The Indiana Society of Chicago will honor IU at its annual reception and dinner Dec. 2. The society's event will begin at 5:30 p.m. in the International Ballroom of the Chicago Hilton and Towers Hotel, 720 S. Michigan Ave.\nAt the dinner, the Indiana Society will offer an all-Hoosier line-up of entertainers. Actor and comedian Jim Gaffigan, who appears in the new CBS situation comedy, "Welcome to New York," will headline the evening. On the show, Gaffigan, a Chesterton, Ind., native, plays a former Indiana television weatherman trying to hold his own on the Big Apple's "AM New York" newscast. The show is produced by another Hoosier, David Letterman, and his production company, Worldwide Pants.\nGaffigan also was in the recent movies "Three Kings" and "The Thomas Crown Affair."\nAlso performing will be music from Straight No Chaser and the music school's jazz department. \nIn addition, the society will renew a long-standing tradition with the return of the reigning Miss Indiana, Betsy Bobel. \nKen Beckley, executive vice president of H.H. Gregg and a past president of the IU Alumni Association, will serve as the master of ceremonies.\nLast year, the society honored the Indiana Historical Society and the State of Indiana.\nThe Chicago-based society -- with members in business, government and education -- has strong ties to Indiana. The society was founded in 1905 by transplanted Hoosiers John T. McCutcheon and George Ade. Each December it recognizes outstanding Indiana institutions and leaders.\nThe society also is involved in a number of philanthropic activities and provides educational scholarships. Two IU students are receiving scholarships from the society this year.\nRobert L. Ganchiff, the Indiana Society's president, said IU is being honored because it is one of the nation's top public research institutions, a state leader in economic development and a technological leader. \nAlso being honored is Vectren an energy holding company headquartered in Evansville. Vectren offers gas or electricity to nearly 1 million customers in areas covering nearly two-thirds of Indiana and portions of West Central Ohio, through regulated subsidiaries: Indiana Gas, SIGECO and Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio.
Indiana Society to host dinner
Get stories like this in your inbox
Subscribe