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Greetings!
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce Luncheon has been canceled for this Wednesday, March 28th. The panel titled "How can Sitka prepare for our energy future?" is being postponed until a later date.
Please join us next week, April 4th, for a presentation by Mamie Clare, a Senior at Mt. Edegcumbe High School and Alaire Hughey, a Senior at Sitka High School titled "Educating Girls in Afghanistan - Why it is Good Business Cents." Study after study shows that the most effective tool of lifting people out of poverty, oppression, and extremism is education, especially for girls. Mamie and Alaire will discuss why educating girls makes sense economically and their schools' efforts to challenge Sitkans' to help expand a girls school in northern Afghanistan.
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce luncheons are held on Wednesdays at Noon at the Westmark Sitka. They are always open to the public. For more information, call the Chamber office at 747-8604.
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 Resolution in Support of Making Alaska's Oil and Gas Market Competitive
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has passed Resolution 2012-03 In Support of Making Alaska's Oil and Gas Market Competitive. On Thursday, March 29th, Sitka Chamber Executive Director Jennifer Robinson will be traveling to Juneau to present this resolution and supporting comment cards from our membership to the Alaska State Legislators.
COMMENT CARD
Please return comment cards to us by Wednesday morning at the very latest. Thanks!
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 The 2012 Sharing Our Knowledge Clan Conference
The 7th "Sharing Our Knowledge Clan Conference" is scheduled for March 29-April 1, 2012 at the Sitka Centennial Hall. Since the first "Sharing Our Knowledge" clan conference in 1993, Native and non-Native cultural experts and scholars have come together on six occasions for graduate-quality presentations focused on the Tlingit people and their neighbors, the Haida and Tsimshian. The topics have included linguistics, archaeology, museum studies, cultural anthropology, education, political history, ethnohistory, art and music, indigenous literature, traditional ecological knowledge, Alaska Native law, and fisheries. The late Andy Hope III pioneered the "Clan Conference" concept. The first conference, held in May 1993 in Haines/Klukwan, was followed by conferences in Sitka (1995, 1997) and Ketchikan/Saxman (1996). Ten years lapsed until the next conference (Sitka, March 2007) followed by the Juneau conference in March 2009, both of which attracted over 400 participants and nearly 100 presenters. Hope's vision, realized in these conferences, was to bring together Alaska Native people with those who study or otherwise have an interest in their cultures. Researchers, academics, Native elders, and cultural leaders share information with their colleagues, students, members of the Native community, and the general public. The ambience is open, collegial, and accessible to all. Those attending the events freely join workshops on topics such as cultural anthropology that typically attract only academics. |
Sitka Economic Summit 
The Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce will be hosting an Economic Summit on Wednesday, April 11th at the Harrigan Centennial Hall from 4pm to 6pm. The purpose of the meeting will be to share with the community the current economic situation in Sitka from the perspective of our local industries.
Invited representatives from businesses and organizations will give an overview of how their industry has performed in the past year and what their future looks like. Presenters will include individuals from the City of Sitka, commercial fisheries, charter fisheries, healthcare, education, retail trade, cruise industry, tourism, the tribal community, non-profit groups, and the Sitka Convention and Visitors Bureau. Wrapping up the summit, Garry White, Executive Director of the Sitka Economic Development Association (SEDA), will be presenting the base line economic indicators for Sitka.
The following week, the Sitka Economic Development Association will host an Economic Forum and requests public participation to generate ideas for how we can stabilize and improve Sitka's economy. Ideas for the forum need to be specific, realistic, and achievable within a two-year time frame. The forum will be on Tuesday, April 17, 2012 from 1:30pm to 5:00pm at the Harrigan Centennial Hall.
For more information, please contact the Sitka Chamber of Commerce at 747-8604.
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 BBB Commends Alaska's 2012 Business of the Year
"How does your business impact the community?" When asked this question, Wells Fargo-the Alaska winner of Better Business Bureau's 2012 Business of the Year Torch Awards-shared an inspiring account of team-member volunteer efforts, financial education outreach, and an astonishing $1.5 million in annual investments towards more than 280 nonprofits and schools in Alaska. "All of us at Wells Fargo in Alaska are proud to be named the Business of the Year, especially as we are celebrating Wells Fargo's 160th anniversary in March," states Richard Strutz, Wells Fargo Alaska Regional President. "Guided by our Visions and Values, we work hard every day to help our customers succeed and communities thrive." After BBB reviewed applications and nominations, volunteer judges from third-party community organizations assessed company entries on four key factors: integrity, involvement, innovation and impression. Out of 12 contenders, Wells Fargo Bank Alaska earned the highest recognition. "That willingness to go above and beyond the usual day-to-day operations really stands out," says Robert W.G. Andrew, CEO of BBB serving Alaska, Oregon and Western Washington. "It's impressive to see so many businesses donating time, money and manpower to make their neighborhoods better." For more information on the Business of the Year Torch Awards, visit www.akorww.bbb.org/boyawards.
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Sitka Events Calendaring Meeting
The Greater Sitka Arts Council announces the second all city calendaring meeting scheduled for March 28th - 7pm at Sweetland Hall. The intent is to invite all Sitka event planners, concert promoters, community event organizers, strategist, etc. to a session to work together to plan future events and avoid duplication when possible.
We did this in August 2011. By sitting down together and reviewing our future programs, activities, events and their dates/times our hope is to avoid stepping on toes as much as possible from April 2012 to April 2013.
We recognize that there are many upcoming events that are unknown, or this is too far out to plan, but this will also allow others to see what dates are filled and possibly avoid those dates. Questions please email jbudd3500@yahoo.com. |
 State of the Arts for Youth Event
The Greater Sitka Arts Council is hosting a State of the Arts for Youth in Sitka event. Our intent is to gather students and ask them: What is good about the arts in Sitka; what is not so good about the arts in Sitka for youth; and what is one positive, possible, and fun thing that can be done to improve arts for youth in Sitka.
To that end we are seeking youth participants of all ages who will work with a youth and an adult facilitator to answer the above questions.
The event itself is Saturday, April 7th, 10am to 1pm in the Sweetland Hall cafeteria on the Fine Arts Campus, there will be snacks! To par ticipate go to www.sitkaarts.org for an application, email sitkaarts@yahoo.com or call Jeff at 747-4821 |
 Upcoming Calendar of Events
March 2012
March 26th - 28th
Heritage and Cultural Tourism Conference
March 28th, Wednesday
Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - CANCELED: Sitka's Energy Future Panel Postponed
March 28th, Wednesday
Sitka Events Calendaring Meeting - Working together to coordinate Sitka's many events
March 29th, Wednesday
The 2012 Sharing Our Knowledge Clan Conference - March 29th through April1st
April 2012
April 4th, Wednesday
Chamber Luncheon - Educating Girls in Afghanistan - Why it is Good Business Cents
April 6th, Friday
Sitka Chamber - Office Closed Today
April 7th, Saturday
The Greater Sitka Arts Council - State of the Arts for Youth Event
April 11th, Wednesday
Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - Gershon Cohen, Alaskan's Against Corporate Abuse of Power
April 11th, Wednesday
Economic Summit - Harrigan Centennial Hall
April 18th, Wednesday
Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - Sitka Trail Works Update
April 28th, Wednesday
Chamber Luncheon at the Westmark - Willow Moore, Braveheart Volunteers
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From The Director
The new Silver Saver Cards will be available in stores on April 1st and we have some great advertisers this year! Also, I will be headed over to Juneau on Thursday to visit our Alaska State Legislatures. Shauna will be in the office for the morning should you need anything while I am away.
Have a great week, and as always, thanks for reading! "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade." - Charles Dickens
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Super Supporters
$3000 - $5000
Alaska Cruise Association
Sponsoring
Season's End Celebration
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Chamber Board
Gerry Hope
President
Sitka Tribe of Alaska
Cory Baggen
Vice President
Samson Tug & Barge
Ptarmica McConnell
Treasurer
Shee Atika, Incorporated
Craig Shoemaker
Secretary
Seafood Producers Coop
Seth Bone
KingFisher Charters
Olga Borland
Russian American Co.
Bob Burnett
AC Lakeside
Kathy Dumag
Spenard Builders Supply
Bob Medinger
Sitka Historical Society
Linda Mudry
White's
Mandy Odenheimer
Alaska Airlines
John P. (Jay) Sweeney III City and Borough of Sitka Aaron Wilkinson First National Bank Alaska |
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Board Meetings
April 12th, 4pm
Sitka Chamber Board Room
Chamber Members are
welcome to attend!
Committee Meetings
Legislative and Community Affairs Committee Meeting
April 5th, 4pm
Sitka Chamber Office
Finance Committee Meeting
April 10th, 4pm
Sitka Chamber Office
Contact the Sitka Chamber Office for more information on meeting times, locations or to learn how you can get involved.
Chamber Committees
Finance
Membership
Annual Banquet
Downtown Commerce & Events
Golf Tournament
Sitka Artisans Market
Board Development
Legislative & Community Affairs
Join a committee today!
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Mission Statement
The Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization of business and community leaders who promote, support, and facilitate commerce and economic growth in the community.
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Support Sitka
Look Local First
SilverSaver Cards
2011-2012 Sponsors
Aurora Business Supplies
Bev's Flowers & Gifts
Channel Club
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Fishermen's Eye Gallery
JI Welding
Old Harbor Books
Orion Sporting Goods
Petro Express
Random House
Re:fresh FITNESS
Robertson's Gallery & Custom Framing
Russell's
Shee Atika Totem Square Inn
Shelter Cove Publishing
Silver Basin
Spenard Builders Supply
The Cellar
Harry Race, White's Pharmacy and Seasons
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