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Early History

North Star Sled Dog Club, Inc. was founded in the early 1960s by an enterprising group of avid mushers, spearheaded by Mabell Hill, who is often referred to as the "Godmother of Minnesota Mushing." In those early days most Minnesota mushers had teams of Siberian huskies, and many of their weekends were spent at Hill's farm in rural St. Paul. In 1963 this elite group helped stage the first St. Paul Winter Carnival sled dog races.

North Star was formally incorporated by Minnesota state statutes in 1965 with Don Gale as its first president. Since then it has grown from a membership of around 20 to almost 200.

North Star Sled Dog Club (NSSDC) sanctions several sled dog races during the winter months in Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, North Dakota, and Manitoba and Ontario in Canada.

NSSDC is a member of the International Sled Dog Racing Association (ISDRA) and Mushing USA, the United States governing body of sled dog sports. ISDRA is an international organization which serves to promote sled dog racing and the welfare of sled dogs.

NSSDC Purpose

The object and purpose of the North Star Sled Club are to promote the sport of sled dog racing and the welfare of the sled dog and to familiarize the public with the work of the sled dog.

NSSDC Events

NSSDC holds at least three meetings a year: in April, July, and October. The July meeting is usually in conjunction with the annual summer seminar, and the October meeting is held at a northern Minnesota home where training trails are available so that members can also participate in a training session and luncheon prior to the meeting. Other special meetings are occasionally called at the request of the executive committee.

NSSDC Projects and Committees

NSSDC has accomplished many projects over the years. Most recently, it developed a program for kennel certification, called CHAMP (Canine Health and Maintenance Program).

NSSDC has two standing committees: the RGO Committee (Race Giving Organization Committee), which works with the various organizations that are hosting races; and the Junior Committee.

NSSDC also has several ad hoc committees, currently including the history, race giving manual, and championship program committees.

The TUGLINE

Created in 1969 with Joyce Lillie as its first editor, the TUGLINE is the official newspaper of the North Star Sled Dog Club. It is published six times a year and is issued in January, March, June, August, October, and December. Originally done on a mimeograph machine, it is now designed on computer and serves to keep members informed about mushing news and views.