If you haven't read it...it's news to you!
2007 old news

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THE 2008
SEPPALA HERITAGE GRANT
Time is running out - don't forget to apply for the 2008 Seppala Heritage Grant. Deadline is May, 18th, 2007.

Applicants must own their own dog team and operate their own kennel. Persons eligible for the grant include any youth, junior musher or rookie (a rookie is any person regardless of age who aspires to run the Iditarod for the first time), and who demonstrates the qualities outlined above. Financial need will also be considered.

The Seppala Heritage Grant will be awarded by June 1, 2007. The grant recipient will be chosen by the Selection Committee whose judgment is final. The decision will be announced at the Iditarod Annual Meeting and Volunteer Picnic in June 2007. Click Here for application & details (PDF)

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GOOD JOB!!!!
Thank you for all your help with the clean up effort at Lois Harters home. We could not have done it with out you.

Special thanks to Stan & Sally Smith Julie Capps, Carol Comeau, Eric Rogers, Theresa Daily and the entire clan of the Harter family.

Don't forget we still have a fundraiser auction going on at www.dogsled.com to help with Lois's expenses. Great stuff added everyday. Auction will end May 21st so get those bids in.

Remember you must be logged into dogsled.com to bid!
Anyone wishing to donate items to the auction contact Theresa Daily - E-Mail me

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Beach Lake Annual Clean-up
Beach Lake Rd. annual clean-up will be on Sat. the 19th at 10:00am. Meet at the club house, and we will have a pot luck after, so bring something.

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HOUSE FIRE FUNDRAISER AUCTION MAY 11th
Help us raise the roof for Dino Leite (Tonya Mackey's brother) who's family home was burnt to the ground on April 12th. They lost everything, thankfully no one was injured. The auction will be May 11th at "Debra's Hide-away" mile 101.5 Sterling Highway, Kenai Peninsula , Alaska. Iditarod Champion, Lance Mackey will be available to sign autographs and chat from 4-7pm. If you would like to donate items or help financially E-mail us for more information or snail mail to: Mackey's PO Box 10262 Fairbanks, Alaska 99710

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Harter Auction ends May 21st
Dogsled.com has an online fundraiser auction to help local Chugiak resident, Lois Harter with her on going expenses. We have collected items from "celebrity" mushers, collectors and friends. With more pouring in everyday. For those of you who don't know, Lois Harter suffered a major housefire back in February 2007 and was only able to escape with her dogs, purse and the clothes she had on. More items will be added to the auction everyday, check out our "Odd & Collectable" page - bid from the heart. Auction ends May 21st 2007. Click Here

Remember you must be logged into dogsled.com to bid!
Anyone wishing to donate items to the auction contact Theresa Daily - E-Mail me

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photo courtesy of John Gomes

CHUGIAK DOG MUSHERS JUNIOR & SENIOR EASTER RACE
BEACH LAKE SLED DOG TRAILS 04-07-07

Wind and rain had softened the trail but that did not discourage the mushers from racing. 17 one dog teams and 19 relay teams participated in this special race which is always scheduled as close to Easter as possible and involves carrying eggs in the sleds along with Easter candy prizes. One dog teams race on the 1/4 mile trail set for them while the relay mushers race on the 2 mile trail. In the relay, one musher leaves according to the countdown while the second musher remains ready to hook up the second team when the first returns. Times for the relay begin with first member of the team and end when the second member
crosses the finish line. The event is followed by awards and an Easter egg hunt.
Costumes were worn by nearly all mushers. This year the Easter Bunny handed out toothbrushes and toothpaste to participants.

For more photos of the weekend races visit photographer John Gomes web site

photo courtesy of John Gomes

1/4 mile One Dog Results:

(1) Cassie Linn 1:12 (2) Jade Gilpin 1:13 (3) Michala Messing 1:17 (4) Aurora Linn 1:19 (5) Erica Quiett 1:22 (6) Victoria Johnson 1:26 (7) Nicholas Simms 1:28 (8) Rya Berrigan 1:29 (9) Kathrin Massong 1:37 (10) Sophie Bacon 1:45 (11) Zack Maruskie 1:48 (12) Aila Berrigan 2:00 (13) Chayton Payne 2:02 (14) Rachael Oswald 2:13 (15) Zada Maruskie 2:18 (16) Tasha Quiett 2:49 (17) Simone Simms 2:51

Easter Relay Results 2 Mile:

(1) Jennifer Payne and Christine Johnson 16:57 (2) Kris Rasey and Kim Wells 17:07 (3) Becca Stenerson and Doug Stenerson 17:26 (4) Morgan Gingerich and Morgan Summers 17:49 (5) Andrew Noble and Alea Robinson 18:30 (6) Yelenna Cavens and Andrea Laessig 18:38 (7) Barb Johnson and Nathan Sterling 19:13 (8) Tillie Cantor and Kelly French 19:58 (9) Charles Jewell and Jonathon Biggerstaff-Myer 20:04 (10) Alison Bacon and Donna Bacon 21:14 (11) Yuti Takagi and June Takagi 21:46 (12) Matilda Jacobson and Sherri Criley 22:07 (13) Madi Lewis and Terry Lewis 22:45 (14) David Berg and Tori Berg 22:48 (15) Meredith Mapes and Marilyn Mapes 23:22 (16) Karl Echmann and Nancy Gehm 23:30 (17) Phillip Walters and Val Jokela 23:44 (18) Cassie Heck and Nick Swallow 26'59"
( 19) Val Gllshenky and Beck Breeding 31'01"

For more photos of the weekend races visit photographer John Gomes web site

 

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Easter Race

The Easter Fun Run is coming up on Saturday, April 7, 10:30 start. There will be a one-dog race on the ¼-mile trail, followed by the relay race on the two-mile trail. Here are the race rules:

Penalties: Cracked or missing egg(s) five seconds added to total elapsed time. In costume - subtract 15 seconds from total time.

Two dogs are the basic team, so add 15 seconds per dog above two to total time up to four dogs. Consider strategy here on the number of dogs you wish to participate with.

Time starts when the 1st musher of each team leaves the start line, two minute intervals, clock stops when team member #2 crosses the finish line. The 2nd team’s dogs can be harnessed on the truck, but not hooked up in the gangline. Both team members can get the second team hooked up and out on the trail. Don't forget to transfer the eggs! Eggs will be checked for cracks, or missing, or improperly carried (no egg cartons), after crossing the finish line by team member #2.

If you are coming out to the race, bring extra colored eggs to hide for the kids.

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The next CDMA meetings:

A board meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 10th at 7pm in the clubhouse. Incoming and outgoing board members are requested to attend. In addition, general members are always welcome to attend board meetings. The next general meeting will be Tuesday, May 1st at 7pm in the clubhouse. At this meeting, we will discuss summer trail maintenance projects. Throughout the summer, board meetings will be held on the first Tuesday of the month (June 5, July 10, August 7) at 7pm. General meetings will resume in September. Remember, general members can always attend board meetings.

Chugiak Dog Mushers meetings are held at the Beach Lake Club House, each Tuesday evening during race season (November and December) and the first Tuesday of the month in the off season, at the Beach Lake Club House at 7 pm

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The Taiga Spring Break 300 The last Sled dog race of the Season on the Road System 300 miles of cross country travel in the Upper Susitna River Basin. The course will be mixed travel; hills, rivers and lakes, with the majority of the trail being on river systems. About 50 miles of the trail will be above timberline. Snow conditions are excellent through the entire route. The trail is in place with a good base. Expect temperatures to range from a possible -20 at night, to +40 during the day.

The race will begin and end at Wolverene Lodge on Lake Louise. ( 907-822-3988; Mile 16.5 on the Lake Louise Road—turn off at mile 160 on the Glenn Highway 27 miles South of Glennallen). Race will start at 11:00a.m. on April 2, 2007. 2 minute intervals. The race will be a continuous event of approximately 312 miles, consisting of 4 segments. The 1st leg will be a 78 mile run from Wolverene Lodge, most of which will be hilly, returning on the Lake system to Wolverene for a mandatory 8 hour layover plus time differential. No handler assistance or planned help allowed here. Teams will then continue on a 102 mile leg to the Maclaren checkpoint. (Maclaren River Lodge at milepost 42 on the Denali Highway, 907-822-5444). This segment is entirely on Lakes and Rivers. There will be a mandatory 6 hour layover at Maqclaren at which straw will be provided. The 3rd leg will be a 30 mile loop east on the Denali Highway, and returning through the mountains to Maclaren for a 4 hour layover. The last run will return to Wolverene on the 102 mile leg.

The Taiga Spring Break 300 is organized and operated by the Gin Gin 120 Race organization and is planned as an alternative to the Kobuk 440 in Kotzebue. We have great spring snow, fantastic trails and expect a good turn out even with this short notice. We will be a Yukon Quest qualifying race and have applied for Iditarod qualifying status which we hope to receive soon. Contact us for more information.

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Great Rondy photos taken by John Gomes & Britt Coons - Click Here

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Lois Harter Suffers a Housefire
Long-time Iditarod Education Director & Webmaster, Lois Harter has suffered a major housefire and was only able to escape with her dogs, purse and the clothes she had on, she had no insurance. Lois is a well known Iditarod personality including her dog Zuma and for her contributions to the educational programs surrounding the Iditarod sled dog race.

An account has been set up for Lois Harter. The account, called the Lois I. Harter Donation Fund, is number 7527360379 at Wells Fargo Bank in Eagle River. Anyone wiring money to the account needs this routing number: 121000248. And anyone sending a check should write in the memo section "Lois I. Harter Donation Fund," and, on the back of the check, write "for deposit only" along with the account number.    

How can you help? Our good friends at dogsled.com are planning a fundraiser auction to help Lois with her expenses. They are collecting items from "celebrity" mushers, collectors and friends of Lois, if you have something of value that you would like to donate to the auction please contact them at news@dogsled.com.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Lois as she faces a tough struggle ahead.

CDMA TASK ALERT:
We need at least two people to serve as a Nominating Committee immediately. Club officer and board elections will be taking place at the last meeting in March. There are several positions that are up for election – including President and Vice President, so if you are interested in helping with the Nominating Committee duties or in being on the Board or Directors, please come to the meeting on February 6th or reply to this message regarding your interest.

EXXon Mobil
Photos from the Exxon Mobil Challenge at the Tudor Track by John Gomes
Click Here

Falling through ice:
A great video on what to do if you are in that situation.
Click Here to watch