July 29, 2009 Dear Fellow Members: It’s time to begin making plans to attend the 2009 fall meeting of the Illinois Surgical Society to be held September 17-20, 2009, at Chatham Bars Inn in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The local arrangements were made with the help of our President,Steven A. DeJong, M.D. Chatham Bars Inn is New England’s grand oceanfront resort with its tranquil seaside elegance and world class amenities. Also offered at Chatham Bars Inn is a spa experience that is designed to provide the ultimate in relaxation. If traveling with children, the Inn offers an award winning children’s program with lots of hands activities. Cape Cod and the nearby islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are some of the most magical places in the world with miles of ocean beaches, sandy dunes, and quaint town centers. Other nearby recreational activities include offshore and deep sea fishing, whale watching, tennis, golf, or catching one of the Cape Cod Baseball league’s games. Room reservations are your responsibility. The resort has a wide variety of available accommodations from rooms at the Main Inn which offer views of the Atlantic Ocean, luxury ocean front cottage rooms, and luxury spa suites. To make your reservations please visit the website at www.chathambarsinn.com or call 1-800-527-4884. The society has been provided the discounted rate. Please be sure to mention that you are with the Illinois Surgical Society. A block of rooms are being held so all reservations must be made no later than August 17, 2009 to ensure guest room availability. The fall meeting events will begin with a welcoming cocktail reception on Thursday evening. On Friday morning members will enjoy breakfast and an academic program which promises to offer a variety of presentations. There will also be a spouse program scheduled for Friday morning. The spouses will depart from the Inn and shop on the Main Street of Chatham. Chatham features a quaint and walkable Main Street with numerous family-owned shops, gift stores, antiques, and historic buildings. After shopping the spouses will then meet to have lunch back at the Inn. Friday afternoon can be used for recreation and/or we encourage everyone to take advantage of the many amenities Chatham Bars Inn has to offer. For those interested in golf on Friday afternoon, please schedule your tee times at the time you make your reservation as tee times tend to fill up quickly. The presidential dinner is scheduled for Friday evening. We will have a wonderful evening while dining in the Harbor View Room, which features include panoramic ocean views. Saturday morning will begin with breakfast and the Board of Director’s meeting. Saturday’s academic session will feature our guest speakers from Brown University. On Saturday morning, the spouses of society members will enjoy a presentation by Susan Pike. Susan Pike is a color consultant and decorating contractor who has taught nationally for over 30 years. Her mission is to take the confusion out of choosing colors, patterns and interior finishes and to help everyone achieve the same results as a professional decorator. She has presented seminars for House Beautiful Magazine, Country Living Magazine, Waverly and Valspar products. Following Susan’s presentation, the spouses will enjoy a beautiful lunch at the Inn. There is also a group excursion planned for Saturday afternoon consisting of a trolley ride to the Chatham Historical Society for a tour of The Atwood House Museum. Possibly the only house in Chatham that is preserved in its original form, the Atwood house was built in 1752 by Joseph Atwood, a sea captain. The house is typical of those built on Cape Cod during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Along with the tour the Chatham Historical Society will also be hosting its Eleventh Annual Antiques Show and Sale. On Saturday evening we have planned a delicious buffet style clam bake dinner at the Boat House. We hope you can join us for what promises to be a memorable time in Cape Cod. Please complete the registration form as soon as possible and return it along with your payment in the envelope that was mailed to all of the members. Sincerely, Marleta Reynolds, M.D. Secretary-Treasurer