Message from the President "It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood!"

"It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood" "We live in a world in which we need to share responsibility.  It's easy to say, it's not my child, not my community, not my world, not my problem. Then there are those who see the need and respond." Fred Rogers (Mr. Rogers)                         SOAR remains a member-driven advocacy organization,  connecting residents for more than four decades.    Once again, I want to convey gratitude for your membership in SOAR, as dues remain our largest source of income-and to welcome those who plan to join as new members.   I hope you will respond promptly, and generously, to the only Streeterville residential organization that responds to many aspects of your life here. New and renewing members  will receive a copy of SOAR's Streeterville Neighborhood Plan.  Please consider using our safe and secure link to review new membership categories and benefits.  If you prefer to rejoin by phone, call the office at 312.280.2596, Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and provide your credit or debit card number and expiration date.  We'll be happy to assist you. As always, I will be happy to respond to your questions and comments via  email.   Deborah Gershbein To read the June 17th, 2016, edition of SOAR eNews in entirety CLICK HERE. To access the SOAR eNews archives CLICK HERE. CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a copy of eNews directly to your inbox.

Message from the President: "You've Got a Friend"

"Winter, spring, summer and fall, all you've got to do is call."

                                                                                         - Carole King

Every day, someone in SOAR is talking with someone - including our aldermen, representatives of the Chicago Park District, police, developers and business owners, along with many others - whose decisions must keep in mind the fact that more than 30,000 people make their home in Streeterville. To continue "Keeping Streeterville a Neighborhood," SOAR remains a member-driven advocacy organization, serving residents for more than four decades. And we are grateful for your continuing membership.

 

It's time again to support SOAR's efforts by joining or renewing your membership in SOAR for July 1, 2016, through June 30, 2017. As you are aware, SOAR is Streeterville's only organization "of the residents, by the residents, for the residents" that encompasses safety, traffic, parks, real estate, greening-including planting and maintenance of the gardens at Lake Shore Park-and preservation, as well as our special projects: the SOAR Farmers Market, SOAR Artisan Market, Annual Clean-Up  information/education, cultural and social programs. SOAR is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization substantially funded by our members.

 

I hope you will respond promptly, and generously, 

 to the only Streeterville residentialorganization that responds to many aspects of your life here. With your new membership or  renewal, we will be mailing you a copy of the "SOAR Streeterville Neighborhood Plan."

• Please consider using our safe and secure link to review membership categories and new benefits. 
• If you prefer to join or rejoin by phone, call the office at 312.280.2596, Mondaythrough Friday from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm and provide your credit or debit card number and expiration date.  We'll be happy to assist you.
• Come to the SOAR Booth at the SOAR Farmers Market at MCA Plaza, beginning Tuesday, June 7. Volunteers will be happy to sign you up and hand you a copy of the "SOAR Streeterville Neighborhood Plan

P.S. To inquire about your SOAR membership status email or call 312.280.2596 

P.P.S Respond by Friday, June 10, to be eligible for a drawing for four tickets to the Lookingglass Theatre performance of "Thaddeus and Slocum: A Vaudeville Adventure."

As always, I will be happy to respond to your questions and comments via email.

 

Deborah Gershbein

To read the May 26th, 2016, edition of SOAR eNews in entirety CLICK HERE.

To access the SOAR eNews archives CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a copy of eNews directly to your inbox.

Message from the President: Pride of Place

In the past two weeks SOAR is proud to have hosted two very significant community events. 

As the audience listened to Alderman Brendan Reilly of the 42nd Ward and the panel of community leaders he assembled at the SOAR Town Hall on May 4, it was very apparent that SOAR has played a major role in the quality-of-life in Streeterville. Alderman Reilly stated that many problems and opportunities regarding public safety, traffic, infrastructure, development, parks and beatification, were first raised in meetings with SOAR leadership. And you will be happy to know that he also said that Streeterville is one of safest places in Chicago.    

Again, this past Tuesday evening, at a meeting organized by SOAR's Preservation and Landmark Task Force, Bonnie McDonald, President and CEO of Landmark Illinois, showed many examples of SOAR working with that organization to identify and work through the process that led to many landmark designations in Streeterville over the years. As she said, landmarking often tells us "who we are and where we are" as a neighborhood.

Both Alderman Reilly and Bonnie emphasized the importance of SOAR membership to accomplish all of these many diverse goals for "Keeping Streeterville a Neighborhood." In fact, the very last question at the Town Hall was, "How can we as a neighborhood influence what goes on in Streeterville." Simultaneously, Alderman Reilly and emcee Charlie Wojciechowski, of NBC Chicago, responded: "Join SOAR!"

 

I couldn't agree more: SOAR's experience, reputation, credibility and wide-ranging interests is unmatched in Streeterville-and in many Chicago communities. But we need to continue to build the resources to keep pace with the neighborhood.

Our annual member renewal campaign will soon be launched. I hope you will respond promptly, and generously, to the only Streeterville residential organization that responds to every single aspect of your life here.

Depending on when you renew, you will be eligible for tickets to Lookingglass Theatre, the Museum of Contemporary Art or Chicago Shakespeare Theater. We are very grateful to their support of our membership program. Click here to join or renew today. 

As always, I will be happy to respond to your questions and comments when you reach me by email. 

Deborah Gershbein
    

To read the May 14, 2016, edition of SOAR eNews in entirety CLICK HERE.

To access the SOAR eNews archives CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a copy of eNews directly to your inbox.

Message from the President: We Nourish Community

           

SOAR is committed to building and celebrating our Streeterville community--and what better way to do this than by hosting a farmers market in the heart of the neighborhood! We are pleased to announce that the SOAR Farmers Market will be returning to the MCA Plaza, rain or shine, every Tuesday June 7-October 25 from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. We've added new and exciting vendors to the list of returning favorites. The market will again offer farm-fresh, locally-grown produce, fruits and vegetables, herbs, meats, cheeses, flowers, baked goods and ready-to-eat foods. The volunteer committee, co-chaired by Judy Aiello-Fantus and ably supported by Barbara Webb, Gary and Meme Hopmayer and Doug Boehm have been working hard for months, organizing the details in order to bring the market to Streeterville again this year. If you are interested in volunteering at the market, please contact Dawn Jensen.

 

We are very pleased to welcome back our returning sponsors: Northwestern University, Northwestern Medicine, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Clare.

 

 

As always, I will be happy to respond to your questions and comments when you reach me by email. 

Deborah Gershbein 

To read the April 14, 2016, edition of SOAR eNews in entirety CLICK HERE.

To access the SOAR eNews archives CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a copy of eNews directly to your inbox.

Message from the President:

Spring is in the air in Streeterville: the sun is shining more, buds are peeking out....and so are more of our neighbors! The Chicago Park District is out sprucing up the many beautiful parks we're fortunate to enjoy here. Throughout Streeterville, residences, institutions and commercial spaces are "going green"--nowhere as lush as on Michigan Avenue, where merchants creatively design, plant and finance the sidewalk and median planters. Not everyone can see the green roof tops in Streeterville that add to a healthy neighborhood: new development requires green roofs, so they're multiplying, too. Even with all of this greenery, there is always room for more green in an urban environment. The SOAR Greening and Sustainability Task Force, chaired by Jay Lubinsky, takes the initiative to educate and inform residents and neighborhood condo associations about ways they can become more green and help to create a sustainable environment. Contact Jay to share your ideas and get to know other members with a "green interest."

As always, I will be happy to respond to your questions and comments when you reach me by email. 

Deborah Gershbein 

To read the April 1, 2016, edition of SOAR eNews in entirety CLICK HERE.

To access the SOAR eNews archives CLICK HERE.

CLICK HERE to sign up to receive a copy of eNews directly to your inbox.

Time for Spring Clean Up: Earth Day is Saturday, April 23, and once again, SOAR is joining with other Streeterville stakeholders to shake off the winter detritus and reveal a clean spring on our streets and in our parks. SOAR membership isn't required to participate, anyone of any age is invited to join in the fun in two ways: Coordinating with the Lake Shore Park and Seneca Park/Schulman Playground Advisory Councils, the day will begin at 8:30 am with refreshments at 432 E. Grand and continue until noon. Thanks again to Chicago Trolley & Double Decker Co. this year, participants and equipment will fan out to the far corners of the community. SOAR's Lake Shore Park Garden Club will meet at 9:00 am for the new season. SOAR Clean-Up Day Date:  Saturday, April 23 Time:  8:30 am to noon Location:  Meet at 432 E. Grand (refreshments will be served) Contact:  Gail Spreen   SOAR Lake Shore Park Garden Clean-Up Day Date:  Saturday, April 23 Time:  9:00 am Location:  Lake Shore Drive between Chicago and Pearson Contact:  Judy Birk