2007 International Sled Dog Symposium
Preliminary Program
Sponsored by the Alaska Dog Mushers Association, Fairbanks Junior Dog Mushers Association, the Fairbanks North Star Borough Pioneer Park, and Eagle Pack Pet Foods
Speakers, session titles, and session descriptions are subject to change. Updates will be posted regularly. Speaker names are linked to biographies as they become available.
All sessions are at the Pioneer Park Centennial Center for the Arts (the civic center) unless otherwise noted. Questions? See the symposium home page or contact Ami Gjestson by email or (907) 488-5621.
Theater sessions will be taped, and the recordings will be available for purchase from Sled Dog Studio after the symposium. The use of recording equipment and cameras (with or without flash) during presentations is prohibited except by authorized press and personnel. Theater presentation audio will be live on the web; a link will be posted shortly before the event.
Last updated 11-Oct-2007.
Friday, October 19th10 am – 4 pm • Blue Room Yukon Quest rookie workshop Find out what you need to know to run the Yukon Quest. Hear from veterans, veterinarians and race staff how to train, prepare for and run the toughest sled dog race in the world. This session is strongly recommended for all rookies of the 2008 Yukon Quest (regardless of experience with other 1000-mile races!), but all future rookies are welcome to join as well. The YQ will be serving lunch, since this is an all-day event. There is no charge for mushers who have entered the 2008 YQ race, but for all other mushers, there will be a $20.00 charge (separate from the symposium, to be paid at the door) which will include the lunch. Noon – 4 pm • Main floor & mezzanine Trade fair setup in civic center 4 – 7 pm • Lobby Early-bird registration and advance registration check-in; snacks available until 5 pm Avoid the Saturday morning rush! Our staff will be standing by to check you in early. If you registered in advance, you can pick up your name tag and information packet on Friday. If you're paying at the door, beat the cashier lines Saturday morning by registering Friday night. Remember, all Friday night activities are free. 4 – 9 pm • Main floor & mezzanine Trade fair opens for weekend The trade fair is free to the general public. The trade fair opens at 4 pm Friday and will be open from 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am to 4 pm on Sunday. Many vendors will be offering Friday night specials to help celebrate the Yukon Quest's birthday. Come take advantage of these early-bird deals. Your favorite mushing equipment suppliers will be there, as well as clothing specialists, sled builders, informational booths and much more. We'll post a continually updated list of vendors a little closer to the event. As a very special treat this year, throughout the trade fair UAF's Alaska Film Archives will run a series of film excerpts relating to northern dogs and especially dog mushing. The footage, gleaned from archival silent films, will illustrate the historical use of dogs as workers and racers in Alaska and other northern environments. Four or five films will be sampled and run as a continuous loop of about one hour for the duration of the symposium trade fair. Notable film makers and topics include Leonard Seppala, expeditions, and early ONAC races. Come enjoy this rare historical look at our northern dogs. Entries taken for Best Invention Contest New this year is our Best Invention Contest! Bring in your dog-related invention for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for Alaska Industrial Hardware (AIH). Entries will be on display at the trade fair all weekend and will be voted on by the public. Votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced at 1:30 on Sunday in the theater. |
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| 6:30 – 7:30 pm • Theater Raising junior mushers—keeping the tradition of dog mushing alive Alaska 4-H Dog Mushing Program—Little Su 4-H Club This is a free presentation. This all-inclusive session will cover how an Alaska 4-H club is teaching junior mushers about their sport, including how to start a dog mushing 4-H club, kennel safety, racing a team, snow camping trips, and educational classes and junior mushing camps. The presentation also will discuss how junior mushers are helping to education people about dog mushing, and their community service activities with military bases and schools. 7:45 – 9:15 pm • Theater Canine observation and evaluation—a free Mush with PRIDE presentation This is a free presentation. In this session, veterinary physical therapist Wes Rau will demonstrate how to look at a dog that has a difficult-to-diagnose injury, how to determine more precisely what is wrong, and how to treat what you see. |
5:30 – 9:30 pm • Main floor Yukon Quest birthday party Celebrate the Quest's 24th birthday! Enjoy a spaghetti feed, live music, and a no-host bar. Food is free (but donations are gratefully accepted). Memberships and volunteer sign-ups will be available at the door. Drawings will be held. Sponsored by the Yukon Quest. |
Saturday, October 20th8 am to 3:30 pm • Lobby Onsite registration and check-in; coffee and doughnuts for sale upstairs on mezzanine Pay at the door if you didn't register in advance; advance registrants can pick up name tags and information packets in the express lanes. Don't forget to buy or renew your ADMA membership for a $5 club discount on registration fees. Entries taken for Best Invention Contest New this year is our Best Invention Contest! Bring in your dog-related invention for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for Alaska Industrial Hardware (AIH). Entries will be on display at the trade fair all weekend and will be voted on by the public. Votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced at 1:30 on Sunday in the theater. |
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9 – 10 am • Theater Alternative kennel management Laura Katucki, Bev Stevens, and Arna Dan Isacsson, moderated by Dale Anderson Operating a kennel, be it free-run, in a city, or tethered, often takes on different forms, which must fit into the lifestyle of the musher. This session will include a short overview of each presenter's set-up, highlighting similarities and differences. The presenters will explain why they choose to run their kennel the way they do. The session will then open for questions and answers to share ideas and information. |
9 – 10 am • Blue Room Nonprofit board roles and responsibilities Steve Mahoney, the Foraker Group Often people agree to serve on nonprofit boards without a full understanding of what this means. This session covers these important aspects of board membership:
After this session, you will better understand the board's role in helping the organization accomplish its mission. |
10 – 10:30 am • Break—Go visit the trade fair! The trade fair is free and open to the public for perusing and shopping from 10 am – 5 pm on Saturday and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday. Don't forget to vote for your favorite invention. |
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10:30 – noon • Theater Shoulder injuries Shoulder injuries can be complex, and recovery time can vary widely. Some injuries take literally months to heal. Veterinary physical therapist Wes Rau will go over shoulder examinations and what they predict, what to do with an injured shoulder, and how to treat an acute injury versus a chronic one. |
10:30 – noon • Blue Room Making the most of your awesome volunteers Steve Mahoney, the Foraker Group Volunteers are the lifeblood of nonprofit organizations. Creating an effective volunteer program can be a daunting task. This session walks you through a proven process that will help you feel less intimidated and more likely to succeed. In this training you will:
When you have completed this training, you will be more confident and better able to communicate why and how volunteers are necessary in your organization. |
Noon – 1:30 pm • Pioneer Hall Mush with PRIDE luncheon and annual meeting Old and new members welcome! E-mail info@mushwithpride.org for more information. |
Noon – 1:30 pm Lunch and trade fair A variety of food is for sale on the third-floor mezzanine. Take some time to visit the trade fair. Don't forget to vote for your favorite invention! |
1:30 – 3 pm • Theater Keynote presentation: Reward-based training for all dogs and all occasions—see how it works! Claudia Sihler of The Better Companion You don't need a clicker to train your dog with positive reinforcement methods. See right on stage how a dog can change within minutes. Take home ideas on how to improve communication between you and your dog—whether your dog is a pet, skijor dog, or racing husky. |
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3 – 3:30 pm • Break—Go visit the trade fair! |
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3:30 – 5 pm • Theater Vet care on the trail Tips for caring for your dog out on the trail and some basics |
3:30 – 5 pm • Blue Room "My dog won't run" John Schandelmeier and Zoya DeNure A discussion of physical and psychological reasons why a dog |
7 – 11 pm • Pioneer Park Civic Center ADMA fundraising auction Is there something you need, from dog food to a good book to a truckload of wood shavings? Maybe some mushing artwork, or a gift certificate to a local restaurant? You will most likely find it at the auction. Join us Saturday eveningfor both silent and outcry auctions to help raise funds for ADMA. Auction funds are used to support the symposium and other ADMA expenses such as trail maintenance and hall repairs. A list of auction items will be posted on the web, and many more items from our trade fair vendors will magically appear Saturday night. Sunday, October 21st8 am to 1:30 pm • Lobby Onsite registration and check-in; coffee and doughnuts for sale upstairs Pay at the door if you didn't register in advance; advance registrants can pick up name tags and information packets in the express lanes. Don't forget to buy or renew your ADMA membership for a $5 club discount on registration fees. Entries taken for Best Invention Contest New this year is our Best Invention Contest! Bring in your dog-related invention for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate for Alaska Industrial Hardware (AIH). Entries will be on display at the trade fair all weekend and will be voted on by the public. Votes will be tallied and the winner will be announced at 1:30 on Sunday in the theater. |
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9 – 10:00 am • Theater Comparisons of thyroid hormone concentrations in sled dogs Kriya recently completed a study of the effects of environment and exercise on thyroid hormone concentrations in sled dogs. Learn about the results of this study to gain an understanding of how a dog’s environment impacts thyroid function. |
9 – 10:00 am • Blue Room Practical tips for successful breeding Aliy Zirkle and Kathy Frost (tentative, depending on sea ice) Breeding sled dogs and raising pups costs time and money. Learn how to get the best from your dollars and your time. A well-thought-out breeding program saves you both, and increases the odds that you'll get good pups for your efforts. |
10:00 – 10:30 am • Break—Go visit the trade fair! Don't forget to vote for your favorite invention. |
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10:30 am – noon • Theater Feeding distance versus sprint Al Townshend, DVM, and Arleigh Reynolds DVM, PhD, DACVN; moderated by Art Stoller This question-and-answer session will cover current trends in feeding distance and sprint dogs, and how new, high-powered foods are being used. Take advantage of this great opportunity to get the specifics on customizing your feeding program to match your running style and suit your needs. |
10:30 am – noon • Blue Room Waxing 101 Clinic Learn how to wax skis and runners from one of Fairbanks’ premier technicians. |
Noon – 1:30 pm Lunch and trade fair A variety of food is for sale on the third floor mezzanine. Take some time to visit the trade fair. Last chance to vote for your favorite invention! |
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1:30 pm • Theater Best Invention Contest results announced |
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1:30 – 3 pm • Theater A fireside chat with Lance Mackey: Whitehorse to Hollywood and everything in between Lance Mackey, with Karl Kassel Join Karl as he chats with Lance Mackey about his life, his dogs, what it's like to be nominated for an ESPY award, and (of course) about doing what many people said couldn't be done: winning both the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod in the same year. Questions from the audience are encouraged! |
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3 - 4 pm • Main floor & mezzanine Wrap-up and trade fair Last chance to visit the trade fair, and to chat with fellow participants and organizers. Please let us know what you thought of this year's symposium so we can make it even better next year. |
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