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January 2014  
E-Currents Newsletter
In This Issue
KEA Seeks Candidates
Business After Hours
Roundtable Discussion
Economic Development Report
Eyewear Trunk Show
Six Reasons to think warm and fuzzy
Best Western BAH Pictures
Thank You to our Members
Quick Links
Important Dates to Remember


Chamber Board Meeting

January 20th
Conference Room
12:00pm


Business After Hours

Kodiak Athletic Club
January 31st
5:30-7:30pm

Chamber Board

Board Officers
President Greg Deal- Wells Fargo
Secretary/Treasurer Darlene Williamson- Alaska 1 Realty
Past President Lindsay Knight- Kodiak Athletic Club

Board Members 
Cheryl Blondin- Credit Union 1 
Julie Bonney- Alaska Ground Fish 
Bob Brodie- Associated Island Brokers  
Bub Cassidy- Borough Manager 
Aimee Kniaziowski- City Manager 
Rick Kniaziowski- Horizon Lines 
Charlie Powers-Parks & Rec. 
Tyler Randolph- State Farm 
Representatives  
Chastity Starrett-Discover Kodiak 
Darron Scott- Kodiak Electric Association 
Capt. Melissa Rivera- USCG Air Station 
Capt. Jerald Woloszynski - USCG Base Support Unit  
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Message from the President

Chamber Member,

 

Happy New Year Everyone!

As 2014 begins, we have several Chamber events to look forward to. The Chamber's Annual Dinner will be on February 21st, our Annual Comfish Tradeshow on April 17th-19th, and our Crab Festival on May 22nd-26th. Along with these events, don't forget the Business After Hours each month.

The Chamber has sent out an email regarding the Chamber Board Nominees. There are four vacancies for 3 year terms. If you are interested in running for a seat on the Chamber Board, complete a nomination form and either drop it off to the Chamber office, fax it to 486-7605, or email it to [email protected]. The deadline for the nomination forms is on January 17th. The selected members will be presented at our Annual Dinner. 


The Crab Festival this year is going to be different, as you may have already heard. Golden Wheel Amusements will not be bringing their rides to the festival. However, your Chamber is working with other companies to provide rides and other activities for the festival. Many vendors will still be there to sell their delicious food, and great items. 


Don't forget our Business After Hour, which will be held on January 31st at the Kodiak Athletic Club.


It's a New Year and we look forward to working with all of you for a better Kodiak community.   

 

Greg Deal

President 

 

KEA Seeks Candidates for the KEA Board of Directors

  

Three Seats Up for Election
Kodiak Electric Association, Inc.

Board of Directors

  

* Deadline for filing petitions is March 12, 2014.


Three seats on the Board of Directors are up for election this year in Kodiak Electric Association, Inc.'s membership election.

The Board of Directors consists of nine elected voting Directors and one United States Coast Guard appointed non-voting liaison. This year, the seats currently held by Directors Ron Acarregui, Ben Millstein, and Cecil Ranney are up for election. All three seats are for three-year terms. KEA members locally elect KEA's directors.

Nominating petition packets are available at the KEA office at 515 E. Marine Way between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. To be an eligible candidate, you must be a member of KEA.

Completed candidate petition packets must be received by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, March 12, 2014 at the KEA office at 515 E. Marine Way.

The Notice of Annual Membership Meeting, Annual Report, and ballots will be mailed to members of KEA on Thursday, March 27, 2014. Completed ballots must be returned by mail in the envelope that is provided with the notice of the meeting, and must be received in KEA's designated election post office box by noon on Friday, April 18, 2014. All voting will be done by mail.

KEA will host the Candidates Forum on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 from 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Kodiak Island Borough Assembly Chambers. The Forum will also be broadcast on local television and radio stations. Candidates will answer prepared questions, as well as questions posed by the listening and viewing audiences. KEA members are invited to call in their questions during the program, and the phone number to call will be published prior to the Forum.

Ballot results will be announced at KEA's Annual Membership Meeting on Monday evening, April 21, 2014. The meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Gerald C. Wilson Auditorium.

During 2013, regular meetings of the Board were held on the fourth Thursday of each month, beginning at noon. An average of 30 hours is required for 12 regular meetings during the year. The Board also meets as a whole for the Annual Membership Meeting and on the next day to organize the slate of officers.

KEA's Bylaws state that each member is entitled to one vote. A husband and wife or any other two persons who occupy the same household and have both names on the account jointly act as a member. A ballot is voided if a spouse not listed on the account signs it. KEA members uncertain about the name(s) listed on their accounts are encouraged to call KEA to find out how to update their accounts. The deadline for any changes to be in effect for this year's election process is February 26, 2014. Business Accounts (corporations, partnerships, and sole proprietorships) should annually update their list of officers/owners authorized to vote on behalf of the account.

For further information, contact Nancy B. Sweeney, Communication/Human Resource Specialist, at 486-7700.   

Business After Hours 

 

 

Roundtable Discussion

 Bring your lunch and join us for

Roundtable discussion with Alyssa Shanks, Economist,
Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development
Trends and Analysis of Kodiak Employment

Noon-1 p.m. on January 22, 2014
Kodiak Chamber of Commerce Conference Room  

Economic Development Report

 

Kodiak Industry Highlight:  Commercial Fishing

 

Commercial fishing is a significant component of Kodiak's economy.  The Alaska Board of Fish meeting in Kodiak this month prompted a closer look at this industry segment.  Kodiak's centrally located harbors provide a visible reminder of the integral role Kodiak's fleet plays in the community.  The charts below compare different gear types by number of boats and vessel length across several gear types, and include only boats registered as home ported in Kodiak

  

Notes on the data

All vessel information can be found at the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission vessel database (http://www.cfesc.state.ak.us/fishery_statistics/vessels.htm) and is based on information provided to the State of Alaska by vessel owners.

A single boat can be counted in multiple categories if registered as carrying multiple gear types to participate in different fisheries. An abbreviated notation of "Kodiak" and "Not Kodiak" denotes whether a vessel owner registered a mailing address in Kodiak (marked in blue) or outside of Kodiak (marked in red).




 

  

  

  

  

  

  

 

 

  

  

  



 

2013 Kodiak Vessel Profile - By Selected Gear Type, Length and Kodiak Mailing Address

 

Kodiak's fleet experienced significant changes in the last 20 years. Between 1990 and 2012 the number of vessels registered as home ported in Kodiak decreased 48%, from 1,098 to 566 vessels. The red dashed line in the following chart shows Total Vessel count trended from 1990 to 2012, with each vessel counted only once. Number of Total Vessels is scaled on the right axis of the graph.

Trend detail is also provided for each gear type; note again that one vessel can be counted in more than one gear type grouping. Number of vessels by Gear Type is scaled on the left axis of the graph.

Several key dates are also shown on the chart and are associated with major changes in the fishery: 1994 Halibut and Sablefish IFQs, 1997 Alaska state cod fishery created, 2000 Federal Limited License Program primarily impacting groundfish, 2005 Bearing Sea crab rationalization and 2007 federal rockfish pilot program. All vessel data was provided by the Alaska Commercial Fisheries Entry Commission (http://www.cfesc.state.ak.us/fishery_statistics/vessels.htm).  

 


Kodiak Fleet by registered gear type 1990 to 2012

 

 

 

2012 Landings, Ex-Vessel and Processing Employment 

 


The Kodiak area supports diverse commercial fisheries. The pie charts compare 2012 harvest volume, ex-vessel dollar amounts, or amount paid for fish upon delivery, and associated processing jobs for groundfish, salmon, halibut, crab herring and miscellaneous shellfish.
Groundfish represent the highest volume of fish delivered in Kodiak, followed by salmon and halibut. On a dollar basis halibut still ranks third behind groundfish and salmon, but its relatively higher value per pound increases halibut impact when comparing amount paid for fish deliveries. Volume and price data was provided by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Commercial Fisheries Division, and seafood processor annual employment data was provided by the Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
(http://laborstats.alaska.gov/seafood/seafood.htm)

 

EYEWEAR TRUNK SHOW
 
 
EYECARE EXCELLENCE 
Dr. John T. Shank and Dr. Wesley Lewis 
EYEWEAR TRUNK SHOW


Tuesday, January 14.
From 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

FEATURING the latest fashions from VIVA and TURA

Great discounts available this day only.
Buy 1 Pair of Prescribed Glasses and Get 2nd Pair of Equal or Lesser Value at 50% off.
Get an Exam or bring in your own prescription.

Join us for this fabulous designer showcase of frames and sunglasses!

GREAT PRIZES from our Local businesses. 

Register to win a free pair of sunglasses!

Grand price $500.00 Gift certificate. 

Refreshments and Snacks served

Feel free to contact us at 907-486-5504.

Look forward to seeing you there!

JOHN T. SHANK OD FAAO
WESLEY D. LEWIS OD MS
486-5504
3450 EAST REZANOF DRIVE ( ACROSS KANA BUILDING)
 
Six reasons to think warm and fuzzy when doing business online
 

By Maggie Wall 

 

It's winter in Alaska and "warm and fuzzy" is a good thing right now. So is hot chocolate with marshmallows. Warm and fuzzy is also good when planning your website and how you will approach and develop relationships with your potential online customers.

Here are a few quick tips to keep in mind when planning your business website-or any marketing or sales project-so that people will want to do business with you.
 
1) First of all think of who you are trying to reach and why. Who is your ideal customer, how do they use your product? How do you hope they will perceive you and your business? Where do they hang out and how can you reach them?

Sometimes living in a small, isolated town can make this tricky. On one hand you want to help as many people as you can through your business and by selling them that great product you offer. On the other hand, face it, not everyone will be into your product or need your service and when you live in a small town, your options for expansion can be limited.

But the internet allows you to reach the world with your product. So, don't be hesitant to "think off the rock," You may be pleasantly surprised to find that there is an online audience and a market for one or two of your products. (Hopefully, more!)

2) Remember you are building your website for your customer, not you. Bummer, I know. Too bad we can't just do our thing and have folks throw money at us-or send us lots of deposits through PayPal.

 

Again, it goes back to knowing your target market. The better you can define just who that person is, what they like, who they hang out with, the better will be your efforts to tailor your website and your online marketing to them in a way they that best suits them.

 

3) It is OK to be yourself online. This may sound contradictory to what I just said, and in a way it is. While you tailor things to your target market, people want to feel they have a connection with the person at the other end of the computer. The more you can share and express your real self the better relationship you'll have with potential customers.

4) People want to buy from someone they know and trust. There are too many "strangers" out there online so a bit of "warm-fuzzy" from you will go a long way toward developing the trust and rapport necessary for a successful online venture.


5) Right now online business is all about developing relationships. I know people talk about the great possibilities to buy all kinds of stuff and get it really cheap, but ultimately it is about relationships. The best deal is the one where you feel comfortable making a purchase and trust that the item will arrive as promised. Your customers feel the same way.

What can you do to up the trust factor online? Tell them about yourself and your business. Keep in contact through social media or an email newsletter. Ask them for their input through Facebook or emails. That's why so many websites have contact forms. So people can easily ask questions or at least feel they can shoot you a quick note if they have a concern about whether your product is right for them.

6) And finally, think about your online experiences. What did you like or not like about doing business online? What sites are a joy to buy from and why? Make some notes and use those as a starting point for setting up your website and getting your business online.

Warm fuzzies go a long way. You like getting them when you shop and so does your customer.


Maggie Wall is a local internet marketer and website developer. She not only builds sites but coaches people on how to get business to come to your website. 


They say that on the Internet you only have a few moments to catch and keep your audience. The more you know about them and how they use the internet the easier it will be to design a website or marketing plan that will likely appeal to your target audience.

  

I tell people don't sweat over the reports that a person decides to stay on your website or go elsewhere within three to 10 seconds. People make those kinds of quick decisions all the time off the internet. First impressions can make a big difference in real life and online.

  

Maggie Wall has a master's degree in Internet Marketing. Her business Magpie Publishing & Production (Alaskamagpie.com) designs websites and coaches people how to get their business online and to attract online customers (487-4040). She also produces The LegHead Report located at leghead.com.

 

Best Western's Business After Hour Pictures



 


Thank You To Our New & Renewing Members
 
New Member
 
GRAND SLAM TOYS & CARDS
Denise Simeonoff

Renewing Members
 
KENAI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Tina Baldridge

KMXT FM/KMXT LPTV-KODIAK PUBLIC BROADCASTING CORP
Fred Hawley

THE LOCAL PAGES
Marcia Henderson

KODIAK MARINE SUPPLY
Debra Davis
FIRST AMERICAN TITLE INSURANCE COMPANY
Deb Milam 

VIZHUNZ SALON
Terri Miller
FULLER BOATYARD INC.
Anne Kalcic
NET SYSTEMS INC.
Randy Ensign

KODIAK LIONS CLUB
President Lisa Johnson

SOROPTIMIST INTERNATIONAL OF KODIAK
Joyce Gregory

GALLEY GOURMET, INC
Marion & Marty Owens

PACIFIC ALASKA FREIGHTWAYS
Mike York

PROVIDENCE KODIAK ISLAND MEDICAL CENTER
Don Rush, CEO

GUARDIAN LANDING
Tracey Mertens
KODIAK CRIME STOPPERS, INC.
Margo Carmichael

AMAK TOWING COMPANY INC.
Jim Taro
ST. HERMAN'S THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
Father John Dunlop

KODIAK TRANSFER INC.
Kirk Rasmussen
CULINARY HORIZONS
Scot & Leslie Cummings

FLORAL EXPRESSIONS
Silvia Gridley
PICKLED WILLY'S LLC
Barbara Hughes