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Weekly UpdatesTransportation, commerce and connecting business opportunities have been critical issues for Southeast Alaska communities for a long time. As the region has gown, change has remained a constant in the area's industries--such as timber, fishing and transportation. In communities spread out among straits, waterways and mountainous stretches, acting as a regional force has been a necessity for growth.
This month, business leaders and members of regional organizations will gather in Ketchikan for the 2006 Southeast Conference Annual Meeting, scheduled to be held at the Ted Ferry Civic Center beginning Sept. 18 and ending Sept. 21.
The Southeast Conference's history began when the need for a united voice became apparent during the early days of the region's fledgling marine highway system. The conference was formed in 1958 as an association of communities joined to advocate for establishment of the Alaska Marine Highway System.
The Alaska Marine Highway System has been operating year-round since 1963, with regularly scheduled passenger and vehicle service to 32 communities in Alaska, plus Bellingham, Wash., and Prince Rupert, British Columbia. In the past decade, the Alaska Marine Highway System has carried an average of 400,000 passengers and 100,000 vehicles per year. While the conference's commitment to development of the marine highway continues, it has greatly expanded both its membership base and its overall mission.
Today, the Southeast Conference is a regional, nonprofit corporation promoting the interests of the people, communities and businesses in Southeast Alaska. There are 27 municipal members, including two Canadian communities, nearly 70 for-profit members, and about 40 nonprofit members. A 13-member board governs the conference with offices in Juneau. Members also include Alaska Native corporations and village councils, civic organizations and individuals.
"We have eight standing committees," said Judy Kennedy, administrative assistant for Southeast Conference. "At this point in time, we don't really focus on one particular thing."
Murray Walsh of Juneau recently has been appointed executive director for the Southeast Conference. Robert Venables, president of the conference board of directors and Haines Borough administrator, announced the appointment. Walsh has been a Juneau resident for 30 years. Most recently, he was a permitting and development consultant and prior to that worked in Gov. Hammond's Office.
Murray has been associated with Southeast Conference since 1996 and has been on the board for seven years," Venables said. "He was president for the 2004-05 term. With his recent and substantial experience with the conference and his long-term history of serving boards and commissions, Murray is a good fit for us."
Southeast Conference is the state-designated Alaska Regional Development Organization (ARDOR), the federally designated Economic Development District (EDD), and the federally designated Resource Conservation and Development Council (RC&D)for Southeast Alaska. Each of these designations requires the conference to take a role in regional resource management and economic development planning.
The conference holds a mid-session meeting in March and its annual meeting every fall. Some of the issues expected to come up this month include efforts to improve transportation possibilities for fish stocks to the Lower 48, and economic development of timber resources and--of course--development of the marine highway system.
Southeast Conference has worked on an Alaska Marine Highway System study titled "Sustainable Ferries." The study addresses how to balance statewide, regional and local ferry needs and interests, and the relationship between local and visitor routes and services. "The goal of this pilot study is to generate discussion among ferry users on what future levels of service will be needed and how to run the system in a more efficient, responsive manner" said J.C. Conley, a board member of the Southeast Conference.
The Southeast Conference banquet and auction will be held on Sept. 20 at the Ted Ferry Civic Center beginning with a no-host bar at 6 p.m., dinner at 7 p.m. and the auction starting at 8:30 p.m. The annual business meeting will be held on Sept. 21. For more information on the annual meeting or Southeast Conference, contact staff members at 463-3445.
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