Executive Director’s Report
covered this previously, but it is so important to remember that major accomplishment on behalf of our industry and the champions in the Legislature who ensured its passage. Once field season was underway, we continued to share COVID-19 information and at the same time, began to see the policy side of our world resume to working on regula- tions and other requirements previously in the works before the world was so suddenly interrupted. Issues like National Park Service regulations revisions to implement the Su- preme Court Sturgeon decision, new mining regulations following the passage of SB155, a total exemption of the Roadless Rule in the Tongass, new Executive Orders to grow the mineral supply chain, and so many others affecting our miners. September saw a still very severe pandemic situa- tion, and it became clear we would not be able to host the in-person Annual Convention we had all hoped for. Again, the decision was met with an outpouring of support from our membership and a Convention Committee that immedi- ately pivoted to working toward a virtual event to keep our members apprised of important issues and project updates. I am so grateful and proud of the creative and tireless work of this Committee. You will see extensive details in this issue for the virtual event scheduled for Convention week of Monday, Nov. 1 through Thursday, Nov. 5. The event will be free to attend, which we hope will increase awareness of the industry and of our association. You’re likely aware that cancellation of our two con- ventions is a significant financial hit for the organization. Funds pledged from our supporters well exceed the cost of holding events; they fund our mission year-round. Like so many others, our revenue stream has been severely impact- ed, and regardless of the results of the November election, there is no question that as an industry we will be busier than ever. We are hopeful that you will consider helping the orga- nization through 2020 and into 2021 in one of the following ways: First, many companies and individuals usually sponsor the event and incur travel, lodging and other costs to attend our Convention. We are making the virtual event free so that nobody is prevented from attending, but if you are able to make a contribution toward either the event or AMA, the registration form for the Convention will include a place for you to do so. Second, the AMA Executive Committee has authorized a fundraising drive in which all members and supporters will receive an ask to help support AMA so that we may contin- ue our work moving forward. There’s not enough room to detail it in this column, but I humbly ask that you review the letter we send and consider donating in an amount that you or your company can manage. I still believe that together, we will get through this time, and I look forward to resuming life with a semblance of normal.
Dear Alaska Miners:
It’s October, we’re waking up to frost and we are now eight months into the COVID-19 pandemic. I know there are days when we feel more confused than ever, but if you look back, we really have come a long way in navigating the new set of conditions in which we live, work and play. That is certainly the case at AMA. The first major disruption to business as usual came with us cancelling our Spring Convention in Fairbanks, a heartbreaking move as we’d been hard at work for months planning this biennial event. But this difficult decision was met with grace, understanding and support from our mem- bers, and we all kept an optimistic view that’d get through this time and look forward to resuming life with a sem- blance of normal. We began by working together with our year-round op- erations, ensuring that mining was classified as an essential industry and we can proudly say that the proper precaution- ary measures were put in place by industry and approved by the government agencies responsible for overseeing busi- nesses during the pandemic. Mining companies worked together, branched out to collaborate with the oil and gas industry, and together as Alaskans, we were able to adopt responsible operations plans and look toward developing protocols for our placer and ex- ploration seasons that come with spring. Again, we worked across the industry to share best practices and advise pro- tections that allowed these miners to mobilize across Alaska. Also, during this time, we saw a major victory as SB155, the mineral tenure bill, was passed during the final days of the Legislature prior to taking a COVID safety recess. We’ve
Deantha Skibinski AMA Executive Director
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The Alaska Miner
October 2020
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