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2021 CONVENTION UPDATE 

RE: 2021 CCCoA Convention in Springfield, IL

Participant,

Thank you for registering for the 2021 Convention in Springfield, IL.
This letter will give you some needed information before you arrive.

First - Covid-19.  As we all know, things keep changing, so anything
here is unfortunately subject to change.  That’s out of my control. At
the moment, while local infections are up a bit, it’s still more or less
normal here in Sangamon County.  For the most part, current guidance is
masks are not required, but are recommended in crowds or indoors.  The
one place that currently does currently require masks is any State
building.   That will affect us a bit.

New Salem Village is mostly outdoors, but masks will be required inside
the Visitor Center.  The Frank Lloyd Wright Dana-Thomas House is state
owned, and masks are required to take the tour; also, tour groups are
limited to 5 persons per group.  I’m going to try to get some
reservations but to date they haven’t been very responsive.  The Abraham
Lincoln Museum will likely be requiring masks.  There should be no
problem with the banquet dinner at the hotel; they can accommodate over
100 even with Covid restrictions.

Second - driving into Springfield.  Please be very careful; the I-55 and
I-72 Interstates get congested plus there is some ongoing construction.
The hotel address is 3100 S Dirksen Parkway.  Getting to the hotel is
pretty easy.  It is just off of I-55 at the Stevenson Drive / mile
marker 92 exit.  We plan to have a CCCoA banner out at the parking lot
entrance.

Note: if you leave I-55 at a different exit and come south down Dirksen
Parkway, you will have to drive past the hotel; there is a cut-through
that goes to the hotel parking lot but it is a bit awkward to find the
first time.

Coming from the south, take the Stevenson Drive exit, turn right, go 2
stoplights to Dirksen Parkway, turn right and the hotel is on your right
in about ¼ of a mile.

Coming from the north, take the Stevenson Drive exit, turn right, go one
stoplight, turn right and the hotel is on your right in about ¼ of a mile.

Third - food.  There are a wide variety of restaurants within ½ mile of
the hotel on both Stevenson Drive and Dirksen Parkway.

Fourth - registration.  We plan to have registration set up in the hotel
Wednesday evening.  The room will be just to the right of the hotel
lobby desk.  We’re going to be a little short staffed, so other times
may be catch as catch can … most likely early morning or late evening.

Fifth - everything on the schedule is optional.

Sixth - the schedule:

Wednesday Evening – August 25

4 – 7 pm – registration off the lobby

Thursday – August 26

        9 AM – depart hotel for New Salem State Park,
15588 History Lane, Petersburg, IL
(just before Petersburg off IL Route 97)
        10 AM – arrive at New Salem State Park

Note: in the unlikely event of rain on Thursday, we will do New Salem on
Friday morning

Noonish – lunch on your own in Petersburg
        2 PM – depart for the Corvair Museum,
        19941 Palm Road, Glenarm, IL
        3 PM – arrive at Corvair Museum
        4:30 PM – depart for Motorheads, 600 Toronto Road, Springfield
        (just east of I-55 at the #90 exit)
        5 PM - ? – arrive at Motorheads Museum / Bar / Grill, visit &
        dinner

Friday – August 27

        9 AM – 2 PM ish – free time to visit the Dana Thomas House or
                        the Lincoln Museum or Lincoln’s Home or
        Lincoln’s Tomb or whatever
                3:30 PM – Meet at Ace Sign Company / Neon Sign Museum,
        2540 S 1st Street, Springfield

        Saturday – August 28

        8 AM – Board Meeting
        9 AM – more free time
        3 PM – Cruise-in at Knights of Columbus North
        Council #4175,
        2801 West Street, Springfield
        (I will pay the $5 per car registration fee)
        6 PM – social hour at hotel
        7 – ? PM – traditional banquet

Last - if you have any questions, feel free to call, text, email, or
messenger me and I will try to answer them.

Sincerely,

John J. Weinhoeft
Secretary, Editor, CCCoA
2424 S Pasfield Street
Springfield, IL 62704-4609
  mobile 217-494-2986
 jweinhoeft@checkercarclub.org

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