Current Members –UPDATED March 24 2014 Arctic Winter Games International Committee Gerry Thick - President Contact Gerry Whitehorse, Yukon Appointed 1985. Gerry has lived in Yukon for more than 40 years and has been actively involved in the community and devoted to sporting activities since day one. Gerry has coached, managed and organized many sports and sporting events. Gerry is widely acknowledged as being a consistently generous sponsor and supporter of sports in the Yukon. In 1996 he was honoured by being inducted in the Yukon Sports Hall of Fame as a builder of sports. The Arctic Winter Games have been a beneficiary of Gerry's knowledge of finance, business and sports acumen. Gerry is the longest serving member on the Arctic Winter Games International Committee joining in 1985, and has been President since October 1994. Wendell Shiffler - Vice President Contact Wendell Fairbanks, Alaska Appointed 1994. Wendy has been a resident of Fairbanks, Alaska for more than 42 years. He holds a Bachelor of Science Degree from Hillsdale College in Michigan and a Master of .Science. Degree from New Mexico State University. He came to Alaska in 1968 to teach and coach and retired from public school teaching in 1990. He served as an adjunct faculty member, University of Alaska-Fairbanks for many years and still enters the classroom to volunteer on many occasions. He enjoys backpacking and hiking, hunting, fishing, camping and as an outdoorsman has been an active trapper for more than 40 years. He has built many log cabins throughout Alaska and has restored historic Alaskan log cabins. He volunteers regularly throughout the Fairbanks community as a team captain for the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, serves as a Fairbanks Golden Heart Greeter, and is part of a speakers bureau for the Alaska Trappers Association. Wendy’s sport and games experience include working with the Fairbanks Host Societies in 1982 and l988, and in 1992 served as Chef de Mission for Team Alaska. In 1994 he served on mission staff for Team Alaska. He was appointed to the AWGIC in 1994 and is one of the longest serving member on the International Committee. He served as Secretary of the AWGIC for 10 years prior to his current service as Vice President. Doris Landry- Secretary Contact Doris Grande Prairie, Alberta Appointed 2012 Doris was raised in Falher, Alberta, attended College both in Fairview, Alberta and Grande Prairie, Alberta. She makes her home in Grande Prairie, Alberta with her husband, Marc and is the proud mother of two grown children. She has a keen interest in education and youth oriented activities and has been involved as a volunteer in a variety of community organizations since her teen years. Doris worked as a legal secretary in the City of Grande Prairie for 18 years. She is presently employed at École St. Gerard in Grande Prairie where she has the opportunity to use her organizational skills and interact with youth in an educational setting. She is a past recipient of the Swan City Rotary Club Excellence in Education – Service above Self Award Doris served as volunteer, as well as Assistant to the General Manager and President for the 2010 Arctic Winter Games Host Society. She believes strongly in the philosophy and values of the Arctic Winter Games, specifically that it provides opportunities for Northern Youth to travel and interact with their peers culturally and athletically in a safe fair arena. Her knowledge and hands on experience with the 2010 Host Organization and the host of volunteers required to Host an Arctic Winter Games is a welcome addition to the International Committee. Meika McDonald - Treasurer Contact Meika Fort Smith, Northwest Territories Appointed 2007 Meika has been blessed over the years to be influenced and motivated by past and present coaches as well as competitors in the various sports she competes in. As a mother of 6 children, Meika is not only an accomplished athlete in Arctic Sports, but a successful business person. Over the years, she has been a mentor in Arctic Sports by providing leadership in training and development of Traditional Inuit Games. Through demonstrations and workshops in Western Canada, the McKenzie region, Northern Alberta and the circumpolar regions she has shared her skills as well as contributed to people’s knowledge and exposure to the sport. Her career in Arctic Sports and the local sports she actively participates in inspires others to remain committed to the essence of sport. A significant contribution that Meika has made to Arctic Sports is her assistance in creating a technical training and coaching package which she hopes truly represents the spirit of Traditional Inuit Games –cooperation and friendship, as well as the historical significance of the games. This manual and training video opens the eyes of the global community in the long standing importance of sport in every day life of Northerners. Meika celebrates her strong connection to her family as being the key ingredient to successes and challenges faced in all facets of life. She attributes her success to the experiences and opportunities given through sport, the foundation and values from her family and community support. Ian Legaree - Technical Director Contact Ian Yellowknife, Northwest Territories Appointed 1990 Ian's involvement with the Arctic Winter Games began with NWT team selection trials in the Eastern Arctic in 1986. At the time he was the Senior Recreation Development Officer with the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) in Iqaluit. In 1989 he was promoted to the position of Director, Sport and Recreation for the GNWT. In this role his responsibilities include territorial management of sport programs and involvement in all aspects of the Arctic Winter Games. Ian is a graduate of the University of Waterloo and Confederation College. His sport background includes competitive swimming at all levels, speed skating, softball and hockey. He has also coached and officiated many of the sports that his three sons have become involved in. Ian has held sport and recreation positions in Ontario, Manitoba and the Northwest Territories. He is a member of the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council through which he is involved in a range of Federal - Provincial/Territorial sport, recreation and physical activity initiatives. Ian was first appointed to the International Committee in 1990. He is a valuable asset to the Arctic Winter Games and the Committee. As Technical Director, he ensures that all sports are run in a fair manner and Jens Brinch Director of International Affairs Contact Jens Appointed 1998 Appointed 2011 Director of International Affairs Jens has been involved with sports all of his life. In 1969 he graduated from the University of Copenhagen with a degree in Sports Science. He taught and trained coaches in both secondary and high schools. He has lectured at many institutions about Human Sport Science. He has written many books including, Sport and Physical Culture in China, Motives and Motivation in Sports, A Comparative Study of Sport in China, USA and Western Europe. In 1989 he authored "The Psychology of Sports". Jens is a former member of the Danish National Volleyball team, and has an extensive background working with the International Sporting community. His memberships and work over the years include Danish Gymnastics and Sports Association, Director of National and International Sport Policy, Consultant in Sports Development in Eastern Europe and Africa, member Sports Council of Denmark, co-founder of the International Sport and Culture Association, National Expert in European Commission, General Directory Sports Office Brussels. He was the International Director of Greenlandic Sports and his knowledge of international sport experiences assisted Greenland and the Greenland Sport Confederation with participation in the Arctic Winter Games. He is Chair of the Play the Game, an international organization working fro democracy and transparency in sport organizations. .He is married with four children two of which play on the Danish National Volleyball Team. Jens brings to the International Committee a thorough knowledge of the interaction of sport and culture and is a welcome addition. Jens' experience with Games, knowledge and dedication to sport assists the International Committee communicate with our International partners and guests. Lloyd Bentz- Director Contact Lloyd Edmonton, Alberta Appointed 2000 Lloyd has been involved in sports all is life as either athlete, coach, volunteer or administrator. He completed both a bachelor degree in physical education and a masters degree in sport management at the University of Alberta. He is currently the Executive Director with the Recreation and Sport Division of the provincial government and General Manager of the Alberta Sport, Recreation, Parks and Wildlife Foundation. Lloyd has been involved with many multi-sport games at the provincial, national and international levels including the Alberta Games, Western Canada Summer Games, Canada Summer and Winter Games, Universiade Games and many Arctic Winter Games. He has also led a number of internationals sport delegations in Hockey, Curling and Fencing to Gangwon Korea and Hokkaido Japan. His work over the years includes the coordination of the development of the Alberta Sport Plan, which resulted in the redevelopment of Winter Olympic facilities in Alberta to International standards, the introduction of new programs to support athletes, coaches and administrators. He has been honoured for his involvement in recreation and sport with a Premiers Award of Excellence, an Alberta Centennial Medal for achievement and appreciation awards from the sports of Athletics, Baseball and Curling. Lloyd is currently a Director with Win Sport Canada and a member of the Interprovincial Sport and Recreation Council. is the key liaison with the Chefs de Mission and the Host Societies responsible for staging the Arctic Winter Games. John Rodda - Director Contact John Anchorage, Alaska Appointed 1998 John's career includes both public and private sector recreation management in Anchorage and Eagle River.