The Ducky 56ers
 

Lori and Brandon of Just Ducky started informal meetings with interested collectors and the Ducky 56ers grew out of those meetings.

1998 - A constitution was drawn up using the National Collectors Club (NCC) guidelines in order to establish affiliation with them.

    Officers:

        President - Michelle Heatherly

        Vice President - Sally Nott

        Secretary - Carol Cavanaugh

        Treasurer - Bonnie Peterson

This year, the 1st Annual Holiday Housewalk took place

1999 - Towards the end of the year, thoughts of retiring the club were in place and then set aside when a volunteer, Rich Wyllie, came forward to become president.

2001 - Election of new Officers:

    President - Rich Wyllie

    Vice President - Cynthia Kasdorf

    Secretary - Wendi Kim

    Treasurer - Pat Jelinek

2003 - Committees formed with the following Chair

    Social Gathering - Michelle Heatherly

    Chicago Convention - Kirk Wyllie

    Newsletter - Wendi Kim

    Club Products - Bill Antonitis

April - Ducky 56ers is commended in the Downers Grove Reporter for their generous gift of $3000 to the Ronald McDonald House.

The first edition of the Ducky Digest was published

November - Downers Grove Reporter features an article titled “Getting Hooked, Club members share love of Department 56 villages” in which some of the Ducky 56ers were interviewed. There was also information plugging the clubs annual housewalk.

December - Two more articles featuring the Ducky 56ers are released in other papers.

2004

January - Wendi Kim steps down as Secretary and Teri Gelz is elected.

April - The 1st Chicago Gathering takes place and Ducky 56ers are one of the host clubs.

November - Pat Jelinek steps down as Treasurer and Cheryl Merkel is elected.

June thru September - McTrain, the 4-by-12 foot display was designed, built and transferred to the Ronald McDonald House.

October - Ducky 56ers promote 1st Annual Halloween Housewalk in the Downers Grove Reporter.

November - Article in The Naperville Sun titled “Residents drawn to bright lights, little cities” mentions Just Ducky, the Ducky 56ers and a couple of its members.

December - Downers Grove Reporter feature article “Village by village” which again promotes collecting, the club and the housewalk.

2005 - Celebrations Magazine features a two page article regarding the McTrain Project.

Club Tidbits:
  •  The club has grown from 15 members to 90 in 7 years.
  • The clubs primary and annual fundraising event is the Holiday Housewalk which has grown from approximately 15 visitors to 250!
  • Rich Wyllie and Carol Cavanaugh have had their houses on the Holiday Housewalk each year. There have always been about 5 houses on the walk and the club is always looking for new volunteers.
  • The club is honored on the Tree of Life at the Ronald McDonald House near Loyola for the generous and on-going contributions.

    • 2006

    Chicago 2006 Gathering in Rosemont: Ducky 56ers a main supporter of event that drew over 300 people from across the country.  The program and program support were the responsibility of the Club.

    2007

    New officers elected as follows: 
        Rich Wyllie, President
        Dan Collander, Vice President
        Cheryl Merkel, Treasurer
        Michelle Eckerle, Secretary
        Wendi Kim, Webmaster
        Chuck & Beth Lazzara, Digest Editors
        John Eckerle, NCC Representative