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Anchorage International

Peace Through Service

We meet Fridays at 12:00 PM
Coast International Inn
3450 Aviation Avenue
P.O. Box 100516
Anchorage, AK  99510-0516
United States of America
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Home Page Stories
Major John Brackenbury - The Salvation Army
Major John Brackenbury was born in Port Huron, Michigan and is a 6th generation Salvationist whose relatives worked with Founder William Booth in London, England.  John is a graduate of Regent University with a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.
Major Brackenbury has served The Salvation Army in Arizona, California, Colorado and Alaska in various divisional and territorial wide capacities.  He has been serving The Salvation Army Alaska Division since July 2018 as the Divisional Commander, leading and responsible for over 16 Corps locations throughout Alaska and various critical community programs and services provided to Alaskans in need.
Major Brackenbury and his wife, Major Pam Brackenbury, have been married for nearly 29 years, and have been blessed with three children; Ashley, Caleb and Brandon.  Majors Brackenbury have been serving God as Salvation Army officers for over 25 years, Doing the Most Good.
Beth Rose - Photography from South America trip
Beth Rose and her husband, John Levy, recently returned from a three-month trip of independent traveling to Chile, Argentina and Uruguay. Beth's presentation will provide photo highlights of the most scenic and memorable parts of the trip, anecdotes of traveling in South America, tips for off-the-beaten-track destinations and recommended apps for independent traveling. If you’ve been lucky enough to have seen Beth's photos on Facebook, this presentation will include more new photos and stories!!
AIRC receives Award for VTT Sponsorship
Posted by Kevin Fimon
President Debra receives award on behalf of Anchorage International Rotary Club from District Governor Diane Fejes for being a sponsor of the Vocational Training Team trip to Australia.  Rotarian Michael Jeffrey from Barrow Rotary Club and the Vocational Training Team are pictured below at their presentation to Delegates and guests at the  District Convention this past weekend held at Captain Cook Hotel here in Anchorage.
Youth Exchange Students at District Convention
Posted by Kevin Fimon
Always one of the best parts of the Rotary District Convention is meeting and getting to know some of the great inbound exchange students.  Here is 7 of the best young people in the world!
Corrie Dreher - National Veteran Golden Age Games
 
The 2019 National Veteran Golden Age Games (NVGAG) will be held in Anchorage June 5th -10th.  NVGAG includes 20 sporting events for Veterans ages 55 and older, who are enrolled with Veteran Affairs. The National Veteran Golden Age Games provides Veterans with opportunities to engage in rehabilitative sport and recreational events.  Approximately 1,000 ambulatory and disabled athletes will travel from all over the nation to participate!
 
Corrie Dreher is chair of the Local Organizing Committee for this Project.  Corrie Graduated with a Masters in social work in 2002 and has been in Alaska since 2008.  Corrie has worked for the Veterans Administration since 2013 and she is excited to be part of coordinating the National Veterans Golden Age Games.

 

NVGAG need volunteers starting on June 4, 2019 with greeting the Veterans as they arrive in Anchorage and assisting them with getting their luggage to the transportation buses.  We could use volunteers in several areas including hospitality, sports, medals and more!

The volunteer website for the 33rd NVGAG is Volgistics and listed below:

https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/ap?ap=1437975583

 
Michael Duxbury - Paul Harris Fellow!
Posted by Kevin Fimon
It was great having Michael Duxbury home for our Friday meeting along with his wife Catherine.  Michael is pictured here receiving his framed Paul Harris Certificate from Foundation co-chair Al Biss and President Debra Mason. Great job Michael!!
Two of our own on the Last Frontier Honor Flight
 
Posted by Dodie Pruessner on May 01, 2019
 
Our very own Ray Ellis, accompanied by son Tim Ellis (both members of Anchorage International Rotary club) were among the twenty-two veterans on the Last Frontier Honor Flight that left Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport bound for Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, April 30, 2019.
 
 
They left on the inaugural flight of Alaska Airlines' newest military-themed aircraft with the patriotic paint scheme "Honoring Those Who Serve".
 
 
Denis Hippert - Anchorage Mushing District

Anchorage Mushing District & Arch

 

Be a part of history and celebrate the legacy of mushing in Anchorage!

Greater Anchorage, Inc. (Fur Rendezvous), in conjunction with the Municipality of Anchorage and the Anchorage Downtown Partnership, intends to designate 4th Avenue from C Street to E Street as the Anchorage Mushing District in recognition of the mushers and dogs in the Open World Championship Sled Dog Race and the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. The Mushing District is planned to include interpretive signage, banners and plaques honoring our past great mushers, a mushing hall of fame and the crowning element—a steel truss arch (pictured) across 4th Avenue near the start/finish line.

  
Dictionaries delivered at Susitna Elementary
Beth Rose delivers dictionaries to 3rd Graders at Susitna Elementary School.  Beth's husband John Levy helped to answer the students' questions and point out highlights in the dictionaries as part of the project partnered with Anchorage South Rotary Club.
Turning Red Badges to Blue!
President Debra and Membership Committee Chair Tim Trueblood recognize members Jordan McCulley and Shari Showalter as having met all the requirements of attaining "blue badge" status in AIRC.
Mark Lester - Alaska Aerospace Corporation
Alaska Aerospace Corporation (AAC) operates an FAA-licensed commercial spaceport on Kodiak Island, Alaska; provides other launch-related services, and helps expand Alaska’s aerospace industry.  For the past 20-years, the Pacific Spaceport Complex – Alaska (PSCA) on Kodiak Island has conducted orbital, suborbital, and test missions for various government missions.  The recent emergence of commercial small launch vehicles are revolutionizing the space market by increasing access to space for small satellites while lowering costs.  PSCA conducted two commercial launches in 2018 and expect to conduct several more in 2019 and beyond.  This new market provides AAC with a new set of customers and provides opportunity to diversify and deepen PSCA’s launch manifest.  Recognized as a leader in launch operations, AAC is often called on to advise or support commercial launch operations around the globe. 
 
Mark Lester is the President and Interim CEO of Alaska Aerospace Corporation.  He has over 25-years’ experience in the aerospace sector and served as a United States Air Force officer in space operations and intelligence fields.  He has also held several executive positions for private sector aviation and space companies, including serving as the Chief Executive Officer for a military flight training company and leading business development efforts for a multi-billion dollar defense firm.  Mark holds a Master of Engineering degree in space operations from the University of Colorado and a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering from Norwich University.
Mike Dunleavy - Governor of Alaska

Mike Dunleavy arrived in Alaska in 1983 as a young man looking for opportunity, and he found it.  His first job was working in a logging camp in Southeast Alaska.  Later, Dunleavy pursued his dream of becoming a teacher.  He earned his teacher’s certificate, and then a master of education degree from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.  Mike spent nearly two decades in northwest Arctic communities working as a teacher, principal, and superintendent.

Governor Dunleavy’s wife Rose is from the Kobuk River Valley community of Noorvik. They were married in Nome and together, they have three daughters – Maggie, Catherine, and Ceil – who were raised in both rural and urban Alaska.

When the Dunleavy family moved to Wasilla in 2004, that was where he worked on a number of projects to improve education, including a statewide mentoring project to recruit and retain excellent teachers. Dunleavy served on the Mat-Su Borough School Board, with two years as Board President, and then as a State Senator for five years.  In November of 2018, Mike won the election to become Governor of Alaska and was sworn into office on December 4th back up in Northwest Alaska.  Governor Dunleavy is working to tackle the hard fiscal decisions that face our State and has forced the discussion of priorities that will determine the future of Alaska.

The Dunleavy family enjoy spending time together and often that time is in Alaska’s great outdoors. Hunting, fishing, snow machining, and camping are all favorite activities.
Steve Johnson and The UAA Debate Team
The Seawolf Debate Team pursues excellence in both competitive and civic debating.  Their competitive team is consistently ranked the top public university team in the nation (in both 2017 and 2018) and continues to set the standard for regional competition (such as winning the Western Regional University Debating Championships in 2018).  Their civic debating program promotes opportunities for young people and the broader community to benefit from dialogue on pressing issues.  Programming such as their Alaska Middle School Public Debating Program and the McLaughlin Youth Center debate initiative brings training in critical thinking and advocacy to youth when and where they'll benefit most."
 
The motion we'll debate on Friday will be "The Permanent Fund Dividend has been a disaster for Alaska."  
 
The Coach of UAA Debate Team is Steve Johnson – fabulous Rotarian from Anchorage East Rotary.
Vocational Training Team off to Australia
Our District and the Anchorage International Rotary Club is sponsoring a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Vocational Training Team to Australia led by Rotarian Michael Jeffery.  Our Rotary Foundation contributions are helping to eliminate disease and poverty in real time. The Vocational Training Team left this week to Australia.
Sonya Hunte - 90% Graduation by 2020
Sonya Hunte, VP for Education Impact at United Way, will share the latest results, the new “Look Past The Labels” campaign and what’s head for 90% Graduation by 2020. 
 
90% Graduation by 2020 is a community collaboration convened by United Way of Anchorage to give our most at-risk students the help they need to graduate and have a successful life.  The network of donors, community partners, and volunteers employs practices to focus on:  early literacy for pre-school children to help them enter kindergarten ready to learn; promoting school engagement for elementary and middle school students who have high absentee rates; and intensive supports for high school seniors who need support inside and outside the classroom to recover credits.
 
Before heading north to Alaska in the fall of 2018, Sonya Hunte spent eight years with Atlanta Public Schools as director of family engagement, employee engagement coordinator and homeless education liaison. Previously, Hunte was a social services supervisor working with families and children with the DeKalb County(Atlanta) Family Court and a social services coordinator and specialist in Atlanta and Decatur, Ga. Hunte has served as president of the Georgia chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, was a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award given by the Atlanta Business Chronicle and won the Strong, Smart, Bold Award from Girls Inc. of Greater Atlanta. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology from Penn State University and a master’s in clinical social work from Boston College.
USS John C. Stennis 
 

 

Joe has been a long time Rotarian, starting at Anchorage South and migrating to Anchorage International Rotary.  He has served at the District level where he has held several positions over the years.  He had a 22 year career at Anchorage Police Department serving is a number of different positions.  Joe had the opportunity to land on the USS John C. Stennis, spend some time aboard and launch back off the Carrier.  Joe describes his adventure as follows -

A once in a lifetime chance to visit a Nimitz class aircraft carrier at sea.  Too cool!  The opportunity to interact with the men and women of her crew.  Enlightening!  And to see, up close and personal, the magnificent equipment and aircraft in operation.  AWSOME!  This was, by far, more exciting than the E-Ticket rides at Disneyland! 

This is a fun presentation with a lot of pictures.  Come to the meeting!

 

 

Read more...
Aaron Murph - UAA Civil Engineering
Hi, my name is Aaron Murph, I am a senior at UAA in the Civil Engineering program, the
captain of the Steel Bridge team, and the VP of the American Society of Engineering club. I
spent my childhood growing up in Petersburg Alaska, roaming the islands of the Alexander
Archipelago searching for adventure, and usually finding more than enough. During high school,
I was introduced to the shop program, where I developed skills in welding, fabrication, and
woodworking. At the end of my high school career I had mastered several these skills. I built
and sold custom welded aluminum boats during high school, and passed welding certification
tests, paving a career into the marine construction industry that would finance my way through
college. For the last 7 years I have worked for a local marine construction company, Tamico,
based out of Petersburg, participating in the various aspect of projects ranging from industrial
ports and harbors, to the “neighbor across the way” kind of jobs. Working at Tamico added
several skills to the repertoire, including advanced welding techniques, crane operation, tugboat
operation, and project management. At UAA I have learned a plethora about Civil
Engineering where research opportunities with professors reinforced the classroom material,
providing the foundation of an engineering future for years to come. Additional opportunities
with the UAA ASCE club were also presented, and the hook was set. Last year I helped with
fabrication and planning of the bridge, and this year I am the VP of the ASCE club and Steel
Bridge team captain. Through all the opportunities presented through my college career, the
Steel Bridge competition has been one of the most impactful. Through this, I have experienced
every aspect of a project from design, to fabrication, and project management, while also
immersing myself in the team comradery, where the wins and losses are celebrated with great
enthusiasm.
After graduation this summer, I will pursue my life passion of improving Alaskan ports and
harbors. I gained a position at Turnagain Marine Construction working on design/build projects
of marine infrastructure around Alaska, ranging from Ketchikan to Nome. In years to come, I
hope to get my Professional Engineering license, Structural Engineering license, as well as
continue my education at UAA.
Being an outdoor enthusiast, I carve out time to enjoy what raw Alaska has to offer. I am an
avid hunter, fisherman, hiker, camper, and explorer. I enjoy spending those beautiful fall days
chasing alpine dall sheep, mountain goats, salmon, halibut, and being a part of the serenity that
our great state boasts.
Mike Ferris - Rotary Membership in Changing Times
Mike Ferris has been in Alaska since 1967.  Mike grew up in Kodiak and finished his college at UAF with degrees in Finance, Management and a MBA.  He worked for Mapco then Williams.  While with Williams he had the opportunity to work in Lithuania for over 2 years.  On his return he started work with Alaska Communication where he acquired another Master’s degree in Telecommunication Management.  He started working for Xerox in 2010 and in 2012 started his own Xerox Agency.  Mike Has offices in Anchorage and Fairbanks.
Growing up in Kodiak Mike started commercial fishing when he was 12 years old and has spent part of every year except for 3 commercial fishing for part of the year.  Mike ran the boat the “Seabrooke” for 6 years in the Bering Sea which belonged to his father and was featured on the “Deadliest Catch”.  He is getting ready to start his 25th year commercial salmon fishing in Bristol this year.
Mike is very active in the Anchorage community where he is a Board Member of the Resource Development Council, Coached 7,8,9 year old in Pop Warner Football for 20 years, Officiates High school wrestling, Is Past President  of South Anchorage Rotary and spear heads the Dictionary Project in which 4,000 dictionaries are given to every third grader in the Anchorage School District  and in his spare time he continues to do work on his cabin.
Mike has served as Community Giving Chair, Membership Chair and Foundation Chair for Anchorage South Rotary.  He currently serves at the District Level on the Public Image Committee, Membership Committee and Visioning.
Mike has had the opportunity through District Membership to participate in the Zone 24/32 conferences in Hartford, Connecticut and Montreal, Canada for the last two years and will share some of that information with us today on the current trends in Rotary membership.
Steve Arlow - Alaska State Troopers Museum
Steve Arlow (Retired Captain Alaska State Troopers) will present on the FOAST Museum and a planned remodel for 2 additions to the Museum.  The additions will be:  A) A Shooting Simulator and   B) An Escape Room.  Both additions should create additional interest providing more visitors to the Museum.
 
FOAST
Formed in the late 1960s as a conduit to approach the State Legislature for an improved retirement system, the Fraternal Order of Alaska State Troopers (FOAST) has evolved into a valuable charitable and fraternal organization with no political involvement.
Membership consists mainly of Alaska State Troopers, both active and retired, and is also open to all current and retired commissioned members of the Department of Public Safety (DPS), including the divisions of State Troopers, Fire Prevention, and Alaska Scientific Crime Lab personnel.
Associate membership is open to non-commissioned DPS personnel as well as members of other law enforcement agencies, and the general public when sponsored by an existing active member.
 
Museum
We house the state’s only collection of historical law enforcement memorabilia from not only Alaska but around the world.  The goal of the museum is to tell the colorful story of a dedicated team of police officers who continue to bring law and order to one of the most unusual, rugged and far-flung jurisdictions in America.  The museum features a wide variety of unique displays, including an authentically restored 1952 Hudson Hornet automobile.  Other displays include antique radios and communications devices, handcuffs and leg irons, early wiretapping equipment, old photographs and documents, and uniform items unique to Alaska.
Scott McMurren - Alaska Travel
Scott McMurren is an Anchorage-based marketing consultant, serving clients in the transportation, hospitality, media and specialty destination sectors, among others.
 
Scott McMurren’s fascination with Alaska and his heritage as a story teller can be traced
back to his grandparents who drove the AlCan in a 1948. They drove a Chevy panel
wagon to write and file articles about Alaska.
Scott grew up hearing his grandparents’ stories so the day after he graduated from the
University of Oregon he arrived in Alaska with his backpack and bicycle.
The Anchorage Times newspaper gave Scott his first job in journalism in Alaska. Then
for the next 30 years, as a freelance writer, he’s regularly provided articles for
Anchorage newspapers.
Via his weekly blog, the Alaska Travelgram, through Facebook and Twitter posts, and by
email and text messages Scott guides travelers who are planning their trip of a lifetime
to Alaska.
For more than 20 years with business partner, Gary Blakely, Scott has published the
Great Alaskan TourSaver, which is a tremendous travel resource with scores of 2-for-1
coupons.
More recently, at Kaladi Brothers Cafe on Brayton, Scott began producing a monthly
‘Office Hours’ workshop for avid travelers who want hands-on guidance with searching
for travel and booking it.
You can reliably believe that in his heart, Scott is a Rotarian as he firmly believes travel
to be the first leg of diplomacy.
Mark Hamilton - Pebble Project Path Forward
Mark Hamilton is the Executive Vice President for External Affairs at the Pebble Partnership. He is President Emeritus of the University of Alaska System, and a retired Major General U.S. Army.

Mr. Hamilton received a Bachelor of Science Degree from the United States Military Academy and Masters Degree in Literature from Florida State University. He graduated as well from the Joint Armed Forces Command and staff College and the Army War College.

MILITARY SERVICE:
Mr. Hamilton served 31 years in the U.S. Army, retiring as a Major General. After a typical career through Division Artillery Command, he served as the Military Group Commander in El Salvador, followed by assignment as Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff of the Army in Somalia. These latter two assignments involved nearly 2and ½ years of peace negotiations. In El Salvador it resulted in spending 8 and ½ days at the United Nations in shuttle diplomacy with Ambassador to the U.N. Ambassador Thomas Pickering, resulting in a peace treaty that has never been broken in more than 25 years. In Somalia, his efforts with Somali war lords culminated in a window of tranquility which allowed the 10th Mountain Division to return to the United States. For these efforts, ABC news anchor Peter Jennings selected then Colonel Hamilton as his national “Person of the week.”
MEMBERSHIPS AND OTHER AFFILIATIONS:
MILITARY: Mr. Hamilton is a member of AUSA, VFW, and is a Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army.
CIVIC: Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Alaska Miner’s Association, and serves on the Alaska Airline’s Advisory Board. Mr. Hamilton previously served on the Board of Directors of BP America, Chair of Alaska Aerospace, Board member of Alaska Airlines, and the Denali Commission.
AWARDS: Mr. Hamilton has received the Army’s highest peace time award, The Distinguished Service Medal, as well as Armed Forces highest peace time award, The Joint Distinguished Service Medal. Mr. Hamilton was honored by the National Association of Scholars for “Resolute Leadership in Defense of Intellectual Freedom in Higher Education,” the only University President to be so honored.
Vocational Training Team to Australia
Posted by Karl Schroeder
Our District and the Anchorage International Rotary Club is sponsoring a Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Vocational Training Team to Australia led by Rotarian Michael Jeffery. Our Rotary Foundation contributions are helping to eliminate disease and poverty in real time.       
 
Congratulations!  Your global grant application for funding to set up operations for FASD detection and treatment, as well as training on prevention, using expertise from a VTT and with PATCHES Pediatrics, over the course of two years by establishing office space, a vehicle and tele-health infrastructure in Leonora, Western Australia, submitted by the Rotary Club of Osborne Park and the Rotary Club of Anchorage International, has been approved by The Rotary Foundation. The award is in the amount of US$ 102,624. 
 
In front: Monica Charles (who took the picture)

Next row: Marilyn Pierce-Bulger, Tami Eller

Last Row: Dr. Pamela Hill, Rotarian Michael Jeffery

Atwood Military Lounge needs Volunteers
Rotarian Ric Schmidt volunteering at the Atwood Military Lounge out at Ted Stevens International Airport.  Come out and help keep the Lounge open for traveling service men and women!
 
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Club Executives & Directors
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Debra Mason
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Angie Rush
Secretary
Dodie Pruessner
Treasurer
Joe Zimmermann
Past President
Benjamin Schulman
Community Service
Jonathan Tarrant
Vocational Service
Chera Boom
Club Service
Jordan McCulley
Foundation Co-Chair
Allison Biss
Foundation Co-Chair
Becky Erickson
Membership Chair
Tim Trueblood
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Norman Schmidt
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Bruce Erickson
Bulletin Weekly
Kevin Fimon
Social Chair
Nina Mann
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Debra Mason
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Jay Tung
Executive Secretary
Janine Becka
 

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Rotary Links
 
 
Speakers
No Meeting Today
May 24, 2019
Enjoy Memorial Day Weekend
Jim Szczesniak
May 31, 2019
Manager - Anchorage International Airport
Tami Eller
Jun 07, 2019
Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Jim Foster
Jun 14, 2019
The Magellan Project - Retracing the route 500 years later
No Meeting Today
Jun 28, 2019
Changing of the Guard on 6/26
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Rotary 110th convention brings world to Hamburg

Rotary brings the world to Hamburg  One of the city’s largest and most multi-cultural conventions will bring €24 million HAMBURG, Germany (30 April 2019)

Holger Knaack selected to be 2020-21 Rotary International president

Holger Knaack selected to be 2020-21 Rotary International

Rotary members seek community solutions to opioid epidemic

Fathers turn pain into healing solutions

Tunisian Interactors win 2018 Interact Video Awards

Tunisian Interactors win 2018 Interact Video

Highlights of 2019 Rotary Council on Legislation

Council elevates RotaractRepresentatives from around the world also vote to preserve club