By Tina Jackson

The Western Region Conference held in Anchorage Feb. 29 – March 2 was a success, and we thank everyone who attended. The training tracks were beneficial to all, as were the technology and services shared during the vendor exhibition. A few of the attendees are shown here with Hank the Moose. Fun was clearly had by all.

One item of interest that was shared following the conference and as it relates to our keynote speaker, Martin Buser, is worthy of sharing with our entire membership.

The conference’s opening keynote speaker on Wednesday morning was Martin Buser, who is a famous and admired figure in Alaska and an internationally acclaimed “master musher.” Martin and his team of huskies have competed in the approximate 1000 mile (8 to 10 day) Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race since 1980. His team has won four times and placed second twice. One of the “wins” was the fastest in the 4- year history of the race.

On Wednesday night, Steve Souder, director of Fairfax County (Va.) Department of Public Safety Communications and another speaker, along with three  other 9-1-1’ers (one from Colorado, one from Georgia and one from Delaware) had dinner with Martin. “He’s an amazing person,” says Souder, “with strong values, principles and ethics. During dinner he mentioned he came to Alaska from his native Switzerland 33 years ago to pursue his dream of breeding huskies and dog sled racing. He married an American and they have two sons and a kennel of 100+ huskies. He went on to say he had thought about becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen many times, but had never gotten around to beginning the process. However, immediately after the terrorist attacks on 9/11, he committed to change that because he knew it was his adopted country that he wanted to become a citizen of. He began the process and acquired his U.S. citizenship in 2008.

“We explained to him that before 9/11 was known as 9/11 it was, for the previous 14 years, National 9-1-1 Day. That changed the conversation to our profession, including letting him know that the second 9-1-1 system installed in the U.S. was in Nome, Alaska, on Feb. 22, 1968, since the Iditarod course goes through Nome at its northern most point.”

Souder had a DPSC challenge coin in his pocket and as the dinner ended, on behalf of all of us, gave it to him as an expression of friendship and a connection with 9-1-1, 9/11 and Martin’s citizenship. He was very moved and appreciative and immediately said he would carry the coin with him during the 2012 Iditarod race, which began Saturday  March 3, for good luck. Needless to say, it was a real privilege to meet him and to know that during this week+, a DPSC challenge coin will travel 1000 + miles across rugged Alaska terrain, in sub-freezing temperatures, in the pocket of a great person, being pulled by a team of incredible huskies.

Martin’s progress in the race can be tracked at iditarod.com

We continue to receive excellent feedback about the conference and appreciate the opportunity to host the conference in our amazing city!

–The Alaska APCO Chapter Western Region Conference Committee.