The evening before pay day on a military base is a particularly lean time for the recruits, many of whom are teenagers in their first year of training.  This is certainly true for the recruits at Naval Station Great Lakes located north of Chicago.  To address this issue, the USO on this base implemented the aptly-named No-Dough dinner.  The dinners are served on the 26 evenings before pay day. Each dinner is served to 200-400 sailors.  The dinners are underwritten and staffed by local volunteers. The Illinois Dames are proud to underwrite and staff two dinners a year.

Christine Walker ably organized the No Dough dinner held on November 15, 2018 at Naval Station Great Lakes in North Chicago. Despite snow and sleet, the following Dames (and some spouses) came from as far away as Park Ridge, Northbrook and Winnetka to serve fried chicken and friendly conversation to 317 sailors and their families:  Marion Christoph, Lindsay Gorman, Freddie Hayes, Phoebe McMillan, Kim Moore, Nancy Morr, Kathleen Taylor, and Christine Walker. Candidate Nancy Schultz was also present.