Board of Directors
| Position | 2026/2027 |
| President* | Delia Meenhorst |
| Vice President* | Keven McGhan |
| Treasurer* | Luke Crosby |
| Secretary* | Dave Cooper |
| Past President* | Charles World |
| Chief of Loppet | Vacant – Interim Charles World |
| Director, Sponsoring & Fund Development | Patrick Finley |
| Director, Marketing | Sara Szabo |
| Director, Awards & Merchandise | Lauren Cooper |
| Director, Volunteers | Jennifer Henderson |
| Director, Human Resources | Vacant – Interim Delia Meenhorst |
| Director, Festival | Vacant |
| Birkie Training Coordinator | Sara Szabo |
| Directors-at-Large | Mary Ann Merritt |
| Director, Ex-Officio | Keri Elko |
| *Executive Team | President, VP, Secretary, Treasurer, and Past President |
Description of Board Positions
| President | The President is responsible for the overall direction of the CBS, ensures that each of the board members completes their assigned tasks, chairs the Board meetings and chairs the annual general meeting. The President is one of the designated signing authorities of the Society. |
| Vice President | The Vice President presides at meetings in the President’s absence; replaces the President at functions when asked to do so by the President or the Board; and carries out other duties assigned by the President and the Board. The Vice President is one of the designated signing authorities of the Society. |
| Past President | The Past President performs an advisory function with the Board and assists the Board as needed. |
| Director – Chief of Loppet | The Chief of Loppet is responsible for the technical preparation, administration, execution and supervision of the loppet by chairing the loppet committee and supervising/coordinating the efforts of the loppet committee members ensuring each of these people completes their respective tasks. Chief of Loppet is one of the designated signing authorities of the Society. |
| Director – Treasurer | The treasurer is responsible for maintaining the financial records of the society and for presenting suitable procedural processes by which the Society conducts its business. The treasurer is one of the designated signing authorities of the Society.Treasurer is one of the designated signing authorities of the Society. |
| Director – Secretary | The secretary is responsible for recording, compiling and maintaining the minutes of meetings, receiving communications directed to the Society, corresponding, as directed by the Board, on behalf of the Society and compiling and maintaining a member database. Secretary is one of the designated signing authorities of the Society. |
| Director – Festival | The Festival Director is responsible for preparing, maintaining and implementing a plan for the festival week activities of the Society. The main responsibilities are the three events at the host venue: Wednesday’s Volunteer Appreciation and Orientation; Friday’s Nordic Fair (trade show and bib pick-up) and Saturday’s post-Birkie celebration dinner, the Vikings’ Feast. The Festival Director may be called upon by the Board to represent the Society at various functions or meetings. |
| Director – Human Resources | The Human Resources Director is responsible for providing assistance to committee chairpersons regarding volunteers, preparing, reviewing and maintaining the job descriptions and job duties of the Society, reviewing the need for volunteers, the employment agreement for any paid staff and assisting the Board in carrying out its duties. This person will chair the nominating committee and prepare the nomination list for potential Board members to be presented at the annual general meeting. This person will work with the volunteer coordinator to facilitate volunteer recognition activities/events. |
| Director – Marketing | The Marketing Director is responsible for preparing, maintaining and implementing a comprehensive and detailed marketing plan, including a media plan, for promoting the activities of the Society locally, provincially, nationally and internationally. |
| Director – Fund Development | The Fund Development Director is responsible for devising, maintaining and implementing a program to be used in obtaining all sponsors for the Society’s events, chairing the sponsorship committee and coordinating the efforts of the committee members in securing sponsors. The director is responsible for planning and coordinating all fund-raising activities of the Society and for maintaining a constant, open communication with the marketing director of the Society. |
| Director -Program Services | The Program Services Director is responsible for the activities of the Society with respect to merchandising, awards, special projects, archives, and community liaison. |
| Director-at-Large | A Director-at-Large is responsible for special projects and tasks, assisting other Directors where requested, and contributing to quorum at Board meetings. |
| Director-Ex-Officio | A Director – Ex-Officio serves as a non-voting member by reason of his office rather than being elected or appointed. |
Loppet Committee
| Position | 2026/2027 |
| Chief of Loppet | Charles World |
| Chief of Safety | Vacant |
| Chief of Course | Dan Leskiw |
| Ass’t Chief of Course | Eric van Walsum |
| Chief of Stadium/Logistics | Mark Woodhouse |
| Ass’t Chief of Stadium | Randy Stebner |
| Food Station Co-Chief | Ross Johnson |
| Food Station Co-Chief | Grant Chaney |
| Chief of Festival Tent | Vacant |
| Chief of Transportation | Mike Stern |
| Chief of Emergency Response | Dave McCashin |
| Chief of Course Safety | Quinn McCashin |
| Chief of Alumni | Brian Lucas |
| Chief of Signage | Brian Lucas |
| Ass’t Chief of Signage | Cathy Schreiner |
| Chief of Registration | Vacant |
| Chief of Short Start | Dave Cooper |
| Chief of Long Start | David Makowsky |
| Medical Co-Chief | Isabella Murray |
| Medical Co-Chief | Natalie Andonian |
| Chief of Volunteers | Monica Wartenberg |
| Ass’t Chief of Volunteer | Alex Zukowsky |
| Chief of Clothing Services | Kimberly Currie |
| Chief of Timing/Finish Line | Victoria Lee |
| Recording Secretary | Carolene Kuschminder |
| Cooking Lake-Blackfoot PRA Operations | Ben Featherstone |
| CLBPRA Waskahegan | Nic Cherepuschak |
| Chief of Barnebirkie | Roberta Hyland |
| Chief of Barnebirkie Course | Paul Zimmerman |
| Chief of Full Moon Birkie | Jen Henderson |
Description of Loppet Positions
| Chief of Loppet | This official is responsible for the technical preparation, administration, execution and supervision of the loppet by chairing the loppet committee and supervising/coordinating the efforts of the loppet committee members ensuring each of these people complete their respective tasks. |
| Chief of Safety | This official serves as the Loppet Committee member of the Safety and Environmental Committee (SEC). The Chief of Safety, in concert with the SEC, reviews and maintains the Birkie Safety and Environmental Manual and described safety and training procedures described therein. |
| Chief of Stadium Set Up/Take Down | This official plans the necessary lay-out, set-up and take-down of stadium (finish line and food tent/trailers/clothing tents/transport area). On race day, responsible for heating/equipment relocations, clothing tents, environmental crew supervision. Also responsible for all signage within the Stadium Area. |
| Clothing Coordinator | This official is responsible for coordinating the clothing bag drop-off at the start lines and the clothing tent in the stadium where skiers pick up their bags after finishing their event. |
| Chief of Equipment and Logistics | This official is responsible for coordinating equipment requirements for stadium, starts and food stations; ordering the equipment; and supervising the logistics of delivery of hard goods for the Birkie ski events (excluding food). |
| Chief of Finish Line and Timing | Finish Line: This official is responsible for planning the requirements for the finish area: oversee Finish line zone, finish stewards, traffic flow through the finish line(s) and work with the stadium set-up crew, and various crews in the area (timing, medical, awards, announcing). Official should have Level II certification.Timing: This official is responsible for recruiting and training of manual timers; procuring necessary timing equipment (manual); working with our Timing company in responding to timing and results problems/concerns. Results from timing chief may be coordinated by Chief of Registration. |
| Chief of Medical Services and Safety | This official plans for the first aid and medical treatment that may be needed by participants on course, at the start and finish lines, volunteers and the general public attending the loppet event; recruits the required number of medical volunteers and coordinates the assignments and postings for event day; and supervises the medical response plan on event day from the command post at the finish line. |
| Chief of Course | This official is responsible for properly preparing and maintaining the course to ensure the safety of the participants. |
| Course Assistant | This official is responsible for ensuring the satisfactory condition of the trail for the event. |
| Chief of Registration | This official is responsible for: monitoring on-line registration of all skiers; preparing reports as needed by race officials; coordinating the preparation of race packages; coordinating the distribution of race packages; and preparing start lists for officials and media. Provide registration information at the Long Start and process late package pick up. |
| Chief of Transportation and Parking | This official is responsible for planning and implementing the transportation logistics to get participants to and from the site to and from the course. Responsible for all transportation and parking signage relating to skiers and spectators for all Birkie events. |
| Chief of Long Starts | This official is responsible for planning and implementing the physical set-up of the start area and the actual start of the long distance events at the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village or backup start as required. Responsible for all signage relating to the Long Start area. |
| Chief of Short Starts | This official coordinates the 13 km Mini-Birkie, 8 km Birkie Fun Ski and the 2/4 km Birkie Ole’s Tour events and starts; and may coordinate separate timing at a separate finish line if required. Responsible for set up of the Short Start area and related signage. |
| Chief of Festival Tent | This official plans for the food and materials required for the finish line festival tent, then coordinates the distribution of refreshments in the festival tent on event day. This official is also responsible for ordering of food supplies required for food station, therefore there is coordination required between the Chiefs of Festival Tent and Food Stations. Responsible for the disposal of organic, recycling and waste materials. |
| Chief of Food Stations | This official plans for the food requirements of the start area and on-course stations; recruits volunteer groups as food station crews, and supervises/ coordinates the delivery of the food products to the station crews. Responsible for all food station signage. |
| Chief of Signage | This official plans the signage requirements of all events and coordinates the distribution, setting up and dismantling of signs and banners where needed. Works with each Chief on signage requirements and obtains signs as necessary. |
| Chief of Emergency Response | Responsible for recruitment and assignment of mobile Advanced Wilderness First Aid teams. Key role in placement of teams along course and in development of the Emergency Response Plan. |
| Chief of Course Safety | Responsible for recruitment and assignment of ski patrollers, both skiers and at fixed positions for course monitoring and control. Key role in communications with Patrollers and Food/Aid Stations. Acts as Liaison Officer with 911 services and Alberta Parks. Works from the designated Command Centre. |
| Volunteer Coordinator | This official, working with Office staff, maintains a list of current and potential volunteers; assists loppet and Board committee members with meeting their need for volunteers; and coordinates volunteer recognition. |
| Recording Secretary | This official records and compiles minutes of loppet committee meetings, maintains loppet committee files and distributes loppet committee information as required. |
| Communications | This official is in charge of all loppet communications before, after and during the festival. |
| Chief of Awards | In absence of a Festival Director, this official is in charge of the different awards. |
| Chief of Feast | In absence of a Festival Director, this official is in charge of coordinating the Viking Feast |
Marketing Committee
| Marketing Director | Sara Szabo |
| Social Media | Vacant |
| Barnebirkie Marketing | Angela Andersson/Roberta Hyland |
| Marketing Concepts Advisor/General Marketing Member | Luke Crosby |
| Marketing Community Outreach | Brian Lucas |
| Media Releases | Vacant |
| Graphic Design | Darlene Mitansky |
| Media Relations | Delia Meenhorst (President), Sara Szabo and SME Director |
| General Members | Lauren Cooper Paul Oss |
The Marketing Team efforts are supported by Birkie Coordinator