PRESENTATION TO THE LAND ECONOMICS FOUNDATION BY THE ELY CHAPTER 102209

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PRESENTATION TO THE LAND ECONOMICS FOUNDATION
BY THE ELY CHAPTER 10/22/09
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Burnham Plan Centennial

• Catalyst was Bob Piper, Ely Chapter member
• Now over 250 partners, including CM2020, Chicago
  Community Trust, Art Institute, Field Museum,
  Museum of Science and Industry, libraries,
  universities, City of Chicago, suburban
  municipalities, AIA, APA, ASLA, MPC, CMAP, CHF
• Programs included exhibits, lectures, premiere
  of a music composition, premiere of film
  documentary on Burnham (produced by member of
  LAI), two pavilions and three theatrical pieces

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Goals for the Book

• Contribute to the centennial celebration
• Provide basis for the symposium
• Enhance awareness of LAI
• Price it to be affordable to general public
• Generate revenues that cover all expenses

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Additional Goals

• Understand the application of land economics in
  Chicago and cities throughout the world
• Highlight diverse perspectives on the 1909 Plan
• Stimulate debate about the development and
  preservation of land resources

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Production Process Committee

• Call for abstracts sent to all LAI members in
  late 2007
• Thirty abstracts received and reviewed
• Fifteen abstracts chosen authors drafted the
  essays
• Comments by committee members and edits by editor
• Book title, dust jacket concept,
  acknowledgements, preface and suggestions for
  further reading provided by committee members
• 2,500 books delivered April, 2009
• 2,100 books distributed to date

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Production Process Consultants

• Editor wrote the general introduction and three
  section introductions
• Editor proofed final text
• Cartographer (LAI member) produced maps
• Graphic designer created book design and page
  layout
• Graphic designer negotiated with printers

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Essays

• Fifteen essays eleven by Ely members
• Essays from Boston, Baltimore, George Washington
  and San Diego chapters
• Nineteen total authors
• Sixteen LAI member authors
• Three non-members (co-authors)
• Essay topics below and next page

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Burnhams Contemporaries

• Burnhams architectural colleagues
• San Diegos Planner John Nolen
• Pullmans influence on the 1909 Plan
• Burnhams son role in regional planning
• Ely and the Plans implementation

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Plans Impact on Chicago Today

• Changes to the Heart of Chicago
• The 1909 Plan and Subsequent plans
• Role of the Chicago Plan Commission
• Grant Park as the Citys Cultural Center

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Lessons for Future City Building

• Future of the 1909 Plan
• Sustainability
• University as City Planner
• Burnham and Kelo
• Urban Agriculture
• Burnham and New technology

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Additional Content

• Digitally rescanned illustrations from the 1909
  Plan of Chicago
• Historic photos, contemporary photos
• Before and after aerials of downtown Chicago
• Three maps
• Suggestions for further reading
• Student photos from Burnham Experience bus tour
  sponsored by Ely Chapter, Chicago Botanic Garden,
  Fairchild Challenge, CM2020

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Sales Outlets

• Chicago Architectural Foundation
• Chicago History Museum
• Chicago Cultural Center
• Chicago Botanic Garden
• DePaul University Bookstore
• The Book Stall at Chestnut Court
• Lake Forest Book Store
• Historic Pullman Foundation
• Winnetka Historic Society
• Great Books Foundation

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Other Book Distribution

• Mayor Daley
• White House staff
• Land Economics Foundation
• LAI Board
• All Chapter Presidents
• Civic Groups
• Media
• Potential vendors
• Sponsors, partners
• Photo contributors, authors

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Special Book Events

• May Chapter luncheon program
• Three book signings with authors
• APA Midwest Conference panel discussion
• John Marshall Law School - two events
• Landmarks Illinois lecture
• Cliff Dwellers several events
• Chaddick Institute DePaul University dinner
• Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce dinner
• Printers Row Book Fair
• Student History Fair Award Presentation

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Source of Funds as of 9/30/09

• LEF Grant 30,000
• Sponsorships 21,120
• Book Sales 17,085
• Total Income 68,205

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Use of Funds as of 9/30/09

• Printing
  17,821
• Editor
  3,160
• Graphic designer 7,300
• Maps, miscellaneous photos 1,188
• Fairchild Challenge photo essay 5,700
• Admin, storage, shipping 10,397
• Symposium 10,890
• Total expenses 56,456

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Reviews

• The authors meet high standards.
• The content is outstanding.
• The bookis so well edited and produced.
• The book looks fabulous.
• Superbthoughtful and thought provoking.
• A must read.
• Perceptivefascinating and provocative.
• A great accomplishment!

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Lessons Learned

• Small committee effective
• Authority delegated by Chapter Board
• Liaison from committee to Board
• Collaborative effort among committee
• Entrepreneurial attitude critical
• Next time use book agent or publicist

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Committee

• Jack Swenson, Chairman
• Laurie Marston, Vice Chairman
• Susan Aaron, Ely rep on Centennial Committee
• Christine Williams, Ely rep on Centennial
  Committee
• Mike Shymanski, 2005 Ely President
• Cassandra Francis, 2007 Ely President
• Brad White, 2008 Ely President
• Mike Mallon, current Ely President
• Les Pollock, President Lambda Alpha International
• Barb Morris, Chapter Administrator

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Questions and Comments

• Ely Chapter gratefully acknowledges the grant
  from the Land Economics Foundation without which
  the book would not have been possible