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What a summer! Is it July already? Let’s see, I weeded, planted, repaired the lawnmower, washed the windows, painted, cleaned out the garage (I thought I did that last year, and my wife said - "you did") and I need to also begin thinking about the fall semester. Oh Boy! As you plan for this fall, think about attending our fall conference on October 2, 2009, at Harper College on Teaching with Primary Sources: Local, National, and Global Perspectives. Further information on presenting and registration forms are linked from our home page. Additional information is available by contacting Mark Newman at mnewman@nl.edu or Bobby Summers at bsummers@harpercollege.edu. You can register online or by sending registration to Bob Nimtz at rnimtz@midwest.net. The conference (8am-2pm) will have informative sessions in the morning and conclude with lunch and a featured speaker. As many of you know who attended, the ICSS hosted the Great Lakes Regional Conference on April 23-24, 2009. Please view the photos below of our conference attendees, exhibitors, featured speakers, presenters, and award winners. A special thank you to Program Director John Rathbun, ICSS Executive Assistant Lynn Nimtz, President Shelly Singer and Board Members Vicky Hollister and Marla Horwitz for their help in making this a successful and enjoyable conference. We also want to thank our featured speakers: Max and Donna Daniels (Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln) who began the conference on Thursday with a rousing portrayal of Lincoln including questions from the audience for Mr. Lincoln to answer; David Janu our featured Thursday luncheon speaker, who spoke on his award-winning documentary Facing Sudan; and Friday’s luncheon speaker Dr. Stacy Cordery, whose presentation on children of the White House focused on the Lincoln’s, Roosevelt’s (Teddy), Kennedy’s and the Obama’s. The conference ended with TV and Radio personality Dick Kay and panelists Andy Conneen and Dan Larsen, who debated and answered audience questions on the first hundred days of Obama. On Thursday evening attendees traveled to Robert McCormick’s Cantingy to visit the mansion and World War Museum followed by pizza and camaraderie at Lou Malnati's. Hopefully, after all the usual summer chores, picnics, golf, soccer, baseball and softball games, family gatherings, being with friends, you will have time to travel to a favorite vacation destination. All of these summer pastimes rejuvenate our soul and each are an integral segment of our lives. Have a great summer and a successful and productive 2009-10 school year. We look forward to meeting and seeing you at the ICSS Fall Conference on October 2, 2009, in Palatine, Illinois. | |
Highlights from the 2009 Conference | |
 History teacher Julie Peterson at Carbondale High School, Carbondale, Illinois ponders the panelists’ discussion on Obama’s First 100 Days. |
Now More Than Ever: The Social Studies – A legacy of Abraham Lincoln See some of the highlights of this session pictured below. |
 Jehovah Witness display that informed conference attendees of their plight during Nazi aggression against various religions, races, and other groups identified by the Nazis as individuals who were opponents of Nazism and Hitler’s Aryan Supremacy theory. |
 Ron Levitsky and Anastasia Skoupas from the GENI and Pontian Greek Society of Chicago. |
 Tom Best, who teaches Civil War at Monmouth College, discusses Hollywood’s depiction of Lincoln and corresponding books related to his presentation. |
 One of the 50 plus sessions held in Lisle and attendees engaging with presenter. |
 Colorful professor of National Louis University Roger LaRaus presenting on "Creating Meaningful Learning for Increasingly diverse Student Bodies." |
 ICSS Executive Assistant Lynn Nimtz previewing and discussing books available from Indiana Historical society vendor Becke Bolinger, who provided a variety of historical books for purchase by conference attendees. |
 From left to right, Lynn Nimtz, Friday’s luncheon speaker Dr. Stacy Cordery, Tom Best, and Vicky Hollister discuss conference program and luncheon presentation timetable. |
 Dr. Michael Lockett who presented an interesting and provocative presentation entitled, "Storytelling: Lincoln’s Own Model for Teaching." |
 Anastasia Skoupas also presented on the Armenian and Greek Genocides. |
 Ron Levitsky presenting, "Despair, Death, and Denial – The Armenian and Greek Genocides." |
 Far right is Regional Director for Rand McNally Pat Larson along with her fellow Rand McNally vendors. |
 ICSS Executive Director helping attendees find their next session. |
 TCI vendor Michelle Sontag discussing the related applications of their materials on Social Studies Alive – Government Alive – Economics Alive. |
 Dr. Stacy Cordery, our Friday featured luncheon speaker and professor at Monmouth College, whose most recent work is Alice, a complete biography of Alice Roosevelt from White House Princess to Washington Powerbroker, discussed the challenges and possibilities inherent growing up in the White House using Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, Kennedy, and Obama families as case studies. |
 Dr. John Craig was honored at our annual conference for his significant contributions and support to the field of social studies education in Illinois receiving the ICSS Distinguished Service Award. Presenting the award to Dr. Craig was President Shelly Singer. John served on the ICSS Board for several years as a representative of the Illinois Board of Education and assisted the ICSS involvement in social studies for Illinois teachers especially with keeping our membership aware of programs available from the state and other organizations. |
 Stephanie Jacober was honored by the ICSS with the Outstanding Student Teacher Award for 2008, that recognizes student teachers demonstrating excellence in social studies education. Her passionate acceptance speech invigorated the audience who easily understood why she was so honored and will make a great professional educator. |
 The final event was a panel on the ‘First Hundred Days of Obama’s Administration’, featuring TV and radio personality Dick Kay along with panelists Andy Conneen and Dan Larsen from Adlai E. Stevenson High School. The discussion was enthusiastically presented and debated by panelists and conference attendees. |
 Conference attendee and author Marcel Lewinski proposes a question to the panelists on Obama’s First 100 Days. |
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