Greetings!

Senator: "Our Coastlines are the Frontlines," Event Will Be Webcast Statewide

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator Murkowski today announced she is holding a roundtable discussion this Friday on the Alaskan impacts of last year's tsunami in Japan - exploring what debris has been found and informing the public discussion on moving forward.

"It has been nearly a year since the earthquake and tsunami in Japan caused a tragic loss of life and property, and Alaskans know that our coastlines are the frontlines in terms of dealing with some of the effects," said Murkowski.  "Alaskans need to hear what is being seen and what is being done, and that's the reason I am bringing together state, federal and industry experts.  I'll also be webcasting the event so every Alaskan can hear it for themselves, whether they're on the railbelt or hundreds of miles away in fishing towns."

(BROADCASTERS: B-roll of Senator Murkowski at Oceans Caucus 9/13/2011 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bKBhY60Zgwg)

What: Tsunami debris roundtable

When: Friday, January 20^th, 10:30am-11:30

Where: UAA Campus, Gorsuch Commons (3700 Sharon Gagnon Lane), Room 107

Who: Peter Murphy, Alaska Coordinator, NOAA Marine Debris Program; Kristin Ryan, Environmental Health Director,  State of Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and Dave Gaudet, Marine Debris ProgramCoordinator, Marine Conservation Alliance Foundation

Webcast: http://murkowski.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=Social-Media 

Parking:  Available in the Willow Visitor Parking Lot, located off of Elmore. The Commons Building is off of Elmore, between Providence Dr. and Tudor Rd. Parking fees only in the Willow lot will be waived for the meeting.

Alaska's Top Complaints and Inquiries of 2011

BBB Releases Year-End Stats

In 2011, Better Business Bureau serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington provided 2,975,099 BBB Business Reviews on local companies-up1.9percent from 2,918,355 in 2010. Consumers continued turning to BBB for help resolving disputes in 2011 with 37,159 complaints closed in BBB's local service area, compared to 35,967 in 2010.

Which Alaskaindustries generated the most BBB inquiries and complaints in 2011?BBB reveals the top 20 most-inquired and most-complained about industries: bbb.org/top20ak/.

Top Complaints

1. Auto Repair and Service
2. Auto Dealers - Used Cars
3. Auto Dealers - New Cars

Top Inquiries

1. Contractors - General
2. Auto Repair and Service
3. Tours - Operators and Promoters

In 2012, the year of BBB's 100-Year Anniversary, continue visiting bbb.org for free information on businesses, scams and other marketplace topics.

The Greater Sitka Arts Council announces the 4th Annual Sitka Wearable Art Show March 2nd and 3rd. The show is open to artists of any age. We are looking for original wearable art conceived and created by the artist. Wearable Art is not a fashion show; it is the use of a multitude of materials where the human body becomes a living, breathing, moving canvas.

Wearable art is "clothing that uses unusual materials or is embellished in an unusual way; it has an element of the outrageous." "It is clothing made into art, of items not usually seen as clothing."  "Wearable art is not a costume, but art attached to a human." It is "nontraditional materials used in an unusual way to make them wearable." It is "unexpected and experimental." "Wearable art can be difficult to define and impossible to forget. A montage of theatre, dance, color, movement & art ... "you decide."

The deadline for application is February 8th, 2011.  

Welcome Reception

The community of Juneau cordially invites you to attend the twenty-seventh annual welcome reception for the second session of the twenty-seventh Alaska State Legislature.

CENTENNIAL HALL CONVENTION CENTER

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 18, 2012

5:00PM - 6:30PM 

Please forward this invitation.

For more information, contact Juneau Legislative Reception Committee Members in the City Manager's or Municipal Clerk's Office at 586-5240.

January 2012

January 18th, Wednesday

Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - Guest speaker is Tonia Rioux with the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau  

January 18th, Wednesday

Juneau Welcome Reception - The 27th Annual Welcome Reception for the second session of the 27th Alaska State Legislature.  

January 20th, Friday

Tsunami Debris Roundtable - With Senator Murkowski,
10:30am - 11:30am

January 21st, Saturday

Ahoy! Sitka Seafood Festival Fundraiser - Pirate themed dance party at the Channel Club, 8pm to 11pm. 

January 25th, Wednesday

No Chamber Lunch Today 

January 25th - 27th   

Legislative Fly In - Alaska State Chamber Event in Juneau

February 2012

February 8th, Wednesday

Wearable Arts Show - Application Deadline 

February 15th, Wednesday

Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - World of Work Fair

March 2012

March10th, Saturday

The Sitka Chamber's Annual Banquet - More information and tickets available soon!

From The Director