Joe Pina Volunteer Of The Year Award

As all of you already know, the strength of the ACA, and its ability to achieve its mission and goals, lies within the hands and the minds of our volunteers. Those who care so deeply for the present and the future of paddlesports, and who have invested their time, talents, energy, and passion to serving the greater good.

The 2023 Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year award is presented to Gil Hidalgo. Gil has the absolute largest heart I’ve had the opportunity to see in action – he has used his breathtaking professional  photography skills to capture the experience, the laughter, and the impact of the ACA’s LEAD program.

Gil has photographed all 5 LEAD Program events; his talent and support have been instrumental in our ability to share the success of these events. From the bottom of our hearts — THANK YOU, Gil!

Paddlesports Angler Curriculum co-authors were Geoff Luckett and Donald Dehm. Other Workgroup members who contributed to the curriculum development included Jeff Atkins, Trey Rouss, Julie Munger, Byron Beers, Brent Roth, Lynne Andrus, Daniel McKee, Daniel Rogers, Ande Demetriou, and Andrea White. 

Jeff Mazanec is a tireless volunteer, event organizer, ACA instructor, and community leader who has served as president of the Northeast Wisconsin Paddlers (NEWP) club for the past eight years. As a leader, he spearheaded the creation of public paddle events that have exposed thousands of people of all ages to a greater appreciation and enjoyment of paddlesports and conservation of local lakes and rivers. As an ACA instructor, he has volunteered to organize and teach kayaking classes held annually in conjunction with the local YMCA. Jeff has also instructed at the annual Door County Sea Kayak Symposium for the past decade and instructed NEWP Kayak Essentials and Rolls and Rescue classes.

Jeff has dedicated himself to serving his local Wisconsin community and the national paddlesports community. His volunteer time and initiatives that he has envisioned and carried out are evidence of his extraordinary service. Some of his initiatives include the Fox-Wolf Watershed Alliance annual paddle series, Park-to-Park Paddle event, Kayak Essentials class for the City of Appleton Parks and Recreation Department, and annual Paddler Gear Swap and Workshop events. He volunteers his time on the NEWP Board of Directors and currently serves as president of the NEWP Board of Directors, developed and administered the Wisconsin Paddlers club website, an actively instructing. You can also find him moderating, as well as providing AV support, for the annual Canoecopia Paddlesports Expo event in Madison, WI.

Congratulations to Jeff for his extraordinary service at the local, regional and national level!

James “Jim” Tibensky has been described by his friends and peers as “one of the most selfless and giving people that I know.” His service and dedication to paddlesports has been long withstanding – from being an International Canoe Federation judge, competing locally, regionally, and nationally in many different paddlesports disciplines, and now selflessly serving the Chicago Voyagers as the Volunteer Program Leader.

Jim is a key volunteer for Chicago Voyagers – bringing expertise in outdoors skills and also youth work. He is currently a Level 5: Advanced Open Water Coastal Kayaking and Level 4: Whitewater Kayaking Instructor. Jim helps to mentor the youth as a kind and patient listener, whether about paddling or overarching life skills.

Jim, you are more than deserving of being the ACA’s Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year. Thank you for your selfless service and unparalleled ambassadorship of paddlesports!

The 2019 recipient of the Joe Pina Volunteer of the year award is John Traendly!

John is the current Secretary of the Safety Education & Instruction Council; he has stepped up in a significant way to donate an immense amount of time and expertise to create a custom course management system to better help the ACA and all Instructors, Trainers, and Educators. We are so fortunate to have such a dedicated person willing not only to put so much time and energy to advance the organization using his incredibly valuable knowledge and skills, but to also collaborate with and use the input of many other stakeholders. John asks for no recognition and turns down opportunities to be recognized or passes the credit on to others. This type of selflessness is a rarity and we are so fortunate to have someone of his caliber and nature be willing to serve.

John is also the largest contributor to the development execution of the 2019 IT Conference event. We wouldn’t have been successful without him! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you John!

Gerry, founder of the Explore Kentucky Initiative (EKI) has been a stalwart for Kentucky’s outdoor community for the past 5 years.

• Founding of Kentucky Waterman Series: Kentucky’s first paddlesports racing league.
• creation of the Beaver Creek Blueway Trail in partnership with the City of Glasgow
• Strong supporter of diversity and inclusivity in outdoor recreation.
• Created and hosted In My Backyard: Red River Gorge environmental education festival that exposed families of various socioeconomic statuses to various activities involving one Kentucky’s greatest natural resources.
• Past Outdoor Afro, Leader for Kentucky Network
• Kentucky Conservation Committee, Board Member
• American Canoe Association KY Council, Public Policy Liaison
• Kentucky Rural – Urban Exchange, Steering Committee Member
• ACA certified Level 1: SUP & Level 2 Tandem Canoe Instructor
• Project Learning Tree Educator: Southern Forest and Climate Change, and Focus on the Forest

Gerry’s goal is to uplift Kentucky’s people and natural spaces. By embracing environmentalism, outdoor recreation, diversity & inclusion, storytelling, and collaboration; we create programs, events, media, and action campaigns that are rooted in social artistry and intersectionality. Thus preserving the environmental and cultural resources of the commonwealth’s 120 counties.

Anthea is a steady contributor to the paddling community and has been key to developing the Los Angeles River Race over the past few years. Anthea also is an avid sea and whitewater kayaker and a crucial contributor to the California state chapter of ACA, where Anthea serves as the Director of Events, Outreach, and Education. Anthea’s work with the LA River Race is truly special. In a big state with an economy the size of a top 10 country, Anthea has helped develop a unique focus on the LA River, a long dilapidated stretch of riperian history hidden amongst freeways and industrial spaces in LA. With Anthea’s help, a large LA river restoration plan is being advanced, and the LA Mayor and key legislators, including LA’s highest ranking Legislator, Senator Kevin De Leon, are actively talking about how to improve and bring back the LA river. This focus will also efforts to remake and improve LA in advance of the 2028 Olympics. The LA River race is also special for how it brings the community together. With its low gradient and stream-side walk paths, the river has highlighted to probably thousands of viewers how kayaking, SUPing are possible in inland LA. This type of enthusiasm will be key for ultimately revitalizing the long-paved stretches of the LA river, and establishing a unique desert river system in one of the major cities of the world. Anthea has supported the community and volunteered in many other significant ways too. Anthea has helped organize and manage trips not only for the UCLA Marina Aquatic Center (where Anthea served as a Sea Kayak instructor for many years), but has also spearheaded whitewater trips and played leadership roles for the LA Kayak Club. Anthea annually supports ACA-insured trips to train and teach newbies to whitewater kayak through the LA Kayak Club, an ACA PAC. Anthea paddles all around California, including joining up with a woman-focused kayaking group, the California Women’s Watersport Collective, which is actively advancing paddling skills for women in California. Finally, Anthea is also now serving in her 3rd year as a member of the ACA’s California Council. Anthea helped architect our on-line outreach efforts via ACA-California’s Facebook page. She takes her duties seriously and provides steady and ceaseless contributions to the Cali-council’s efforts to promote paddlesports and the ACA in California.

Bruce Bodson has been an instrumental force in establishing paddle trails throughout Texas, but his work for Bayou Land Conservancy and other local nonprofits, such as the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, have helped steer Houstonians towards embracing outdoor recreation. Bruce regularly makes the trek across Houston to work with Bayou Land Conservancy’s No Child Left Inside environmental education program, where he has served as a paddle guide for hundreds of high school and middle school students.

Besides his role as an expert paddler, Bruce is an environmental attorney who has served on the board of Bayou Land Conservancy for 9 years. Bruce is chairman of the Lands Committee, and currently holds the officer position of Vice President. He is also a board member of the Bayou Preservation Association and Christmas Bay Foundation, and has previously served on the board of the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory. But wait, there’s more! Bruce is a Lecturer and Professor at Texas A&M University – Galveston, where he teaches Environmental Impact Analysis and Environmental Policy at the graduate student level. Bruce has won or placed in a multitude of long-distance kayak races, where he regularly defeats people half his age.

Affectionately known locally by her camp name “Bubba”, Sherrie has been a Girl Scout for most of her life and is, indeed, a life member of the organization. She became a Red Cross Canoeing Instructor in 1984, and an ACA instructor circa 2004. She has served the Girl Scouts of Gateway Council as a volunteer canoeing instructor for more than 100 Aquatics Weekends and has been the canoeing coordinator for more than ten years. Her brilliantly designed lesson plans allow four independent canoeing classes to operate on the same waterfront using two sets of canoes. This doubled the number of Girl Scouts who can be accommodated  during each Aquatics Weekend.
Bubba also conducts an ACA Introduction to Canoeing skills course every September for adult Girl Scout leaders. Those who complete this class are permitted to supervise canoeing activities on council property and are encouraged to volunteer at the Aquatics Weekends and to go on to attaining ACA instructor certification.

Gateway Council has two other programs run by volunteers that are very important in developing women of character: Smile Camp and San Agustin. Both programs require the girls (middle and high school age) to formally apply for positions and to participate in an interview process. The programs are run by the senior girls under adult supervision. Smile Camp is a week long day camp for severely handicapped children. Each camper has a staff member assigned full time. Smile Camp provides the campers with a wide range of outdoor activities including canoe rides!  Bubba served as a counselor from 1979-1982, and went on to become a Special Education teacher in the public school system. She has been an adult volunteer with Smile Camp since 1984 and has been the Head Adult Counselor since 2002. Many Smile Camp counselors have followed in Bubba’s footsteps and gone on to pursue Special Education degrees in college.

Bubba and her sister hiked the Appalachian Trail from end to end, one month at a time over an eleven year period. She has shared her love of backpacking with many scouts and taken several troops on backpacking trips.

Bubba is an inspirational leader and an excellent role model for young women. She is richly deserving of this award.

“Noah Hussein has been the heart and soul of the kids kayaking program at Variety Boys & Girls Club in Queens, New York. His infectious enthusiasm and generous personality, combined with great teaching skills, has made him a favorite with the kids and staff alike. In this underserved community most of the kids he teaches have never been in a small boat before, and would likely have no opportunity if it were not for Noah’s volunteer work.” – Tom Potter of Brooklyn Bridge Park Boat House:

Noah is also the driving force behind the kayak polo program at Brooklyn Bridge Park, a free program open to the public introducing NYC residence to the fun sport of kayak polo. During this program, he teaches adults and children alike, both experienced paddlers and novices at the same time. He also takes time to help the other volunteers improve their paddling, kayak polo skills, and teaching abilities.

In addition to his involvement with these two programs, he also serves as a board member at Brooklyn Bridge Park Boathouse as well as the ACA NY Executive Council Youth Director. He has also worked with Veterans with PTSD as part of the Hero’s on the Hudson and Headstrong programs. Additionally, he volunteers at North Brooklyn Boat Club, assisting in trip guiding as well as trainings for their members.

Noah is a ACA level 2 Kayak Instructor, ACA certified Coastal Kayak Day Trip Leader, and assessed as an ACA level 3 Kayaker. He is always looking for ways to improve his skills not only as a kayaker but a kayak instructor and trip leader. He does this by practicing his teaching through assisting other instructors as well trip leading and assistant trip leading as much as possible.

Noah has an amazing attitude, always willing to help and answer any questions. His knowledge of what’s going on in the NYC boating community in New York is unparalleled and is constantly sharing information and getting people to work together towards a common cause.

Over the past year, Ivan Bartha has set the bar for what it means to volunteer on behalf of the ACA and paddlesports. He took on the role of Chair of the Midwest Division and began to revitalize it through social media and in-person meetings. He attended Canoecopia on behalf of the ACA and staffed the booth single-handedly (if you have ever been to Canoecopia – you know what a feat that was!). In addition, he represented the ACA at the Paddle America Club Social where over 150 paddling club members were in attendance. Ivan has helped organize not only training sessions in his area, but also the facilitation of getting new ACA Instructor Trainers in an under-served area of the country. In addition, he organized the first Midwest College Race Series event on behalf of the ACA. Ivan holds numerous ACA Instructor certifications and actively teaches and reports as the Coordinator of Experiential Education and Outdoor Programming for St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

In addition to running New Mexico Kayak Instruction, where hundreds of able bodied adults and children are taught kayaking each year, Kelly Gossett also founded Kayak New Mexico, Inc 501(c)(3) that teaches adaptive paddling to adults and children with autism spectrum disorders, Healing Veterans and others with physical or developmental disabilities. The program strives to improve the mental, physical, social and emotional well‐being of each participant through adaptive kayak instruction and inclusion in broader community events. Adaptive paddling students go on to enjoy outings to local lakes and easy rivers with a paddling community he founded for all former students, as well as inclusion in community service projects (such as river‐cleanups), participation in local, state, and federal outreach programs (such as National Get Outdoors Day), and kayak support for open‐water triathlons throughout New Mexico. By providing kayak support to swimmers, many feel as though they’ve “saved someone’s life” thereby adding depth and meaning to each individual’s purpose in life. His adaptive paddling program has grown to include as many as 9 free classes a week for Albuquerque Public Schools’ Adaptive Aquatics Physical Education programs. Annually, more than 250 special needs kids participate in the adaptive kayaking program at no cost to the school district or families. Kelly also teaches kayaking at Camp Enchantment, a camp for kids with cancer, the MDA New Mexico Camp, a camp for kids who suffer from muscular dystrophy, and Beyond Limits Wheelchair Sports Camp, a camp for kids in wheel chairs. He also represents Albuquerque residents on the Metropolitan Parks & Recreation Advisory Board, co-founded the New Mexico Outdoors Coalition, was appointed by the Secretary of Interior to co-author a management plan for the Middle Rio Grande with emphasis on conservation, recreation and education.

Jimmy has a lifetime of experience as a waterman and educator.  He is a certified ACA SUP Instructor Trainer, former US Natinal Champion whitewater kayaker, lifelong ocean surfer and holds a master’s degree in education.  His unique background provides students with worldclass instruction, tons of fun and the motivation to develop and maintain an active lifestyle. Jimmy now focuses his attention on training and certifying SUP Instructors when not busy with his day job as Product & Marketing Manager fro BIC Sport Paddle Surf.  Jimmy also hosts an instructional series on SUP TV on YouTube.  He has volunteered countless hours on the SUP curriculum development for the intor, surf and whitewater programs and worked with the ACA to sponsor the new Essentials of SUP instructional DVD that was released this year.

Lyman, “Lee”, gives up several weekends a year to train adults as instructors in Canoe and Girl Scouts as paddlers in both kayaking and canoeing.  He has become an essential part of the Aquatics Program for Girl Scouts of Gateway Council. He is also involved with the boy scouts; yet he does not have children or grandchildren of his own currently participating in either organization. On one of his recent river trips with Girl Scouts, he even helped a kayaker on the river that was in major need of medical attention. His commitment to paddling safe is passed on to the girls whom remember this in their future years. He also makes the learning for the children fun and enjoyable. Many return for following sessions to advance their skills. He covers topics that may not be of large concern in FL, such as hypothermia, but reiterates to the girls to remember this if they paddle outside of our state or during a cold time of year in FL, even though that is brief. Not only does he teach them the safety, he gets them to think safe. This is a difficult thing to do with pre-teens and teens. He is an asset to ACA on both the child and adult level, as both an Instructor Trainer and an Instructor. He modifies in instructing methods accordingly. He has volunteered for well over a decade and has given an uncountable number of hours to both programs.

Doug had a long distinguished career with the U.S. Army and was formerly with the NYPD in the South Bronx. His love of the outdoors and a desire to work with young people in a more positive way lead to a career in outdoor recreation. Doug is presently certified as a Leave No Trace Master Educator, Wilderness First Responder with the Wilderness Medical Institute, and an instructor with the American Canoe Association. As a Board Member, he helped bring the National Paddlesports Conference to Louisville, KY. In addition to working at his store, he volunteers his time with the Louisville Red Cross chapter teaching CPR and Wilderness First Aid courses, and enjoys hanging out with his fellow club members in the Viking Canoe Club.

As a very active member of the Missouri River Valley Paddlers based out of Nebraska, Bruce represented the ACA during an in-stream flow study with the USDA.

Elizabeth O’Connor – Dayton has been working and playing in and around boats of all types for most of her life. Although her business is centered on providing skills training for sea kayak, river kayak and canoe, she has had a passion for competitive racing. In the early 2000’s she competed at the National level, winning the Woman’s Sea Kayak marathon championship five years running. In her fifth race she won both Sea Kayak Marathon and ICF Marathon on consecutive days. In 2003 she was the top scorer on the US Team to the ICF Marathon Worlds Championship in Valladolid, Spain. Later she began to focus on sprint racing, mainly through the NY State Games, where she captained the US Team for three years running. Today she continues to race for fun and coaches paddlers interested in improving their competitive skills. Elizabeth brings these same high standards to skills training where she is certified as ACA Open Water Coastal Instructor (L4) and as a River Kayak Instructor (L2). Whether teaching a novice or an advanced paddler her company has the tools and the experience to get students off on the right foot and help them overcome most every difficulty as they advance as paddlers. “We relish the opportunity to bring the beginner from entry to advanced level, and are happy to work with the experienced paddler who wishes to hone their skills.” More recently Elizabeth has been certified as an Instructor Trainer by the American Canoe Association for Coastal Kayak for levels I – IV. In addition to the interesting challeng of developing and certifying new Instructors, she also enjoys training and assessing padders and trip leaders for clubs and shops. She also has the ACA Adaptive Paddling Endorsement to train paddlers with disabilities. Elizabeth has a strong motivation to give back to the sport that has given her so much. She has served as the Divisional Instructional Facilitator for the Atlantic Division of the ACA for most of the last decade. As part of the position she also serves on the Safety Education and Instrucion Council of the ACA – the body responsible for curriculum development on the national level. Starting in 2005 she organized the annual Long Island Paddlesport Symposium a free to the public training symposium geared to provide new paddlers with basic skills and safe practices.

Two Rivers, Wisconsin is a kayaker’s town thanks to the tireless advocacy of local businessman and kayaker Phil Rohrer. Phil helped create several local paddling clubs that held a wide variety of formal and informal events throughout the year.

Since the 1950’s, the Rappahannock River has floated Micks’ boat. Fredericksburg’s first river outfitter, river safety advocate and conservationist looks back over a lifetime on the Rappahannock. Bill Micks took his first paddling trip on the Rappahannock River with the Boy Scouts in 1958. It was a life-changing moment, says Micks, who lived up the hill from the river at the time, off College Avenue. His boyhood paddling trips with George Brumble, a local veterinarian and Scout leader, led to a lifelong love of the Rappahannock, decades of service to Friends of the Rappahannock, and a business that has catered to river-lovers for 40 years. The two-day paddling and camping trip “stuck with me,” says Micks, 64, a retired school teacher and co-owner of the Virginia Outdoor Center on Fall Hill Avenue. Soon, he was a physical education teacher and coach in Stafford County–his day job for the next 31 years. But he couldn’t shake a connection with the river. “When I got out of college, that was what I wanted to do,” he says. In the summer of 1972, he borrowed $1,000, bought three Grumman canoes, paddles, life jackets and started teaching American Red Cross canoeing classes.”I kept that equipment in the backyard on Powhatan Street,” he recalls. At the time, a local boat dealer was selling canoes, but no one was renting them. Micks saw a business opportunity, forming Rappahannock Canoe Rentals. “The spinoff from that was [that] I thought people might be interested in river trips,” he says. So he began offering them that year, becoming the area’s first outfitter.The following season, he bought another couple of canoes, and the business slowly began to grow. He ran the business after his school day, on evenings and weekends. In 1975, Micks incorporated the company, and married his wife, Denise, a teacher and Spotsylvania County native.  Bill has been associated with the Great Rappahannock Whitewter Canoe Race (GRWCR) since it began 32 years ago. Kirk Havens, past president of the American Canoe Association and director of the Coastal Watersheds Program at the College of William & Mary, hasn’t missed one. The race typically raises about $1,000 a year for local swift water rescue programs. “Bill is probably the primary reason that our entire clan of Havens paddlers come back to the Rappahannock River every year,” Havens said. “It became a family reunion for us, largely due to the generous, welcoming nature of Bill Micks.” And Micks had a role in bringing the ACA, the nation’s largest paddling organization, from Springfield to Fredericksburg in 2008, Havens said. The organization “had a number of different suitors” all over the country. When it considered locating in the city, one of its first contacts was Micks. The organization sponsors some of the competitions that are part of the race here, and sanctions competitions and educational and safety programs around the country. “He had a relationship with [city officials] and the community, and that here was a place that should be the home of the ACA.” Havens added, “Our first impression of Fredericksburg was Bill Micks, and the city couldn’t have done any better.” Date published: 7/8/2012 By Rusty Dennen of the FreeLanceStar.

Joe worked for several years as the Information Technology staff person for the ACA National Office.  Joe currently maintains the Whitewater Open Canoe Downriver (WWOCD) Racing website and keeps it up to date with the latest race calendar and rule updates.

A long time ACA volunteer from Michigan, Nancy assisted with the Quiet Water Symposium for many years.  She taught water safety courses and clinics to numerous individuals.

Leslie served on the ACA Board of Directors where she offered her expertise in risk management for nonprofits.  She also worked as the Director of Risk Management Services at the Nonprofit Risk Management Center and currently serves as a risk management consultant for associations. She is enjoys both skiing and kayaking.

Scotty has been involved with the ACA, USACK, the ICF and several New York paddling clubs for many years.  He has focused on flatwater sprint racing.  In addition, we was the Camp Director at ACA Lake Sebago and continues to serve on the Lake Sebago Board.

Sam has been involved in paddlesport for 35 years. His connection with the American Canoe Association began in 1977 when he certified as an ACA Whitewater Kayak Instructor while working at the Nantahala Outdoor Center as a guide and instructor. He has been an ACA Whitewater Canoe Instructor Trainer since 1981. He is presently an Instructor Trainer Educator in Swiftwater Rescue and Whitewater Canoe for the ACA. For the last 10 years his focus has been on swiftwater rescue instruction and instructor training. Sam’s interests lie in making rescue techniques adaptable and relevant to paddlers. Sam has also been on the teaching faculty of Western Carolina University for the past eleven years schooling students in water-based sports education. Sam’s other ACA leadership positions include: 12 years as Dixie Division Divisional Instruction Facilitator, 4 years as SEIC Vice Chair (1996-2000). He served as Chair of the Safety, Education and Instruction Council from 2004-2007 and is a 5-year member of the Board of Directors of the ACA. In addition to receiving the Excellence in Instruction Award in 2005, he was a recipient of the ACA Joe Pina Volunteer of the Year Award in 2002.Sam is also a Rescue 3 International Instructor Trainer, a WMI WFR and a NC EMT-B. Sam gives special attention to providing a multi-level educational experience. Providing professional level training for colleges, universities, agencies, outfitters, summer camps and clubs for 30 years.

Dave Mason is a past commodore of the ACA who has been a member for over 30 years. This guy bleeds ACA through and through and always finds a way to lighten the mood. Getting started: My parents sent me off to a summer camp, Camp High Rocks, where I fell in love with canoeing. When I graduated from high school, my father bought me my first canoe. That was a big mistake. I chose Sewanee because it was located in the Tennessee mountains near good white water.

Reaction to induction into the American Canoe Association Paddlesport Hall of Fame: “I was honored and flattered. I was honored that the ‘higher ups’ had noticed the years of training, racing and instructing that I’d done, along with serving on the boards of all the national governing bodies. To now have my name alongside some of the ‘who’s who’ in the U.S. paddling world is very moving.”

Marcia has volunteered for the ACA at all levels.  She has been extremely involved with the Delaware Valley Division as well as a wide range of paddling clubs throughout Pennsylvania and New York.

Ed Schultz was the Treasurer for the ACA’s Dixie Division for many years and a canoe instructor.  He is also a long-time member of the Georgia Canoeing Association, which is an ACA Paddle America Club.

An avid paddler of canoe and kayaks for three decades, Sigrid’s main interest is to provide information about paddlesport to the public to participate safely and to engage paddlers in becoming stewards for the environment. “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”.