PAT MILLIGAN BAKER - AUGUST 6, 2017

Pat Baker, awarded the 2017 Citation Award, has provided countless hours of service to the CSA in a myriad of ways. Pat was born in Illinois. She was introduced to the CSA by her grandparents who first tented here in 1912 and 1913. After that they stayed in the lodge for several years, and then they went on to build a cottage across from the original meeting house, where she and her brothers enjoyed their childhood and teen summers. She was married after college and as a young mother she did not come up to the CSA for about 25 years due to the interests and needs of her children. In the late 1970’s she returned and rented various cottages until she built her own cottage in 1994. Because of her love of music she promptly re-joined the choir where she was welcomed by the booming voice of her childhood idol, Tom Williams, saying “Well, look who’s back!” She’s been in the choir ever since!

Over the past 30 years she got involved with the Women’s Association and served as Vice President and remembers helping to find speakers for the two “coffee meetings” each summer. She made a square for the Centennial Quilt and helped with the formation of the squares into a proper quilt. She has been on the Crystal View Committee and has been a regular contributor to the gardens located near the Meeting House, the Assembly Building and Crystal View. The road signs on the CSA were all painted by her.

You have seen Pat on the stage in 10 Operettas and she has helped many times with costumes and props. She was part of the chorus which sang the Centennial Concert and she continues to help the choir by gathering, sorting and repairing choir music. She has organized several sing-along evenings and even prepared song sheets for all who came.

She is particularly admired for her devotion to the removal of garlic mustard on the grounds working singly, as well as, inspiring others to join in the fun.

Pat is also an artist, and every year, at the Authors and Artisans Fair, she sells note cards and photos taken by her depicting scenes on the CSA grounds. Her photograph of the Meeting House was donated to the CSA and hangs over the fireplace in Pilgrim Place. One of her photographs is the cover of the Centennial Concert disc.

She is quite a fan of tennis and has participated many times in CSA tennis tournaments. She was the driving force in setting up the Adult Round Robin tennis activity ever week during the summer. She was the powerhouse behind getting the shuffleboard court restored.

It is our pleasure to present the 2017 Citation for Long and Valued Service to Pat Milligan Baker. She is a living example of a person who steps forward to help when something needs to be done!