The office of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association will close in Oakbrook Terrace Jan. 30 and not reopen till Feb. 19.

Far from taking a three-week cruise, the CATA staff will relocate to McCormick Place to produce the 2020 Chicago Auto Show.
  
Because the CATA office will be closed, association members must make the following adjustments:

 

Calls to the CATA office will automatically be forwarded to CATA staff at McCormick Place.

All members of the Chicago Automobile Trade Association in good standing will receive materials this week to help them get through the coming year and to help publicize the Chicago Auto Show, Feb. 8-17 at McCormick Place. It’s your show; please promote it.
 
Packages sent via United Parcel Service to dealer principals and company presidents include the following:

• 1 CATA-member 2020 window decal; and
• 1 form to photocopy to order free supplies of odometer statements, used-car buyer’s guides, used-car limited warranty statements, and emission control equipment statements.
 
Also, to promote the 2020 Chicago Auto Show, the shipment includes:

• 4 Chicago Auto Show easel cards;
• 2 Chicago Auto Show posters;
• 1 First Look for Charity poster;
• 2 CATA member tickets good for admission throughout the auto show;
• 50 Employee Appreciation Day admission tickets, good Feb. 10-14 and Feb. 17; and
• 200 tickets valid for half- price admission any weekday of the show, to offer to customers.

 

Don’t forget to purchase additional admission tickets to the auto show as well as any First Look for Charity tickets.
 
Any member in good standing who has not received the UPS shipment should notify the CATA at (630) 495-2282. The shipments are trackable, to help resolve problems.

 

A 2020 Ford Explorer ST is just $275 away for someone who attends this year’s First Look for Charity.

 

But everyone who attends will feel like a winner. The black-tie gala on Feb. 7, held the evening before the Chicago Auto Show opens to the public, directly benefits 18 important Chicago area charities. Last year, the event raised more than $2.9 million.
 
First Look for Charity, now in its 29th year, is a unique and elegant way to peruse the nation’s largest auto show before the throngs enter with their elbows aflyin’.
 
About 10,000 people are expected to attend First Look for Charity, a fraction compared to an average daily attendance during the show’s 10 public days. First Look for Charity attendees are treated to a wide variety of heavy hors d’oeuvres; spirits, champagne, wine, beer and soft drinks.
 
Tickets are $275 each and can be purchased at www.firstlookforcharity.org. For corporate benefactor packages of 25 or more tickets, call the CATA’s Erik Higgins at (630) 424-6008.
 
Purchasers can designate ticket proceeds to benefit any or all of the participating charities.
 
Benefiting charities this year include the 100 Club of Chicago, Advocate Health Care, the ALS Association Greater Chicago Chapter, Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Chicago, Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Joliet, and Clearbrook
 
Also, Franciscan Community Benefit Services, JDRF, Susan G. Komen Chicago, the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Lydia Home & Safe Families for Children, Misericordia, New Star, Special Olympics Illinois, Turning Pointe Autism Foundation, and the Jesse White Tumbling Team.