Founded in 1971 as the Chicago Rug Society, the Chicago Oriental Rug and Textile Society (CORTS) is a not-for-profit organization established to foster and promote interest in the art of hand-woven carpets and related ethnic textiles by scientific, educational, literary and social means. The Society promotes exchange between collectors, scholars and students; facilitates access to private and museum collections; and promotes the research and study of these fascinating and beautiful works of art. CORTS sponsors approximately six dinner meetings each year, which usually feature an outside speaker and focus on a particular theme related to antique oriental rugs and/or textiles. We meet in Chicago, at a location convenient to area expressways. In addition, we hold a summer picnic, usually at a member's home, which includes a "moth market" or silent auction of objects from members' collections.