A Message from the Executive Director
Dear AMA Members and Friends, If you had any doubt, 2024 is in full swing! Between addressing a number of issues and advocating on policy, to engaging in or holding events across the state, all the work before us as Alaska miners is keeping us in overdrive! We often talk about the need to tell our story, and I think we’re putting that in action this spring. After a booming start to the year with Alaska Night at the Roundup Convention in Vancouver and visits with policymakers and partners in Washington D.C., we rolled right into Juneau and participated in the Southeast Conference mid- session summit, to tell our story on a regional stage. Here, with two large mines and a number of potential opportunities right in their backyard, we were able to join our partners at the Alaska Oil and Gas Association, Resource Development Council, Alaska Forest Association, and Alaska Chamber on the Resources Roundtable panel, discussing our role in the Southeast economy. I shared a story with the Southeast Conference audience that, on my flight down to Juneau, my seatmate and I struck up a conversation that wound its way, as it usually does, to occupations. He ended up telling me he didn’t approve of mining but was forced to chaperone his middle schooler’s field trip to Greens Creek Mine and it turned his opinion around. He said he couldn’t believe a
Kinross, and Bob Loeffler and Brett Watson from ISER. We had some spectacular panels and were able to reach a wide, diverse audience with which we do not normally engage. We’re nowhere near done! We have two great spring events in the coming weeks. Our Juneau Mining Forum is happening for the second year in a row, and this time we’ve got some great items added on. Monday, February 26, at 6 p.m. the Juneau Branch and Senator Click Bishop will host Juneau Mining History Night at the Juneau Yacht Club. Then, on Tuesday morning, we will kick off the Juneau Mining Forum with a breakfast and have panels through lunch on a number of important mining topics geared toward Legislators, and then, at the end of the day we’ll hold our Annual Legislative reception with the Associated General Contractors and Alaska Trucking Association. In March, we’ll hold our first Fairbanks Convention in SIX YEARS! (So many new starts around here!). Join us for an amazing event at the Carlson Center March 25-29 (much more information elsewhere in this issue). Thanks for all that you do to be involved in these events, whether it is sponsor, speak, help plan, attend, anything, Together, we are doing an amazing job telling our story.
mine was even there, as he had been boating and flying over it for years and was blown away at what he saw at the mine site. Well done Greens Creek, and all of you, who take the time and invest the resources in getting people out to your site. As this story shows, it makes a tremendous positive impact on members of the public and they leave with a real understanding of what happens at a mine, and they tell others. Up in Anchorage, I am absolutely thrilled to share that we had our first in-person Anchorage branch meeting in FOUR YEARS this month! We had a great turnout at Gallo’s and got a lot of positive feedback, and it was so, so good to see so many faces again. Thanks to all of you who attended and to Scott Habberstad with Alaska Airlines for speaking to our group. If you’re in Anchorage on alternating Thursdays, please join us! This month, we worked to bring three mining-related sessions to the Alaska Forum on the Environment. A huge thanks to Karen Matthias, who did the lion’s share of the planning, and to Anna Atchison and Bartly Kleven from
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 2024 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I February 2024
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