A Message from the Executive Director
Dear Members, Where were you a year ago? Remember February 2020? Gov. Mike Dunleavy had just represented our industry and state at Roundup in British Columbia. Strong support from Washington D.C. had cleared paths as mineral prices and demand soared. “Alaska is open for business!” he announced proudly. A number of Alaska projects were rapidly moving toward development. Throughout the state,
As fall approached, it became quite clear that an in-person event for the Annual Convention, our largest gathering of the year, would not be possible. So we pivoted that as well. Our committee, member volunteers, and more, came together to pull off an amazing 100% virtual event. While we missed the priceless face to face networking and storytelling that’s marked our conventions for decades, we again saw a bright spot in the situation: attendees did not have to pick and choose among sessions, and they didn’t have the expense in time and travel, which brought in more participants
mining companies were planning an aggressive and ambitious drilling and exploration season. Things were looking great for Alaska miners. Then the pandemic informed us that life had other plans, and what a year it’s been. So many of the things that we’ve taken for granted, that connect and enrich us, that are the essence of our AMA life — went away. Or changed so radically as to be unrecognizable. There is no remote, socially distant replacement for a hug, or a hearty handshake. Or a frank, direct eye-to-eye conversation to find solutions to problems. But like so many past experiences, miners remain up for a challenge, and find ways to get the job done. So, in this issue of the Journal, we are taking time to look back at this maddening, challenging year, to highlight what we’ve done together as an association, where we sit today, and what we see coming our way. Yes, the pandemic forced us to cancel so many events that are core part of AMA. Our biennial spring convention in Fairbanks, Mining Day at the fairs…the cancellations just kept coming, which we all knew was the right thing to do out of care for our people. So we pivoted. We couldn’t let Mining Day in May go unobserved. We worked with Governor Dunleavy’s office and DNR staff to recognize our amazing industry on this State-recognized day. We then began holding our Friday morning branch meetings together, as one association. We then realized a silver lining of the pandemic. We’d gone from Anchorage, Fairbanks, Juneau, Haines, and Nome all holding their own respective Friday meetings to having our membership meet together, and hear from fellow members that typically we’d only hear from a few times per year. As of late, our weekly meetings have been generating over 200 attendees – we’d never pack that many in the Peanut Farm or the Prospector!
than ever! If anything, 2020 schooled us all on handwashing, protective distancing, and learning how to unmute yourself before speaking. What is everything, is that we have learned to adapt. The changes necessary to combat the pandemic have had a profound and deep financial impact on our association. But we’ve learned to work smarter and harder, and to never stop promoting Alaska’s miners on account of financial limitations. We did this through, yet again, the amazing resiliency and generosity of the miners. Hundreds of individuals and companies reached out to inquire what resources AMA needed to continue delivering its mission. Looking forward into 2021, we are still dealing with so much uncertainty. From a basic life standpoint, when will this virus finally be tamed? When will life return to normal? And even if things were “normal” (whatever that is), what lies before us politically? What we are certain of is the essential role mining is playing and will continue to play in Alaska. And you can be certain we, your association, will remain dedicated and relentless in defending your future and our industry. Thanks for being there through 2020, and the previous 80 years before that. And thanks for what I know will be the warmest, most humbling support moving forward. We’ve got this! Be well,
Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director
Executive Board Bill Jeffress, President SRK Consulting, Anchorage Bartly Kleven, First Vice President Kinross-Fort Knox, Fairbanks Lorali Simon, Second Vice President Kim Aasand, Treasurer Aasand & Glore LLC, Anchorage
Branch Chairmen Ted Hawley, Anchorage Lorali Simon, Denali Mark Huffington, Fairbanks
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.
Liz Cornejo, Haines Jim Clark, Juneau
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Houston Morris, Kenai Blake Bogart, Nome Andrew Spokely, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight Paul Glavinovich, State Oversight
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Year in Review 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
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