Greetings!

Happy 4th of July from the Greater Sitka Chamber of Commerce!

Our next luncheon will be on Wednesday, July 18th. The Sitka Chamber of Commerce luncheons are usually 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 or visit our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/SitkaChamber.

Tuesday, July 3^rd

11:00am  4th of July Booths open until 7:00pm at Baranof Elementary. - Eagle Quest Ministries, 738-3801

6:30pm  Raven Radio Banquet at Centennial Hall until 9pm, followed by free dance under the Crescent Harbor Shelter with Three Legged Dog! Tickets $40 per person at Old Harbor Books. - Raven Radio, 747-5877

11:30pm  Fireworks display (weather permitting).
- Petro Marine

Wednesday, July 4^th

10:00am  4th of July Booths open until 5:30pm at Baranof Elementary.

11:00am  Sitka Suzuki Violins Performance Crescent Harbor Shelter

11:30am  Sitka Spruce Highland Dancers Crescent Harbor Shelter

12:00pm  Fishing For Cats and Teaching of Contra Dance

12:15pm  Naa Kahidi Dancers will perform at the Naa Kahidi House; $10/Adult, $5/Child. - Sherry Aitken, 738-3451

1:00pm   Line up for the parade starting at SJ campus, College Drive, on Lincoln Street.  - Sitka Chamber of Commerce, 747-8604  Parade Entry Form 

2:00pm  4th of July Parade. - Sitka Chamber of Commerce, 747-8604

2:30pm  Free Rootbeer Floats (500) for everyone, Lawn Games and live music with Ed Littlefield & Friends at The Cable House on the end of Lincoln Street. - Raven Radio, 747-5877

3:00pm  US Coast Guard Search and Rescue Demonstration off O'Connell Bridge - Lieutenant Christopher Enocksen, 966-5404

3:00pm  Kids Races on the Fine Arts Camp (SJ) Lawn. - Woody Widmark, 747-8670

4:00pm  Water fight Sitka Fire Department vs. US Coast Guard on the lawn across from the Russian Bishops House

4:00pm  Rotary Duck Race - $10 per duck. Ducks can be purchased at Alaska Pacific Bank, Wells Fargo, At Sea Mart & Lakeside Grocery Stores. They can also be purchased during the fourth of July Parade and from any Rotary Member. 1st Prize are 2 Roundtrip Alaska Airlines Tickets, 2nd Prize is $500.00 Cash, 3rd is $250.00 Cash, then 7 random ducks will be chosen and rewarded $100.00 each. Ducks will be released into Granite Creek and will float downstream to Halibut Point Rec area.   

- Kari Lundgren, 738-2089

From The Director

On Friday, I am headed down to Los Angeles to attend the Institute for Organization Management, the professional development program of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. I was awarded a full tuition scholarship! With some extra help from the Shee Atika Corporation, Sitka Sound Seafoods and the Alaska Commercial Company, I will be able to attend this summer!

Since 1921, chambers of commerce, associations, and other nonprofits have used the U.S. Chamber's Institute program as a training platform for the professional development of their top talent. Institute's curriculum consists of four, week-long sessions at five different university locations throughout the country. Participants  receive training in leadership, organization management competencies, as well as targeted curriculum in membership, technology, and financial management.

This is such a great opportunity! I just know that I will be returning home with so many new ideas and inspirations!