IPC Gathering of the Paddlers: Annual Dinner 2024
Join the Illinois Paddling Council for the 2024 Gathering of the Paddlers at Southern Belle’s restaurant in Yorkville, Illinois, home of the Marge Cline Whitewater Course.
This year, we are very excited to feature John Chase, host of the popular Paddling the Blue Podcast where John interviews inspiring paddlers from across the globe doing great things from the seat of a kayak or canoe. John’s featured presentation will be “A Historical Tour of Isle Royale”. Isle Royale, Michigan, located in the northwest of Lake Superior. The island and the 450 surrounding smaller islands and waters make up Isle Royale National Park.
In addition to dramatic scenery, this Lake Superior gem is rich with history. Join us as we explore the island as it was in centuries past as well as the present. Learn about former settlements, mining history, private camps, and resorts of yesteryear along with firsthand info on some of today’s finest camp locations accessible only by paddle on this remote island National Park.
John also maintains the website PaddlingExercises.com, dedicated to helping paddlers become stronger and more efficient. He is the author of Power to the Paddle: Exercises to Improve Your Canoe and Kayak Paddling. Maybe John will even get us up and moving, ya’think?
We’ll also hear from IPC’s newest Board Member Anthea Halpryn fresh off her first successful finish of the Missouri River 340, the world’s longest canoe and kayak race. Competitors paddle 340 miles across the state of Missouri only stopping briefly to rest (only if they need it, of course). The skull and cross-paddle logo captures the spirit of the race where racers who fall behind are eliminated by “The Reaper”. What’s it like to compete in such a race? We’ll find out!
We’ll also hear a welcome from Yorkville and find out what it took to implement the Marge Cline Whitewater Course – our state’s first – in their town on the Fox River. We welcome attendees who are experienced whitewater paddlers to paddle the course in the afternoon before the dinner, weather and river conditions permitting. We’ll keep you updated!
Finally, members in attendance will elect our 2025 Board and Officers and we’ll recap last year’s activities We’ll also hear on update from IPC Board President and Advocacy Chair Scott Hays about the progress of our legislature in making all rivers in Illinois open again to the citizens of the state of Illinois.
Southern Belle’s is serving up catfish and fried chicken and other assorted goodies. Dinner tickets are $50 per person for non-members and $40 for members. Renew your membership at $15 for the next year at the ticket link below. Total for membership renewal plus discounted dinner: $55
Feel free to check in with us about your current membership status.
We here at the IPC hope to see you at the 2024 Gathering of the Paddlers!