Winning team and sponsorsGreater Sitka Chamber of Commerce
Dark clouds, February sunset
Weekly Happenings March 1, 2010
Quick Links
NEW SECTION
LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS
To have news from your business included in this newsletter, email Sheila.
Deadline Friday afternoon.
Next Board Meeting
Tuesday, March 9, at 8am.
Chamber Conference Room
Committee Meetings
MEMBERSHIP
March 8 at 10am
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
Craig Shoemaker - V-P, Seafood Producers Coop 
Gerry Hope, Sec/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
Olga Borland - Russian American Co.
Allen Turner - Wells Fargo
Linda Mudry - White's
SITKA NOMINATED AS 'COOL' SMALL TOWN

Sitka has been nominated as one of "America's Coolest Small Towns" by Budget Travel Magazine. If you add your nomination online, Sitka could win the Readers Choice Award.
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Sitka Lullaby
To hear the beautiful Sitka Lullaby, composed by David Ackerman, visit our website.
From the Director
Thank's for reading our weekly newsletter. Please call or email with questions or comments.
The ladies at The Cellar
Sheila Finkenbinder
Executive Director
907-747-8604
WEEKLY LUNCHEONS

March 3, 2010 - Phillip Rupell, Director of Convention Sales, Sitka Convention & Visitors Bureau, will give an update on the state of Sitka's Convention Market, and share information on how local groups or businesses can  get more out of the Conventions Department.

March 10, 2010 - Renewable Resources Coalition
March 17, 2010 - Leslie Slater, US Fish & Wildlife
March 24, 2010 - James Diffin, Big Brothers Big Sisters
March 31, 2010 - Dave Reid, Sitka Job Center
Please call or email Sheila for the opportunity to promote your business at a Chamber lunch, by being the door prize donor.
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS - Friday, March 5, 5-7pm
Harbor Heights PenthouseThe Harbor Heights Penthouse, is the site of the Chamber's next Business After Hours, on Friday, March 5, 5-7pm.
This is your chance to see the fully-furnished layout & the incredible view from this new vacation rental.
Come meet the hosts, owners Richard & Sandra Troutte, who will be in town for the After Hours event.
The property is managed by Davis Realty.

The penthouse is on the 3rd floor of the Troutte Center, at 329 Harbor Drive, across from Centennial Hall. Access from Harbor Drive is by elevator and stairs, or enter the building from Lincoln Street.
Refreshments will be served.
Chamber members and invited guests only.
Don't miss the sunset from this fabulous penthouse!
RENEWING MEMBERS
Welcome back to
Re/Max of Sitka, Welcome Home!
Your source for buying, selling and renting in Southeast Alaska.
Michael LaGuire, Owner

Our strength is in our membership!
ANNUAL BANQUET ~ MARCH 13
The ladies at The CellarBanquet tickets are on sale now at the Chamber office, Chamber lunches, Aurora Business Supply & from board members.

New sponsors include:
First National Bank Alaska, Seafood Producers Coop, Silver Bay Seafoods, Sitka Sound Seafoods & White's. Thank you!
If you'd like to purchase tickets or support the Chamber, and haven't received an invitation, please call or email the office.

Jeremy MathisComedian, Michael Jenkins will entertain us after dinner, with his unique style of music, improvisation and (clean, adult) stand up comedy. He is a veteran of 19 years of performing all over the country.

Michael's goal is simply to make people laugh. And the message is to laugh every day. No matter what you're doing - have fun with it. As he puts it, "stay on the funny side" and don't take yourself so seriously.
GREAT 2010 RAFFLE PRIZES
Thanks to our generous sponsors, winners of this year's raffle will walk away with some great, practical prizes:

1st Prize: $1,000 Gift Card from Spenard Builders Supply
2nd Prize: $500 Gift Card from AC/Lakeside
3rd Prize: Mustang Work Suit, donated by Seafood Producers Coop, Silver Bay Seafoods & Sitka Sound Seafoods.

Get your tickets at the Chamber office, Chamber luncheons, Aurora Business Supply or Chamber board members. Only 300 sold.
LOCAL BUSINESS NEWS
   Ken Cameron     The Board of Directors of Shee Atika, Incorporated is pleased to announce that effective February 27, 2010, Kenneth M. Cameron, DMD, replaced Elliott Wimberly as Shee Atika's President/CEO. Shee Atika is the corporation established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (ANCSA) for the Alaska Natives historically residing in and around Sitka, Alaska.
      The employment of Dr. Cameron fulfills a long-standing goal of the Board, which is that Shee Atiká's President/CEO be an Alaska Native shareholder.
      Dr. Cameron has been deeply involved with Shee Atiká since the mid-1980s, and has a thorough understanding of what is needed to keep Shee Atiká moving forward.Dr. Cameron has numerous accomplishments.He has served as the President and as a Trustee of Sheldon Jackson College, as well as the President and a director of the Sitka Historical Society.His commitment to the Sitka community, where he grew up and has practiced medical dentistry for three decades, is well known.
      Dr. Cameron's employment is a very significant milestone in the history of Shee Atiká.
MICROLOAN LEGISLATION INTRODUCED
The office of Governor Sean Parnell has announced the introduction of the Governor's bills to create a Microloan Revolving Fund. You can learn more on the Alaska Legislature's site, under SB 302 or HB 412.
ALASKA ACT ENCOURAGES CRUISE VISITS

Alaska Alliance for Cruise Travel is an Alaskan statewide, non-profit, membership-funded organization made up of businesses and individuals benefiting from cruise travel. Through AlaskaACT, these stakeholders will work together to promote accurate information and support responsible development and growth of Alaska tourism and the cruise industry.
For more information, or to join AlaskaACT, visit their website.
SITKA'S ARTIGRAS
Sitka's Music & Arts Festival
March 5-14
For more information,
visit Sitka Artigras or contact Vern Culp at the Fishermen's Eye.
STAND UP & BE COUNTED!
Its EASY, IMPORTANT, and SAFE, and everyone's participation is vital. Watch for your census form to arrive in March.We move forward when you send it back. To learn more, visit the 2010 Census.
 STAND UP & BE COUNTED!!
HERITAGE & CULTURAL TOURISM CONFERENCE

Registration is now open for the 4th annual Heritage & Cultural Tourism Conference (HCTC), a three day event, featuring workshops and field activities designed to provide working tools to thrive in today's economy. March 30-April 1. For more information, or to register, see the Heritage & Cultural Tourism Conference site.
DR. SEUSS' BIRTHDAY - READERS WANTED

On Tuesday,  March 2nd the Baranof kindergarten children will be celebrating Dr. Seuss's birthday. The K- teachers will be presenting a 10 minute skit at 12:20 in the gym. After the skit the children will be divided into small groups and adults will read stories to the children for about 20-25 minutes. If you are free and would like to read to 5-6 year olds, please come and join in the celebration.
The Baranof staff  welcomes people from the community to be part of this memorable Cat in the Hat/ Dr. Seuss event. If you work in a uniform or have a hat that is part of your job, please feel free to wear it. 

You may e-mail Marcia Hirai to let her know you are going or you can just show up at Baranof and check in at the office.