Winning team and sponsorsGreater Sitka Chamber of Commerce
Baranof statue, looking to sea
Weekly Happenings January 25, 2010
Quick Links
Board Retreat
The Chamber board will hold their annual Retreat on Friday, February 19, 2010.
8am - Noon.
Super  Supporters
$3,000-5,000 Donations
Alaska Cruise Association
Sponsoring the Season's End Celebration
ACS
Sponsoring the Sitka Golf Tournament

Primary Benefactors
$1,000 Memberships
Chamber Board
Cory Baggen, President, Samson Tug & Barge
Vacant, V-P, 
Gerry Hope Secretary /Treas., Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Caprice Pratt, Member-at-Large, First National Bank Alaska
Keith Perkins - USDA Rural Development
Lowell Frank - Spenard Builders Supply
Larry Crews - Aurora Business Supplies
Seth Bone - KingFisher Charters
Craig Shoemaker - Seafood Producers Coop Olga Borland - Russian American Co.
Allen Turner - Wells Fargo
Linda Mudry - White's
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Today's Thought
"Underlying most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself."
- Milton Friedman
From the Director
Thank's for reading our weekly newsletter. Call us at 747-8604 or email with questions or comments.
The ladies at The Cellar
Sheila Finkenbinder
Executive Director
907-747-8604
WEEKLY LUNCHEONS

Andrew ThomsJanuary 27, 2010 - Andrew Thoms, Sitka Conservation Society executive director, will give an update on SCS activities in support of Sitka's economy and quality of life.

Thank you to Wells Fargo for donating last week's door prize, won by Angela McGraw.

February 3, 2010 - Jan & Terry Lovett, Sitka Jazz Festival directors. The Sitka Jazz Festival runs February 4-6.
February 10, 2010 - Jeremy Mathis, UAF School of Fisheries & Ocean Sciences Assistant Professor, will discuss the effects of ocean acidification on our fisheries.
February 17, 2010 - Governor Sean Parnell, the 10th governor of the State of Alaska.

Please call or email Sheila for the opportunity to talk about your business at a Chamber lunch, by being the door prize donor.
NEW CHAMBER MEMBERS

Welcome Home Vacations
Your home away from home. Fully furnished vacation rentals.
All you need is your suitcase!
Sharon Romine, Owner, 747-4712

Welcome to the Chamber!
CHOCOLATE SATURDAY IN SITKA!

Chocolate treats of all kinds will be offered, along with special mid-winter sales, on
Saturday, February 13, 2010.

Watch for posters in store windows of participating merchants.
ANNUAL AWARD NOMINATIONS

Please help us select the 2009 Business of the Year and the winner of the Cossack Cap. Nomination forms are available at the Chamber office, at weekly luncheons and on our website.
The ladies at The Cellar
The Chamber of Commerce will announce the award winners at the Annual Banquet on Saturday, March 13.

Please send us your nominations by February 12!
LINCOLN DAY DINNER
Abraham Lincoln
The 2010 Lincoln Day Dinner will be on Wednesday, February 17, at the Channel Club.

The Sitka Republican Women are thrilled to have  Governor Sean Parnell as the guest speaker.

The dinner, of prime rib or seafood, will follow a cocktail hour and silent auction. Tickets, at $40, will be on sale soon. Reservations may be made by calling Lureen Stedman at 747-8905.
"School Days at the Russian Bishop's House"

The Sitka National Historical Park has a wonderful exhibit on view at the park visitor center through March 6. This rarely seen collection of children's items and books from the 1840's, gives us a rare look into everyday life for the children in early Russian Sitka.
Interpretive talks - 11am - 1pm, Thursdays and Fridays and 9am to 1pm on Saturdays.
MARINE INDUSTRY DIRECTORY
Sitka Marine logoThe Sitka Economic Development Association (SEDA) is updating its directory of local Marine Industry businesses. Please call Linda, at 747-2660, or contact her via email if you have a qualifying business that you would like to promote in the updated directory.

The directory is on-line at www.sitkamarine.com, and is distributed through the Harbormaster's office.

2009 TOP INQUIRIES & COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY BBB 

 

Anchorage, Alaska - Jan. 21, 2010 - 2009 proved to be a year of consumer caution, statistics show that more consumers are checking with Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington before they do business.

 

Between 2008 and 2009, BBB has documented a 215 percent increase in online traffic to www.bbb.org. The number of BBB Reliability Reports provided has gone up 31.9 percent.

 

As a service to consumers, free BBB Reliability Reports are available on thousands of local businesses. To date, there are 10,849 BBB Accredited Businesses in the Alaska, Oregon, and Western Washington service area; all of which meet BBB's Code of Business Practices and are dedicated to enhancing trust and confidence in our business marketplace.

 

Specific types of businesses receive more consumer inquiries and complaints than others. For the top 2009 inquiries and complaints in Alaska, click here.