Planning & Coordination - 2001 Race
The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
We are Going the Extra Mile..... The Extra 2,348 Miles to Find a Cure!
The Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001
We are Going the Extra Mile..... The Extra 2,348 Miles to Find a Cure!
Planning Committee:
Chairman and Founder, Race Coordinator . Clark Eid Ph. D.
Clark is the chairman and founder of the event and is involved with all aspects of organization and will also participate in the race as one of two primary paddlers for Team Double Helix. As the Race Coordinator, Clark organizes sanctioning with appropriate groups and agencies. Clark collects registration forms and waivers for all teams, collects and forwards USCATM insurance fees, talks to prospective teams, assists with team formation for all teams. Clark updates rules as appropriate and obtains necessary permits, acts as liason with community groups, sponsors, rett families, and teams. Clark and his wife Mary Potter, have two children, Amanda and Noah. Amanda has Rett syndrome. Clark built the flagship kayak the Double Helix in honor of Amanda. Family Message from Clark Eid and Mary Potter
Event Organizer, Media Coordinator, Off the water & Website Updates During the Race - Mary Potter
Mary Potter assists with Event Planning, team assistance & information, awareness of the Race and Rett syndrome and maintains official websites for the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 2001 and the Mississippi Challenge for Rett Syndrome and Leukodystrophy, May 2003. Mary's daughter, Amanda Eid, has Rett syndrome. (And yes, if you are wondering....Clark Eid and Mary Potter are married to each other, and have been for over 30 years). Mary updates all team locations and general race information during the race as well as after the race. Web design, layout, design forms/pages as needed. Works as liaison with all team members for web information. Mary has a BS in Computer Science from the University of Minnesota, Institute of Technology and worked in big business in the computer field for 10 years prior to being a full time mom. Family Message from Clark Eid and Mary Potter
Race consultant - Kent Spading (St. Paul, MN)
Kent is a race consultant for the Great Mississippi River Race for Rett Syndrome, May 5-31, 2001 and additionally will support Team Double Helix during the Race. Kent grew up in Kasson, Minnesota where, after he graduated from high school, began to work in his father's construction business. At age 24 he got the college bug and enrolled in the University of Minnesota where he became Clark Eid's long-suffering college roommate and graduated with a degree in Civil Engineering. Kent has canoed all over Minnesota and especially enjoys trips to the Boundary Waters (Wilderness) Canoe Area. In his spare time he is a volunteer researcher for The International Group For Historic Aircraft Recovery (TIGHAR). TIGHAR expeditions have taken him to New Foundland in search of the French aircraft "The White Bird" and to Fiji, Nikumaroro, Funafuti, Palmyra and Kanton Islands in the South Pacific in search of Amelia Earhart's airplane. Kenton currently works (when he is not golfing) as a hydrologic engineer for the United States Army Corps of Engineers in St. Paul, MN.
Race Director - Steven Landick (Michigan)
Steve Landick is an acclaimed long distance paddler and school teacher. Steve drafted the original rules. Safety Officer - Elizabeth Tynan. The Safety Program puts in place a set of practical safety rules to be followed during the event and has clear procedures to be used in the event of an emergency. The Safety Officer coordinates with National, State and Local Safety authorities during the race if teams need assistance.
Medical Officer - Jeffrey Pastir.
Jeff' originally hails from Roseau, Minnesota! He currently works as a Staff Physician at HealthPartners, Maple Grove Clinic in Fargo, North Dakota and is also an Assistant Professor of Family Medcine at the University of of Minnesota Medical School! Jeff attended medical school at the University of Minnesota in Duluth, MN and University of Minneapolis, Minneapolis (MD, 1989). Jeff says his current hobbies include way too much Scouting and most anything outdoors, music, cooking! Jeffrey will draft a review of medical considerations that might occur during the race. Will be available for phone calls from teams while they are in Minnesota.
Safety Officer - Elizabeth Tynan.
The Safety Program puts in place a set of practical safety rules to be followed during the event and has clear procedures to be used in the event of an emergency. The Safety Officer coordinates with National, State and Local Safety authorities during the race if teams need assistance.
Judges
Three judges will be available during the race to review team progress and team adherence to all rules and the safety program. Judges can penalize or disqualify a team or team member from the race if Rules or the Safety program is not followed.
Jim Seymore- Special Events Director of the American Canoe Association
Hal Marschall - National Staff of the Coast Guard Auxiliary
Steve Landick - Race Director for our event
Official Time Keeper
Don Keller, New Orleans, Louisiana. Don will be present at the start of the race, to see all teams begin the race. Don will assist with coordinating teams and assisting each team at the end of the race, and will officially record final times for all teams.
With Special Assistance From:
- United States Canoe Association Main Contact: Jim Mack. The USCATM has sanctioned this event, and is working with the Guinness World Book of World Records to confirm new records set in this event.
- American Canoe Association Main Contact: Jim Seymour. The ACATM has sanctioned this event.
- Coast Guard Auxiliary
- Army Corps of Engineers
- Itasca State Park, Main Contact: Michael Kovacovich, Superintendent
- Minnesota DNR Trailways Office, Main Contact: Tony Walzer
- Mississipi Headwaters Board Main Contact: Jane E. Van Hunnik, MS, Director
- Media Special thanks to all teams, parents, families and individuals - who coordinated with the media, allowed for interviews, and sent us copies of their pictures and bios from the website! Thank You!