A Message from the Executive Director
business, to the firefighting and recovery efforts. I’ve lived here my entire life, and still, Alaskans never cease to amaze me. Back to what we have to be excited about. It’s back to business after a field season, summer break, hunting season, and everything else we tend to do through the third quarter. Our committees have reconvened and we are presently reviewing the U.S. Forest Service’s NEPA regulations revisions (and on a related note, the recent announcement from President Trump that the Tongass should be opened for more development!), the Ambler Road Draft EIS and Environmental and Economic Assessment, and new ESA regulations. We’re also gearing up for a fantastic 80th Anniversary Convention where we’ll honor our past, present, and future. Starting the first week of September, we’ll make daily updates to our website so that you can have hot off the press information about keynotes, technical sessions, fun networking and 80th anniversary events, and much more. In advance of the Convention, our eight statewide branches will be performing elections. Please watch for notices from current branch chairs and nominating committees, and consider throwing your name in the hat to be a Director on our statewide board. The AMA Board advises me on a number of fronts, including policy and issues, administration of the organization, membership satisfaction, and much more. The strength and diversity of our board is an asset, and is the reason we are such a respected organization. I greatly appreciate those of you that have served us in the past, and I hope those folks can do some effective arm-twisting to get new Directors onboard (no pun intended). Welcome back to the office/home to all of you, and I look forward to seeing you this fall.
Dear Members, I don’t know how it got to be September already. As I write this, we are packing up our office and the storage unit to head out to Palmer for Mining Day at the Alaska State Fair. Once again this year, we will join with the Council of Alaska Producers to host Mining Day, and will feature the Gold Prospectors of America/Alaska at our booth to bring in hundreds of fairgoers interested in panning for
AMA Executive Director Deantha Crockett has fun in the rain at the Tanana Valley Fair
gold and learning more about our industry. Each year we’ve done this, we’ve reached tens of thousands of Alaskans, and we’re looking forward to doing so again. This comes off the heels of a recent Mining Day at Tanana Valley Fair (see photos in this issue!) and our first ever participation in the Southeast Alaska State Fair in Haines, that was featured in our last issue of this Journal. These events are a great reminder that outreach to the public about Alaska’s mining industry is more important than ever. Yes, fair time means summer is over, and while that is a bummer, we have a lot to be excited about for this fall. First, let’s hope it brings significant rainfall to various regions of our State. We’ve seen wildfires impact our operations in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, Kenai Peninsula, Interior, and Southwest Alaska. Much worse is the many Alaskans who have lost their homes and all of their possessions and are starting over. Many more are still, as I write this, praying that fire doesn’t touch their properties. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the fire victims, as well as the first responders out there fighting. A quick feel good moment – last week I was on a flight to Kenai, which at the last minute was upgraded to a larger jet to accommodate a very full flight. On the plane were a large group of firefighters from Washington, Oregon, and Montana who have come up to help the situation. Every single passenger, the flight attendant, and the pilots stopped to thank them for coming to our State and helping put the fires out. Later that evening, I learned that at the fundraiser taking place for the Kenai River Sportsfishing Association, the bartenders were all donating their tips, which would be matched by a local
Deantha Crockett Executive Director
Executive Board Mike Satre, President Hecla Greens Creek Mining Company, Juneau Bill Jeffress, First Vice President SRK Consulting, Anchorage Bartly Kleven, Second Vice President Kinross – Fort Knox, Fairbanks Kim Aasand, Treasurer Aasand & Glore LLC, Anchorage Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage Roger Speer, Denali Anna Atchison, Fairbanks James Sage, Haines Frank Bergstrom, Juneau Jim Duffield, Kenai Blake Bogart, Nome Andrew Spokely, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Steve Grabacki, Fisheries Meg Smith, HR/Workforce Development Paul Glavinovich, State Oversight Follow us anytime: Online at AlaskaMiners.org Like us on Facebook at Alaska Miners Association Follow us on Twitter @alaskaminers
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 Alaska Miners Association Sta Deantha Crockett, Executive Director Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director Laci Michaud, Projects Manager Darlene Strickland, Bookkeeper/Membership
www.alaskaminers.org I The Alaska Miner I September 2019 5
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