With only a month left to prepare, organizers for the 2014 Southeast Conference (SEC) are finalizing an agenda and adding names to the register of attendees.
“We’re happy to have anyone that wants to come,” said Shelly Wright, SEC executive director. Registration opened at the beginning of the month.
The Nolan Center will be hosting the conference, which promotes economic interests and brings stakeholders together to discuss issues for Alaska’s southeastern communities.
“It is a good draft agenda,” Wright commented. A number of weighty topics are set for discussion, including energy issues, waste management, food sustainability and transportation. The results of a recent art survey examining the effects art and culture have on the region’s economy be discussed for the first time at the conference.
“We haven’t looked at the arts before,” Wright explained.
The last time Wrangell hosted the annual conference was in 2005, and a number of changes have occurred in town since. The tribal house on Chief Shakes Island has been completely restored, downtown has been revitalized, and The Marine Service Center is in operation.
The upcoming conference will give Wrangellites a great opportunity to brag a bit about their community as well as highlight local businesses and services, so residents are encouraged to attend.
Hosting the event requires a great effort for the city.
“We do the reception Tuesday night,” said Carol Rushmore, Wrangell’s economic development director, and will organize three days of banqueting, breakfasts and activities.
Rushmore said the city is expecting at least 200 visitors in conjunction with the conference, which has created an issue with housing.
Hotels and inns already fully booked. Trident Corporation offered the use of its bunkhouses to attendees to make up for the shortfall.
“Trident was very gracious,” Rushmore said, adding that their offer has made hosting the conference in Wrangell possible.
“We could use more housing,” said Wright. “If folks have spare bedrooms – anything they want to rent or lease out,” Wright said to contact Terri at the Visitor Center.
The conference is also an opportunity to raise money for education. The funds raised by the auction slated for Wednesday night will help fund a scholarship program with the University of Alaska Southeast.
“We have a two-pronged scholarship plan,” Wright explained, one to the university and another for educational travel opportunities. For instance, this year a group of high school students were sent to Fairbanks for a business fair.
“It’s a pretty flexible scholarship,” she added.
The conference raised $16,000 for the scholarship last year. “Prince of Wales has been the record-breaker,” Wright said. She hopes that Wrangell will outdo previous fundraisers at next month’s conference.
The conference runs Sept. 16-18 and registration is available online at http://www.seconference.org.
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