*Illinois Paddling Council Announces “Lifetime Achievement Award*

*Sigrid Pilgrim Recognized for Leadership*

*November 18, 2011* *FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

On Saturday, November 19th, the Illinois Paddling Council (IPC) will present Evanston resident Sigrid Pilgrim with its “Lifetime Achievement Award”. “Sig” has been a lifelong advocate for paddling instruction and safety, a state and national paddling community leader, and one of the founders of the current incarnation of the Illinois Paddling Council. Sig Pilgrim was present at the rebirth of the Illinois Paddling Council as an advocacy organization on Oct.1, 1995 at the statewide "Gathering at the Confluence" near Channahon. She held the follow-up meeting a month or so later in the basement of her Evanston home. That meeting formally established the IPC as the statewide advocacy Council it is today.

In the mid 1990's Sig served three years on the board of American Canoe Association. From 1995 to 1998 she edited and published “Pole and Paddle”, the ACA’s Midwest Division newsletter. The national organization recognized Sig’s work with its “Outstanding ACA Division Volunteer Award” in 1997 and its “Presidents Award for Outstanding Service to ACA on a National Level” in 2004.

Sig was instrumental in producing the 1997 Safety on the Water Conference at the College of DuPage. She was an active member of Chicago Whitewater Association and for fourteen years organized and taught the club’s Evanston pool sessions. She was certified as a kayak instructor and organized and participated in the first Adaptive Paddling workshop in the Chicago area for people with disabilities.

Sig's untiring energy and unparalleled event production skills spearheaded the creation and success of “Paddling in the Park” for twelve years. The regional paddlesports festival was held in Palatine and featured local retailers, clubs and low cost paddling skills instruction.

For more than 15 years, Sig’s service as a board member, and her marketing talents, have helped the IPC promote the growth and membership of the Illinois Paddling Council, and its efforts to promote safety, access, communication, competition and conservation. Sig’s lengthy record of leadership in paddling clubs and state and national advocacy organizations, her promotion of paddling safety, and service as an instructor and river conservationist is truly inspiring. The Illinois Paddling Council is pleased to recognize Sigrid Pilgrim's decades of service with its “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

It seems like yesterday when Raider walked into the Chicagoland Canoe Base after participating in the annual DesPlaines River Canoe Marathon, declaring it was not enough of a challenge for paddlers and that we should create a real one like paddling across Lake Michigan! I tried to point out that there would be serious risks involved but he was determined to find a way to minimize the risks.

Raider began to organize the event starting at the beach in New Buffalo, Michigan and ending at the 95th Street beach in Chicago, a distance of 43 miles. As a safety precaution, he arranged for the local Power Squadron to escort paddlers across. I was intrigued, like everyone else, by the opportunity to actually cross our lake and planned to use my 34 footer and a crew of volunteers. I cannot recall the exact date but it was in the late 60s. A medley of paddlers and craft assembled on the beach at New Buffalo at dawn, my 34 surrounded by racing and folding kayaks and aluminum and fiberglass canoes. The waiting escort vessels were seen offshore. We started out heading westward on a calm lake and New Buffalo disappeared from view behind us. Soon we were all separated and for about four hours we could not see any land. It gave us the reality of how vast Lake Michigan actually was. Our escort boats vanished from view. They evidently got tired of the slow pace paddlers were setting. I was told later by those behind me that standing in the stern of my craft made me the only visible guidepost in sight. I was amazed at seeing a huge bumblebee alighting on our craft for a rest and wondered how he had managed to fly all that way with those short wings of his. Heading in a westerly direction, we eventually spotted the Hancock building on the far horizon and rejoiced that our goal was in sight! Then a crew member recalled that you could see it from fourteen miles out and we dreaded the thought of having that distance to do yet. Behind us we heard someone singing the Lithuanian national anthem and passing us was my friend Al Vosylius and his buddy in a Klepper folding kayak. We made a landfall late that day after 10 1/2 hours and rejoiced in having Lake Michigan allowing us to cross safely. Not everyone that had started out made the crossing, a few turned back shortly after launching. And Raider, who had crossed with his son, made plans for next year's race.

The following year, I was on finish line duty and remember that the first canoe in was a Sawyer Cruiser, a Lynn Tuttle design, and a favorite marathon racing canoe at the time. Fifteen minutes later, a friend and his grown son from Chatham, Illinois came in with one of my 18 1/2 foot bark canoes. The next to come in was another Cruiser with a racing team like the first, using the banjo blades which were in vogue at the time, and ten minutes later, one of my 17 foot Canadiens arrived with a couple of teen agers from Desplaines. Both Cruisers were decked bow to stern but the other two came across open as they were dryer hulls. A number of solo kayakers and canoes followed. The lake was choppy and we heard that there were rain squalls that obliterated any attempt at directional orientation and no one thought of bringing compasses. After that crossing it was decided to recreate the next race parallel to the shore for safety. This was the first Shoreline Marathon!

Raider was true to his Viking background, not afraid to try something new. He provided a set of memories for me that I will cherish forever.