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Recap on Speakers & Presentations:
The SWAMC Summit is still the largest gathering of Southwest Alaskans! Most attendees asked for follow up information on speakers and presentations, which are all linked to the Agenda at SWAMC.org.
The wide-ranging topics at the conference included:
- Discussion of Arctic Opportunity
- Update on National Marine Sanctuary and St. George
- Cabenate discussion of fish; commerce; criminal justice and opioids
- Issues confronting rural Alaska and from new initiatives to start new businesses in Alaska
- Updates about the CDQ programs operating in the SWAMC region and from experts on increasing the value of our seafood products
- Overview on the worldwide seafood marketplace and heard about present and potential future fish policies
The 2017 Conference packed a lot into a two-day conference because we heard our attendees wanted to cover many complex challenges and opportunities facing rural Southwest Alaskans. We also know we can always improve, so be sure to provide feedback on the Conference Survey.
The Membership Meeting
The Membership Meeting passed six resolutions that will be forwarded on to our elected and appointed leaders in State and Federal government. The topics of our resolutions range for building a sustainable State budget using an income tax to adequately and forward funding the Alaska Marine Highway System.
The membership elected three new Board members:
- City of Unalaska, Mayor Frank Kelty
- Bristol Bay Borough, Assembly Member Mary Swain
- City of Cold Bay, Mayor Candace Nielsen
At the Board Meeting following the Conference, the SWAMC Board elected a new slate of officers:
- President Rebecca Skinner (Kodiak Island Borough Assembly Member)
- Vice President Layton Lockett (Adak City Manager)
- Treasurer Myra Olsen (Lake and Peninsula Assembly Member).
The SWAMC Membership and Board have set the dates for the 2018 Economic Summit to be March 1-2, 2018.
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