planning for the next season.  They would welcome any suggestions or comments you have.
- Robin Allison, Mirella Caputo, Anne Rizzolo
 

CLUB NEWS

Garden Club
On May 16th, eight members attended a plant exchange and delicious lunch at the home of (withheld). The weather cooperated so that we could enjoy a tour of her garden. We dug up some of her special Forget-me-nots and hope they’ll flourish in our gardens. Good luck to the gardeners who took plants home. Remember! Perennials sleep the first year, creep the second year and leap the third year.
 

Coming Garden Club Events:

	Sunday, June 28th  Everyone is invited to a Garden Walk starting at 2:00pm in Park Ridge. We will meet at 408 S. Lincoln at 2:00pm. There will be seven Gardens to tour.  The cost is $10.00 in advance or $15.00 the day of the tour. Please call (name withheld) if you would like to attend. Possibly some people could car pool.
	Wednesday, July 22nd   A visit to the Green City Market in Lincoln Park followed by a visit to the flower shop, “A New Leaf”, at Lincoln and Wells Streets. Lunch, to be determined, will be at a nearby restaurant. Everyone is welcome! We will meet at the home of Jan Dengis at 10:30am and then walk to the market when everyone has arrived. RSVP to Jan.
	Wednesday, September 9th  A tour of Cantigny Gardens. Details will be in the September Newsletter.

Please note that all members of the Canadian Women’s Club are welcome to all events.  Hope you will join us at these events!
- (name withheld)
 

Special Events:  Grant Park Walking Tour
Tuesday, May 5 proved to be a perfect day for a walking tour of Grant Park. The weather was ideal, the spring flowers were in full bloom, the grass was Irish green after many days of rain and the aroma from the crab apple tree blossoms was intoxicating.  CWC members Jan Dengis, Janet Walker, Kris Lewis, Karen Prieur, Bev Paonessa, Lucie Dumas and (withheld) met tour guide, Susanna Doolin, at the “Bean” in Millennium Park and from there they meandered in and out of Grant Park observing the many statues, monuments and gardens along the way. At the Museum Campus the group stopped for a quick break and took the photograph  at right. They then headed back along the lakefront to admire the newly renovated Buckingham Fountain. The two-hour walk concluded at the Park Grill for lunch. Many thanks to the Canadian Consulate for rewarding each member who participated in the tour with a handy tote bag, bearing the Canadian maple leaf emblem.
- Susanna Doolin

CANADIAN NEWS

Vancouver Olympics
Opening ceremonies for the 2010 Winter Olympics will be at BC Place on February 12, 2010 and the games will run until February 28. Alpine events will be held at Whistler/Blackcomb.

Canadian residents had the first opportunity to buy tickets but sales have recently been opened up worldwide. US residents can purchase tickets or ticket/accommodation packages at www.cosport.com.

If you’re planning on going, better start saving your money. Tickets for 2 Curling semifinal events plus the victory ceremony are going for $1,107 per person. Many hotels are offering combo accommodations and event ticket packages. The Hampton Inn in Vancouver is offering a package deal – 5 days, 4 nights accommodations plus 5 event tickets – for $6,297 per person.
 

The main website for the Vancouver Olympics is www.vancouver2010.com   
 

New Travel Requirements
The Government of Canada encourages Canadians living in the U.S. to prepare for new travel document requirements coming into effect June 1, 2009.
 

As of June 1, 2009, Canadian citizens will be required to present a valid passport, a NEXUS or Free and Secure Trade (FAST) card, or an enhanced driver's license/enhanced identification card when seeking to enter the United States at its land or water crossings. Canadian citizens 15 years of age or under will only require proof of Canadian citizenship, such as a birth certificate or Canadian citizenship card. Canadian citizens 18 years of age or under who are travelling with a school or other organized group, under adult supervision with parental/guardian consent, may also present proof of Canadian citizenship alone.

The U.S. document requirements for air travel came into effect in January 2007, and require Canadian citizens flying to, through or from the United States to present a valid passport or a valid NEXUS card when used at a NEXUS kiosk at participating Canadian airports or at any U.S. airport when returning to Canada. The air travel requirements apply to all Canadian citizens, regardless of age, including children.
 

For more information about U.S. entry requirements for Canadian citizens and how to apply for a WHTI-compliant document, visit the Canada Border Services Agency website.  To apply for a passport, visit Passport Canada's website and fill out an interactive application form.  You may also print out the form and fill it out by hand. Application forms may also be obtained in person at any Canadian government office in the United States.
 

The Canadian passport is the most reliable travel document for Canadian citizens and the only proof of your nationality and identity that is accepted in all countries. For more information, please visit www.passport.gc.ca.

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

The Atlantic Salmon Federation Chicago Dinner is planned for Wednesday, September 23 and will be held at the Racquet Club. Drew McNally is the Dinner Chairman and tickets for the event can be arranged by contacting The Atlantic Salmon Federation at 1-800-565-5666 or mchase@asf.ca.  Funds raised support important conservation research and education programs.
 

Canadian Event Calendar

	Saturday, June 6, 8:00pm, Bernard Lachance, Chicago Theater, Chicago (see article below)
	Monday, June 15, 1:00pm – 2:00pm, Tuesday, June 16, 12:30pm – 1:30pm, Daley Center Plaza Performers from Toronto's annual Caribana Festival will be performing at the 4th Annual Chicago Sister Cities International Festival. With all 27 of Chicago's international sister cities represented, this is the only city festival that truly represents the diversity and international spirit that exists in the city
	Thursday, June 18, 7:00pm, Comedian Jon Lajoie, Lakeshore Theater, Chicago
	Thursday, June 25, 8:15pm, Eating Buccaneers, a film, Gene Siskel Film Center, Chicago
	Saturday, June 27, 7:30pm, Diana Krall, Ravinia, Highland Park
	Sunday, June 28, 8:00pm, Diana Krall, Riverside Theater, Milwaukee
	Saturday, June 27, 10:00pm, Barenaked Ladies, Summerfest, Milwaukee
	Tuesday, June 30, 5:30pm, Barenaked Ladies, Petrillo Band Shell, Grant Park, Chicago

Canadian Club Calendar

Wednesday, June 10th, 7:30-9:30 AM  Canadian Club of Chicago: Current Trends in US and Canadian Immigration Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, 200 West Jackson Blvd., 13th floor conference center. Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, in conjunction with the Canadian Club of Chicago, will participate in a breakfast seminar on Current Trends in US and Canadian Immigration -- How the Economy and Politics Impact Immigration Policy and Practice. The seminar focuses on current U. S. and Canadian immigration issues, the effect of new immigration policies on companies and their employees and how proposed immigration policies and legislation will impact companies doing business in the U. S. and Canada. Tickets are $15 for Canadian Club members, $25 non members.

Wednesday, June 24, 7:30-9:00 AM Canadian Club of Chicago: Quebec in North America – From Champlain to the Cirque de Soleil! Guest speaker Mr. Marc T. Boucher, Québec Government Representative in the Midwest Writer and professor on Canada-US relations. Cliff Dwellers Club, 200 S. Michigan Avenue. Seated breakfast. Members 25$ / Non-members 35$, 7:30 – 8:00 Registration. 8:00 – 8:45 Presentation/breakfast. 8:45 – 9:00 Q&A. Synopsis: On this Québec National Day, “la St-Jean”, travel through more than 400 years of history and learn about the French Canadian heritage in the Midwest; from the arrival of Père Marquette and Joliet in 1673 to the present day. Register at 123signup

For more about these events search the website www.canadianclubofchicago.org
 

LETTER TO MISS HOLLYWOOD

Dear Miss Hollywood,
I read with great interest, in the May Newsletter, your confession of being addicted to what is often called "The Yellow Press."   I think it takes a lot of courage and humility to go public like you did. I am far from being as knowledgeable as you are about the intimacy of the Screen and Magazine stars.  However, I do admire your candid curiosity. Consequently, I decided to provide you with one more tale. It is a fabulous tale, and a true story . If you already know about this, then I believe that you really don’t miss much of what is going on in the show business.

You might think that I am a little biased since it is about a French Canadian artist who was born in the same town where I was born and raised. His wonderful story even has a link with Chicago. Now that I have aroused your curiosity, here is his unbelievable story.
 

His name is Bernard Lachance and he was born on June 23rd, 1977, in Lévis, on Québec City’s South Shore. He now lives in Montmagny, about 45 miles east of Lévis. He studied trumpet at the Québec Conservatory of music in 1989. He also developed skills in other areas such as piano and singing.  After graduating in 1992, Lachance headed to Montréal, to follow his dream of breaking into show business. As we all know, this is very hard for anybody, even more for an unknown little boy from Lévis.

His first years in Montréal were spent learning, observing and taking voice lessons. He also attended various TV show tapings as an audience member, simply to get a feel for what it would be like to be in front of the camera. After two years, he returned to his hometown with a unique and original marketing strategy that has never been done before. He recorded a demo tape and sent a copy to every citizen in Montmagny, hoping to create a buzz. He did indeed. On September 17, 1997, he presented his first show in a sold-out concert room. For Lachance, it was just the beginning of his strategy.
 

After releasing his first album, Seul, in 1998, and his self-produced second album, Ad Libitum, in 2001, he once again took the bull by the horns. He managed to sell a staggering 10,000 copies of his sophomore album, without a record contract. His aim was to spread the word of his talent on a bigger scale.

Lachance’s determination and friendly approach touched many, including art critics. In January 2006, Bernard Lachance released a third album, While I Remember You. He then spent a year in New York City to improve his English and work at the promotion of his new CD. Returning home, he decided to be his own manager. He spent weeks roaming the streets around the Capitol Theater in Québec City, and the famous Bell Centre in Montréal, selling tickets to his show.  You would find him with his iPod, to show you what he could do. He wore a T-shirt which displayed the seating plan of the theater, so you could choose your seat. Each ticket sold was then checked off on his T-shirt. He rented both venues himself and sold 4,000 seats in the Montreal 5,000-seat venue.  He was then ready to perform out of the Province of Québec.

Following a successful concert at Massey Hall in Toronto, he is now coming to Chicago.  His ultimate dream was to be invited on Oprah’s TV show. But being on that show is, in itself, an  exploit. Once again, he developed his own strategy. He sent Oprah a message on YouTube explaining what he was doing, inviting her to his show in Chicago, and asking her to help him sell tickets. Then, he rented the Chicago Theater for $18,000 for one night and came to Chicago to sell tickets in the streets around the Theater. Oprah liked his way and sent her friend and assistant, Gayle King, with a camera, to meet him in the streets. He could not believe his eyes and ears when he saw her and heard her inviting him to the show. On May 5, 2009, Bernard Lachance became the second Québec artist to be on Oprah’s show. The first one was Céline Dion. However, his bigger challenge is still to come - his show at the Chicago Theater, where he will perform, accompanied by 10 musicians and a big choir, on June 6th, at 8:00pm. Tickets ($39.-$49.) are available on his Web site bernardlachance.com or in the street!

Dear Miss Hollywood, I hope that this special story aroused your interest about Bernard Lachance. I have no doubt that you will hear much more about him in the future.
- Lucie Dumas
 

The Appeal of Canadian Universities

Did you know that more and more Americans are attending Canadian Universities? Across the country, about 9,000 Americans studied at Canadian universities and colleges this year, up from 2,300 just 12 years ago, according to Canada's embassy in Washington. I’ve seen features on this trend in recent months on NBC News, the Globe and Mail, and Macleans, amongst others, and having a son at the University of Waterloo, I wanted to find out more.

Not surprisingly, one of the main reasons is financial, but Canadian universities are recruiting more in the US in recent years, and potential students are taking notice. (Remember, in Canada, “universities” are degree-granting institutions similar to four-year American universities and colleges, and “colleges” offer diploma and certificate programs similar to American junior colleges.)

Americans are learning that, while many Canadian schools aren’t well known internationally, the overall quality of education is high. Canadian universities are recognized for their consistently high quality, leading-edge research and innovation, and any Canadian degree should provide a good preparation for a career or graduate work in the US or internationally.

Admission to Canadian universities is competitive, and like the US, it varies by school and by program – programs with a good reputation will be harder to get into. But there are some differences that work in the favour of American applicants.

	In general, Canadian schools don’t rely on standardized test scores like the ACT or SAT to screen applicants, an advantage to those who don’t test well.
	Applicants are evaluated on their most recent high school grades and their personal qualities, as expressed in their extra-curricular activities and application essays. “Late Bloomers” benefit from this, since grades from Grades 9 and 10 are often not considered.
	International student applications are processed manually, which gives you a good chance to explain why you want to attend that school, and any aspects of your application that may not look good on the surface.
	The application deadline is much later than the US – typically April or May. This gives students longer to prepare their applications, and a “second chance” if they didn’t get accepted into the US universities they applied to.

But what about the costs? Many Americans are finding that US higher-education costs are getting out of reach. Since all Canadian universities are largely supported by direct Canadian government grants (not by loans or grants to students), costs are consistent, and lower – even for international students.

	A Canadian citizen or resident pays on average $5000 (cdn) tuition and fees per year. (Note that a student who has Canadian citizenship like my son, even if they live in the US, will pay this rate.)
	International students will pay the “un-subsidized” tuition, much as “out-of-state” students pay a premium at state schools in the US. This can range from $4,500 to $14,500 USD. Note that this amount varies with the exchange rate – right now it really works in our favour! Compare this to the US where in-state tuition is up to $10,000 and private universities can range up to $50,000 per year.
	Other costs (living in residence or off-campus, food, transportation, books, personal care, etc) vary by location in both countries, but often compare favourably. Again, the exchange rate plays a role.

A few other interesting facts:

	Geographically most Canadian universities are within 200 miles of the US border, and easily accessible from most of the US. Studying in Canada gives you many of the advantages of “studying abroad”, without traveling too far from home. And since Canada is a bilingual country, students also have the option of studying in French or English.
	The focus on sports is different – an athlete is treated no differently than any other student, and you’ll find nothing as competitive as the NCAA. And there are definitely more winter sports!
	Fewer students live on campus (“in residence, or “rez” for short) in Canada, but the facilities are often better – more private rooms and apartment style accommodations. Off-campus housing is often reasonably priced and readily available. Also, the legal drinking age in Canada is 18 or 19 (depending on the province).  Most Canadian universities require international students to carry health insurance, since they won’t be covered by the Canadian Medicare plan. This costs approximately $1200 (cdn) per year – a bargain compared to US health insurance premiums.

So if you have children who will be looking at a university education soon, or know someone who will, encourage them to consider Canada. There are lots of advantages to studying in our “neighbour to the north”!
-Michelle Gillis

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Email: mail@cwcchicago.com