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CHUGIAK DOG MUSHERS ASSOCIATION
General Meeting – January 7, 2004
7 pm at the new clubhouse, Beach Lake Sled Dog Trails
Hotline: 689-7899

The meeting was called to order at 7:20 pm.
Minutes from December 17, 2003, were approved.
Treasurer’s Report: None

Committee Reports/New Business

Businessperson’s Race: There is no race marshal yet but calls have been made and there are a few people who may be able to help. Key people have been identified for most locations. Sled holders and handlers are still needed and a shoot judge needs to be confirmed. Theresa Daily will bring a digital camera and video camera. She also can bring a 35mm camera and the club will supply photo paper and color cartridges for printing digital photos if necessary.

Response by mail has been slow but about 12-14 teams have signed up through word of mouth, most contacting mushers directly that they have worked with in the past. Lexi has a list of the teams. Harold and/or Val will create a schedule of events for the businesspeople, including training information, times to be at the trails, and the banquet information.

Dixie has race bibs. Participants get to keep their bib as a souvenir, along with any prizes. Dixie suggested perhaps raffling off a few signed bibs.

The bib draw will be held Friday night at 7pm at the clubhouse. Kathy Pratt will be at the races on Saturday to sell merchandise. A portable toilet will be rented for the race and the outhouse needs to be cleaned before the weekend.

Classic Race: The purse for the Classic will be $5000 this year. Purses are paid to the top ten finishers. The breakdown is as follows:

1st place $1250
2nd place $850
3rd place $650
4th place $600
5th place $500
6th place $400
7th place $300
8th place $200
9th place $150
10th place $100

Mileage for the Classic will most likely be 14 miles. Currently the 14-mile trail is too drifted and packed to use but the 12-mile is groomed. The club will have the 14-mile trail groomed. The club also will purchase bales of straw or hay to stack on the outside of the hairpin turn, where mushers have said their teams have been running over the fence. Val will make some calls to find straw or hay for the job.

The bib draw for the Classic and the 6-dog 8-mil fun run will also be on Friday night at 7pm. Val will pick up food (chips, dips, etc.) and beverages (soda, coffee, etc.) for the draw.

The Banquet will be at the Thai Siam in Eagle River at 6pm on Sunday night (January 18th). Tickets will be $15 for the banquet. Val will ask Jim Welch if he could print tickets for the banquet. Ron will ask the Juniors if a few could work the baskets for the Chinese Auction at the banquet. The club will provide banquet tickets for the auction helpers.

Open House: Val has arranged for Wayne’s Texas BBQ to cater the open house during the Businessperson’s and Classic Races on Saturday, January 17. They will deliver and set up before 10:30am. They will provide a buffet menu of pork sandwiches, reindeer stew with bread, vegetables and dips, and other good stuff. The club will contact everyone on the race poster directly to invite them to the open house, as well as the organizations and individuals who helped with the clubhouse along the way. Jeanne will send a news release to the Alaska Star about the Businessperson’s and Classic Races, inviting the public to come watch.

Next Meeting

A general meeting will be Wednesday, January 14, 2004, at 7pm at the clubhouse. The next education program will tentatively be on February 4, 2004. A notice will be sent out via email confirming the program.