Summer 2014

An honory society dedicated to the fun of snowmobiling

For up to date news . . . Check out the Iron Dog

website @ www.irondogbrigade.com

Page 13 Gotta “Tick”?

Ed Skomoroh, President

Dear Iron Dog Members- For those Dogs that attended Congress at Keystone CO, more than a month has now passed and most of us are now immersed in our normal routine of our job or enjoying retirement. So it is not unusual for the Iron Dog event to go on the back burner. For those of you that are not yet aware, after some coaxing I accepted the honor of being your next IDB President. Much has been accomplished over the past several years with Tom and Roger at the helm. Because of their leadership I could take the easy route, just sit back and let the Brigade stay on its current course. However after thinking things over I believe I have been handed the baton to improve communications and get more of the membership involved especially those of you that do not attend congress. Why do I say this, well the membership at congress two years ago was adamant in rewriting the By-Laws and wanting to be more involved. I think this is good. I am hopeful that somehow I can do something to encourage a real Eastern Ride. It has been disappointing to date with so many members in the East that Bonnie and Jim have not been able chair a ride that had at that had at least 6 Dogs attend. I hear there are so many great trails to ride and I am ashamed to say I have never had the opportunity to not snowmobile in Bonnie’s back yard. Jean and I have promised ourselves that we must get there, if this year next year for sure. Continued on Page 1

Page 8 Who won the prestigious George A. Eisenhuth Award this year? Page 7

Mark your Calendars & Save The Dates!!

Page 6 Meet the new “Pups”

Page 10 Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Iditarod Snowmobile Friendship Ride

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I believe there is a need fo

Continued from Cover page…. For the last several years it has become obvious the board has been too reliant on our Secretary / Treasurer John Mitchell. I am just as guilty as the rest in sitting back and letting more and more responsibilities fall on Johns lap. In listening to John and Roger Lampitt speak; John has been overloaded with responsibilities that are not directly those of a Secretary/Treasurer. Bonnie has come to his assistance which has been certainly helpful and I believe we can do more to assist John. I know that we will never have 75 – 80% Dog attendance at any Congress. There are many valid reasons, too expensive to travel, health reasons, and lack of interest. Many Pups who get inducted at congress do not return to Congress. There are many reasons and we need to recognize that they have paid their dues as leaders in the sport of snowmobiling and want to be an Iron Dog so they can be recognized by their peers. Nothing wrong with that, however we need to keep all our members informed, active or inactive. It is their choice, with better communications we may draw a few more out. We have to keep them informed of what is happening in the Dog kingdom and urge them to share their adventures. A minimum of 3 issues of Dog Tags will be published to improve our communications. Tentative dates are July, December and May. Hopefully this is doable.

I believe there is a need for more committees, this will allow the membership to get involved and will improve communication to our membership. The Iron Dog Brigade is a business and I agree it is a small business but we should consider a few changes. I am appointing the following committees- Finance Committee – John Mitchell, Bob King They will prepare a financial Budget from the good accounting history that John has compiled. This will be a quarterly budget, showing last year’s actual, this year’s budget and this year’s actual to date. The quarterly dates would be August, November, March and June. The preliminary budget should be e-mailed to the board for approval by the end of July. Since we have so few transactions in a year, I see no problem in getting this accomplished. The board will approve the budget by August so that we can get it published with the Fall issue of Dog Tags. This way as a member you will be up to date as to our income and expenses and how well we are doing financial. This will allow you to ask questions or make suggestions on income and expenses. Going forward I would like the membership and the board to give serious thoughts as to how we can realistically increase revenue and justify any new expenses. The goal isn’t to accumulate a lot of cash, but if we

can increase funds to make a small donation for a scholarship or a donation to ACSA to prevent a trail closure we are playing our part. At this time, for example I would personally suggest a new expense item that would provide a free banquet dinner to one national snowmobile publication. Why, because I expect them to do an editorial in their magazine regarding the Iron Dogs to gain more positive exposure. We would rotate the invitation each year. You would be surprised as to how many snowmobilers know of the Iron Dogs; however they do not know what we stand for. We need to come out of the closet. Magazine/Newsletter PR Committee – Joanne Smith and Marlys Knutson. These ladies have been with the snowmobile industry in PR and communications for countless years and they have the connections, experience and can assist the Dogs in getting positive ink. Events Committee - Kay Lloyd. Kay will keep her ear to the snow to find out what individual Dogs are doing in their communities to support the sport of snowmobiling or some fun ride that several Dogs may have attended. People need to know we are not couch Dogs. Nominating Committee – Tom Anderson, Judy King, Marlys Knutson Yes it is early, but we need to begin the thought process now.

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2014 – 2015 Editorial Calendar Watch For The Next Issue Coming Your Way In: December 2014 - Who’s Who in the Iron Dogs Make Your Plans To Attend an Iron Dog Ride Have you made plans to attend ISC 2015 in Buffalo, NY? May 2015 - Details on ISC 2015 Wrap up of the Winter Rides

Please send your articles, picture’s & “Ticks” to Gail Hanson @execdir@nhsa.com

There has been feedback this year at congress regarding the Iron Dog Brigade. “If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it!” Where would this industry be if we took that approach? Things always need to be tweaked or tuned. Edgar Hetteen was the first man I worked for at Arctic Cat in 1969 and we became close friends over the years. Edgar was an innovator and always thinking of how he could improve the snowmobile and get more people

out on the snow to enjoy this winter wonderland we sometimes take for granted. When I would speak to groups I would always refer to Edgar as the "Henry Ford of Snowmobiles." I encourage you to think about taking an Iron Ride this winter, West, Midwest or North East. You will be glad you did. Also when you are out running in the snow, take pictures and tell us of your adventure. Our editor Gail Hanson is anxious to hear from

you and she wants to publish your stories. Hopefully you are having a great summer with family and friends, and let’s hope that summer lasts until December 15th and then on the 16th we get a wonderful snowfall and outcome the groomers and sleds, regardless of brand or age. Ed Skomoroh, President

Who is ACSA? The American Council of Snowmobile Associations (ACSA) is a national organization that was formed to unite the snowmobile community. Because snowmobiling is enjoyed by millions of individuals across the United States, it was imperative that a strong national organization be formed. ACSA is that organization. ACSA is your voice for snowmobiling on national issues. Many snowmobilers are mistaken when they think national issues have no impact on their snowmobiling. Across the United States there are thousands and thousands of miles of snowmobile trails on public and private lands. Will these lands remain open for snowmobiling in the future? Long term use of the lands is no longer certain. Only the unified voice of the entire snowmobile community will help to guarantee the continuation of our sport. ACSA is committed to the future preservation of our sport. We cannot do this without the help and participation of all snowmobilers. Assure the future of snowmobiling, become involved in ACSA today! For more information go to: www.snowmobilers.org

Tom Anderson, Past President

Serving as your president has been a privilege and honor that I have enjoyed for several terms. Being chosen to lead such a prestigious organization as the Iron Dog Brigade is a humbling experience. Especially since I have been exposed to the Dogs almost from the beginning of their existence and have had the privilege of knowing the founders in those early years.

Right from the start, they were about having fun as was evidenced on their first organized Iron Dog Ride back in 1976. As a budding and aspiring snowmobile magazine publisher, I was fortunate to be invited to join them. To say I was in awe would be a gross understatement. Here was Edgar Hetteen, Ray Brandt, Warren Daoust, George Eisenhuth, Jack Lamiers and others who were icons in the industry and now I was riding with them as their guest. They were each fighting for market share for their companies, but for those few days, each one was just a fellow snowmobiler out to enjoy the sport. Things have changed a bit in the last almost 40 years. But the Dog's motto of "An honorary society dedicated to the fun of snowmobiling" remains.

My main goal was to establish an Eastern and Mid-west Iron Dog Ride each winter. The Western Ride in West Yellowstone was already well established. We have had great success in the Mid-west and I hope in the very near future, we can also see a well-established ride in the East. I wish Ed Skomoroh, Kay Lloyd and Bob King all the best as they join the ranks of leadership in the Dogs. Thanks again to John Mitchell for taking care of the many duties associated with his position as Secretary-Treasurer. We worked well together. I'll keep the sword polished and handy for future induction of pups and look forward to many more gatherings of the Dogs. We always have a great time.

Become an Iron Dog Friend….

Go to: www.facebook.com/IronDogBrigade

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John Mitchell, Secretary / Treasurer

REPORT OF THE SECRETARY June 13, 2014 This has been a good year with most activities going on as planned, and plenty of snow in the West to get some riding done. The Iron Dogs were well represented at the planning meeting by Jack Sheets and we are set up for the banquet on Friday evening. There are sixty-two signed up for dinner which is approximately twenty less than last year. The cost of the dinner will be one of the highest that we have had for many years. At this point we have 121 members, with the death of Earl Olson, Barton Witham, David Carmichael and Bud Knapp. Kathryn Olson, Shirley Benson, and Chuck Beck dropped from membership also this past year. Morris Stehman and Roberta Rawlins moved to the Associate Membership category. We have two applicants this year, and they.

will be at the dinner on Friday evening An updated roster of all of the members including our new pups is furnished for the board and members. We have at this time 98 active members, 2 honorary members, and 21 associate members (not including new pups). Thirteen members are delinquent, compared to ten at this time last year. We have one delinquent from 2013, John Ehlert, and many notices and phone calls have been sent with no response. The only ballot sheet sent out this year was for Auditor and the George Eisenhuth Award and a majority of the ballots were returned. Dale Vagts was reaffirmed as auditor by ballot. Dale Vagts reported on the balloting for the George Eisenhuth Award which will be announced at the banquet on Saturday evening. After receiving the name from Dale, the award was printed and framed. The George Eisenhuth Award for distinguished service to snowmobiling was presented to Gail Hanson, Executive Director, New Hampshire Snowmobile Association at Green Bay, WI. There are two new pups this year: Marie Hixson, New Hampton, NH, sponsored by Bonnie Holbrook and Gail Hanson, and Roger Pennington, Bayfield, CO, sponsored by Jack Sheets. Membership Chairman Jerry Hanson advised that they were accepted by those returning the rating sheets.

A donation of $100.00 each was made to the memorials for our deceased members, Barton Withham, Easter Seals Camp Sno-Mo, Dave Carmichael, Iowa Snowmobile Association Scholarship Foundation, and Bud Knapp, West Michigan Snowmobile Museum and Library. No donation was made for Earl Olson as there was not a memorial set up nor was there ever an obituary published. Kathryn was contacted and asked to furnish any information should something be set up but nothing was ever received. Flags, some shirts, hats and bolo ties are available here at Congress from either Bill Schumann or myself. I cannot thank Bonnie Holbrook enough for keeping the brigade informed of happenings this past year as well as putting together the banquet programs, the new pup certificates and arranging for the names tags. Also special thanks to Tom Anderson for all his help and advice this past year with all the business of the brigade. And a big thanks to Jack Sheets for helping with the set-up for the banquet and meeting and attending the planning meeting last fall. Respectfully submitted,

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Two new pups inducted into Iron Dog Brigade at Colorado Congress

Sponsored by Bonnie Holbrook and Gail Hanson

Marie is from New Hampton, New Hampshire and works as an OHRV Safety Regional Coordinator for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department. She is married to Eddie and they have two grown children, Stacie and Daniel. Marie started riding with her husband after moving to New Hampshire in 1995 and she’s been hooked ever since. Her most memorable snowmobile event is their Sunday rides where snowmobiling neighbors would meet in their yard to ride out for the day with the kids and grandkids, cooking out on the trail and just enjoying the time together. She has participated in the Camp Sno-Mo Ride-In for some time, however this past year she was fortunate to Chair the event. This gave her a completely different perspective to see firsthand the hardworking volunteers all working together to make sure

Sponsored by Jack Sheets and Jack Welch

Roger lives in Bayfield, Colorado with his wife Debbie and works for the Colorado Department of Revenue/Motor Carrier Safety/Port of Entry. Roger started snowmobiling on a couple of snowmobiles that his dad used while working for the Cable Company. He spent many years racing, but leading club rides and teaching people new to the sport and being able to take them to places that very few people have ever been is his most memorable event. He enjoys fun days with people with special

Marie Hixson the Ride-In is a continued success. Her position as OHRV Safety Regional Coordinator has given her the opportunity to expand her knowledge and to travel state-wide to various events and venues to offer snowmobile safety certification classes. The last two years Marie was invited to be an instructor at Fish & Game’s “Becoming an Outdoors Woman” program which had women participate from across New England who were new to the sport or hadn’t been involved in many years. She is a member of several snowmobile clubs and has served as recording secretary, vice-president, director, and New Hampshire delegate to ACSA and ISC in 2010 and 2012 and currently is the NHSA Treasurer and is a part of several committees for NHSA.

He enjoys fun days with people with special needs and being able to give them rides as well as lunch, which is a program started eighteen years ago with the Durango Club and participating in Salida for several years. He has worked in a dealership, been a part-time mechanic, club reporter, web-master, safety instructor, and district rep. and part of Search and Rescue for many years as well running a groomer which earned him Colorado Snowmobile Association Groomer of the Year 2006 and Arctic Cat, Inc. Western Region Groomer of the Year, 2007. Roger has been President of both the Heart of the Rockies Snowmobile Club, 1980 – 1984 and San Juan Sledders Snowmobile Club, 1998 – 2000 and chaired the “Right to Ride Fund” from 1999 – 2011 which is used to support legal efforts to keep Colorado Snowmobile Trails open.

Roger Pennington

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2014 Iron Dog Brigade, 45th International Snowmobile Congress, Keystone, Colorado

Save The Date!!!

September 12-14th - Hall of Fame at ISHOF’s 25th Anniversary

January 15-18th – 25th Annual Iron Dog Winter Get Together Info: call Yellowstone Tour & Travel @ 800-221-1151 – ask for Tracie

February 28th – March 3rd – Eastern Ride

Info: call Jim Holbrook @ 802-785-2214 or email: rtcatman@yahoo.com

February 1st-4th – MidWest Ride Hayward, WI at the Chief Lake Lodge. Cost is $35.00 per person, per night and

registration forms will become available at a later date.

George Eisenthuth Distinguished Service Award goes to Jerry & Nancy Hanson

The Iron Dogs, a group of distinguished snowmobilers dedicated to the fun of snowmobiling, are honored to present the George A. Eisenhuth Award to a couple who is very familiar to us all and has been a presence among us for many years. This award is presented as a tribute to the accomplishments of George Eisenhuth, Public Relations Counsel for Selz, Seabolt and Associates Advertising Agency in Chicago and who also served as secretary/treasurer of the Iron Dog Brigade for many years dedicating his life to promoting and advancing the sport of snowmobiling. This couple started out their snowmobiling back in 1976 where he was immediately hooked on the sport but not so much she until 1981 when machines improved and became more comfortable and easier to ride. They immediately became involved in

volunteering and have spent the last thirty-eight years promoting snowmobiling year round. Their list of involvements reads like a Who’s Who of Snowmobiling. He has served on his state’s legislative committee, was chair and co-chair for several years, served on the state fair booth committee, tourism committee, Region 8 president and director, state park planning committee, state snowmobile advisory committee, Co-Chair International Snowmobile Tourism Council, Membership Chairman Iron Dog Brigade, Northwest Trails Development Association, and fund raiser for March for Dimes for over ten years. He wasn’t just a member of those committees but worked on crucial issues including getting the dedicated fund up and running in 1980 and then maintaining the

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integrity of it; working on registration and funding issues, helping others not even involved in snowmobiling like cross country skiers and ATV groups get their dedicated funds established; keeping safety issues an ongoing agenda issue, working with youth training and developing educational programs surrounding DWI laws. He has recruited over 1500 new members through the “Members Recruiting Members” Program. Her involvement and dedication is equally impressive. Her official volunteering began in 1988 when elected secretary of MNUSA. Since that time she has been Editorial / Publications Committee Chair, Insurance Chair, served on Finance Board, ISC Midwest Chapter Secretary/ Treasurer, MNUSA Tourism

John Mitchell, Nancy Hanson, Jerry Hanson, Tom Anderson

Committee Chair, MNUSA Secretary, MNUSA Charity/Awards Committee Chair, MNUSA Treasurer, first secretary American Council of Snowmobile Associations, President, Minnesota Recreational Trail Users Associations, Governor’s Tourism Advisory Council and ISC Secretary Treasurer and an organizer of Minnesota Women on Snow. They are active in four snowmobile clubs they’ve been members of for more than two decades. They are both certified safety instructors.

They have testified in Washington, D.C. at a House Resources Committee on Snowmobiling in Yellowstone and Voyageurs National Park as well as participating in the ASCA DC Fly-Ins to meet with Minnesota legislators They have been presented with many awards including the U.S. Snowmobiling Family of the Year, 1998, inducted into the Iron Dog Brigade in 2005 and the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame in 2008.

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It is a great honor and pleasure that the Iron Dog Brigade present the George A. Eisenhuth Award for Distinguished Service to Snowmobiling to Nancy & Jerry Hanson, Minnesota United Snowmobiling Association and Wyoming State Snowmobiling Association.

Iron Dog Brigade Distinguished Service Award

Five years after being organized, the Iron Dog Brigade decided that a special Distinguished Service Award would be appropriate. They developed a selection process that would reward that person for

their dedication and promotion to the sport of snowmobiling. Here are the recipients:

1980 • Geri Thomas, Manitoba 1981 • Paul Doherty, New Hampshire 1982 • Laurent Beaudoin, Quebec 1983 • Nina Smith, Montana 1984 • Ray Brandt, Idaho 1985 • Howard Potter, Wisconsin 1986 • Carmi Duso, Vermont 1987 • Michel Doyon, Quebec 1988 • Roger Lampitt, Washington 1989 • John Ehlert, Minnesota 1990 • Bill Howell, Montana 1991 • Catherine Dickson, New Hampshire 1992 • Richard & Audrey Decker, Wisconsin 1993 • William Oakes, Vermont 1994 • Roy Muth, Washington, DC 1995 • John Mitchell, Wyoming 1996 • Cathy Ahern, Washington, DC 1997 • Bud Wieman, Alabama 1998 • Edgar Hetteen, Minnesota 1999 • Bill Schumann, Wisconsin 2000 • Kim Raap, Wyoming 2001 • Jack Welsh, Colorado 2002 • Tom Anderson, Wisconsin 2003 • Ed Skomoroh, Minnesota 2004 • Marilyn & Ron Ruediger, SO 2005 • Jim Smail, Wyoming 2006 • Roger Pillman, Alberta 2007 • Chris Douwes, Washington, DC 2008 • Wayne Mohler, Washington 2009 • Roger Skime, MN 2010 • Dave Charmichael, Iowa 2011 • Ed Klim, Michigan 2012 • Mitzi Oakes, Vermont 2013 • Gail Hanson, New Hampshire 2014 • Jerry & Nancy Hanson, Minnesota

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Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Iditarod Snowmobile Friendship Ride

1994-2014

1994 Iditarod Snowmobile Friendship Ride History By Kay Lloyd, Ride Organizer

Eleven months of preparations began in June 1993, after the ISC. Kay Lloyd kept the Trail Class Riders updated as support built from the National Snowmobile Foundation, as well as each of the four Snowmobile Manufacturers committing to put four snowmobiles on the ground in Alaska. Kay created an Activity Book that had been drop shipped to each school along the route (also sent to Snowmobile Clubs across the US & Canada as a tool to teach safe riding). The Iron Dog Gold Rush Classic Snowmobile Race Organization required many things: signed ‘Hold Harmless’ Agreements, a Physical by a Doctor, a check for $1,000 to cover fuel and other associated costs, purchasing appropriate clothing, sleeping bags good to a -40 degrees, purchasing “Arctic Bunny Boots” (used by the Air Force), dried food for survival plus MREs, a GPS, two way radios w/FRS & headsets, a hydration pack that we wore on our backs, a 2-man tent (1 per team) and a Sterno stove. We boarded flights from across the US and Canada that took as long as 8 hours to get to Anchorage. All Riders flew thru time zones but arrived in Anchorage the afternoon of Feb. 13, 1994. In Anchorage we had to adjust and repack, leaving clothing behind with locals, to be picked up after the completion of the Ride. We were up at 4:30 a.m. the morning of Feb. 14 and caught a flight to Nome at 6:30 a.m. The flight went to Kotzebue, located above the Arctic Circle and about 130 miles from the Russian border, before arriving at Nome. We immediately began organizing survival packs and snowmobiles for the Ride. We were loaded with tools, spare parts, survival equipment, clothes, extra gas, oil, antifreeze, and isopropyl. Each snowmobile had a green flag attached so we could see each other. Gauntlets installed on the handle bars. We traveled across the frozen Bering Strait with trees placed into the ice to show the way. We visited 15 schools and were welcomed by kids at every stop. We slept in school gyms, remote cabins (at -40) and nice Road Houses. Meals were from oatmeal to food given by the Eskimos. Most of the time, gas was hand pumped out of 55 gallon drums on airstrips and a mountain pass. Fueling was done about every 90 miles. On February 23rd we reached Big Lake, AK in the afternoon, ready for good food, a shower, and rest. But first, due to the lack of snow, we had to trailer the snowmobiles back to Anchorage.

IT WAS AN AWESOME ADVENTURE!!!

1049 miles – 9 days

‘Trail Ride Class’ of the 1994 Iron Dog Gold Rush Classic

Snowmobile Race (17 Riders)

Bill Burns, CO

Cliff Tweedy, AK Dale Lloyd, WA* Dave Smith, WI

Don Howard, CO Eddy Burns, Dr., TX

Elmer Soule, Ride Leader, AK* Fran Speer, ON

Harold McAdam, ON Jack Sheets, CO Jack Welch, CO Kay Lloyd, WA

Larry Soule, Sweep, AK Morris Stehman, CO Randy Bedard, AK Ron Godden, AK

Steve Wilhelmi, AK ( * Rest in Peace)

The 1994 Gold Rush Classic Iron Dog Race final

results were

Race Class - 7 out of 23 teams finished Trophy Class - 2 out of 4 teams finished Trail Class – 17 out of 17 riders finished!

Supported by both the National Snowmobile

Foundation & International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association

Dave Smith reviewing the trip.

2014 Iron Dogs Workshop Jack Sheets, Kay Lloyd, & Jack Welch

Kay Lloyd modeling the 1994 T-shirt from the ride.

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The Dog Store. . . . I am excited to say we now have a state of the art Dog Store for Iron Dog apparel and accessories. The credit goes to Bonnie. Bonnie mentioned this great company that she knew and had purchased Dog embroidered items from. So just before the board meeting got underway I asked her to call the company and see if we could get an Official Dog Store. Bonnie had the connections and in no time it was executed. The variety of apparel is outstanding, prices are very competitive and freight is reasonable. This really makes it great for a member to go to our web site, view the merchandise and place an order. It never has been so easy. No computer, call a friend who has one and they can print and mail you the Dog Store catalog. The beauty is that we do not have to carry any merchandise, so there is no investment to the Dogs and no obsolescence. It is a real win, win. Please remember this merchandise is only for an official Dog, sorry not merchandise for your spouse or grandchildren. Happy shopping! Ed

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Dog “Ticks”

Every once in a while, we all get ticked.

This new column is for us to spout off as to what ‘ticks’ us off. No name calling unless it is a Congressman! Ed

For example, I live on a small lake and the snowmobile trail runs across the lake in front of our home. Anyone living on our lake has easy access to the trail system. But here is what ticks me. Local teenagers are the culprits, while parents are at work, especially after a snow storm feel they have the right to ride on the golf course and the greens. The owner isn’t happy obviously and non-snowmobilers are disgusted with snowmobilers that trespass. What is bothersome is how do you stop it. The golf course has put up plastic fencing in some areas but it still doesn’t keep the trespasser out. I thought when these kids took their snowmobile training they would have remembered to respect private property. Ed

Memories from 2014 ISC – Keystone, Colorado

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Michelle Jones and Joanne Smith having a good time at Thursday Night’s off-site.

Florence Mohler enjoying herself at Congress

Tom Anderson making sure the Sword was in perfect condition for the new Pups!

What a great time everyone had at the Wacky Bowling fundraiser for FOSPAC.

Awesome Chocolate Cake was served for desert at the Iron Dog Banquet!!

Auction Time at Congress!