May Chapter Meeting

Phil Nicodemus, Research Director at Urban Rivers, will join us for our May chapter meeting to discuss the organization’s ongoing efforts to restore and revitalize the Chicago River. Urban Rivers is dedicated to transforming urban waterways into thriving ecosystems through innovative projects like the Wild Mile—a floating eco-park designed to improve habitat for wildlife and engage the local community. Phil will share details about their research, habitat restoration strategies, and how these efforts benefit both the environment and local communities. While the Chicago River is a warm-water system and differs from the cold-water environments we typically focus on, this presentation aligns with our shared commitment to conservation and protecting local waterways.

About Our Regular Chapter Meetings:

• When: First Tuesday of the month, (unless affected by a major conflict or holiday).

• Location: Pizzeria Serio, 1708 W. Belmont, Chicago.  We rent out the entire upstairs event space for an exclusive experience.

• Directions: Enter the main dining area of Pizzeria Serio and take the stairs on the left to reach our private second-floor space.

• Parking: Plenty of street parking is available on Belmont and side streets. Reminder: Do not park on the north side of Belmont before 6:00 p.m.

• Agenda:

  • 6:00 pm - 7:00pm: Social & Pizza Hour - Catch up with friends, enjoy drinks from the bar ($), and dig into a buffet of pizza and salad (included with $30 admission).  It’s a relaxed, friendly time to reconnect—show up when you can!

  • 7:00pm - 7:15pm: Chapter announcements from the President and Committee members

  • 7:15 pm - 7:45pm: Keynote speaker and presentation

  • 7:45pm - 8:30pm: Social hour resumes after Q&A

• New Members: New members are welcome at all meetings—no advance notice needed! Just head up the stairs to the 2nd-floor space, introduce yourself, and let someone know you're new. We'll connect you with our Membership team to help you get oriented and feel at home.

Our chapter meetings foster camaraderie, knowledge sharing, and a shared passion for fishing and conservation. We hope to see you soon!