Dear President’s Circle Member, I hope this first eNewsletter of 2011 finds you happy and enjoying good health. This month I want to share with you news on the past year as well as my enthusiasm for the year ahead. In 2010, despite ongoing uncertainty, the Garden continued to flourish. We surpassed our all-time attendance record for the second consecutive year, with 905,000 visitors. Revenue was also higher, our expenses lower and, as a result, we ended the year with a small surplus. Our stable financial position reflects the Garden’s growing relevance—to everyone we serve at the Garden and throughout the Chicago region—combined with conservative budgeting and cautious spending. In 2011, the Garden will remain fiscally cautious yet confident as we continue pursuing the goals of our “Keep Growing” ten-year strategic plan. These goals include the restoration of our shoreline on the north lake of our campus, planning for a new Horticulture Center on the Garden’s south end, and the launch of the new Grunsfeld Children’s Growing Garden, one of many enhancements to our Children’s Learning Campus. This year, the President’s Circle—always vital to our success—will continue to make important new accomplishments possible. This winter I hope you will visit the Trellis Bridge under construction. When it opens in June, this stunning bridge connecting Evening Island to the Daniel F. and Ada L. Rice Plant Conservation Science Center will make it easier for you to enjoy the entire Garden. The bridge will also underscore the connections between beautiful gardens and the need for plant health and conservation. All life on earth depends on plants. I anticipate the pleasure of seeing you at the Garden this winter—in the warmth of the greenhouses, on snowshoes, and while walking through snow-covered landscapes—and at the events we will enjoy together throughout this exciting and hopeful new year! You're invited! Bonsai Silhouette Show Preview Party Thursday, January 27, 2011 5 to 7 p.m. $40 per person Don’t miss this magical evening, exclusively for President’s Circle members. Experience a one-of-a-kind exhibition, featuring deciduous trees from the Garden’s Bonsai Collection, while enjoying traditional Japanese music, festive refreshments, and hors d’oeuvres. Richard Pegg, Ph.D., Curator of Asian Art for the MacLean Collection, will present on Three Friends of Winter as represented in East Asian cultural and visual arts. Register online or call the President’s Circle hotline, (847) 835-6925. VIDEO BLOG This month, Garden horticulturists and volunteers prepare for spring in the Production Greenhouses. Watch video. save the date For a full listing of 2011 President’s Circle and special Garden events, click here! Antiques & Garden Fair Preview Party Thursday, April 14, 2011 6 to 10 p.m. Celebrating 11 years in 2011, the Antiques & Garden Fair continues to offer the best in classical and contemporary garden furnishings, botanical art, and home and garden design from more than a hundred exhibitors from the United States and Europe. A special Preview Evening offers guests the opportunity to enjoy priority shopping, sumptuous buffets, and refreshments. Ticket prices begin at $200. Upcoming Garden Events Three Friends of Winter January 28 through 30, 2011 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Celebrate the winter season in the Japanese tradition! This weekend festival highlights the Three Friends of Winter, pine, plum, and bamboo, which in Japan endure cold weather and are symbols of flourishing under adverse conditions. Tour the Bonsai Silhouette Show and enjoy family activities throughout the weekend. Generously sponsored by Astellas USA Foundation. Caring for Collections: Conservation of the Rare Book Collection February 11 through May 1, 2011 The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Lenhardt Library engages in conservation and preservation activities on an ongoing basis. View stabilization techniques used by professional conservators for rare books and journals, as well as methods for preserving archival documents and your personal historic artifacts. Let’s Grow Together! Saturdays, February 26, May 21, July 23, and September 24 9 to 11 a.m. In this unique, family-friendly class, students will work with the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden horticulturalist to design and plan a 60-square-foot raised garden using sustainable practices. FINANCIAL PLANNING If you are over age 70 ½, you may transfer up to $100,000 from your IRA to the Chicago Botanic Garden. A charitable rollover may help you satisfy your required minimum distribution, reduce your taxes, or be a convenient way to make a gift to the Garden. Please call (847) 835-6838 if you have questions or need additional information. Please click on each of the photos above for information on these fun ways to enjoy the Garden. Serving the Chicago Botanic Garden is a privilege and an honor and brings joy to me each and every day. The start of a promising year brings a new calendar of President’s Circle events I know you will enjoy. I am grateful for the wisdom and companionship you share with me and for everything you do for the Chicago Botanic Garden. I hope our paths cross again soon! Sophia Siskel President & CEO Chicago Botanic Garden			Sophia Siskel President & CEO Jane O’Neil Susan Canmann President’s Circle Co-chairs In This Issue: • Bonsai Show • Video Blog • AGF Preview    Party • Three Friends    of Winter • Caring for    Collections • Let's Grow    Together