Apr 1, 2011
Posted Under: Uncategorized
Well, it’s Thursday evening and I’m sitting in 1F on the tarmac in Juneau getting ready to fly home again. These long days of rising early so I can exercise, then board the early flight to Southeast are catching up with me.
But flying does give me time to start something I’ve wanted to do for some time — blog.
We have decided it’s time for me to report on my travels and insights along the way. Most blogs will be short, some very short. Sometimes there may be some smidgen of insight. I always plan to report on where I am. My wife, Stephanie, once accused me of being Waldo — like “Where’s Waldo?” — because she continued to see me in unexpected places with unexpected people. So maybe this blog should be “Where’s Dennis?”
I am still energized by my travels because I am encouraged by the people I get to meet on a daily basis. Today I was with the great leaders of the Sitka Tribe. Like most Alaskans serving in a governance role, they want to do their best, but sometimes struggle to know what’s right. One thing for certain is that the basic governance training Foraker has done since the first day does a lot to help people define their way, since most times there are many right ways.
Well, today I started in Anchorage with a little snow — then flew south to Sitka where the herring fishery was about to open in the spring showers. Now in rainy Juneau at 7:45 PM in an AK Air jet, I’m amazed at the small town atmosphere on these planes. I got to catch up with Rachel Petro, the new CEO of the Alaska State Chamber, and an old friend. Rick Mystrom, another very dear friend is here, too. Rick will come out of retirement to lead the auction at the Shining Lights event where I will be recognized on April 28th. And Saralyn Tabachnick, the CEO of AWARE in Juneau and member of the Foraker Operations Board, is here.
The smidgen for today is how much all this familiarity keeps us honest. It’s hard to misbehave in Alaska and get away with it. Someone you know is always around to witness the deed — not that I would ever misbehave.
Dennis
