A Message from the Executive Director
Dear Members, “Gonna ask my mom if that offer to slap me into next year is still on the table.” “2020, pull over. I’ll walk.” “Maybe we should try putting 2020 in a bag of rice.” 2020 has been pretty bad. Like, really bad. If you’re anything like me, you take solace in memes and quotes with sick humor, because at this point, all you can do is find the funny angles and search for the silver linings. Professionally, for all of us, the pandemic has been awful. And since it began in the early part of this year, it seems one catastrophe after another has followed, causing us all to commiserate about how 2020 is very much the worst. To be honest with you, my personal life spent some time following the very same trajectory. Mark and I have been planning our wedding since late last year, and one joyous occasion after another was put on the shelf as the pandemic changed the playing field. Then, when I was silly enough to think about how totally unfair my life was, life told me I had no damn clue. On Father’s Day, my Dad suffered a stroke that left him in the ICU, where days passed with us being unable to visit him and preparing for the worst. My work at AMA, my passions and hobbies, everything took a backseat to this emergency and my personal circle seemed at its most bleak. This where my message goes from talking about me, to talking about you. Because even though it is hard to see,
My experience with love and kindness is really an analogy, for everyone’s personal situation, for the rest of 2020. We WILL get through this together, I am just sure of it. And there is already so much good happening. Our industry refuses to quit succeeding — just look at the pages of this journal for major milestones and accomplishments. Even though we are cooped up and bogged down, miners know the show must go in, particularly in the limited window in which many of us have to get our work done. Permitting timelines are being met, some exploration work is being completed successfully and with great health measures, and minerals are being brought into the limelight as more critical than ever. And, not to actually say it out loud, but the price of gold is a welcome high point. Who knows what August through December, and beyond, will bring us. And I am much too wary to say something like “it’s nothing we can’t handle” because, who knows with this year. But I am sure that whatever comes our way, we’ll continue to see a groundswell of Alaska’s miners pulling together and working furiously to get the job done for themselves and for their neighbor too. Because while humor is important, it is the character of our AMA family that is the silver lining of every year, but especially 2020. Be well,
there is a lot about 2020 that is good. In terms of my personal crisis, AMA members, colleagues, and friends came from all around to offer their help and support. I received countless emails, texts, and calls to the point where my Mom and I observed what a good problem it was to have so many messages we couldn’t keep up with responding. They were messages of support, messages saying an AMA responsibility had been taken care of and I didn’t need to worry or think about it, and overwhelmingly, messages of prayer. During this time of social distancing, the messages were the true substitute of one hug after another that literally got us through the toughest of times. (And to note, the prayers worked — my Dad has recovered significantly and was able to be at my perfect wedding in July).
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
Committee Chairmen Kevin Adler, Convention Howard Grey and JP Tangen, Federal Oversight 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 Staff Deantha Skibinski, Executive Director Jennifer Luiten, Membership and Fundraising Director Darlene Strickland, Bookkeeper/Membership
Liz Cornejo, Haines Jim Clark, Juneau
Houston Morris, Kenai Blake Bogart, Nome Andrew Spokely, Ketchikan/Prince of Wales
4
August 2020 I The Alaska Miner I www.alaskaminers.org
Made with FlippingBook. PDF to flipbook with ease