A Message from the Executive Director
Dear AMA Members and Friends, It’s been a whirlwind of a start to 2025 ... in a great way! We recently spent glorious days at our third annual Juneau Mining Forum, History Night and presentations to the Legislature in Juneau! Many AMA members and interested state officials joined us to learn about Juneau’s long and vast mining history, as well as the state of Alaska mining. AMA also went to Juneau for the Alaska Chamber fly-in and participated in the natural resources panel at the Southeast Conference Mid-Session Summit, discussing issues related to the legislative session and Alaska’s economic sectors. We’ve also traveled to our nation’s capital representing Alaska Miners on Capitol Hill. Even with a new pro-mining administration in Washington, it is more critical than ever to be present and to advocate for you and our industry. More than 40 years ago, Sen. Ted Stevens, speaking at the first Meet Alaska presented by the Alaska Support Industry Alliance, said it’s critical to keep educating the D.C. community: “When the federal government becomes better informed about our nation’s mineral needs and the role that Alaska can play in meeting those needs many of the federal problems facing Alaska miners should become more manageable…Working together we can make sure federal policy makers know the true story about the importance of Alaska’s mineral resources….” A goal I have, and I know we all share, including our partner state resource organizations, for all of these events is to keep telling our great story. During our visits in Washington, our friends and allies shared that it is truly the only thing that will make a difference in terms of reasonable policies for mining. Thank goodness we have so much to work with — great operations, great people and great accomplishments within our Alaska mining family. You all make for a great story and it is a privilege to be able to tell it! On the communications front, AMA continues to host our statewide Zoom calls every other Friday (schedule on Page 22) and our branches are meeting in person, too. These meetups provide an opportunity for each of us to share insights about what we’re working on, what’s going right and what we can improve on for the good of our mining
industry. I encourage you to invite friends to our Zoom calls so they can see all the exceptional things that are being done here in Alaska, at the federal level and even globally. AMA also is working on our 2025 Alaska Miners Handbook and Service Directory, which will be out soon. We can’t wait to share this edition of the Bible of Alaska mining with all of you! Speaking of our partners, please make plans to attend the 41st annual Meet Alaska conference on March 21 at the Egan Center in Anchorage. Rebecca Logan and her Alliance team are great partners with us in advocating for you. It’s going to be a great and informative event about Alaska mining, as well as oil and gas, and furthering our Alaska needs globally. Looking ahead to the rest of 2025, things are looking bright for Alaska’s miners with more support in Washington and abroad for the valuable roles we all play in this industry we dearly love. And it’s never too early to think about Alaska Mining Day, which is May 10. Here’s to a safe and prosperous spring to all of you!
Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
Executive Board Lorali Simon, President Blake Bogart, First Vice President Houston Morris, Second Vice President Kim Aasand, Treasurer Follow us anytime: Online at AlaskaMiners.org Like us on Facebook at Alaska Miners Association Follow us on Twitter @alaskaminers Follow us on Instagram @alaska.miners
Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage Ethan Trickey, Denali Dave Larimer, Fairbanks Jan Hill, Haines Jason Hart, Juneau Houston Morris, Kenai Ken Hughes, Nome Robert Fithian, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales
The Alaska Miner is the official journal of the Alaska Miners Association, published eight times a year exclusively to our members. It is published in partnership with the Alaska Miners Association by Fireweed Strategies LLC, 4849 Potter Crest Circle, Anchorage, AK 99516. We actively seek contributions from our members and the mining industry. Please email story ideas and photos to Lee Leschper. Advertising Rates and New Tips For advertising information, or to submit news, story ideas and photos, call or email Lee Leschper at 907-957-6025 or Lee.Leschper@FireweedStrategies.com
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention
Alaska Miners Association Staff Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Mike Satre and Blake Bogart, State Oversight
Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director Carin Currier, Projects & Communications Manager Darlene Strickland, Bookkeeper/Membership
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February 2025 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I February 2025
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