Legacy Launched

Early in 2021, President Susie Jackson and the Board of Governors of ABC established an ad hoc committee to “Celebrate the Past, Present, and Future of the American Business Club of Springfield through events leading up to the 100th Anniversary of the Club’s Charter on January 10, 2025.” The board named four still-active Past Presidents to serve as prime movers of what became known as the ABC100 Committee, and they began to develop plans for “more than just a party.”

A major driver from the beginning was to plan some sort of gala that was equal to ABC’s reputation for knowing how to party, but Committee members soon recognized that the Club’s 100th Anniversary merited celebration of more than just that aspect of ABC membership. Committee chairs began their work by considering how the Club could best honor the decades of contributions made by Ambucs who came before them. It wasn’t long before they realized their role was to recognize those contributions as well as the entire Legacy of Service of the American Business Club of Springfield.

The 4 Pillars of Our Celebration

Committee members identified four foundation elements to celebrate.

Community-Our Contribution Communication-Our Story

The Club-Our Celebration Capitalization-Our Support

Centennial Contributions Luncheon

Thursday, January 9, 2025

ABC Members and Grant Recipients-Business Attire

Community-Our Contribution

We are starting where we’ve always started, by asking how we can make Springfield “A Better Community.” We begin our celebration by giving, inviting representatives of local non-profit organizations whose requests to fund charitable projects have passed ABC’s rigorous grant-making progress. That discernment is underway and our hope is that the result will be donations that significantly add to the over $5 million already contributed by ABC.

Red Carpet History Reception

Friday, January 10, 2025

ABC Members and Invited Guests-Business Casual/ABC Wear

Communication-Our Story

Now 100 years long, our story is a good one. There is much history, a multitude of accomplishments, and many, many contributions. Throughout all of those milestones, though there are individuals and their own stories of how they’ve influenced the Club and how the Club has impacted them. We’ve chosen four members to tell the story of the American Business Club of Springfield by sharing their own stories in 30-minute video professionally produced by Springfield’s own award-winning production company, Storyteller Studios.

Storyteller Studios

The Gala Gala-SOLD OUT

Venue Changed to Illinois Building

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Public Invited-Join Us!-Black Tie Optional

The Club-Our Celebration Capitalization-Our Support

The ABC100 Committee was formed to throw a party—and this is it! Throughout our 100th year, we have celebrated our impending anniversary with everything from birthday parties to ball games, golf outings to steak nights, and our own beer brand and bourbon. All of that has been leading to this. With a pregame Speakeasy, delicious catered dinner, only a few speeches, and a full-on rock show/dance party, our Gala Gala is going to be the celebration of our century, held one hundred years and a day after the grand dinner celebrating the awarding of the original Charter naming Springfield a Chapter of the National Association of American Business Clubs. It’s also a chance for our community to support us, through sponsorships, advertisements, and, most importantly, by sharing our evening with us. C’mon out, we’ll see you at the Fair!

Gala Gala

History Hangover Revival

Sunday, January 12, 2025

ABC Members and Invited Guests-Come As You Are

The Club-Our Recuperation

After years of planning, months of commemorating, and a full night of partying, we’re going to share a few hours together to reflect on the year. We look forward to gathering for a moment, to saying “see you soon” as our travelling members head home, and to relaxing for a few minutes before we kick off our next 100 years, as always, Shoulders Together.

ABC

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