Assistant to the Mayor
October Report to Assembly
Prepared by Martha Whiting on October 10, 2003

I will work with Gladys Pungowiyi of NANA, Lila Hernandes of Maniilaq, D'Anne Hamilton of the Northwest Arctic Borough School District and Lori Henry to assist with collaborative efforts with the Northwest Arctic Leadership Team. This group will be called "SAVAKTIT" as we are working to assist the Leadership Team. One of our main functions will be to act as a communication conduit to inform the region of activities and projects. Activities will be based on priorities set from the Leadership team and the Economic Development Summit. Check out a cool website at: www.arcticleadership.org developed by John Lincoln, which shows the Leadership Team's regional calendar. John is a student at Stanford and employee of Maniilaq Association.

The Higher Education Consortium (HEC) is scheduled to meet November 13 in the Borough Assembly Chambers. At this time we are looking at what the commitments are from the parties involved and will work to keep the momentum moving forward to promote higher education and training opportunities for the people of this region. The Consortium will work on ways to provide services and network resources as funding gets tighter. At this time, there are four committees of the HEC: 1) Student Support, 2) Program Development, 3) Technology and 4) Communications. We are working on identifying a coordinator to tie agencies together and coordinate efforts.

I have been working with Lori Henry and Sandra Kowalski of the Northwest Arctic School District with the Community Engagement Plan and the Assets Program. We are beginning planning sessions to provide regional assets training and are seeking potential trainers from all communities. Inupiaq Values will be incorporated in program development. Potential trainers include, but are not limited to, local Education Liaisons, Resource Specialists, Health Aides, Pastors, Boys & Girls Club and other people who support and work with youth. We will continue to build partnerships to strengthen efforts. Assets or positive actions to support youth will be heavily promoted through any and all avenues, including; the radio, TV, posters, publications, mail-outs, ads, editorials, brochures, in conjunction with wellness conferences and much more. The Assets program is simply a program to work on ways to help our kids succeed. Any positive influence, activity, or support a child has, the more he or she has a chance to succeed in life. As educational standards and benchmarks change with new exit exam requirements, it is more important now than ever before to prepare our youth for a successful future.

The Economic Development Task Force had a teleconference on October 31st. Present were myself, Noah Naylor, Lori Henry, GiGi Danner and Jim Sharpe. I've been appointed by Mayor Schaeffer to be the communications contact with the joint Northwest Arctic and North Slope Arctic Boroughs Economic Development Summit efforts. I will review the draft Communications Plan and assist where needed. We discussed Workforce Development, Healthy Communities and the Higher Education Consortium and how they integrate to provide prosperous communities. The NAB Healthy Communities Committee met a few times and the NSB has yet to meet. When and if a Healthy Communications training session with Larry Dickerson, a professor of Rural Development occurs in the Spring of 2004, we will invite NSB representatives to participate. It was felt that organizations are doing their own activities with Healthy Communities and that we need to come together to share resources.

With regards to the joint Economic Development Summit, Jim Sharpe noted that Mayor Ahmaogaq stressed that a joint project is necessary and is not moving fast enough. Our task force addressed this and agreed that NANA, ASRC and the two Boroughs identify a project to begin. This joint project should have total local control to avoid a long start-up date and red tape with other agencies. Planning for the next Economic Development Summit will begin after the new year. The joint Executive Committee (Mayor's and Assembly Chairs) meets quarterly, with the next one scheduled for January 2004. A joint NSB/NAB Assembly meeting is tentatively scheduled for July or August 2004 in Kotzebue and our task force will continue to do monthly teleconferences.

I am in the final stages of the draft Assembly Orientation Booklet. Upon review of staff, our Assembly President and VP, the booklet will go to the Assembly Personnel Committee for approval.

The Mayor's monthly village teleconferences began and will occur the first Wednesday of the month until April of 2004. Our first teleconference was held Wednesday Nov. 5th. Staff participants were myself, Mayor Schaeffer, Lee Stoops and Tom Bolen. Villages participating were Darlene Hadley of Buckland, Brenda Scott of Deering, Claudia Sampson of Kiana, Vera Morris of Kiana and Alice Adams of Noatak. Short notice was given to participants so we were grateful for those who called in. Invitations will be forwarded to village Resource Specialists, IRA and City Administrators and/or clerks. The purpose of the teleconference is to see what's up in our communities and assist each other where we can as well as keeping the communication lines open. Please see the attached notes on the teleconference.

Our staff participated in KOTZ Radio's fund-raising efforts and raised over $3,000.00 in 2 hours! Yoi! Not only did staff donate time and money but also donated premiums such as Tula's Precious Moments cross stitch work, Jake's Husky sweat shirts and t-shirts, I donated a red fox, Tom donated a whalebone mask made by Russell Adams, Andrea donated seal oil and her sister Cathlynn Greene donated an atikluk, Tula's sister Susan Lie donated a child's atikluk, Helena's mom-in-law Margaret Frazier donated 3 zipper atikluks, Toni donated curtains, and not only did the Borough contribute $20K, but also donated $720.00 and a few art pieces. Toni graced the airwaves with singing and I can't say much about her back-up singers but we tried…

Kathy Carson with the State of Alaska Division of Retirements and Benefits was available to talk to staff regarding individual status of the Public Employees Retirement System (PERS).

Our Christmas Committee - Nina Lie, Tula Lie, Andrea Greene, Toni Johnson and I are planning on the staff Christmas luncheon, which will be held Friday December 5 from 1 - 5 at the Boys and Girls Club. If you are in town and would like to join us, come on over!