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CHICAGO TOUR-GUIDE PROFESSIONALS ASSOCIATION
Fast Facts
Click here to download an Adobe (.pdf) two-page CTPA FACT SHEET, an easy-to-print summary of information about our organization. It includes the information found on this and other pages of our website.
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Organization's Purpose: |
To promote and maintain high standards of proficiency, excellence and integrity within the tour guiding profession. |
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Founded: |
June 29th, 1990 |
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Incorporated: |
February 1991 as a Not-For-Profit Corporation |
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Membership: |
Membership is open to tour guides, individuals who would like to become tour guides, destination management company owners and principals, event planners, transportation companies, others serving the tour industry or individuals who are interested in sharing information about and promoting tourism in the metro Chicago area. Members regularly work with convention groups and visitors to the city, providing meet and greet assistance at the airport, conducting general city highlight tours as well as specialized tours for business, educational or entertainment purposes. Many CTPA guides have special abilities such as fluency in a foreign language or advanced training in areas such as music, the arts, architecture, history, technology or business. |
| Current #'s |
Member Category |
Description |
Type of Entity |
Works In Tourism |
Annual Fees |
Votes? |
| 43 |
Certified Guide |
Experienced guides who have passed the CTPA certification test |
Individual |
Yes |
$55 |
Yes |
| 124 |
Candidate Guide |
Guides who have not taken the test or may take it when eligible |
Individual |
Yes |
$55 |
Yes |
| 19 |
Friend |
Individuals who do not seek employment in tourism |
Individual |
Does not seek work or retired |
$55 |
No |
| 43 |
Associate |
DMC's, event planners, venues, shops, transportation & hospitality companies |
Organization- uses/hires guides |
Yes |
$70 |
No |
| 1 |
Honorary |
Recognized for their support of the CTPA and/or guides |
Individual or Organizational |
Yes or No |
Free |
No |
Membership Fees:
- Dues are assessed for a calendar year. "Early Bird" fees must be posmarked by Dec 31th.
- Fees are used to produce and distribute the Membership Directory, Newsletter and Meeting Announcement mailings and cover other expenses of the organization as needed.
EARLY BIRD must be
POSTMARKED before DEC 31 |
Regular Rate
(January 1 - June 30) |
Half Year Rate
(July 1 - December 15) |
$45 - Early Bird
Individual Member
$40 For Green |
$55 - Individual
Member
$50 For Green |
$27.50 - Individual
Member
No Green |
$85 - Early Bird Joint Member
(2 Individuals/same location)
$80 For Green |
$105 - Joint Member
(2 Individuals/same location)
$100 For Green |
$52.50 - Joint Member
(2 Individuals/same location)
No Green |
$60 - Early Bird
Company (Associate) Member
$55 For Green |
$70 - Company
(Associate) Member
$65 For Green |
$35 - Company
(Associate) Member
No Green |
Note: "GREEN" membership means meeting and event announcements are EMAILED ONLY.
Associate members (outside the U.S. - $100)
Other Fees: Name Badges (Optional) - $15/badge Note: Badges are only ordered in February!
Member Benefits:
- Annual Directory of Members compiled in early February, includes a short self-written biography about one's education, training, abilities and/or availability. The Directory also includes a list of guides with foreign language skills, a summary of the history of the CTPA and information on the organization's professional affiliations (NFTGA-USA and WFTGA).
- Newsletter and Meeting Announcement Mailings (as needed throughout the year).
- Participation in Meetings, Optional Educational Programs, Spotlight Events and "Show Us Your Neighborhood" tours.
- Inclusion on Mailing Lists / Special Privileges and Invitations. Adler Planetarium, Sears Tower Skydeck, John Hancock Observatory, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Field Museum of Natural History, Shedd Aquarium and others have invited the membership to enjoy special invitations and privileges.
- Eligibility to take the CTPA Certification Test. This mastery test may be taken after a year of guiding experience. Upon successful completion, the individual is a "Certified Tour Guide."
- Representation in the National Federation of Tourist Guide Associations-USA (NFTGA) www.nftga.com & the World Federation of Tourist Guide Associations (WFTGA) www.wftga.org
Officers:
Officers are elected are may serve multiple terms.
Committees:
Committee Members are appointed by the President and serve for one year. Committee Chairs serve for two years and are members of the Board of Directors. The CTPA President is an ad-hoc member of all committees. Active committees: Education, Certification, Membership, and (in an election year) Nomination.
Meetings & Events:
- Meetings (with a business component) and Spotlight Events (social affairs) take place 6 to 10 times per year and have an educational focus. In general, meetings are held at venues around town to expose the membership to new locales, renovated facilities and special exhibits and seasonal opportunities.
- Meetings are generally scheduled early in the week (Monday, Tuesday or Wednesdays) at or after 5:30 p.m. (to allow the membership to finish a 9-to-5 job and get to the meeting location.)
- Many locations that host meetings also furnish refreshments - coffee/cookies, soda/chips, wine/cheese, etc.
Meetings, Events, Tours and Special Invitations - 2011
| Monday, January 10 |
Study session for Certified Tour Guide Test Part 1, Written Test |
| Monday, January 10 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant, "Cartographic Tales of Chicago," by professional map maker Dennis McClendon CTG. |
| Wednesday, January 19 |
Study session for Certified Tour Guide Test Part 2, Slides/Commentary |
| Monday, January 24 |
CTPA Part II - Slide Test (given by appointment) |
| Tuesday, January 25 |
Tour Guide Orientation of the Art Institute of Chicago, led by Linda Fox CTG and Judy White CTG. |
Sunday, January 30 -
Friday, February 4 |
The World Federation of Tourist Guide Assns. biennial meeting - "Culture as a Unifying Guide" in Tallinn, Estonia |
| Monday, January 31 |
Calendar year 2011 membership dues payment deadline! |
| Tuesday, February 1 |
Visit the Board of Trade at the opening bell, then tour the new J. W. Marriott Hotel, located in an historic renovated bank building. |
| February (each year) |
International Tourist Guide Day, an annual event sponsored by WFTGA |
| Friday, February 10 |
Complimentary entrance to the Field Museum to take an extensive tour of the highlights of the collection given by two museum docents. |
| Tuesday, February 15 |
CTPA Certified Tour Guide Test Part 3 - Routing Test given |
| Tuesday, February 15 |
Prairie Avenue Historic Homes: Tours of Glessner House and Clarke House arranged by Bill Tyre of Glessner House. |
| Thursday, February 24 |
Complimentary entrance to the new special exhibit "The Horse" at the Field Museum, open February 18 to August 14, 2011. |
| Thursday, February 24 |
Secrets of the Smith - a tour of Navy Pier's Smith Museum of Stained Glass with museum curator Rolf Achilles |
| Wednesday, March 9 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. Directory Distribution & a presentation about Louis H. Sullivan by Chicago Historian Tim Samuelson |
| Friday, March 25 |
A Sneak Preview of the annual Macy's Spring Flower Show, themed "Towers of Flowers," plus a tour of the historic Marshall Field building's architectural highlights. |
| Sunday, May 1 |
"Show Us Your Neighborhood" Tour Hyde Park & Keck plus KAM Isaiah Israel Synagogue given by Candidate Member Enid Rieser. |
| Monday, May 2 |
A private tour of the Jane Addams Hull House Museum. |
| Wednesday, June 8 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. Jacob Kaplan, Editor of "Forgotten Chicago" introduces CTPA members to their website and research methods www.forgottenchicago.com |
| July |
Members joining after July 1st pay half price annual dues |
| Thursday, July 7 |
Complimentary entrance to the new special exhibit "Whales: Giants of the Deep" at the Field Museum. |
| Monday, August 29 |
Study Session for the Certified Tour Guide Part I Written Test |
| Tuesday, September 6 |
Complimentary entrance to the new special exhibit "Ground Zero 360˚" at the Field Museum, open Friday, September 2, 2011-Sunday, January 1, 2012. |
Monday, September 12
Monday, September 19 |
CTPA Certified Tour Guide Test - Part I: The Written Test. (Given at downtown and suburban locations by appointment.) |
| Thursday, September 22 |
"Show Us Your Neighborhood" tour of Old Town, given by Candidate Member Diane Gonzalez. |
| Monday, October 10 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test - Part II: The Slide Test. |
| Wednesday, October 12 |
Special early morning entrance to the McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum for a special tour and bridge lift viewing. |
| Wednesday, October 12 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. Herb Eiseman CTG "The Jewish Princes of State Street". |
| Tuesday, November 8 |
Complimentary entrance to the new special exhibit "Chocolate: Around the World" at the Field Museum, October 5, 2011 to January 8, 2012. |
| Tuesday, November 8 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test - Part II: The Slide Test. |
| Monday, November 14 |
Part II: The Slide Test given. (This is the only date for 2011.) |
| December |
Holiday Party |
Meetings, Events, Tours and Special Invitations - 2010
| Monday, January 11 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. "How Chicago is Marketed to the World" presented by Patrick Steffes, Manager of Tourism Sales and Operations at the Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau. Plus, "When is a Chicago City Highlights Tour, NOT a highlights tour?" |
| February (each year) |
International Tourist Guide Day, an annual event sponsored by the WFTGA |
| February 22-26 |
The National Federation of Tourist Guide Assns.-USA (NFTGA) biennial meeting, called "Sea Change 2010: Meeting the Needs of Tomorrow's Tourist" aboard the Royal Caribbean Cruise Line's (RCCL) Majesty of the Seas |
| Thursday, March 18 |
The Union League Club: A tour of the building and art collection by CTPA member Marsha Goldstein, plus a buffet lunch (fee). |
| Wednesday, March 24 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. Directory Distribution & a presentation about the 1893 Columbian Exposition, including memorabilia from the collection of Albert Walavich. |
| Wednesday, April 7 |
Visits to and docent led tour of the Smart Museum of Art & the Oriental Institute, both on the campus of the University of Chicago. Optional lunch at the Café at the Smart Museum before the visits. |
| Friday, April 16 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test |
| Monday, May 24 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test |
| Monday, June 7 |
The Certified Tour Guide Test - Part I/Written Test given downtown Chicago. |
| Thursday, June 17 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. Phil Ranstrom, independent documentary filmmaker, presents his 2007 film "Cheat you Fair, The Story of Maxwell Street" and photographer/author Ken Derry presents information and images from his book "Chicago: A View from the Top." |
| Thursday, June 24 |
"Show Us Your Neighborhood Tour" a walking tour through Old Town with Diane Gonzales, with an optional visit to the Chicago History Museum. |
| July |
Members joining after July 1st pay half price annual dues |
Thursday, July 22
Monday, July 26 |
Complimentary entrance to visit the Field Museum to see exhibits celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Sue ("Robo Sue - The T. Rex Experience" and a 3D Adventure Film "Waking the T. Rex 3D: The Story of Sue"). Also view "Mammoths & Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age" and "Climate Change." |
| Thursday, July 22 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test |
| Monday, July 26 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test |
| Thursday, August 19 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test |
| Tuesday, August 31 |
Study session for the Certified Tour Guide Test |
| October |
In an election year (2012), nominations for Officers are due |
| Thursday, October 7 |
Quarterly Meeting at Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. Hy Speck will present "Movers and Shakers of Chicago" & Brian Muir will present "Living Above the Store: The Development of Marina City." |
| November |
Ballots need to be mailed, received & counted by the end of the month |
| Thursday, November 4 |
CTPA Board Meeting |
| Friday, November 5 |
Complimentary entrance to visit The Field Museum to see "Gold". |
| Monday, December 6 |
Holiday Party downstairs in the Main Dining Room of Lawry's Prime Rib |
| December |
Election results are announced by mail. |
Certification Test:
The CTPA Certification Test was developed to be a mastery test - not a qualifications test. To be eligible to take the test, the applicant must be a CTPA member and have worked as a guide for at least one year. Passing the test requires accurate knowledge of Chicago history, geography, transportation, museums, cultural attractions, landmark buildings, sculpture, neighborhoods and venues of interest to visitors - the information given on a 3 or 4-hour comprehensive Chicago City Highlights Tour. The CTPA Certification Test has 3 parts. The parts must be taken in order and a pass grade achieved to advance. The test parts are: written test, oral/slide identification and vehicle routing.
CONTACT US!
Whenever possible, the CTPA prefers the immediacy
and efficiency of e-mail as the primary means of communication.
If you prefer to communicate by more traditional
means, please contact our President, using the contact information found below.
Donna Marie Primas
CTPA President
Telephone: (630) 717-9004
Fax: (630) 717-9055
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Important: |
The CTPA accepts no legal responsibility for inaccuracies of all or any portion of the information contained in the website. It also accepts no legal responsibility for any opinions or representations made by sites to which it may be linked. |
Copyright © 2002 by the Chicago Tour-Guide Professionals Association (CTPA). All rights reserved.
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