Hello Group,

As you may know I have been in Spokane Washington presenting on our trip to a very large outdoor industry conference and I have received quite a bit of guidance and feedback on going forward. First, I admire the enthusiasm and determination that everyone is putting forth and it looks like people are spending money gathering things like booties, Arctic Oven Tents, snow machines, Siglin sleds and the like.

Secondly, as you know this trip is a part of a larger academic project that I am working on for my masters degree. I invited you to be a part of this because of your skills and experience and I think we will have a successful trip and provide a framework for trips like this can go forward in the future. The focus of that project is program development and planning. It is my job/role to oversee all aspects of this plan and eventual implementation. With that being said, while I have asked for input on organizing the trip, it is my overall responsibility to plan and execute this trip from beginning to end—trip leader.

Many items have come up and evolved into much discussion, per the limitations of the constraints placed on me for my academic project I will need to head up the leadership of the planning of this trip and Stephanie is my co-organizer. When an academic project is conducted there are guidelines in place that must be followed to the ‘T’.

In trips like this leadership is fluid. Sometimes the group will have a leadership role and others the trip leaders will need to take charge.

Some of you may not be comfortable with this model of leadership but this was mentioned from the very first discussions with the group.

As we are now past the three month mark before we go we need to focus on the finer details if we are going to make it to the “starting line.” I ask you to focus on the tasks that you have agreed to as an assignment (ie. straw shipment, shipping, lodging, etc) and of course your own personal development and preparation. It is making things very difficult to have multiple people calling airlines, lodging, etc.

If this leadership model is unacceptable to you, please contact Stephanie or myself directly.

When we have our next group call, we will have an outline of all the deadlines so that they can be met. Here is an update on the trip according to discussions with Stephanie and I over the last few days:

Shipping Straw:
Kathleen has been working with straw distributors for prices on straw. Looks like Underdog bales are too large to ship. AK Mill and Feed have bales but are not in bags and charge delivery fees to carriers. She is checking on prices at Cold Spot. Marla has volunteered her handler and closed trailer to ship our first drop bags and bales of straw to Manley Hot Springs.
Stephanie and Gil have been working on pricing straw from Nome to the Nome Villages. Sandra Rowe (Nome Animal House) gave us a price of 41.00 per 40 lb. bale. Sandra thinks her husband (VP of Bering Air) will deliver the straw free to the chosen Nome Villages. If that is the case, it appears to be cheaper to purchase the straw and ship the straw from Nome to the Nome Villages.
To Do:
• Decide very soon where our straw drops will be along the trail.
• Kathleen will secure prices on straw and Fairbanks and then get estimates on shipping to the first part of our trip.
• Stephanie write letter to Bering Air to get an estimate / donation of freight for straw and possibly drop bags.
Backhaul Shipping from Nome:
Stephanie is working on rates for this (dogs, sleds, gear and snow machines) and will let everyone know soon.

Shipping drop bags from Road System to Villages:

Trail Stakes and bags to carry stakes:
Phil has been diligently working on trail stakes and Kirsten is working on the bags to carry the stakes. They look nice!
Deposits:
The group treasurer, Kirsten, reported that everyone who has applied and been approved to go on the trip has paid the $500 deposit.

Snow Machines:
All approved snow machine support folks have secured a snow machine.

Mushers:
Mushers are reporting that they are training dogs and have the necessary equipment to make the trek.

Dog Shipping:
Kirsten, Stephanie, Robert and Kathleen will ship dogs in kennels. Juliah and Marla will use dog boxes (I think).
Phil has agreed to overhaul an existing Serum Run Dog Box and construct an additional.
There may a be a way to share kennels and boxes between the Nome Mushers and the Outside mushers. We are in discussion to see if this is feasible.

Delivery of Serum by train to Nenana:
Robert is looking into this.

Dog Rabies Vaccines:
Gil is working with the Norton Sound Environmental Health folks to determine which villages qualify for free rabies vaccines with the hope he can offer this service in each of the qualifying villages.

Lodging:
Michelle and Stephanie (Nome side Villages) will begin contacting soon to determine costs and secure space.

Gas / Oil:
It was determined that this will be an individual cost for snow machiners and they carry (or buy) their oil and buy the fuel in each of the villages.
To Do:
• Determine how much fuel to carry in sleds

Snow Machine Sleds:
Gil just posted information on the portal about the Siglin Sleds.
• Phil will determine who has and needs sleds at this point.

Media Relations:
Marla has volunteered to be the point person for media relations.
• Does this include photography?

Extra Snow Machine Support:
Lou is interested in going as a snow machine support and a doctor. He is currently completing the application process.

Risk Management Plan:
Robert

Regards,

Robert