Executive Director’s Report
offshore mining “vessels” pouring into the commu - nity at that time. I laugh remembering we had to teach some new miners from Oregon how to cook crab correctly. I still bother Bill on the regular today, and I dearly wish I could do the same with Paul. As you know, he passed this spring, leaving a legend be -
Dear AMA Members and Friends,
Time truly does fly when you’re having fun. I blinked, and suddenly Jennifer tells me that June 1 is my 10th anniversary at AMA. I remember my first days and months. While I had literally grown up in a family working in Alaska resource industries, this was a new world entirely, and I look back and laugh that I was too naïve to realize I had NO IDEA what I was doing. But you all knew it, and you welcomed me with open arms, encouragement, and countless hours of guidance from top experts in mining issues that make up the AMA membership. I remember just a month or two in, AMA had to address the foreign-to-me issue of “wetlands mit - igation.” Jerry Birch and Kevin Greenfield came to the AMA office late on a Friday and essentially gave me a wetlands 101, patiently and thoroughly ex - plained. My own research on this would have taken weeks and I would probably still have required the same amount of someone’s time. A month in, Steve Borell and I climbed into his 172 and we went to nine mining camps in 10 days, from Southwest Alaska up to Nome and back. We slept in miner’s guest rooms and ate at their break - fast tables and were given private, in-depth tours so that I could better understand placer mining opera - tions. My first session in Juneau was surprisingly not intimidating — because I had the most respected and gentlemanly Paul Richards, who spent hours with me making introductions and giving me pearls of wisdom that stay with me today. I will will forev - er be grateful for the experience Paul gave to me. There were more than a few harebrained ideas you let me run with. I can clearly see the amuse - ment on James Fueg’s face when we proposed changing the Association logo (and I assure you that was a once in a lifetime experience). I remember Kevin Adler and Steve Teller being behind our Con - vention move to the Dena’ina Center even though they knew it would be a giant challenge. Instead of saying, “yeah have fun with that!” you all encour - aged ideas and supported the Association through the discomfort of change, which is never easy. I can remember just hopping in the car for my first trip to Chicken, just Alicia Amberg and I and a loaned sat phone. We were welcomed in by the For - tymile Mining District Board, the Busby family, and Robin Hammond as if we had been friends for years. The first trip to Nome was similar: Paul Glavi - novich, Bill Jeffress, and I were picked up at the airport, given a car, and drove all over touring the
hind of an acting curmudgeon who truly loved us all. I remember buying him a gavel to use during Com - mittee meetings that amused him greatly, but as you might imagine, he never had to use it. He seldom wasted words or praise but meant every one. This column has served as an enjoyable trip down memory lane, and I wish I had more space to share more memories. No part of this decade has been more important or inspiring than working with amazing people. There are no more genuine, hardworking, fun-loving, and dedicated people than Alaska miners, and that includes the amazing staff. While the faces have occasionally changed, the dedication has remained constant. Darlene Strickland preceded me by five years and has been a steadfast supporter of us all. During the majori - ty of her employment at AMA, Jennifer Luiten has been the only other full-time staffer and has served in dozens of roles to ensure our success. And I take special pride in those like Alicia Amberg who start - ed with us and is now leading the Associated Gen - eral Contractors in Alaska. This job is not easy, but it is not hard, either. There are very tough times, but they are made easier by the support and companionship from you. With every hurdle, I am able to focus on how our efforts can help an individual miner keep living their hard-earned dream, or a large mine keep em - ploying hundreds of people who rely on their stable wages to provide for their families. It is hard to put into words, but it is all of you that make this job so rewarding. The last 10 years have been a gift, from you to me. Thank you for the privilege.
Deantha Skibinski AMA Executive Director
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The Alaska Miner
Summer 2022
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