Spring greetings are in order as we embrace the return of nice weather and our thoughts turn toward a new season of outdoor living, leisure travel, and family vacation planning. Hold the phone! We have two major CBC events coming up before breaking for Summer…the Merit Awards Night dinner in May and our Golf Outing in June.

We are shooting for three hundred attendees at the May 17th Merit Awards gala at the Union League Club. Chairman Fred Berglund and his Merit Awards Committee have something new this year to make the evening more enjoyable than ever... real "downtown" live entertainment, the Larry Hanks Trio, featuring blues vocalist Joan Collaso. You may have previously caught their class act at one of the hotels and clubs around town, and, if so, will surely want to hear more. They will be providing entertainment during the cocktail hour, and take the stage for short sets during the breaks we take between award categories.

Did you realize that this year is the 50th Annual celebration of CBC's Merit Awards? To recognize that milestone, we're preparing a presentation to recognize past winners and an enhanced Souvenir Program that you'll want to keep as a memento of this special evening.

Come June 21st, we'll convene once again at Bloomingdale Golf Club for the second annual modern-era CBC Golf Classic. If you wish to play golf, I suggest reserving your foursome as

soon as possible, for only ten foursomes remain available at this writing. We can still use a few Tee, Green, and Contest Sponsors and need major sponsors for Breakfast and the Halfway House. If you have any nice items cluttering up your premiums closet, we sure could use them as prizes for the raffles.

I hope these two great CBC events will enjoy as much success as the April 19th Luncheon Meeting, when Lori Healey drew over 180 attendees for her presentation on the City of Chicago Department of Planning & Development…a recent record. It is always interesting to learn more about how the City works and comforting to know that Lori's Department is in good hands.

Finally, I must call your attention to the 2006 Award of Honor program, which commences in early June with mailing Nomination packages to all CBC Members. Once again, Chairman John Lahey of Solomon, Cordwell & Buenz, and his AOH Committee will administer the selection process over the coming months which culminates in our presentation of the new Award of Honor at the October CBC luncheon. Please give some thought to whom you might wish to nominate for this prestigious recognition. The Award of Honor is intended to recognize a senior person in the Building Industry and celebrate his or her lifetime of accomplishment.

Happy Spring!