In 1979, Gail was a phone room volunteer and before the 1980 race, she was asked to be the volunteer to put together the Student Volunteer Program.  Gail contacted Romig Middle School and with the help of a Romig teacher, put together a schedule of students to answer the “student phone calls” from students working on homework assignments about the race.  The middle school students came to the headquarters between four and six o’clock to answer student phone calls.  Romig Middle School was selected as it was the neighborhood school for the headquarters that was often at the Clarion Hotel (also known as the Millennium Hotel and now the Lakefront Anchorage).  Students often walked to and from the hotel to do their volunteer work. 

 

Before the race, Gail wrote suggested questions for Anchorage elementary the student volunteers were available to help them.  The program was approved by the Anchorage School District, and before the advent of the internet, Gail hand carried the question packets to the individual schools.  Later, the questions went out through “school mail’ and now through e-mail.

 

Student volunteers learn about the Iditarod race, appropriate phone manners, and how to get along in a business environment.  Many student volunteers are given extra credit by their teachers for their work.  Parents who come to pick up the students are excited and supportive of their children being involved.  Gail supervises the student volunteers and guides them to the answers, helping them when they have questions.  She provides a copy of the suggested homework questions with the answers for the volunteers to use. 

 

Gail realized the importance of using the Iditarod as an educational tool many years ago. Nearly every subject taught can be taught using some aspect of the Iditarod Race. Students Gail worked with 35 years ago still talk about what they learned from the race, and students are still learning.  In large part due to Iditarod Education Director Diane Johnson’s guidance in Iditarod educational  programs, more teachers than ever before across the country and the world are using Iditarod as a teaching tool with great success. 

 

After teaching a total of forty-six years, Gail retired in 2014. She continues to volunteer for the Iditarod and volunteers for the Eagle River Nature Center.  She occasionally volunteers at Denali School where she taught for thirty-five years. She enjoys a weekly get-together with retired teachers and a coffee group with friends.  Gail is also a support member of the Last Frontier Motorcycle Club in Anchorage.  On club outings, things that don’t fit on a motorcycle go in Gail’s car.  She occasionally rides on the back of a friend’s motorcycle, but usually, drives “the support vehicle.”  

 

Gail plays an important role volunteering with the Iditarod Winter Conference in March each year and the Iditarod Summer Camp in June.  Her assistance as part of the Anchorage ‘support team’ – driving educators from place to place when needed and helping provide visiting educators with area information that enhances the educator’s visit, are vital tasks in helping the Iditarod Education Department be successful in endeavors to help educator’s have successful experiences at events.

 

Gail also volunteers her time at the Alaska State Fair in  Palmer selling Summer Raffle Tickets.  Her volunteerism is greatly appreciated.

 

Joanne Potts says, “I remember Gail coming to volunteer, bringing her brand new baby boy and watching him grow from year to year. Now Gail is enjoying playing with her two young grandchildren.  Gail loves life and feels very lucky to have been associated with the Iditarod for all these years.  Each year she organizes a get-together for some Iditarod fans after the ceremonial start in Anchorage. 

 

Gail says, “There is a great amount of satisfaction in being involved with the race and Iditarod is a special part of my life. I have not yet lost the sense of wonder and excitement that I felt in 1978, thirty-eight years ago.”