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.