We are getting money in each day for the walk, today around $1500. It has varied but I would urge you all to get in your money as soon as you can. I have sent out payments to several more CACs, and really want to try by the end of next week to have as much completed as possible. Everyone has been billed that I have, and people are responding! YEAH!!!

Keep it up everyone, you are doing great!!!

We are in the process of billing all of your pledges. As you can imagine this has been a lengthly process but one that we had anticipated doing for the CACs. We are more than half way through and will keep you all abreast on a weekly basis of monies that are turned in to the office. I do believe this process will take a month. Those CACs that have turned in all their money can expect a check in the next 2 to 3 weeks. About the time I think I should get checks written, someone will send in another pledge, maybe even unbeknownst to you. So taking a few extra days here hopefully we will round things up.

The Lt. Governor’s office has stayed in contact and he is also anxious to know how our coffers did! I received an email from the production team of DCFS and in the Chicago area on June 7th and 14th we will be featured with the Director. I believe it is Channel 21 at 11:30 AM so please watch if you get the chance, I know I will be. DCFS Production crew will be making a DVD for us so hopefully we can see all the features of CACs with the Director soon.

If you saw the NCA website, you saw that this is an annual event!! I smiled although that has not been something announced formally however from all the reports I do believe we should continue it! SO WHAT IS THE ROUTE FOR NEXT YEAR–Lets hear your thoughts!! In an email from Teresa Huizar she indicated that she is getting alot of response from other chapters and other states on our walk–not to think too small here but wouldn’t it be a grand way to get all the states involved!!! We will be bringing along to Leadership a notebook of brochures and information that we used.

Will keep you all informed as we go!

I don’t have any counts to share at this point, there is so much to do to get things to jive and make sure we haven’t missed anything. We have now the days divided and next will divide down to the individual centers. As soon as we are sure we have all the pledges in we will cut you a check, that will be so exciting for us all! At this time we know that there is so much money out we just don’t even have a handle or a guess of how much we will take in for the event.

I have written 47 thank you notes and have quite a few more to go. So many people did so much, I don’t want to miss anyone and that is my big fear. Watch the NCA and MRCAC web sites, both Teresa and Jane are going to be posting pictures on their web sites, what fun to see Illinois so prominently displayed.

We are working as quick as we can but it is only Marcia and I so please be patient with our efforts.

I don’t know about any of you but I am still sleeping like a rock! Marcia and I had a few sleepless nights going into the walk so I think our bodies are replenishing, at least mine is. There is a lot going on at our office, some restructuring and two upcoming trainings that also are taking some of our time. We are also full gear planning the Director’s Meeting in Peoria.

The pictures are coming in, some of which I hope to get downloaded this weekend. If you have any pictures we would love to see them!

The memories are still so fresh in my mind, the faces of each of you, I just am sitting here and smiling at you all.

Will keep this updated as soon as I know more, enjoy the weekend,
b

I am just overwhelmed with so much feeling of pride and absolute respect for so many people.

The experience that we just went through was at times a gut wrenching heart pounding time of mind over matter. The faces of the walkers was just amazing; what a story each face told of what it meant to each person.

There were glitches of course, and things we need to do differently but you know I would not have changed a minute of it. We will improve and we will grow and we will, we will!

My thanks to all of you who in anyway had something to do with the walk, some of you I do not know, maybe you sent in a few dollars or maybe you supported your staff person in someway, but my deepest thanks to so many.

My husband has taken my car keys today and said I am staying put! What a sweetheart he met me at the door last night with lavendar bath salts and a mojito and the tears still were falling from my eyes, some from exhaustion I am sure but most of it from this overwhelming pride in all of you. Sitting here this early morning I was talking about moments of the walk and I just cried. Not at all like me, but just a well of emotion and caring for so many incredible people.

I hope you all recover quickly from the blisters, the toes, the backs, the knees, the aches and the pains…I know now what it means to see in action Champions for Children.

Illinois CACs you are absolutely amazing!

Billie

We are somewhat battled bruised and blistered but the highs of this remarkable adventure certainly far exceed the lows.

People all along the way have been great, it has been at times overwhelming with words and kindness. The longer we trek the closer we all become, the more we bond, the more we seek each other out and support and care.

The sun has been shinning and today the weather has broken in Joliet so we will be setting off to bright skies and cool temperatures.

Thanks everyone, you are the Champions for Children!

Keep walking!

Thanks to all the wonderful support and action from the CACs across the State. You are absolutely awesome!

See you along the way…walking on sunshine!

we will begin!

I wanted to give us some thoughts on achievement, because certainly this undertaking from every possible point of view is about achievement. From the smallest sacrifices to the largest efforts it matters not, but that we really tried and we really achieved. We are as prepared as we can be, we have double and triple checked, we are in the process of doing another round of media announcements and blitz, we have tried to think of every scenario, some we know we have forgotten for sure. But tomorrow we begin!

“To achieve great things, two things are needed; a plan, and not quite enough time.”
Leonard Bernstein

We certainly got that covered, there isn’t enough time during this crunch for sure, but if we had planned it starting a year ago, this crunch last minute would have been the very same, no doubt!

But look at your efforts, those of you who are participating what great efforts you have made. I am so proud of the CACs! The skepticism at first, the thoughts of what in the world are you thinking, the comments like this will never work, or I can’t get pledges or people…you did! You did it all!

One of my favorite quotes is from Eleanor Roosevelt, it is apt for us in the CAC World…and think of it today as you prepare for the walk down second street to the steps fo the Capitol…
“You must do the thing you think you cannot do”

WE did!

See most of you tomorrow, if not Saturday, or Sunday or Monday, bring the sunshine…and as always

Keep Walking!

What a great adventure! I just can’t help to smile when I think of how things are coming together. As Marcia, Edyth and I were working on t-shirts yesterday, we said, “who would have thought 1 year ago, 6 months ago we would have been doing this!” It has come together very well. Will there be some bumps, oh definitely there will but we also think it will be a great deal of “downhill walking” for the most part.

So many people did such a great job getting walkers–Sue Bloch wow! Somewhere over 30. Joanna Deuth at Shinning Star has all of her staff and her intern walking, that is just great!

We are still taking fax registrations but may have to think of cutting it off at the end of the day.

Thanks too to a volunteer for the whole weekend, my dear friend Linda Patterson. Linda is coming tomorrow and helping with last minute assembly and will stay with us through Monday, now that is a friend!

On the road, take some time to meet some new friends, and do some talking with them, what a great captive audience we will all be.

Get your tennis out–get those ipods loaded–and get ready!

Keep walking on sunshine!

Here is the logistical information for each leg of the walk. We are giving you all the information regardless of whether you are walking one day or all four.

If you are spending Thursday night in Springfield and you have not made reservations at the Northfield Inn and Suites, we suggest you do so immediately (217-523-7900) so you get the guaranteed rate of $59.00+ a night.

PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY. If you have any questions call 217-528-2224 or 217-622-5020 .

Springfield, Friday, May 16, 2008
Registration/packet information and Walk shirts will be available from 8:00-8:50 a.m. at exit 109 (Williamsville) on the west side of I- 55. At that exit, you will see Love’s gas station, McDonald’s and Huddle’s Pancake House. A registration table will be located near those businesses. You will park your vehicles in that vicinity. (Please sign in first and the volunteers will direct you to parking). We have permission to park all day only in certain areas.

Please make sure you bring your pledge sheets and if you have not signed the Walk waiver, you must do so before you walk. It will also be a good idea to bring your cell phones for emergency reasons.

At 8:30 AND 8:50, ONLY, busses will arrive to take the Walk participants from the location of the parked vehicles to 1131 South Second Street (Children’s Advocacy Centers of Illinois Office - CACI).

We will leave PROMPTLY at 9:30 to walk to the Capitol Building (.6 miles) for our 10:00 a.m. ribbon cutting ceremony. You should not bring your car to the CACI office.

We will walk approximately 15.1 miles that day and will end up exactly where your car is parked. We will be providing, water, granola bars, fruit and candy along the way.

At approximately 8.6 miles into the Walk, we have made arrangements at a Dairy Queen for a bathroom/food station stop. Ice cream cones are on us! It will be a very short stop.

Regardless of where we are, we will finish the walk around 4:00 p.m.

We will have medical support and an RV available for bathroom needs. There are also bathrooms located at the 1.6-mile, 2.2-mile, 3.5-mile, 5.4-mile and 8.6-mile markers.

Bloomington, Saturday May 17, 2008

(Please note the route has been shortened due to logistical issues. We will not be walking all the way to Lexington but will stop in Towanda, Illinois - exit 171 on I-55 and Old Route 66)

The Children’s Advocacy Center of McLean County is located at 200 W. Front Street in downtown Bloomington. They will provide breakfast for all walkers between 8:00 and 9:15 a.m. A breakfast of yogurt, granola, fruit, juices, coffee/tea, bagels and muffins will be provided at no charge to those registered to walk.

The Walk will start with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9:30 and we will begin the Walk immediately after the ceremony.

Registration/packet information and walk shirts will be available from 8:00 to 9:15 a.m. during the breakfast, which will be held at 200 W. Front Building on the 5th Floor.

For those walkers going on to Joliet after walking in Bloomington on Saturday, parking is available at Kick’s Grill in Towanda (exit 171 on I-55). Please park across the street from Kick’s Grill. THIS PARKING VENUE SHOULD BE USED FOR THOSE WALKERS WHO WILL BE GOING TO THE NEXT LEG OF THE WALK IN JOLIET .There will be only ONE shuttle – at 8:00 a.m. – from this parking venue to take you to the McLean CAC for breakfast.

For those who do not plan to continue on to Joliet, parking is available at the parking garage on Front Street.

We estimate we will get to Kick’s Grill around 2:00 p.m. in the afternoon. They plan to offer a sack lunch for $5.50 or you may order from their grill menu. There are two shuttles scheduled to return to the CAC and Bloomington parking garage One will leave at 2:00 p.m. and the other at 2:30 p.m.

ALSO for your attention, on Friday evening the Children’s Advocacy Center of McLean County is hosting a party at Maguire’s Pub, located at 220 N. Center Street in Bloomington, beginning at 6:30 p.m. Music will be provided by classic rock band The HoneyDawgs, along with Raffles/50-50s and lots of fun! There’s a $2 donation at the door at Maguire’s… registered walkers with id bracelet, get in free. Maguire’s grill will be open for dining.

Please make sure you bring your pledge sheets and if you have not signed the Walk waiver you must do so before you walk. Also for emergencies, bring your cell phone.

On Sunday May 18th Joliet
You will park your car at the Will County Ottawa St. parking garage (near corner of Ottawa and Jefferson) in downtown Joliet . Parking is free and we will be returning there after the walk for you to pick up your vehicle.
Registration will be at the Will County Court House at 14 W. Jefferson Street in downtown Joliet . (Approximately ½ block from the parking ramp). Registration is from 8 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. at the front of the court house. You will receive your registration/walk packet and information at that time. Ribbon cutting ceremonies will begin at 9:30 with the Walk immediately following.
We will walk approximately 10.5 miles that day and you will end up at the downtown courthouse, exactly where your car is parked.
This route of the Walk is a little different than the rest in that we plan to stop at the half way point for some refreshments in Pilcher Park. This is being organized by the Will County Children’s Advocacy Center. There are pavilions in the park along with rest room facilities as we walk along the river and enjoy all the beauty. After the lunch period, we will head back to the downtown courthouse on a slightly different route. As well, we will have fruit, water and candy to share with the walkers along the way. We will have medical support and an RV available for bathroom needs. There are several bathroom locations along the route.
Please make sure you bring your pledge sheets and if you have not signed the Walk waiver you must do so before you walk. Also for emergencies, bring your cell phone.

Monday May 19th Chicago
The last day of the Walk, we will park our cars near the Chicago Children’s Advocacy Center (CCAC) at 1240 South Damen. Please follow the sign at the corner of the CCAC to a registration table located on the north side of the building. STOP there first! You will receive parking instructions, pick up your registration packet, t-shirt, etc., before you park your vehicle. Busses will be leaving the Chicago CAC at 8:30 a.m. and 9:00 a.m. and will take you to LaRabida Children’s Hospital, S. Promontory Dr, just off 6500 South Lake Shore

The ribbon cutting will be held at 9:30. We will begin the Walk along the shores of Lake Michigan immediately after. Because this is a park district, there are no vehicles allowed on the pathway for this part of the Walk. As a result, we will have no emergency medical personnel with us. We also will not have the RV for bathroom use.

However, along Lake Michigan, and most especially the Burnham Park area, there are many restrooms for our convenience. Approximately half way to the Chicago CAC from LaRabida Hospital, we have arranged with one of our sponsors to have water and fruit along with granola bars and candy. We will stop at the pavilion located along the lakeshore for a brief rest. We will also have cars available there if someone wants to return to their vehicle.

We will continue walking up Lake Michigan and will turn west onto Roosevelt Road. During this part of the Walk, there are areas for bathroom breaks.

ETA at the Chicago CAC will be around 2:00 p.m. They will welcome us with a celebration. There will be some important dignitaries joining us, so we will hear a few words from them and we hope this provides us with a great media opportunity. It is so important that you stay around for that last part of the day!

Important things to remember:
• We will walk on some street areas, so it is imperative that we stay together. In other words, faster walkers will have to slow down and slower walkers will need to speed up.
• The Walk managers will make the decisions for the good of the group. We will do everything we can to make the walk enjoyable, but we will not be able to stop the group every mile or so.
• Please bring your cell phones with you. The Walk managers will be giving you shoe ID tags with our cell phones on them for emergencies or any needs you have.
• At any time should you feel the need for medical attention or feel the need to discontinue the walk, we will have medical personnel available the first three days of the walk. During all four days, we will have transport vehicles that can return you to your car.
• If you have not signed a waiver, you must do so prior to walking. You must also provide volunteers with an emergency contact name and phone number at registration.

242 WALKERS!!!!!

Our heads are spinning–but with excitement for sure.

I am going to be sending out that email Jean, just proofing it as I type.

I do want to tell you all that there is a slight change on McLean Leg, Day 2. A logistical problem has occured and instead of walking to Lexington, Exit 178 we will be walking to Towanda Illinois Exit 171. So we will be shaving off about 7 miles on Saturday! I apologize to all of you who will be inconvenienced by this shortened route, but we just could not keep it the same and satisfy everyone’s needs. That said, we will try to think of ways for you to get your pledge walked miles up, I certainly don’t want to short any CAC. Please see your individual emails and as well check this blog tomorrow, it will be captured here.

Thanks so much for all your words of support, I can’t tell you how much they mean to us!

Keep Walking!