As the year 2007 winds down amidst our season of Holiday Cheer, it's good to both reflect on our successes and look forward to a fresh start with a brand New Year.

Our events were well attended this year, with full houses for Carl Tannenbaum's “Economic Forecast” in January, Jeannie Gang's presentation on the “Aqua Tower,” in February, and Dan McCaffery's talk on the “Southworks” project in March. We broke some fresh ground with a successful first TableTop Tradeshow in April, followed through with a capacity audience for the Merit Awards in May, and held our Third Annual CBC “Golf Classic” in June before the Summer break.

Veteran Chicago broadcaster John Callaway helped kick off our Fall season with rousing recollections of Chicago politics in September, then we bestowed the 2007 Award of Honor on Dirk Lohan in October, held a well-attended new Due Diligence Seminar (also in October), and enjoyed a great presentation by Illinois Tollway Director Brian McPartlin in November.

Judging by the generally excellent attendance and the fact that we keep making steady membership gains (the new 2008 Directory has ten new members) it looks like CBC is prospering even as we endure a much tougher economy. When firms tighten up their budgets and get more selective about trade association memberships, we want to remain atop their lists.

Growing “Sponsoring Membership” ranks reflect another index of improving financial support for CBC, which helps us improve our programs and member services. Five Platinum Sponsorships and eight Silver

Sponsorships have been received for 2007-2008, so now we're pursuing candidates for the middle ground Gold Sponsorship.

This issue of The Edifice promotes several of our forthcoming programs, beginning with the January Economic Forecast program. This year, we host Mickey Levy, Chief Economist for Bank of America for the first time, so we're all anxious to learn about his predictions for the year ahead.

Professor Paul Green, frequent WGN radio guest on “Paul & the Politicians” will deliver a lively review of local, state, and national election results in February with an eye on implications for the building industry.

Our March program is still under construction, but April will herald the advent of our Second Annual TableTop Tradeshow … which shapes up to offer even more vendors in an exciting format shift from our usual sit-down luncheon presentations.

The Merit Awards Program nominating process is in high gear at this writing, and will run through the judging process this Winter … leading up to another gala awards dinner in May. Then we play golf again at beautiful Bloomingdale Golf Club, and another CBC year will be complete.

I love the cycles of life of our Association.

In closing, I wish you and your family very Happy Holidays, along with health and great prosperity in the New Year of 2008 ahead.