Cook County Mushers Association Mission Statement
The Cook County Mushers Association is committed individually and collectively
to the care and welfare of our sled dogs and to the preservation of our right
to enjoy dog mushing as a way of life. In order to accomplish this, our
organization will:
Provide means for communication among dog mushers and between our organization
and others.
Identify and address issues of common interest.
Support dog mushing and represent its ideals.
Encourage good working relationships with proper and appropriate authorities,
such as veterinarians and government agencies.
For the benefit of our dogs.
To protect and enhance the public image of dog mushing.
To promote and expand our mutual efforts to know and understand working sled
dogs.
Membership: Voting membership is for owners and operators of dog mushing
kennels in Cook County, Minnesota.
Officers: The Cook County Mushers Association shall be led by an elected
Council, Currently four members of our association. Issues of concern should be
brought to their attention so that meetings can be called. A minimum of one
annual meeting will be called to review and communicate our concerns and to
elect our Council. Our current Council is: Tim White, Doug Seim, Dennis Laboda,
and Arleigh Jorgenson.
Submitted on June 10, 1995 by Arleigh Jorgenson, Secretary
Cook County Mushers Association
General Delivery
Hovland, MN 55606
TIM WHITE QCRS@AOL.COM TEL&FAX 218-387-2712
HC80-670 GRAND MARAIS, MN 55604 USA
IFSS JUNIOR COMMITTEE REPORT
PURPOSE
The Junior Program Committee was created as part of IFSS' committment and
responsibility for developing sled dog sports in all parts of the world. IFSS'
authority and obligation to act in this capacity come from the member national
federations that constitute the international association. Our purpose is not
to take over or take credit for any junior clubs, races, or other programs that
are now functioning. As an IFSS committee, the JPC exists to represent,
coordinate, and support at the intenational level the activities of national
and local federations, clubs, and other groups. In some ways the IFSS can help
to define the sport to the world, to the IOC, and to the GAISF. But, more
fundamentally, the IFSS and the sport itself are defined by the activites of
mushers and junior mushers themselves.
The nature of all sports is to develop the individual participants' physical
and mental skills, as well as their ability to work together. In junior mushing
the participants are children and dogs. Although their abilities are different
and complementary, these defining principles apply equally to both.
To develop the sport of dog mushing, the JPC's objectives are similar to those
of an individual musher: to expand and improve the level of participation and
competition in races, events, and other activities in the sport. In practice
this means creating or supporting programs that make available the best
possible equipment, nutrition, and information for the care and training of
sled dogs. Our interest should extend to every part of the world where sled
dogs are used or can be used.
PROPOSED ACTIONS
We propose to do the following:
I. Establish an expanded committee to coordinate and improve or increase junior
programs and communication at all levels, local to international. We request
that each national federation appoint a committee or person responsible to
cooperate in this area.
II. Publish a junior programs page on the Internet to facilitate communication
among organizers and to provide a source of information for junior mushers.
This will include a directory with contact names and specific details about
junior activities around the world. (More details follow.)
III. Develop ranking systems that can be used at different levels; local,
regional, national and international. Overall, development programs in other
sports usually are based on some consistent way to measure individuals'
progress within the sport. These systems are used to qualify, select, or
advance participants to new levels of competition or activity. They can also be
considered as recognizing and rewarding progress. In our sport, however, a
junior musher's performance in races may not always reflect fairly his or her
ability, skill,and effort. Should the dogs be ranked separately? Is it possible
to adopt ranking systems that will not encourage excessive competition while
still serving their neccessary purpose?
IV. Organize a junior training camp, clinic, and conference. This will take
place this fall, October 27-29, 1995 in Fairbanks, Alaska, in conjunction with
the ADMA symposium and trade fair. The IFSS JPC will collaborate with the ADMA
and other groups in setting up this event, and will help to arrange for junior
mushers and adult leaders to attend from as many countries as possible.