President’s Message From Bill Jeffress
Here are bright spots from a difficult year
Although 2020 was not the record-breaking year we thought it was going to be and the political winds supporting resource development in Alaska have changed, AMA and its members are more than ready to face challenges. 2 020 is a year few of us will ever forget. Last January all the signals were there for a banner year for the mineral industry in
substituting statewide Zoom Friday meetings for the in-person individual branch meetings. Thanks to the technical wizardry of AMA staff and member volunteers, the weekly meetings garnered more than 100 participates for each event. These weekly meetings have provided a chance to again network with our local members, even allowing for participation at a statewide level. For all that were not camera-shy, it was great to see everyone. The optimism demonstrated by the abundant participation was amazing. From safety shares, weekly humor, Executive Director’s report, project updates, and the presentations, these meetings keep the association viable to members and an asset to Alaska. Next came the drive and perseverance of the Convention Committee. Results from convention alternatives survey, lack of a convention facility, travel restrictions, and risk of spreading the corona virus, the convention seemed doomed. Staff and members of the committee took those issues as a challenge and moved forward with planning and implementing the 2020 AMA Convention and Trade Show Virtual Event via Zoom. What a tremendous success from the short course, technical sessions, Prospectors Tent, election overview, update on mining operations, up to the final Core Shack event. The number of participants and the quality of the presentations were outstanding. The Convention required registration but was free to those wanting to attend with the option to donate to support the effort.
Alaska. The Governor’s outreach in Vancouver B.C. was a great start in communicating to a variety of mining companies that Alaska is open for business. The signs were also there for a stellar year for Alaska exploration. With the arrival of COVID-19 and various forms of “hunker-down” policies optimism waned. Then throw in Ballot measures, Presidential election, cancellation of the Fairbanks AMA Conference and we were on our way to a perfect storm. The governor listing mining as an essential industry was the catalyst that opened the door for the mining industry to demonstrate our resiliency. Mining companies implemented COVID-19 Community / Workforce Protective Plans and continued to operate even with the additional costs of testing, sheltering/quarantining workers, and modifying work schedules. Not only has the industry adapted to its own needs but stepped up to help others through donations to food banks, Children’s Lunch Box, homeless shelters and Salvation Army. Exploration projects and small placer operators overcame the challenges to finish out the season while still protecting workers and rural communities. Alaskans in general exhibited fantastic character as demonstrated by even low- wage workers contributing to help small businesses survive these tough times. All the Branches of the Alaska Miners Association proved that “if there is a will there’s a way” by
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The Alaska Miner
Winter 2021
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