President’s Message From Bill Jeffress
Vigilance is key moving forward in pandemic
“Political and regulatory uncertainty remain major obstacles to Alaska’s economic viability, but the resurgence of COVID-19 cases is our biggest threat.” W aiting for the “dust to settle” regarding policies and mandates from the Biden administration and lack of progress from
people, once thought to be immune, are now becoming infected and dying is even more alarming. The optimism of in person meetings and trade association gathering has faded and was replaced by the anguish and frustration of unsuccessfully trying to figure out how AMA could safely hold the annual convention. The health and safety of our members was paramount in the final decision to cancel the event. Several of us grew up during the 1950s when polio was rampant, and people rushed to get Dr. Jonas Salk’s break through vaccine. Growing up in the 1950’s and 60’s if you wanted to attend school several vaccines were required (e.g., Smallpox, Polio, Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis, Measles, Rubella, Mumps). There was minimal resistance to receiving these vaccines and as a result some diseases have been totally eradicated in the U.S. Missing from the picture that allowed control and containment of these diseases were the politics, biased news media, and misinformation from nonexistent social networks at the time. AMA and my family have experienced COVID-19 and the loss of members, friends, and loved ones. I have two family members who are helicopter medevac pilots who are quick to vent their frustration as 100% of the patients medevaced with COVID are not vaccinated and usually at the perilous stage necessary to be flown for advance medical care ... they die. To add to medical personnel being stretched thin, is the fact that other patients with serious medical conditions are being bumped in leu of taking care of COVID patients (who choose not to receive the vaccine). Plus, how many other people were exposed and may became infected with COVID because of contacting these unvaccinated
the Alaska Legislature may be a long time coming. The uncertainty associated with both entities continues, but Alaskans are coping with the frustration and gleaning the positives to keep the ball rolling. One bright light is the Federal Infrastructure Bill that may provide some great benefits to Alaska. How it is finally enacted will make that determination. Our mineral exploration season started off with some uncertainty due to lack of drills, crews to man them, and logistic support. For most operations, these hurdles were overcome, and it has been a successful season. What may cast a shadow on the optimism of mineral exploration in Southeast Alaska is the move to restore the “Roadless Rule” on the Tongass National Forest. This would dampen mineral exploration opportunities and other resource development projects like hydroelectric dam projects and upgrades to power transmission lines. Political and regulatory uncertainty remain major obstacles to Alaska’s economic viability, but the resurgence of COVID-19 cases is our biggest threat. Initially with the rollout of vaccinations and the fact that Alaska was leading the nation in numbers getting vaccinated, and the downward trend of positive cases, this provided us with a false sense that the pandemic was under control. The Delta variant and resistance to receiving the vaccine has triggered a giant unwarranted step backwards. The vaccines have proven to be effective to prevent initial infection or minimize the effects of COVID-19 if infected. The fact that younger
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The Alaska Miner
Fall 2021
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