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Short Takes

Museums & Attractions
  • The Chicago History Museum, formerly known as the Chicago Historical Society, reopened recently following a $27.8 million museum renovation and expansion. Now celebrating its 150th anniversary, the updated museum also unveiled its newest exhibition, Chicago: Crossroads of America, which presents the story of Chicago in five themed galleries, using artifacts and images to show the growth of the city and how it influenced and shaped the nation as a whole. From the deathbed of former Illinois Senator and American President Abraham Lincoln to the city’s first elevated train car, circa 1893, to one of the nation’s finest costume collections, the museum offers up thousands of artifacts that tell the story of the mighty city of Chicago. For more information, including meeting spaces and special event options, call 312.642.4600 or visit www.chicagohistory.org.

Programs & Packages
  • Employee development firm Repario Ltd., created the Building a Dream team-building program. During the four- to six-hour program, participants build bicycles for a group of “customers,” who, unbeknown to the Building a Dream participants, are actually underprivileged children from the local community. At the end of the program, participants are joined by the children as they receive their new bikes, along with their own helmets and locks. The Building a Dream program can be conducted on-site or in a conference facility for all sizes of groups anywhere in the country and is run in conjunction with the nonprofit organization Bikes for Tykes, which has been refurbishing old bicycles for underprivileged children since 1987. The program is designed to improve the performance of teams by emphasizing leadership, communication, collaboration, creativity, and quality. For more information, call 800.513.8759 or visit www.buildingteams.com.

Managing Matters
  • The Hospitality Sales & Marketing Association International (HSMAI) recently released its Sourcebook for Meeting Planners 2007. The resource for meeting industry professionals features articles from 10 of the educational seminars that were presented during HSMAI’s 2006 Affordable Meetings shows presented in Washington, D.C., Chicago and Long Beach, Calif. To request a copy of Sourcebook for Meeting Planners 2007, contact Beth Petersen by calling 914.421.3377 or by e-mailing beth_petersen@glmshows.com.

Product Showcase
  • The Florida-based company Creative Sport Concepts has created Tour Links Putting Greens, offering portable, modular putting greens that could serve as a valued prize for meeting attendees or an ice-breaking activity for attendees during meeting breaks. Priced from $199 to $1,800 for standard greens and more for customized options, the greens are made entirely of recycled material and are durable enough for continuous indoor or outdoor use. They are also easy to assemble, break down and store. For more information, including different products’ costs, sizes and shapes, call 866.921.7888 or visit www.tourlinks.net.