1Mark new items in this issue.

What’s Up

December 4, 2014Compiled weekly by Peg TilestonOn behalf of the Alaska Center for the Environment (ACE) and Alaska Women’s Environmental Network (AWEN)

CONFERENCES, WORKSHOPS, SEMINARS, TRAINING & SPECIAL EVENTS

Now to February 25SEWARD - The ALASKA SEALIFE CENTER (ASLC) invites Alaska residents to FREEzing WEDNESDAYS. During winter months, Alaskans receive free general admission to the Alaska SeaLife Center every Wednesday, November 5, 2014 through February 25, 2015. Alaska residents must present valid I.D. for admission. Kids under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. The Alaska SeaLife Center is open 7 days a week, 10am to 5pm. Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

December 8 & 9 ALASKA FAIRBANKS COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE will offer FOUR HOME AND CAMP ENERGY WORKSHOPS at its Anchorage district office. The workshop held on December 8 at 5pm will be on REMOTE ENERGY SOURCES for CAMPS and CABINS, INCLUDING SOLAR CELLS, BATTERY BANKS, SMALL WINDMILLS and ROCKET STOVES. On December 9 at 4:30, ART NASH and DAISY HUANG, research engineer for the UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power, will lead a workshop about USING SMALL-SCALE WIND TO POWER HOMES AND REMOTE CABINS. The UAF Extension Service District Office is located at 1675 C St. For more information or to register for the free workshops, call the office at 907-786-6300 or go to http://www.uaf.edu/ces/districts/anchorage/EnergyHousing/#wind%20energy.

December 8 – 10ANCHORAGE - NORTH PACIFIC FISHERY MANAGEMENT COUNCIL will meet at the Anchorage Hilton Hotel. The agenda is available at http://legistar2.granicus.com/npfmc/meetings/2014/12/904_A_North_Pacific_Council_14-12-08_Meeting_Agenda.pdf. All meetings are open to the public, except executive sessions. The Council meeting will be broadcast at npfmc.adobeconnect.com/december2014.

**December 9 – 11JUNEAU – The 2014 ALASKA BIRD CONFERENCE will be held in Centennial Hall. Every two years, researchers and managers convene to report on all aspects of bird biology, management and conservation in. Also on December 9, we will host side meetings of Boreal PARTNERS IN FLIGHT, ALASKA SHOREBIRD GROUP, and ALASKA RAPTOR GROUP. Keynote speaker is Gerro Vyn, wildlife photographer, who will present a multimedia tour of CAPTURING THE LIVES OF BERINGIAN BIRDS. Gerrit Vyn is a multimedia producer and staff photographer at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. He travels extensively to document wildlife and conservation issues through photographs, video and audio. His images have been used by most major conservation organizations and appear regularly in books and magazines. To register, go to http://www.eventbrite.com/e/2014-alaska-bird-conference-tickets-4730656521?aff=eorg. Agenda is available at http://www.alaskabirdconference.org/Alaska_Bird_Conference/Agenda.html.

**December 11FAIRBANKS - The University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service will host a ROCKET STOVE WORKSHOP from 6 to 8pm at its district office in 724 27th Ave., in the Fairbanks Community Food Bank building with extension energy specialist ART NASH. Participants will build their own rocket stoves from cans and will receive a do-it-yourself wood burn box. Rocket stoves burn small-diameter wood and wood pellets efficiently and are useful for cooking and heating in camps and emergency situations. Eastern Alaska forester GLEN HOLT will also talk about efficient wood care and handling. The cost is $15. Register at http://bit.ly/ces-workshops. For more information, contact Carmen at 474-5854.

December 11FAIRBANKS - The Alaska Division of Forestry is hosting three workshops across the state to REVIEW the IMPLEMENTATION and EFFECTIVENESS of ALASKA FOREST RESOURCES and PRACTICES ACT (FRPA) REGULATIONS and ITS BEST MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. The first workshop will be held from 7 to 9pm in the Large Conference Room, DNR Building, 3700 Airport Road. This workshop is being held immediately after a Tanana Valley State Forest Citizens’ Advisory Committee meeting that same evening that begins at 6pm. The public is welcome to attend. DOF is seeking input on whether FRPA’s best management practices are fair, responsible, and working. Also, do any of the FRPA regulations (11 AAC 95) need further review? Are state water quality standards, fish habitat requirements, and other forestry objectives being met? FRPA information and links to best management practices are located at http://www.forestry.alaska.gov/forestpractices.htm. For more information, contact Jim Schwarber, Forest Planner, at 907-451-2704 or email james.schwarber@alaska.gov.

January 19 – 23ANCHORAGE - 2015 ALASKA MARINE SCIENCE SYMPOSIUM will be held in the Hotel Captain Cook in Anchorage. You can register for the symposium online ($100 fee, students free, and Monday, Jan. 19 a free day geared to the public), and for the annual Communicating Ocean Workshop, 8 am- noon on Monday, geared to scientists, educators, and outreach specialists. This year's theme is UPPING YOUR GAME.

WEBINARS, WEBCASTS & TELECONFERENCES

December 5 (TELECONFERENCE MEETING)PALMER - NATURAL RESOURCE CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT BOARD (NRCDB) will meet via teleconference at 9am and will continue the next day as necessary in the conference room at the Division of Agriculture, 1800 Glenn Highway, Suite 12. The purpose of the meeting is to review draft minutes, FY15 Annual Plans, boundary expansion proposal and other agenda items. To attend the meeting telephonically, dial 1-800-315-6338 and at the prompt enter the code 12211#. Further information is by calling 907-761-3851

December 9 (TELECONFERENCE & WEBINAR MEETING)BOARD OF FORESTRY will meet via Teleconference and Webinar from 8am to 4:30pm to DISCUSS STATEWIDE FORESTRY ISSUES. The meeting will be hosted by webinar and audio teleconference, and the public may join the meeting at the webinar/teleconference sites available in Fairbanks, Anchorage, Juneau, and Ketchikan. The agenda includes reports on the following topics: Proposed Fiscal Year 2016 forestry, forest practices, and monitoring budgets, Proposed 2015 legislation related to forestry, Reforestation standards review process for Interior and Southcentral Alaska, State consideration of assumption of authority for Section 404 wetlands program, Forest practices effectiveness monitoring, Wood energy in Alaska and state timber sales for wood energy projects, Southeast State Forest Management Plan, Federal forest management in Alaska including national forest planning, Roadless Rule implementation, Southeast land ownership initiatives, Alexander Archipelago wolf status, and old growth availability, and Southeast Alaska Fish Habitat Partnership, Alaska Timber Jobs Task Force recommendations and implementation, and Division of Forestry program updates. A copy of the draft agenda and a list of teleconference locations are available at http://forestry.alaska.gov/pdfs/whats_new/Board_of_Forestry_Meeting_Dec_9_2014.pdf. For additional information, contact Marty Freeman at marty.freeman@alaska.gov or 907-269-8467 prior to noon December 8.

December 9 (WEBINAR)

GENE PETRESCU, National Weather Service, will talk about the new ARCTIC TEST BED that is just coming on line at 10am AKST. ENABLING SCIENTIFIC and TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS to MEET CORE PARTNER SERVICE REQUIREMENTS in ALASKA - AN ARCTIC TEST BED will feature test beds, such as the Joint Hurricane Test Bed (Miami, FL) and the Hazardous Weather Test Bed (Norman, OK) that have been highly effective in meeting unique or pressing science and service challenges for the NWS. NWS Alaska Region leadership has developed plans for a significant enhancement to our operational capabilities in Alaska to address the emerging requirements of the Arctic: An Arctic Test Bed. Historically, the complexity of forecast operations and the inherent challenges in Alaska have not been addressed well by the R&D programs and projects that support the CONUS regions of the NWS. In addition, there are science and technology, and unique service challenges (e.g., sea ice forecasts) and opportunities (Bilateral agreements with Canada, Russia, and Norway) that would best be worked through Alaska operations. A dedicated test bed will provide a mechanism to transfer technology, research, and observations advances into operations in a timely and effective manner. A NOAA Arctic Test Bed will provide a crucial nexus for ensuring NOAA’s developers understand Alaska’s needs, improve NOAA’s responsiveness to its Arctic-related science and service priorities among the NWS and OAR (CPO and ESRL), and enable better leveraging of other research initiatives and data sources external to NOAA which are particular to the polar region (e.g., WWRP Polar Prediction Project). For more information and to register for the webinar, go to https://accap.uaf.edu/Arctic_Test_Bed.

December 10 (TELECONFERENCE)HEALTH EFFECTS OF PERINATAL EXPOSURES TO BPA AND OTHER ENDOCRINE DISRUPTING CHEMICALS (EDCs) will be held at 9am as part of the Alaska Collaborative on Health and the Environment (CHE-Alaska) teleconference seminar series. There is mounting evidence that exposure to EDCs, especially during critical windows of fetal development, may have adverse health effects in adults. Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic estrogen that is widely used in consumer products. Exposure to BPA is widespread in humans and research has linked BPA exposure to accelerated puberty, reduced fertility, obesity, heart disease, and an increased risk for cancer. DR. NICOLE ACEVEDO, a researcher at Tufts University School of Medicine, is the lead author of a recent study that showed that perinatal exposure to BPA in rats, at levels comparable to those measured in human populations, may lead to the formation of cancerous tumors in the mammary gland. Dr. Acevedo will discuss the state-of-the-science regarding EDCs and human health risks and KATHLEEN CURTIS, executive director of Clean and Healthy New York will discuss how states are leading the way in passing policies to protect people from exposure to BPA and other EDCs. To join this free call, please sign up online or call (907) 222-7714

December 11 (TELECONFERENCE MEETING)The CENTRAL BERING SEA FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting by teleconference at 1pm. Agenda will include: Review terms and discuss election of expired members and alternates; Choose date/location for face to face meeting; Review potential Boards of Fisheries and Game issues and deadlines; other items to be determined. Please call 1-800-504-8071 code 5432709 to participate in the teleconference. For more information, contact Holly Carroll, Western Region Coordinator, at 907-543-1677 or email holly.carroll@alaska.gov.

**December 12 or 15 (TELEPHONIC MEETING)The NORTH SLOPE FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will be holding a telephonic meeting at 9:30am. To participate please call 1-800-504-8071 code 442-1717. Agenda items include: Anterless Moose Re-Authorization – Unit 26; Re-Authorization of the Brown Bear Tag Fee Exemption – Unit 26; Hunting seasons and bag limits for Dall Sheep. Close sheep seasons in areas of severe population decline; Hunting seasons and bag limits for Caribou. Change the regulation for all Game Management Units (GMU) associated with the Western Arctic Caribou Herd (WAH) and Teshekpuk Caribou Herd (TCH). The affected GMUs in the overlapping herd ranges are: portions GMU 23; GMU 24 and; GMU 26. For more information, contact Carmen Daggett at 907.442.1717 or email carmen.daggett@alaska.gov.

GRANTS/AWTARDS/SCHOLARSHIPS/CONTESTS

**February 23Deadline for applications for the ALASKA HISTORICAL COMMISSION matching grants TO PLAN AND PREPARE FOR THE 150TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE ALASKA PURCHASE IN 2017. The grants are for projects that will contribute to understanding the history and significance of the event. Projects are encouraged for historic research and publication projects, restoration of significant historic properties, and heritage tourism development and information services. A grant request may not exceed $15,000 and must be matched 50/50 with cash or in-kind services. Projects are to be done between April 1, 2015 and September 30, 2016. Additional information and the application are available at http://dnr.alaska.gov/parks/oha/index.htm, by calling 907-269-8714, sending an e-mail to oha@alaska.net or sending a written request to the Alaska Historical Commission, 550 West 7th Ave., Suite 1310, Anchorage, AK 99501-3565.

March 31Deadline for entries for the STATE-FISH ART CONTEST, a national initiative that combines art and writing to foster discovery of fish species, behaviors, and habitats and increase awareness of and respect for aquatic resources. Participating students can draw, paint, and write their way to free prizes, fishing gear, and national recognition, while

getting to know Alaska's state fish (the Chinook salmon)! The comprehensive State-Fish Art Lesson Plan, FISH ON! for K-12 students uses art as a springboard into the fascinating world of fish. The full lesson is available to educators online or in CD format at no charge. Upon completion of the lesson plan, students will have gained an understanding of a fish's anatomy, behavior, habitat needs, as well as an increased appreciation of the arts. For more information, visit http://www.wildlifeforever.org/contest.

DEADLINES

December 8Deadline for nominations to serve on the REAP (RENEWABLE ENERGY ALASKA PROJECT) BOARD OF DIRECTORS for individual donors and member organizations. REAP relies on the efforts and expertise of our board members to help guide the organization through voting on policy decisions, assisting with setting and accomplishing goals, volunteering at events, fundraising for REAP, and developing the organization for future success. To learn more about being a board member, go to http://alaskarenewableenergy.org/about/board-of-directors/nominations/. After reviewing the web page, if you have any question about the election process, please call Courtney Munson at 907-929-7770.

December 8SITKA - Scoping comments are due on a proposal to conduct FIELD TESTING and EXPERIMENTS in WHITING HARBOR to measure the concentration and duration of biocide compounds and equipment needed to cause mortality to the invasive tunicate Didenmnum vexillum (D. vex) by ADF&G and the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center. D. vex is considered invasive in Alaska and has the potential to cause economic or environmental harm to the waters in and surrounding Whiting Harbor in Sitka. D. vex fouls and overgrows structures, bottom-dwelling organisms and shellfish, which may result in substantial impacts on marine food webs. Rock salt (block and granular), chlorine (granular), cement dust (in solution), dye, and chlorine-salt combination treatments are proposed to be delivered in dome enclosures measuring 1.25 meters in diameter by 0.5 meters in height, via a 3/4 inch hose. Field work will consist of two trips, field testing of methods and field experiments, to determine success of treatments and feasibility of a larger scale treatment. A maximum of 20 treatments will be conducted on the first trip, over a one week period as soon as February and/or early March of 2015. A maximum of 68 treatments will be conducted on the second field trip, over a two week period, as soon as May and not later than October 2015. No more than 200 meters square of seafloor will receive treatments during both field trips. The subsistence herring egg harvest in Sitka usually occurs sometime between the last week of March to the second or third week of April. Proposed field trips will not occur during the subsistence herring egg

harvest. Comments and concerns will be considered in the development of an environmental document for this proposal. Submit to blm_ak_gfo_general_delivery@blm.gov with Attn: Whiting Harbor Project in the subject line. For more information or to request a scoping packet, contact Tim Sundlov, Fisheries biologist, at 907-822-3217 or email tim.sundlov@alaska.gov.

December 11NINILCHIK - Comments are due on the proposal to PRESERVE the PAVEMENT ALONG the STERLING HIGHWAY from the NINILCHIK RIVER BRIDGE [MILEPOST (MP) 135] to TALL TREE AVENUE (MP 150). The proposed work would include: Milling and resurfacing the Sterling Highway from MP 135 to MP 150, including digouts, as needed Clearing vegetation within the DOT&PF right-of-way Removing fugitive material from around guardrails Installing or replacing automated traffic recorders Replacing, repairing or improving the following, as needed; storm water drainage facilities, including culverts; guardrail and guardrail end treatments; signs and striping; and curb ramps. Construction for the proposed project is anticipated to begin in summer 2014. For more information, contact Cynthia Ferguson, Project Manager, at 269-0589 or email cynthia.ferguson@alaska.gov or Kathy Shea, Environmental Impact Analyst, at 269-0530 or email kathy.shea@alaska.gov. Submit comments to Brian Elliott at (907)269-0539 or email brian.elliott@alaska.gov.

December 14Deadline for comments on the proposal by the Chugach Forest Service on POSSIBLE COMMERCIAL RECREATIONAL SPECIAL USES of the RESURRECTION PASS TRAIL SYSTEM, including the level and variety that could be compatible with non-guided uses of the system while also minimizing user conflicts and impacts to the cultural and natural resources in the area. For more information and to see the Environmental Assessment, go to http://www.meetup.com/AnchorageAdventurers/messages/boards/thread/48520937, www.SIGNED_Scoping Notice_Res_Pass_EA.pdf or contact Bobbie Jo Skibo, Interagency Management Coordinator, at bobbiejoskibo@fs.fed.us.

**December 15SOLDOTNA – Comments are due on the proposal to RESURFACE THE STERLING HIGHWAY FROM 1/3 MILE SOUTH OF KALIFORNSKY BEACH DRIVE TO DEVIN DRIVE. In addition to resurfacing, the proposed project would: Improve the roadway subgrade, as needed; Improve stormwater drainage facilities, including ditch grading, the repair or replacement of the existing storm drain infrastructure and installation of new storm drains and storm drain facilities; Upgrade and maintain existing pedestrian facilities, including improvements for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act; Repairs to Kenai River Bridge, including replacement of expansion joints and

waterproof membrane; Replace and relocate traffic detection loops, thaw wires, and junction boxes, as necessary; and Replace, repair, or improve, as needed: utilities; guardrail and guardrail end treatments; curb and gutter; automated traffic recorders; signs and striping. Construction for the proposed project is anticipated to begin in Summer 2016. For more information, contact Sean Baski, Project Manager, at 269-0547 or email sean.baski@alaska.gov or Kim Campo-Allen, Environmental Impact Analyst, at 269-0533 or email kim.campo-allen@alaska.gov. Submit comments to Brian Elliott, Regional Environmental Manager, at (907)269-0539 or email brian.elliott@alaska.gov.

**December 19Scoping comments are due on the proposed POINT HOPE RUNWAY REALIGNMENT PROJECT to realign the existing runway and construct other improvements. The improvements are necessary to reestablish standard Runway Safety Area (RSA) dimensions and maintain the existing level of service for the community. As existing runway pavement has exceeded its design life and will require rehabilitation independent of runway realignment, the proposed action will also reestablish safe and efficient surfacing for aviation operations. DOT&PF is conducting formal scoping to support the FAA with preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed action and is requesting assistance identifying environmental, cultural, historic, subsistence and other resources that may be impacted by the proposed action, as well as any other information valuable to the environmental documentation process. Details of the proposed project, preliminary research on environmental impacts, figures of the project area and comment forms are available at http://dot.alaska.gov/nreg/phoairport/. For more information or to submit comments, contact Project Manager Albert Beck at (907) 451-2276 or email albert.beck@alaska.gov.

EVENTS & MEETINGS in ANCHORAGE, EAGLE RIVER & GIRDWOOD

**December 5 (MAY BE POSTPONED – CALL OR EMAIL FOR LATEST INFO)ORION SPACECRAFT LAUNCH is scheduled for a test flight tomorrow. A SPECIAL EVENT will be held at the UAA CONOCO PHILLIPS INTEGRATED SCIENCE BUILDING from 5:30 to 8pm in Room 220. NASA’s new spacecraft is built to send humans farther than ever before. When this space vehicle leaves earth's atmosphere, it is expected to return at 20,000 MPH. During its 4.5 hour trip, Orion will orbit Earth twice and travel to an altitude of 3,600 miles into space. The flight is designed to test many of the elements that pose the greatest risk to astronauts and will provide critical data needed to improve Orion’s design and reduce risks to future mission crews. A viewing of the launch will begin the event. As the capsule is orbiting around the planet, we will have hands-on activities, giveaways and live Skype Q & A period with one of the engineers, Nick Wellner, from the NASA Johnson Space Center. The event will end

with a viewing of the splashdown of Orion in the Pacific Ocean and retrieval of the capsule by the U.S. Navy ship, the USS Anchorage. For more information, contact the planetariou@uaa.alaska.edu or call 907-786-1838 or go to http://www.nasa.gov/orion.

December 5ALASKA QUIET RIGHTS COALITION’S ANNUAL MEETING will be held from 7 to 9pm at the Campbell Creek Science Center. Since 2008, LUC MEHL, by bike, skis, foot and packraft, has completed 20 human-powered treks longer than 100 miles: Wilderness Classics, Winter Classics, and traverses over the summits of Denali, Logan and Orizaba (North America’s tallest mountains), Fairweather, Sanford and, most recently, over Iliamna, Redoubt and Spurr. Come see the videos and hear one of the “pioneers” in ultra-light backcountry travel discuss: CARRYING LESS to SEE MORE: TECHNIQUES THAT IMPROVE NON-MOTORIZED ACCESS to WILDERNESS. If you do not already know of Luc's reputation in Alaska's wilderness, check out his website at http://thingstoLucat.com. Bring your family and friends. Refreshments. For more information, call 277-9968.

**December 5DECEMBER FIRST FRIDAY with JON VAN ZYLE will be held from 5:30 to 7:30pm at the Alaska Geographic’s Ship Creek Store, 241 North C Street. Jon Van Zyle, official artist of the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, will be signing his beautiful, Alaska-themed children's books - a perfect holiday gift! Also featured that evening: Additional PIECES FROM THE VOICES of the WILDERNESS ART EXHIBIT (art inspired by Alaska's Wilderness) which is split between the Anchorage Museum and Alaska Geographic and on display until February. For more information, go to http://www.alaskageographic.org/blog/post/december-first-friday..  **December 5SEEN AND HEARD: VOICES OF THE WILDERNESS will feature short films about youth exploring Alaska’s wildest places with the Chugach Children’s Forest and a performance by Acilquq, a traditional Yup’ik/Cup’ik dance group from the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta in the ConocoPhillips Gallery of the Anchorage Museum from 6 to 7pm. Enjoy an exploration of Wilderness through stories, dance, and music, building upon the themes of the Voices of the Wilderness art exhibit. Learn more about the inspiration behind the Voices of the Wilderness artwork from "experts on the floor" - artists, rangers, and other wilderness professionals. For more information, contact 907-771-8463 or go to http://www.alaskageographic.org/blog/post/seen-and-heard-voices-of-the-wilderness. 

**December 6

THE LIGHT BRIGADE PRESENTS FRISSON: A WINTER LIGHT BRIGADE LANDMARK SERIES will begin at 8pm on the JL Tower light sculpture. As part of the ongoing Light Brigade commitment to Anchorage’s future as a great winter city we announce our next effort to activate spaces in our local built and natural environment. http://northernplacemaking.com/follow-the-light/. In collaboration with JL Properties and KONR the Light Brigade will create a series of light and sound shows on one of Anchorage’s architectural landmarks, the JL Tower by activating its rooftop light sculpture and broadcasting the musical accompaniment via FM station 101.6. Four teams of Light Brigade designer/programmers and composers will each create a light and sound piece that will be performed and broadcast for one week in early December, January, February and March of this winter. The broadcast will continue until midnight on the opening night and will be broadcast each of the following six nights (through December 13) during two-hour blocks from 6 until 8pm and again from 10pm until Midnight.

December 6AMCC's ROCKIN 20th ANNIVERSARY BASH will be held at 6:30 at the Snow Goose Restaurant. Join the ALASKA MARINE CONSERVATION COUNCIL for an evening of delicious seafood, dancing, and friends. The event will include stories from AMCC members, current and former board members, and staff. A live auction and great music by MELISSA MITHCELL will follow! Get your tickets today at www.akmarine.brownpapertickets.com and share the event with friends at www.facebook.come/events. If you're interested in being more involved in the event as a volunteer or speaker, please call 907 - 277 - 5352 .

**December 11The GREAT LAND TRUST WINTER CELEBRATION will be held from 6 to 8pm in the Anchorage Museum Atrium, 625 C Street. Together we will celebrate our recent successes, award local conservation heroes, and raise funds for land and water conservation projects, including the Bodenburg Butte! Free garage parking available. Please RSVT to Shannon Kuhn at Shannon@greatlandtrust.org. For more information, contact lkugel@greatlandtrust.org, (907) 278-4998 or go to www.greatlandtrust.org.

**December 11CHUGIAK - The Anchorage FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE – GAME SUBCOMMITTEE will meet at the CMM office, 18743 Old Glenn Highway, at 7pm. Agenda includes review of the Central/Southwest Region, Region IV proposals starting with Proposal 39. For more information contact Frank Neumann at 529-0892.

**December 14

ANCHORAGE SCIENCE PUB will meet at 4pm at the Taproot. A JOURNEY OF A THOUSAND LIGHT YEARS BEGINS is the topic for ANDREAS TZIOLAS, president and co-founder, Icarus Interstellar. While the recent achievements of SpaceX might lead some to think that space exploration sans government agencies is a recent development, it actually dates to the early 1900's. Icarus Interstellar, incorporated in 2011, is one non-governmental organization working on space exploration and has as its goal interstellar travel by 2100. Tziolas will tell us about the origins, the people, and the projects that make up Icarus Interstellar.

**December 14SITE TOUR: RAVENS' ROOST NEIGHBORHOOD at 2560 Mountain Brook Court (park on wooded side of street), 2:00 to 5:00pm, free of charge. Come see our 6-acre site for more SUSTAINABLE LIVING. Ravens’ Roost is custom designed for residents to get to know each other while maintaining personal privacy. Enjoy your own full-featured home and private back yard as well as shared gardens, workshop, kids’ play areas, and extensive green space. The high quality, energy-efficient town homes are oriented to maximize southern exposure. Close to the Hillside trails, across the street from 400-acre Ruth Arcand Park, half-mile walk to shopping at Abbott & Lake Otis. Perfect for families, snowbirds, and those looking to reduce their ecological footprint. 18 homes reserved 17 available – we need a few more reservations to break ground this spring. After the land tour, stroll a block to our architect's house, meet more future residents, enjoy refreshments, see our architectural renderings and a 3-D model of our site. Kids warmly welcome! 907-399-2051, www.ravensroostcoho.org.

**December 16CHUGIAK - The Anchorage FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE SUBCOMMITTEE will meet at the CMM office, 18743 Old Glenn Highway, at 7pm to discuss the upcoming legislative session. For more information contact Steve Flory at 727-3762.

**December 17THE RESEARCH VESSEL SIKULIAQ is the topic at the BLM Fireside Chat with DAN OLIVER, Director of the UAF Seward Research Center at 7pm at the Campbell Creek Science Center, 5600 Science Center Drive. There’s only one ice-capable oceanographic research ship in the entire US academic research fleet. It’s the Research Vessel Sikuliaq and it will soon be plying the North Pacific and Arctic Oceans under the direction of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Able to crunch through ice two-and-a-half feet thick, Sikuliaq is designed to help scientists travel through the often ice-clogged waters off Alaska. Come learn about the development and construction of Sikuliaq, get an overview of all the ship can do, and find out the role Sikuliaq will play as part of the U.S. academic research fleet. Please call 267-1241 for more information.

MEETINGS & EVENTS OUT OF ANCHORAGE

December 3 – 8CORDOVA - The ALASKA BOARD OF FISHERIES BOARD will meet at the Mt. Eccles Elementary School, 201 Adams Street, to consider 57 PROPOSALS REGARDING PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND AND UPPER COPPER AND UPPER SUSITNA RIVERS FINFISH ISSUES submitted by the general public, fishing organizations, local Fish and Game Advisory Committees, and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game. All portions of the meeting are open to the public and a live audio stream is intended to be available on the Board of Fisheries website at www.boardoffisheries.adfg.alaska.gov. Documents submitted to the board are intended to be posted online throughout the meeting. Copies of advanced meeting materials, including the agenda and roadmap, are available from Boards Support Section at 907-465-4110 or online at http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=fisheriesboard.meetinginfo. See http://www.adfg.alaska.gov/index.cfm?adfg=process.comments for details on public comment.

December 5FAIRBANKS - FAIRBANKS LEGISLATIVE OFFICE OPEN HOUSE will be held from 4:30 to 6:30pm at the Alaska USA Financial Center Building, 1292 Sadler Way. Meet legislators and legislative staff before the upcoming session begins in January. Enjoy refreshments and learn about the services provided by the Fairbanks Legislative Information Office (LIO).

December 6FAIRBANKS - CLIMATE CHANGE YOUTH ACTIVIST TRAINING will be presented by FAYEA (FAIRBANKS ALASKA YOUTH FOR ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION) from 10am to 4pm at The Folk School, 2861 Beverly Lane. Young people are leading the fight against climate change! Learn about what climate change is, how it is affecting Alaska, and what we can do about it. This is a free event and lunch is provided! To sign up or to get more information, email Shannyn at birdgirl@arcticmail.com.

December 6FAIRBANKS – ALASKA SEA GRANT HOLIDAY OPEN HOUSE will be held from 2 to 6pm, 903 Koyukuk Drive. Come see Alaska Sea Grant's new location in the Elvey Building, suite 201. The Alaska Sea Grant bookstore and GI Geodata Center will offer 25% off selected publications, maps, and other products. LARS will be offering qiviut and other muskox and caribou items for sale. The GI Mather Library will have a book sale and you can get a GI hoodie or an Alaska Volcano Observatory T-shirt. IARC has giveaways for the kids and self-guided walking tours of the GI will also be available.

Come enjoy the refreshments, and be sure to sign up for door prizes! This event is open to the public. Parking is free after 5pm.

December 9JUNEAU - Public workshop will be held from 4:30 to 7pm in the UAS Egan Classroom Wing, Room 221 (Glacier View Room) to discuss the proposal to RESURFACE, RESTORE & REHABILITATE GLACIER HIGHWAY BETWEEN MILEPOST (MP) 15.8 & MP 17.4. The proposed project would: Provide a 34 ft paved width, with 11 ft wide travel lanes & 6 ft wide shoulders; Remove and replace existing asphalt; Rebuild the base and sub-base in areas of failure; Replace culverts and construct new drainage ditches; Relocate, replace, or add new: utilities, guardrail, signs and mailboxes; Construct new retaining walls as required; Clear roadside vegetation to improve sight distance; Adjust driveway approaches to match new grades; and Widen the existing embankment as required. Construction is projected for 2015 or later. For more information or to submit comments, contact Hilary Lindh, Environmental Analyst, at 465-6564 or email Hilary.lindh@alaska.gov.

December 10PALMER – THE ROLE of RESEARCH in MANAGING ALASKA’S CARIBOU will be presented by NICK DEMMA of AK Dept. of Fish & Game from 7 to 8 pm in Room 103, Frank & Sara Machetanz Building, 8295 College Drive (off Trunk Road). This presentation will focus on how annual caribou research and management activities conducted by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game are utilized to evaluate the health and status of caribou herds. The case of the Mulchatna caribou herd, which is now showing signs of recovering from a significant population decline in the mid 1990’s, will be examined in detail.

December 10PETERSBURG - The PETERSBURG FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting in the Assembly Chambers at 6:30pm. Agenda items may include: Elections and Board of Fisheries Proposals for the 2014-15 meeting cycle, including shellfish proposals. For more information, contact Robert Pearson at 907.465.6097 or email Robert.pearson@alaska.gov.

December 10FAIRBANKS - The FAIRBANKS FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting in the Yukon Quest Room at the Alpine Lodge at 6:30pm. Agenda items will include: ADF&G Staff Update; BOF PWS Update; BOG: SE comments finalized; Discuss Subcommittee Meeting Dates for Central/Southwest Proposals. For more information, contact Nissa Pilcher at 907-459-7263 or email nissa.pilcher@alaska.gov.

**December 10HOMER - The HOMER SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD OF SUPERVISORS will at 5pm at the USDA Service Center; 4014 Lake Street.

December 10FAIRBANKS - TOWN HALL MEETING of the NORTH STAR BOROUGH ASSEMBLY will be held from 7 to 10pm in the Borough Assembly Chambers to address AIR QUALITY

December 10CANTWELL – The DENALI FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold an election meeting at 7 pm at the Cantwell School Library. Also on the agenda will be preparation of comments on the Central / SW Region BOG proposals and any other business that may properly come before the committee. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Don Holum at 768-2900.

**December 10KODIAK – The Kodiak SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD of SUPERVISORS will meet at 5:30 in the Kodiak SWCD conference room Suite 206, 518 W. Marine Way.

**December 11WRANGELL - The WRANGELL FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a meeting at 7pm at the Fire Hall. The meeting agenda includes shellfish proposals, pages 37 thru 80 in the Board of Fisheries proposal book. For further information, contact Robert Pearson at 907.465.6097 or email robert.pearson@alaska.gov

**December 11POINT HOPE – Public scoping meeting will be held from 1 to 4pm at the Qalgi Building to take comments on the proposed POINT HOPE RUNWAY REALIGNMENT PROJECT to realign the existing runway and construct other improvements. The improvements are necessary to reestablish standard Runway Safety Area (RSA) dimensions and maintain the existing level of service for the community. As existing runway pavement has exceeded its design life and will require rehabilitation independent of runway realignment, the proposed action will also reestablish safe and efficient surfacing for aviation operations. DOT&PF is conducting formal scoping to support the FAA with preparation of an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed action and is requesting assistance identifying environmental, cultural, historic, subsistence and other resources that may be impacted by the proposed action, as well as

any other information valuable to the environmental documentation process. Details of the proposed project, preliminary research on environmental impacts, figures of the project area and comment forms are available at http://dot.alaska.gov/nreg/phoairport/. For more information or to submit comments, contact Project Manager Albert Beck at (907) 451-2276 or email albert.beck@alaska.gov.

December 11SEWARD - The SEWARD FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will meet at 7 pm in the Seward Council chambers. Agenda will include preparation of comments on the Southcentral Region Board of Game proposals, and any other business that may properly come before the committee. The public is encouraged to attend. For more information contact Jim McCracken at 224-3701.

**December 12FAIRBANKS - The FAIRBANKS METROPOLITAN AREA TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM (FMATS) POLICY SUBCOMMITTEE will meet at 1:30pm in the 2nd Floor FMATS Conference Room, Fairbanks City Hall, 800 Cushman Street. The purpose of the meeting is to develop an FMATS policy manual. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend. For more information, contact Donna Gardino, MPO Coordinator, at donna.gardino@fmats.us or call (907) 459-6786.

**December 12 (TELECONFERENCE AVAILABLE)KETCHIKAN - The MARINE TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY BOARD will hold a board meeting at the Ketchikan Best Western Plus Landing, in the Sunny Point Ball Room. The meeting will begin at 9am with a lunch break from 11:45am to 1:15pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person or via teleconference. To access the meeting via teleconference please call 1-800-315-6338 and use conference code 39021.

December 12PALMER - VMBAH'S (VALLEY MOUNTAIN BIKERS & HIKERS) HOLIDAY PARTY and MEMBERSHIP DRIVE will be held from Noon until 8pm at Backcountry Bike & Ski. For more information, call (907) 746-6010 for go to https://www.facebook.com/ValMtnBikersHikers.

December 13SEWARD – SEWARD CLIMATE CHANGE YOUTH ACTIVIST TRAINING will be held from 10:30am to 4pm at the Seward Library, 239 6th Avenue. . Alaska Youth for Environmental Action, a youth-led program of the Alaska Center for the Environment, is hosting a community organizing training for young people who are down to fight climate change! We'll be learning more about climate change, what AYEA youth from across the

state are doing to fight it, and taking action! Free dinner included! RSVP at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Zw61VoHEWB1ix89bPu98Xabw385tWgHQEgW8MCp1ymc/viewform or call 907-264-3640 for more information.

**December 17TOK - The UPPER TANANA FORTYMILE FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting in the Tok Fish and Game Conference Room on at 7pm. Agenda items include: Old Business: o Further Discussion on Sheep Proposals before the Board of Game Comments due January 30. New Business: Discuss November 19th Sheep meeting in Fairbanks; Comment on Central Southwest proposals before the Board of Game, Comments Due January 30. For more information, contact Nissa Pilcher at 907-459-7263 or email nissa.pilcher@alaska.gov.

**December 17DELTA JUNCTION - The DELTA FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting in the Delta City Hall Conference Room at 6:30pm. Agenda items are unknown at this time. For more information contact Nissa Pilcher at 907.459.7263 or email nissa.pilcher@alaska.gov.

**December 18 (TELECONFERENCE AVAILABLE)St. MARYS - The MID-LOWER YUKON FISH & GAME ADVISORY COMMITTEE will hold a public meeting at St. Mary's City Hall at 1pm. Agenda will include: Review terms and discuss election of expired members and alternates; Choose date/location for face to face meeting; Review potential Boards of Fisheries and Game issues and deadlines. Please call 1-800-504-8071 code 5432709 to participate by teleconference if you cannot come in person. For more information, contact Holly Carroll, Western Region Coordinator, at 907-543-1677 or email holly.carroll@alaska.gov.

**December 18WASILLA – The WASILLA SOIL & WATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT BOARD of SUPERVISORS will meet at 9:30am at 5751 E. Mayflower Court. For more information, contact Chuck Kaucic at 357-4511.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

**The Alaska Division of Oil and Gas has published a THIRD-PARTY REVIEW of DISMANTLEMENT, REMOVAL and REMEDIATION (DR&R) POLICIES and PROCEDURES in DOMESTIC and FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS. DR&R can include removal of roads, facilities and pipelines, plugging and abandonment of wells,

and environmental restoration work. The report, titled Decommissioning, Removal and Restoration Regulatory Review, is available on the Division’s website at http://dog.dnr.alaska.gov/ContactUs/Documents/DRR_ReportArccadis_20141128.pdf.

**The MUNICIPALITY OF ANCHORAGE is SEEKING CITIZENS TO SERVE ON BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS. Each October, approximately one third (about 150) of the seats on municipal boards and commissions are appointed. Nearly all appointments are made for a three-year term. Throughout the year vacancies occur on many of our boards and commissions. Applications are kept on hand as a resource for those vacancies. You may apply at any time. For more information, go to http://www.muni.org/Departments/Mayor/Boards/Pages/default.aspx

** A recently released report from the University of Alaska Fairbanks offers the FIRST HOLISTIC PICTURE of CURRENT and PLANNED OIL and GAS INDUSTRY INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGHOUT NORTHERN ALASKA. It is available at the North by 2020 website at http://www.iarc.uaf.edu/en/NX2020/current-projects/oil. The report offers a comprehensive way for the layperson to understand oil and gas infrastructure in the state. The report divides northern Alaska into regions and provides information about existing, planned and proposed oil and gas and commercial transportation infrastructure in each region. In addition, it provides an overview of the history, current conditions and plausible future extent of industrial infrastructure in the state. Future development include extensive increases in a wide variety of infrastructure, including structures, wells, roads and pipelines.

To know more about dealing with noxious and invasive plants CNIPM (ALASKA’S COMMITTEE for NOXIOUS and INVASIVE PLANT MANAGEMENT) HAS CREATED a FACEBOOK PAGE to follow. CNIPM is a committee comprised of multiple government and non-profit agencies trying to raise awareness statewide about invasive plants. The facebook is located at https://www.facebook.com/AKinvasiveplants.

Now to March 13NATIONAL PARK SERVICE is offering FREE, INTERACTIVE, DISTANCE LEARNING PROGRAMS to help classes learn about this special place and enhance existing curriculums. Denali education rangers will teleport themselves via Skype into classrooms to present fun, standards-based science lessons on sled dog adaptations (3rd - 5th grades) and the geology of Mt. McKinley (4th - 6th grades). They also offer the “Ask an Alaskan” program (K - 12th grades) where students explore and discover what it is like to live and work in Denali National Park and Preserve and Alaska. The programs are available Monday - Friday, beginning November 3 through March 13, 2015. Registration is now open, and forms for scheduling groups and teaching materials are posted on the

web at http://www.nps.gov/dena/forteachers/learning/index.htm . Programs are designed to meet national teaching standards. PROGRAMS: The Science of Sled Dogs - Grades 3-5; Students explore adaptations that make Denali's sled dogs well-suited to living and working in subarctic winter conditions. Denali: The High One (Geology of the Mountain) - Grades 4-6; Students explore the dynamic geologic processes that have created the tallest mountain in North America. Ask an Alaskan: Living and Working in Denali - Grades K-12; Students explore and discover about life in Alaska and many various topics in this informal question and answer session. For more information, contact the park’s education staff at DENA_education@nps.gov.

WARMER THAN NORMAL WATERS in the GULF OF ALASKA surprised scientists who have studied the waters over the shelf south of Seward for the past 17 years. During a September cruise, the team found the upper 300 feet to be 1 to 5 degrees warmer than the September averages of 55-57°F. They also found warm-water species of plankton, a vital food for fish and other marine life, farther north than usual. Warmer temperatures along the transect known as the “Seward Line” are partly a result of an unusual winter that left the Gulf’s offshore waters warmer than normal. A warm-water anomaly in the tropical Pacific Ocean may have added to the rise in temperatures. Other research teams in Alaska this summer have found warmer waters from Southeast Alaska through the Bering Sea. The Seward Line continues to be the sentinel long-term monitoring site in the Gulf of Alaska, helping scientists understand the details of what is happening in the waters over the Alaska shelf and, most importantly, its biological consequences. A consortium made up of the North Pacific Research Board, Alaska Ocean Observing System and the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council provides funding for the observation program. For more information on the Seward Line can be found at: https://www.sfos.uaf.edu/sewardline/.

VOLUNTEER and BOARD OPPORTUNITIES

The CAMPBELL CREEK SCIENCE CENTER is recruiting a VISTA VOLUNTEER to help us better reach out and engage economically disadvantaged youth and their families. In addition to gaining great experience writing grants, developing outreach programs, building partnerships, and more, the person we recruit will be paid a monthly stipend (~$1,200/month), earn an education award (at the end of their service), and enjoy student loan forbearance. The person must be a US citizen and must have at least a bachelor's degree. Applications will be accepted beginning immediately and will be accepted until we fill the position. However, we must have selected someone by December 12   so we encourage people to apply as soon as possible. Selected individual will start work in February. For more information, go to http://www.doivista.org/showProjectRecord.cfm?ProjectID=104

PRINCE WILLIAM SOUND RESOURCE ADVISORY COUNCIL (RAC) ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS to ADVISE the FOREST SERVICE on PROJECTS THAT PROTECT AND ENHANCE the OUTSTANDING NATURAL RESOURCES of YOUR NATIONAL FOREST AND SURROUNDING AREA. The Prince William Sound RAC will work collaboratively to advise the Forest on projects funded by the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act. There are 8 positions that need to be filled. Individuals who live in the Prince William Sound area (Cordova, Valdez, Tatitlek, Chenega, and Whittier) and are interested in serving on the Prince William Sound RAC can pick up an application at the Cordova Ranger District office at 612 2nd Street or call 907 424-7661 to have one mailed. Contact Nancy O’Brien or Robert Skorkowsky at 424-7661 for more information.

CLINIC AND OFFICE VOLUNTEERS WANTED for the BIRD TREATMENT AND LEARNING CENTER (BIRD TLC) are needed. Clinic volunteers provide rehabilitation and care for sick and injured birds, from chickadees to bald eagles. Office volunteers will be involved in a variety of activities, including helping with intake procedures, answering phones, preparing mailings, word processing, database entry, etc. If you’re interested, please email office@birdtlc.net or call us at 907-562-4852. We look forward to working with you. BOARD MEMBERS WANTED for the BIRD TREATMENT AND LEARNING CENTER (BIRD TLC) whose mission is to present living science education that instills understanding and appreciation for wild birds and their habitats, and to provide primary medical treatment, rehabilitative care, and potential release for sick and injured wild birds. Each year more than 500 wild birds from all over Alaska are treated at the Bird TLC clinic in Anchorage. Our educational presenters provide 250+ programs every year, reaching communities and creating awareness for wild birds and their habitats. For more information, email director@birdtlc.net, call us at 907-562-4852, or visit us at www.birdtlc.net.

APPLICANTS SOUGHT for SUBSISTENCE REGIONAL ADVISORY COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP to fill seats on the 10 Subsistence Regional Advisory Councils. Council membership appointments are typically 3-year terms. There are approximately 35 seats open for appointment among all Councils. The Councils meet at least twice a year and provide critical advice to the Federal Subsistence Board on subsistence management issues. Council meetings serve as a forum for regional public involvement in Federal subsistence management. Council members must be knowledgeable about the uses of fish and wildlife resources in their region. Individuals may apply for membership themselves, or an individual or organization may nominate someone for Council membership. The Federal Subsistence Board is accepting applications through January 23, 2015.The application form and information about the application process and the Subsistence

Regional Advisory Councils is available on the Federal Subsistence Management Program's website at www.doi.gov/subsistence/index.cfm. For more information, contact Carl Johnson at the Office of Subsistence Management at (800) 478-1456 or (907) 786-3676.

ALASKA QUIET RIGHTS COALITION (AQRC) is looking for people to SERVE on their BOARD. The Alaska Quiet Rights Coalition (AQRC) is a grassroots organization that works to assure there will always be quiet places to recreate and enjoy in Alaska. The board meets once a month and meetings can be attended in person or by teleconference. Join a motivated (not to mention fun!) group of individuals who care and work to plan for and protect areas of quiet. We need you! If interested please contact AQRC at president@alaskaquietrights.org. The SOUTHEAST ALASKA WATERSHED COALITION is seeking volunteers interested to serve on the COALITION’S BOARD of DIRECTORS. In order to stay true to our core principle of building a voice for communities we believe this Coalition should be steered by regional leaders and community professionals who work to protect, promote and restore our region’s watersheds. Candidates should align with the Coalition’s mission of inspiring Southeast Alaskans and supporting community organizations working toward the wise management of Southeast Alaska’s watersheds. The Board of Directors is expected to guide and implement the mission and strategic direction of SAWC. As a governing board, roles and duties include providing overall organizational leadership such as setting policies and procedures, providing financial oversight, and working to ensure the organization has adequate resources (money, staff, and equipment) to achieve its mission. Board meetings are held via teleconference every other month, for a total of six (6) meetings per year, with at least one in-person meeting annually. Much of our governing functions occur during Board meetings. If you are passionate about the local stewardship of our region’s watershed resources and have a desire to work collaboratively across a range of stakeholders to achieve a balanced use of our resources in order to benefit our communities, economies, and quality of life in Southeast Alaska, please consider contributing your time and talents to this regional effort! Interested candidates please contact: Brad Ryan, Executive Director, at (907) 314-0477 or Brad.ryan@sawcak.org or got to www.alaskawatershedcoalition.org for more information.

BIRD TREATMENT and LEARNING CENTER is seeking individuals TO SERVE ON OUR BOARD of DIRECTORS. Join an exciting and dynamic organization dedicated to living science education, and to rehabilitation of sick and injured wild birds. Contact office@birdtlc.net or 907-562-4852 for more information.  INTERNSHIPS

**SUMMER EDUCATION INTERN with ALASKA GEOGRAPHIC at the MURIE SCIENCE and LEARNING CENTER in DENALI NATIONAL PARK AND PRESERVE. Alaska Geographic partners with the National Park Service to offer education programs and visitor services through the Murie Science and Learning Center. We are seeking someone interested in an entry level position as an environmental and science educator at the Murie Science and Learning Center for the summer 2015 Season. Interns are involved in educational programs, administrative duties, front desk operations, and program logistics for multi-day seminars. Internship includes room & board and a weekly stipend. The season begins late April/early May and ends early September. Application deadline is January 31. For more information visit: http://www.alaskageographic.org/category/24/employment

POSITIONS AVAILABLE

**ASSISTANT DIRECTOR for the YUKON RIVER INTER-TRIBAL WATERSHED COUNCIL, ALASKA REGION. Start date: January 15. Salary DOE.Send resume & cover letter to info@yritwc.org. Related Environmental andTribal Experience required. For more information, go to yritwc.org.

**ASSISTANT BOOKKEEPER for the YUKON RIVER INTER-TRIBAL, AK REGION in Fairbanks. Start date: January 15. Salary: DOE. Send Resume and cover letter to info@yritwc.org. Prior book keeping experience. For more information, go to yritwc.org.

** DIRECTOR OF PHILANTHROPY for The NATURE CONSERVANCY based in Anchorage, for a highly skilled professional fundraiser and an excellent team member. This person should be a compelling storyteller and a strong service-oriented networker who will manage a portfolio of donors in support of Alaska, North America and global conservation priorities. The Associate Director will work closely with the Alaska development team to implement and coordinate effective multi-year strategies and plans for gift prospects, with a primary focus on individuals and foundations, and a few corporations. Contact Cynthia Beckwith at cbeckwith@tnc.org for more information. For a complete job description and to apply, please visit http://www.nature.org/careers and search for job ID# 42641 in the keyword search. Deadline to apply is December 23 Please make sure to include a cover letter along with your resume when applying.

**SUMMER SCIENCE EDUCATOR with ALASKA GEOGRAPHIC at the MURIE SCIENCE AND LEARNING CENTER in DENALI NATIONAL PARK & PRESERVE. Alaska Geographic partners with the National Park Service to offer education programs and visitor services through the Murie Science and Learning Center.

We are seeking highly qualified educators and naturalists for a summer of learning, exploration, sharing and fun. The primary responsibility of instructional staff will be the delivery of informative and engaging science-based programs that will leave visitors with a lasting connection to Denali and an appreciation of scientific research in the wilderness. Pay rate dependent upon experience, starting at $20 per hour; some housing is available. The season begins late April/early May and ends early September. Application deadline is January 31. For more information, go to http://www.alaskageographic.org/category/24/employment

**ENVIRONMENTAL COORDINATOR for the GEORGETOWN TRIBAL COUNCIL, the Tribal government for the Native Village of Georgetown, has an immediate opening for an Environmental Coordinator (EC) in our Anchorage office. The EC will direct all environmental oversight related to the Tribe’s lands, including water quality mapping studies and other monitoring of mining and other projects which affect the water, air quality, fish, plant and wildlife along the Kuskokwim River. The EC will oversee the Tribes EPA Indian General Assistance Program and environmental master plan, prepare technical and other reports, work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), manage the Tribal environmental committee, and seek grant funding. The EC will travel to the Kuskokwim region quarterly to track environmental changes and attend meetings on behalf of the Tribe. Qualifications: The ideal candidate will have education or experience in science or environmental studies, possess solid writing skills, have experience in grant writing and have a basic understanding of subsistence and mining issues. A familiarity with Native culture and non-profits is preferred. An ideal candidate should have a bachelors degree in a related field, however the Council may train the right person who is motivated, has professional writing skills, a professional attitude and attention to detail. Salary: DOE. Full benefit package includes medical, dental and paid leave. To apply, send your resume to Georgetown Tribal Council5313 Arctic Blvd, Suite 104 Anchorage, AK 99518 or email will.hartman@georgetowntc.com. Application deadline is December 16. For more information, go to www.georgetowntc.com/environmental.

** The CENTER for ALASKAN COASTAL STUDIES is hiring for spring and summer positions! As an ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATOR, NATURALIST, or INTERN, you’ll have the opportunity to share your energy, knowledge, and curiosity for the natural world by leading educational programs for children, school groups, and visitors to Alaska. A non-profit environmental education and stewardship organization, the Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies’ mission is to foster responsible interaction with our natural surroundings and to generate knowledge of the unique ecosystems of Kachemak Bay. Our seasonal staff and work at the Wynn Nature Center (a 140-acre boreal forest preserve) and the semi-remote Peterson Bay Field Station. Qualified applicants are energetic and flexible, have background in environmental education and

forest and/or marine ecology, and the maturity to live in group situations. Benefits include compensation of $1,300 - $1,800 per month DOE and housing. To apply please submit a cover letter, resume, and contact information for 3 professional references to jobs@akcoastalstudies.org by January 12. Please indicate in both the cover letter and e-mail subject line the positions for which you are applying. For more information, go to Center for Alaskan Coastal Studies

ALASKA FORUM for the ENVIRONMENT YOUTH TRACK COORDINATOR for the ALASKA NATURAL RESOURCE & OUTDOOREDUCATION ASSOCIATION to develop and execute activities and coordinate a service learning project for youth ages 13 – 17, attending at the Alaska Forum on the Environment in Anchorage, February 9-13. Compensation: A contract in the amount of $2700 will be issued to cover pre-conference activity planning, working with the students on site at AFE, and follow up with each group one month after AFE to trouble shoot project planning. For more information, contact Laurel Devaney at 907-456-0558 or email Laurel_devaney@fws.gov. Deadline: December 8.

BECOME a Green CLEANING SERVICE TEAM MEMBER with ALASKA COMMUNITY ACTION on TOXICS. ACAT is looking for team members for our Green Cleaning Service to help us clean homes and offices using all non-toxic materials and methods assuring both your safety and the people in the homes and offices. We have flexible hours, GREAT PAY, a safe and clean work environment, and GREAT people to work with. Position starts at $11/hr. Email us now with your resume and interest at holly@akaction.org.

VISITOR CENTER MANAGER for the ALASKA MARITIME NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE -GS -9/11 PARK RANGER in Homer. Be part of a team of visitor services professionals, providing interpretation and education for a 3.4 million acre refuge that includes the spectacular volcanic islands of the Aleutian chain, the seabird cliffs of the remote Pribilof Islands, and icebound lands washed by the Chukchi Sea. We’re seeking a superb communicator, an effective leader, and a skillful collaborator. The best applicant will be energetic, skilled at both prioritizing and multi-tasking. This state-of-the-art facility is 10 years old, and ready for your fresh input and ideas. As the Visitor Center Manager you’ll: facilitate partnerships; coordinate special events; manage programming and meeting facility; coordinate interns, volunteers, and seasonal staff; and create fliers and exhibits. To apply: go to http://bit.ly/AlaskaVC_AllCitizens or http://bit.ly/AlaskaVC_CurrentFeds.

ENVIRONMENTAL SPECIALIST for R&M CONSULTANTS, INC. within the Earth Sciences Department. The successful applicant will support ongoing regulatory compliance, permitting, environmental baseline monitoring, Phase I and II environmental

site assessments and general contaminated sites work, NEPA impact analysis, SWPPP implementation, and other related environmental services. Please refer to R&M’s Careers page for additional details and how to apply: http://rmconsult.com/job-posting/environmental-specialist/.

REGIONAL OPERATIONS MANAGER for the ALASKA GEOGRAPHIC to lead educational retail operations in over 10 locations throughout the state of Alaska. This is a highly seasonal business, as most of our sales happen from May to September. This is a full time position based in Anchorage, Alaska. An outstanding complement of employee benefits includes Aetna medical after 3 months of employment, at an employee cost of only $10 per month, 2 ½ weeks paid vacation to start, employer-paid long term disability and life insurance, outstanding employer funded retirement plan, and fully employer-paid dental. The annual salary for this position is based on experience, and will range from $35,000 to $42,000. Responsibilities: Recruit, train and develop retail store associates who engage visitors and help connect them to Alaska. Order and manage high quality educational inventory, and keep it at sustainable levels to ensure profitability. Use and manage Point of Sales system. Manage pricing and merchandising, ensuring that display areas are designed to promote sales. Set sales projections and drive sales. Manage money. Ensure deposits are made in a timely manner and keep financial records. Maintain strong relationships with agency staff, Alaska Geographic colleagues, and vendors. Qualifications: Four years of retail work experience, with two year’s experience in retail management. Bachelor’s degree in business desirable. A strong track record as an implementer who thrives on managing a variety of key initiatives concurrently. Relationship builder with the flexibility and finesse to "manage by influence". Self-starter, able to work independently, and entrepreneurial; enjoys creating and implementing new initiatives. Working knowledge of computers. Mathematical ability. Valid driver’s license and ability to travel independently, overnight, by air, sea or automobile, to various locations within Alaska. To Apply: send a resume and letter expressing interest and detailing how your background and experience lends itself to this position to: Joe Luttrell, Director of Retail Operations at akgeojobs@alaskageographic.org. Please, no phone calls or third parties. Position is open until filled. EOE. To RECEIVE What's Up, or to ADD meetings, events, publications, deadlines, websites, or CHANGE EMAIL ADDRESS or UNSUBSCRIBE, contact Peg Tileston at pegt@gci.net.