HUMAN

Name: JOANNE POTTS
Age: 79
Residence: WASILLA, ALASKA
Occupation: I AM ASSISTANT TO THE IDITAROD DIRECTOR OF THE IDITAROD RACE
Years involved with Iditarod: SINCE 1975. I THINK THAT’S ABOUT 44 YEARS.
Iditarod Role: ACTUALLY TO DAY I’M HERE ON MY OWN TIME JUST AS A VOLUNTEER OR SPECTATOR VISITING FRIENDS AND STUFF. SO I DON’T REALLY HAVE AN OFFICIAL ROLE HERE TODAY.
Current Location: LAKEFRONT ANCHORAGE HOTEL – ANCHORAGE, ALASKA
Date of Photo: FEBRUARY 28, 2019
Temperature: 65F / INDOORS

What is your Why?.. Why are you here today and involved in Iditarod?:

THE REASON I AM WITH IDITAROD IS BECAUSE OF THE MUSHERS AND THE VOLUNTEERS. I’VE WORKED WITH MUSHERS AND VOLUNTEERS EVER SINCE DAY ONE HERE. AND THAT’S WHAT I LOVE AND THAT’S WHAT — I ENJOY THAT. AND AS LONG AS I’M ABLE TO DO IT, I’M JUST GOING TO KEEP COMING BACK AND DOING IT. AND I’M HERE TODAY BECAUSE I WANT TO VISIT WITH OLD FRIENDS AND STUFF.

Tell me about your most rewarding experience on Iditarod?:

I THINK MY MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE HAS TO DO WITH VOLUNTEERS. IT’S ALWAYS AMAZING TO ME THAT I KNOW PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD, YOU KNOW, NOW, WHICH I WOULDN’T HAVE IF I WASN’T WITH IDITAROD. AND WHEN I SEE PEOPLE COME BACK AND THEY ALWAYS GIVE ME A HUG AND THEY’RE GLAD TO SEE ME AND…. I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW THAT MAKES YOU FEEL. PROBABLY MY BIGGEST EXCITING EXPERIENCE WAS WHEN I WAS “HONORARY MUSHER”. AND THAT WAS A PRETTY EXCITING WEEK WHEN I WAS HONORARY MUSHER. YEAH.

What do you know for sure?:

WELL, I KNOW FOR SURE THAT IT’S IMPORTANT TO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND TAKE CARE OF OTHER PEOPLE. WE’RE NOT ON AN ISLAND; WE’RE NOT INDIVIDUALS; WHAT HAPPENS TO EVERYBODY — WHAT HAPPENS TO THIS GUY, HAPPENS TO ALL OF US AND SO IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS KEEP THAT IN MIND AND NOT JUST BE TAKING CARE OF OURSELVES IN OUR OWN LITTLE CORNER.