NNSL (JAN 06/97) - "What do you guys do in that office? The games are over a year away." That's the most frequently asked question of Joe Walsh, Deb Lougheed and Cindy Were.

The three comprise the first employees of the 1998 Arctic Winter Games host society, which is preparing for the next games, slated for Yellowknife.

Walsh was the first employee, hired as general manager.

This is how the long-time sports volunteer describes his job: "I have the overall responsibility to do whatever it takes to make it (the games) work."

Walsh has been involved with everything from computer installation, fundraising, merchandising, public relations and advertising.

"The overall thing I do is to make sure everything gets done and work with the AWG's board and the committees."

The AWG's general manager is literally counting down the days until the big event.

"I put up a whole bunch of calenders and marked March 15 to 22, 1998, and said that's our goal and we'll work backwards and make sure it happens.

"Our time-line will be in place by January and we'll start stroking them (the days) off.

"We're ahead of schedule in most cases."

Lougheed, sport manager, and Were, office co-ordinator, share some of Walsh's committee work but have their own specific duties.

Lougheed says her No. 1 concern is "overseeing all the sports and working with the 17 sports chairs."

She says one of her favorite things about the job is that she doesn't have a rigid routine.

"There's something new every day. We have to get things in place like officials, drawing up venue maps and pretty soon, the preliminary draws.

"Even though it's (15) months away there's so many committees and communication has to be good. We want a top-notch games so we have to start now."

When the games start, Lougheed figures she'll "be in 20 places at one time."

To date, Were has been kind of a jack-of-all trades, handling things such as correspondence, public relations and organizing monthly board meetings.

Over the next couple of months she will supervise new staff and the handling of the Games merchandise.

"I'm the type of person who likes to get my hands into all kids of pots," she said.

Each of the trio says they're always looking for more volunteers and encourage the general public to stop by the offices when in town located in the Bellanca Building on 50th Street.