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Hello Alaska,
Those of you that opened this newsletter by double-clicking on the email, feel free to skip to the next paragraph. The rest of you - STOP!! Tracking our newsletter mailings is a measuring tool that we use to gauge how we do. We use Constant Contact for our email marketing software and many of you in this business realize that the "openers" are only counted when the email is actually opened and not simply read in the body of your email server. So please take 5 seconds right now and double click the email. Yes, right now! You can close it right away if you'd like, but opening the email may give us a more accurate count of the actual number of our readers. I'll report back next week.
Thank you very much for doing that!
I have to give a shout-out to my pal Shelley McCool, who is selling the snot out of one of the newest hotels in Fairbanks, the Alpine Lodge (www.alpinelodge.com). Shelly is traveling to the ITB Berlin (really jealous) with the ATIA folks (I'm pretty sure all spots are taken now) to sell our fair state to European tour companies, travel agents and industry insiders. The ITB Berlin is a monster show on 40 acres, with over 11,000 exhibitors and almost 180,000 visitors during the weeklong event. ATIA, your local CVB's and Chambers of Commerce all have partnership opportunities for events that are not always of this magnitude, but seem to always produce results. Contact them to see if the cost and target audience is right for you.
It is widely known that unlike Rudolph the Red-Nosed-Reindeer, who is a marketing creation of Montgomery Wards, there really is a cloth diapered, almost naked little guy flying around, shooting love arrows into couples all over the world. You cannot escape, and odds are that you too feel the pressure to come up with the customary flowers and chocolates, or something a little more risqué'. Regardless of what you buy, we have many local vendors that specialize in helping you help yourself by making a good impression on your loved one, or love wannabe (see some specials below).
David Pinquoch with Alaska Goodtime charters (www.alaskagoodtimecharters.com) confirmed my theory of valuing your own investment by telling me that -
I was given a statistic one time that I could never confirm but it goes down the same road.
- 80% of college graduates who pay their own way through college end up in a job that utilized their degree.
- 20% of college graduates that had their education paid for end up in a job that utilized their degree.
And lastly, in response to my newsletter on economic forecasts, John Weddleton from BOSCO's (www.boscos.com) wrote:
A fundamental premise of economics is that we are well informed and act rationally in what we perceive as our best interest.
From Adam Smith's Wealth of Nations way back in 1776:
Every individual is continually exerting himself to find out the most advantageous employment for whatever capital he can command. It is his own advantage, indeed, and not that of society, which he has in view. But the study of his own advantage naturally, or rather necessarily leads him to prefer that employment which is the most advantageous to society.
Sadly, this premise, that we are well informed and act rationally, is probably economic theory's weakest link.
Amen brother!
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It had to happen sooner than later and here is the first early bird special for a fishing charter. Bill Spencer is offering space on the Nika Lynn and "The Boat" (love the name) at discounted rates through this weekend. Go by yourself , or bring a few friends along to save even more! Check out the prices here www.chartertheboat.com, or download the entire rate sheet here: www.chartertheboat.com/doc/2011rates.pdf The website shows that the specials are over on February 11, but I just got off the phone with Bill and he would like to extend this special through the end of the month. I figure by then Ketchikan has shorts and t-shirt weather, so go get yourself a tan and land a fish!
One last reminder for the:
2nd Annual Interior Regions Procurement Fair
Date: February 15 and 16, 2011
Time: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Location: Fairbanks Princess Riverside Lodge
Cost: $50 attendee, $150 vendors
The 2nd Annual Interior Regions Procurement Fair will take place in Fairbanks on February 15 & 16 at the Princess Riverside Lodge. On Day 1 Representatives from federal, state, and local government agencies will present information on procurement forecasts. Matchmaking and networking events, lunch, and informational presentations are planned. On Day 2, panel discussions, specialized training, and informational workshops will follow. The focus of this event is to:
- Develop broader base of procurement knowledge to qualified contractors in the region;
- Learn about local, state and federal government agency procurement needs;
- Attend workshops on contracting topics such as socioeconomic programs teaming and partnering, insurance and bonding, proposal writing, GSA, Wide Area Work Flow (WAWF);
- Meet vendors, talk with government procurement specialists, prime contractors, contracting officers, and purchasing agents, and discover other supporting resources.
This conference is for new and existing businesses looking for opportunities in the government marketplace. Go to http://www.ptacalaska.org/ and click on Procurement Fair for details and to register. Or call Fairbanks PTAC at 907-456-7232, Anchorage PTAC: 907-274-7232.
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Crowne Plaza Hotel Wild and Woolly Package
Visit the Anchorage Museum's new exhibit, Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age, and delve deep into the mysteries of these ancient beasts.
Included in your package is:
- 1 night standard accommodations at the Crowne Plaza Anchorage Hotel
- Two adult admission tickets to Mammoths and Mastodons: Titans of the Ice Age
- 10% discount at the Anchorage Museum Shop
- 10% discount at Muse Restaurant located inside the Anchorage Museum
- Two adult admission tickets to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center
- 10% discount at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center gift shop
Complimentary with every room is airport shuttle, parking, wireless internet, pool, hot tub, fitness center, business center, 37" flat screen, fridge and microwave in every room. Package valid March 4 through October 9, 2011. Call 907-433-4100 for reservations or information.
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Its not too late to register for the:
Alaska State Chamber of Commerce 2011 Legislative Fly-In
February 22-23 Westmark Baranof Hotel Juneau, AK
Call Cheryl Eluska at 907-278-2727 or email her at celuska@alaskachamber.com to secure your spot today
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The Alaska Botanical Garden is pleased to present the -
5th Annual Spring Garden Conference: "Cultivating Community" Friday & Saturday March 11 & 12, 2011
Featuring keynote speaker Roger Swain of PBS Victory Garden fame, and a host of Alaskan gardening experts, including Verna Pratt, Jeff Lowenfels, David Goodgame, Julie Riley, and more!
For Information: www.alaskabg.org / 907-770-3692
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Valentines Specials -
Eat Stay Love valentine's Package
Inspired from the book "EAT PRAY LOVE", this package represent a tranquil night of relaxation and delicious food in JUNO restaurant with a splash of romance. The package includes:
- 1 night stay at the beautiful CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL
- $75.00 gift certificate for JUNO restaurant
- Bottle of Champagne or Wine in the room
- Chocolate Covered Strawberries in the room
Cost: $219.00 + tax. To book this special call 907-433-4100, ask for Julie and tell her that I sent you!
Valentine's Weekend at the Land's End Resort
The package that includes a wedding expo, dinner and a Sweethearts Dance on the weekend of Feb 11-14. Please email, landsendsales@alaska.net, or call her (907) 299-4210 to get the details. Check out their revamped website at www.lands-end-resort.com to always get the latest info.
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North Pacific Auctioneers have a busy weekend with two auctions -
Defaulted Storage
Saturday February 12 at 11 AM
At Central Mini Storage
3703 Woodland off Spenard Rd.
10 Units
Subject to tenant payoff
Estate & Consignment Auction
Sunday February 13 at 1 PM
at The Auction House
5801 Arctic Blvd.
Tiffany Style Lights, Coins, Jewelry, Watches,
Furniture and collectables
View and bid now at
www.proxibid.com/northpacific
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A small group of people that are gathering information to open a year-around Anchorage Cooperative Food Market. They are looking for support from local business and individuals as they are in the information-gathering phase. To aid their research they have placed a survey online and posted the link on several Facebook pages along with Twitter. Here's the link: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/S9VBN8R
The cooperative's focus will be on providing local (300 mile radius) food products on a year round basis. There is a first interest gathering meeting scheduled for Friday, 02/11/11, at 6:00pm at the Sugar Spoon on Spenard Rd. in Anchorage . Please come say hi, or contact Mary M. Ernsberger, the Coordinator for the Anchorage Cooperative Food Market at (907) 727-0078 for more information.
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The Sportsman's Warehouse is decorating the interior of their new Soldotna store and would like your help with the following:
Sportsman's Warehouse is looking for Alaskan or Exotic wildlife Show Quality Mounts to display in their new Soldotna store. The mounts will be on loan to Sportsman's and must be of show quality.
Sportsman's Warehouse is looking for your fishing and hunting photos for their brag board. If you have pictures you would like to share via the Sportsman's bragboard, please drop off a hard copy to the Soldotna Chamber with the following info - what it is, where it was taken, type of equipment, and your contact info.
If you have can help with either of these two, or have questions, please email Johna Beech with the Soldotna chamber at johna@soldotnachamber.com
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