President's Message
Spring has brought lots of issues for our little community to deal with, an earthquake, a tsunami warning, blizzards, and terrible wind storms. Through it all, it is awesome to see our community come together and take care of each other. It is also a reminder to take a look at both your business and your personal emergency plan. There are many resources out there but I found this
link
from the FEMA website on emergency plans for businesses that may be of some assistance.
This month is busy at the Chamber as staff prepares for ComFish 2018. This long-running trade show will be bringing some of the best gear vendors, government agencies, and non-profits to Kodiak March 22nd-24th. The full vendor list of this year’s sold out show is now available on our
website
; you won’t want to miss it!
I am also looking forward to shopping local this
tax-free day
. In 2009, the City of Kodiak accepted a resolution requested by the Chamber, that the city hold a day tax-free day the first Saturday in March every year. I hope you will join me in visiting your favorite local businesses this Saturday, March 3rd. I would like to also thank the City for their continued support of this program and our local businesses.
Speaking of our great local business owners, I would like to thank you for your support of We Applaud You, our annual Coast Guard Appreciation Dinner. It was a wonderful evening and the Coast Guard personnel that attended especially enjoyed receiving your generously donated door prizes. Our Chamber staff Trevor, Dana and Anastasia did an excellent job putting together a fantastic event seamlessly. I enjoyed sharing my personal story of gratitude for the ways the Coast Guard had touched my life growing up in Old Harbor.
Lastly, I’d like to encourage you all to attend our next
Business After Hours
which is being hosted by the Kodiak Island Brewing Company. We are mixing it up a little this month and it will take place on a Monday, March 26th. Stop by to enjoy appetizers, door-prizes, networking, and of course beer! These events are always open to the public, so I challenge you to bring along a colleague or young entrepreneur interested in learning more about our business community.
Additionally, we are still looking for a few hosts for Business After Hours this year! If you are curious about hosting, attending this evening is a great idea. Or of course feel free to contact Chamber Staff anytime at 907 486 5557, with questions about hosting this monthly event.
Huge shout out to the awesome KEA team for putting our windy city back together after our recent wind storms!
Sincerely,
Stacey Simmons
President
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Business Spotlight: 98.7 KVOK & HOT 101.1 (KRXX)
March is here which at 98.7 KVOK & HOT 101.1 (KRXX) means March Madness! Since 2008 our local station has been hosting a March Madness contest, with prizes sponsored by local businesses. For those not in the know, March Madness is a national basketball championship featuring 64 Division 1 basketball teams. This year everyone is invited to come out to their Selection Night, Tuesday March 13
th
at Henry’s Great Alaskan Restaurant, your local March Bracket Madness Headquarters. Show up anytime between 5pm and 7pm and enter your name to be one of 64 people drawn to have a team on the bracket. Whoever ends up with the winning team will win a $1000 cash prize.
98.7 KVOK & HOT 101.1 (KRXX) will also be giving away prizes throughout March Madness, including round trip tickets to Anchorage with hotel accommodations. Stop by participating businesses anytime between March 12
th
to April 2
nd
to enter. Be sure to follow KVOK’s
Facebook page
for updates on where to enter and prize drawings. Business interested in sponsoring the promotion can contact Alexandria or Ellen at the station, 907 486 5159.
Also in March, 98.7 KVOK & HOT 101.1 (KRXX) will host their 15
th
radiothon benefiting St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. St Jude’s provides cost free care and housing, giving families peace of mind and freedom from financial worry during a time when they are already deeply burdened with fear and worry about their child’s life. Their mission is to create a world where no child has to die in the dawn of their life. 98.7 KVOK & HOT 101.1 (KRXX) will support that mission through a two-day benefit taking place March 29
th
and 30th. They will play music, share stories of those touched by St Jude’s work, and take telephone donations from the community.
The benefit is part of a nationwide fundraising program called Country Cares founded by Alabama’s frontman, Randy Owen, in 1989. It invites stations all over America to raise money for this important cause. General Manager, Ellen Simeonoff remembers why 98.7 KVOK & HOT 101.1 (KRXX) first got involved in the program.
“St.Jude’s Research Hospital is located all the way in Memphis, Tennessee, but all of the work and research they do is shared for free to the benefit of all cancer patients. The bottom line is cancer affects most peoples’ lives in some capacity, so by supporting St Jude’s we are making a difference in lives both local and worldwide. St Jude’s helps save the lives of children affected by childhood cancer as well as other catastrophic diseases.”
Last year 98.7 KVOK & HOT 101.1 (KRXX) was able to raise $30,408 dollars and they are aiming for a similar goal this year. The program’s success has been achieved through sponsorships as well as a dedicated team of volunteers to work the phone bank. Local businesses or volunteers interested in supporting the Country Cares Radiothon or becoming a St. Jude Partner in Hope, should contact Ellen by
email
or at the station 907 486 5159.
Pictured: Volunteers, Meghan Kelly and Stacey Simmons, take donations over the phone during last year’s Country Cares Radiothon benefiting St. Jude’s Research Hospital.
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Chamber Announces 2018 ComFish Exhibitor List
ComFish 2018 is coming up fast and this year the Chamber is excited to announce a sold-out show. In its 38
th
year, ComFish remains the largest fisheries trade show in Alaska. There is no entry fee to attend the trade show giving Kodiakians and out of town visitors free access to some of the leading gear vendors. This includes the chance to see new products from both local and visiting vendors. Rounding out the show are government agencies and non-profits that play a role in the fishing industry. ComFish 2018 opens March 22nd-24th (Thursday & Friday 10am-5pm, Saturday 10am-3pm).
Click links below to learn more about the exhibitors attending this year. Or click
here
to download the Trade Show Map, and start planning your visit to ComFish 2018!
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Chamber Board Appoints New Board Member
The Chamber is excited to welcome Alex Turner to the Chamber Board. At our February Board meeting Alex was appointed to a vacant Board Seat filling our eleven-member board. Alex is a lifelong resident of Kodiak, and having grown up in the retail business always knew she would become a small business owner. She opened Alexandra’s Salon in 2004 and saw from the beginning how much work owning a business can be, and at the same time what a wonderful supportive community Kodiak is. About 6 years later she and her husband Casey started an Alaska apparel line, Tasseled Rags which is now sold across the state
and is a great outlet for meeting with new businesses and sharing ideas.
In 2013, they added another business to their portfolio when they purchased Ardinger’s Fine Furniture from Alex’s parents.
Recently Alex has started a group called Island-ologie. The group’s aim will be to provide a place for store front retailers to gather and collaborate creatively. They plan to organize events geared towards boosting the local economy.
Alex remarks on attending her first Chamber meeting saying, “I was so impressed with the wonderful group of people from all areas of our town, along with the information shared. I would like to thank the Chamber Board Members for welcoming me to a seat. There is a lot to learn but I look forward to this year’s meetings and events.” Alex welcomes her time on the Chamber Board as another platform from which she can help Kodiak come together and work towards a better community.
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KPLA Brings Author Ernestine Hayes to Kodiak
The Kodiak Public Library Association is happy to announce that Juneau writer and University of Alaska Southeast assistant professor of English Ernestine Hayes, will visit Kodiak March 15-16, 2018. The Alaska Humanities Forum and the Alaska State Council on the Arts elected Ms Hayes, author of Alaska Native memoirs
Blonde Indian
and
The Tao of Raven
as the 2016-2018 Alaska State Writer Laureate.
Blonde Indian: An Alaska Native Memoir
recounts Hayes' life as a Tlingit child of the Kaagwaantaan growing up in Southeast Alaska, her years in California and her return home. It blends memoir, fiction, and traditional stories. Published in 2006,
Blonde Indian
received many awards, including an American Book Award and an Honoring Alaska Indigenous Literature Award. It was chosen as the first "Alaska Reads" book in 2016. In her second book
The Tao of Raven: An Alaska Native Memoir
, released in fall 2016, Hayes further develops some of the themes of
Blonde Indian
, finds lessons for human life in the lives of other beings, and explores ways for all people to move forward in a post-colonial world.
KPLA is excited to collaborate with the Baranov Museum on two programs during Ms Hayes' visit. On March 15th from 5:30 to 7:30pm Ms. Hayes will host a Writing Workshop,
Container of Stories
which is open to all levels of writing experience.
Through exercises and discussion, participants will draw out their life experiences to explore personal and cultural histories. Ms Hayes will offer insight into elements of the craft of writing and the publishing process.
There will be a $30 workshop participant fee and pre-registration is required through the Baranov Museum.
A less formal program will take place on the 16th, with a
Lunch & Learn
from Noon to 1pm. This event is free and open to the public. Participants are invited to bring a sack lunch and enjoy a short reading by Ms Hayes and a question and answer session.
This article was submitted by the Kodiak Public Library Association. More information on both programs can be found
here.
The public is also welcome to attend KPLA's upcoming
March Board Meeting
. Pictured above: Ernestine Hayes holding her second memoir The Tao of Raven.
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President
Stacey Simmons
Past President
Rick Kniaziowski
Vice President
Julie Bonney
Secretary/Treasurer
Jeff Sanford
Board Members
Susan Johnson · Ellen Simeonoff · Tyler Kornelis ·
Aaron Walton · Brian Lickfield · Lindsay Knight ·
Alex Turner
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City of Kodiak Representative
Mike Tvenge
Kodiak Island Borough Representative
Michael Powers
USCG Base Representative
Capt. Jeffery Good
USCG Air Station Representative
Capt. Mark Morin
KEA Representative
Darron Scott
Discover Kodiak Representative
Aimee Williams
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