A Message from the Executive Director
A Message from the Executive Director
saw Joe Usibelli, President, Usibelli Coal Mine coming in as our first Hard Hat Hero, challenging all others to join him. CONTANGO ORE, Hecla Greens Creek Mining, and Soloy Helicopters quickly followed. Dozens of Convention sponsors quickly committed to converting their sponsorship to a Core Supporter or Blast Buddy. Since its launch, we have seen miners step up to close the gap left behind by canceled fundraisers, and it is beyond humbling. Please see the recognition of Durability Heroes, Supporters, and Buddies in this Journal and help me to thank them for their support. At the end of November, AMAPAC held an in-person fundraiser at Bell’s Nursery in Anchorage. It was absolutely wonderful to see so many of your faces (in person!!) again, amongst fragrant trees and Christmas cheer. Between those that joined us at the event and those that donated from afar, AMAPAC raised over $20,000 in 2021 — a non-election year — to support candidates that support mining. Finally, we recently concluded branch elections and have formally elected our 2021-2023 AMA Board of Directors. I am so excited to work with this group made up of both longtime members and new faces, all with great energy to give to AMA. At our Annual Meeting, new Statewide
Thank you to the companies, organizations and individuals who have already supported the Durability Project. See the full list on Page 11.
Officers were elected, and we are blessed to have the leadership of Bartly Kleven, President; Lorali Simon, First Vice President; and Blake Bogart, Second Vice President. There will be extensive profiles on your Statewide Officers and our eight Branches of Directors in the January magazine, so we can all get to know them a little better. We also thanked (insufficiently, in comparison to what we do at our Annual Banquet) outgoing President Bill Jeffress. We are all adamant that we will give Bill a well- deserved send-off when we can, so we won’t let him get very far. I know it goes without saying just how much Bill has given to our industry and to AMA, and for now, I will just say he’s at the top of my list of what I am thankful for. I wish you all the very best Christmas holiday, and I am so looking forward to 2022!
Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
Dear Alaska Miners, Members, Supporters and Friends: As 2021 comes to an end, I am so excited for the holidays. There has been so much to celebrate this year, and so much to be thankful for. I’ve got to tell you I’m feeling pretty festive. I’ve repeated a lot recently that looking through the past 20 months at AMA makes you feel like a proud parent. We have experienced some of the most challenging
times perhaps in our organization’s history. Yet, instead of struggling through those challenges, Alaska miners have stepped up in ways that have made our operations, projects, and businesses even better. Last month, we unveiled the Durability Project, our fundraising effort to fully fund AMA’s mission at a time it is needed more than ever, at a time we cannot host our large events that fund our advocacy efforts. At 7 a.m. the day we unveiled the Durability Project, we
“We protect the environment because this is the land where we grew up.” – Evan Polty Jr. Lead Mechanic, Donlin Gold Born in Pilot Station and Resident of Russian Mission
Executive Board Bartly Kleven, President Lorali Simon, First Vice President Blake Bogart, Second Vice President Kim Aasand, Treasurer
Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage
The Alaska Miner is the official journal of the Alaska Miners Association, published eight times a year exclusively to our members.
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Respectful development for all generations.
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention
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Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Mike Satre and Lorali Simon, State Oversight
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December 2021 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I December 2021
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