|
Current #'s |
Member Category |
Description |
Type of Entity |
Works In Tourism |
Annual Fees |
Votes? |
| 47 |
Certified Guide |
Experienced guides who have passed the CTPA certification test |
Individual |
Yes |
$55 |
Yes |
| 120 |
Candidate Guide |
Guides who have not taken the test or may take it when eligible |
Individual |
Yes |
$55 |
Yes |
| 22 |
Friend |
Individuals who do not seek employment in tourism |
Individual |
Does
not seek work or retired |
$55 |
No |
| 45 |
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 for 2010:
- 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 |
$55 - Individual
Member |
$27.50 - Individual
Member |
| $85 - Early Bird
Joint (2 Individuals/same location) Member |
$105 - Joint (2
Individuals/same location) |
$52.50 - Joint (2
Individuals/same location) |
| $60 - Early Bird
Company (Associate) Member |
$70 - Company
(Associate) Member |
$35 - Company
(Associate) Member |
| |
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. The current officers' term will end Jan 31, 2011.
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.
In 2009, Meetings, Events, Tours and Special
Invitations
|
Tuesday, January 13 |
Tour Guide Certification
Test, Part II- The Routing Test given. |
|
Monday, January 19 |
Board Meeting |
|
Monday, January 19 |
Quarterly Meeting at
Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. A Presentation by Mark Mitten,
Chief Brand Officer for Chicago 2016 Olympics Committee, plus
“Preparing for the Certified Tour Guide Test,” oral/slide test
demonstrations by four members. |
|
Tuesday, March 3 |
Quarterly Meeting at
Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. 2009 CTPA Directory distribution,
plus a report on the World Federation of Tourist Guide Assns.
Biennial conference (in January in Bali, Indonesia), attended by
Candidate Guides Ana Clara Campbell & Tom Schuster. Also a
discussion on “Is it time for the CTPA to consider a Code of
Ethics/Conduct?” |
Wednesday, March 4 &
Wednesday, March 11 |
Spertus Museum at Spertus
Institute of Jewish Studies – building and special exhibit tours. |
|
Tuesday, March 10 |
The Field Museum of
Natural History special entrance to “Real Pirates The Untold Story
of the Whydah from Slave Ship to Pirate Ship” |
|
Friday, April 3 |
Certification Study
Session |
|
Tuesday, May 5 |
Certification Study
Session |
|
Monday, May 18 |
"Show Us Your
Neighborhood" Bohemian National Cemetery with Al Walavich |
|
Tuesday, June 2 |
"Show Us Your
Neighborhood" The Best of Chinatown with Z.J. Tong |
|
Tuesday, June 4 |
Quarterly Meeting at
Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. “How to Use and Save Your Voice”
by CTPA Candidate Member and Speech Pathologist Pam Powell and
“Amplification devices as alternative Solutions” by Greg Borzo,
Candidate Guide. |
|
Sunday, June 7 |
Certification Study
Session |
|
Wednesday, June 10 |
Certification Study
Session |
|
Friday, June 26 |
“Pilsen…From Bohemian
Beginnings to the Arts of the Latino,” a docent led tour of the
National Museum of Mexican Art plus a neighborhood walking tour. |
|
Tuesday, June 30 |
Certification Part 1 - The
Written Test |
|
Tuesday, August 4 |
The Field Museum of
Natural History special entrance “Water” plus admission to
“Dinosaurs Alive in 3D” |
|
Wednesday, August 12 |
Tour of the Merchandise
Mart and the special “Dream Home” exhibit lead by one of the
interior designers. |
|
Friday, August 21 |
Visits to The Illinois
Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, IL, and
The Mitchell Museum of the American Indian in Evanston with special
docent tours at each. |
|
Tuesday, September 15 |
The Federal Reserve Bank
Money Museum annual reception and tour |
|
Wednesday, September 16 |
Special Meeting at Lawry's
The Prime Rib Restaurant. “The Legacy of the Plan of Chicago”
presented by cartographer, Dennis McClendon CTG. |
|
Monday, October 5 |
Quarterly Meeting at
Lawry's The Prime Rib Restaurant. A transportation themed evening
presented by two CTPA members who are authors! Greg Borzo spoke
about “Chicago's Greatest Mover & Shaker: 10 things every guide
needs to know about the ‘L’” and Dave Clark gave insight on
“Chicago: Where the Road Begins.” |
Thursday, October 29 &
Monday, November 9 |
The Field Museum of
Natural History special entrance to “The Nature of Diamonds.” |
|
Thursday, November 5 |
“Hurry Up Here,” a CTPA
member reception at The John Hancock Observatory to enjoy the view
and hand-held, multi-media electronic tour. |
Friday, November 6 &
Friday, November 13 |
Special entrance and
docent guided tour of the renovated Shedd Aquarium and Oceanarium,
plus entrance to two shows: “Fantasea” and a 4-D movie. |
|
Thursday, November 12 |
Discounted tickets offered
to take the Chicago Film Tour. |
|
Thursday, November 12 |
Macy’s annual Holiday
Reception for Tour Guides |
|
Monday, December 7 |
Holiday Party at Lawry’s
The Prime Rib Restaurant. |
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. |
