The evening began with a short business meeting and the vote on a new board member to replace Jana Stewart, who resigned for medical reasons. Sheri Lynn Baxter was elected after a close vote.
Board chairman Leo Keeler announced that Dateline NBC News was considering a follow-up report if the actions of the Board of Game warranted it. People were encouraged to contact their legislators in support of the current game board nominees appointed by Governor Tony Knowles.They are highly regarded as fair, competent individuals who would bring a much needed balance to the Board. Attendees were also encouraged to write or testify against both proposals that propose opening the Douglas River area near McNeil to bear hunting and close the Sanctuary to viewing.
Sanctuary Manager, Larry Aumiller was the featured speaker and presented a wonderful recount of the summer's activites, highlighted by a spectacular slide show. He even had photos of the few brave souls who took sleeping bags to the viewing platform and spent the night out conducting research on how many fish were caught throughout the night.
A non-member from the audience drew the names of the lucky individuals who were selected to go to McNeil River, June 1-6th, as work crew volunteers. They will help with the pre-season trail clearing and repairing, and spend a week around the bears that arrive early. This year, more than 30 volunteers, from as far away as Germany, participated in the drawing. The winners were Michael Cangemi from Pine Ridge, SD; Emily Grew from Sacramento, CA; and Stuart Posner from Paradise Valley, AR. Three standby volunteers were also chosen: Sharon Brittain of Hudson, MI; Clarice Dukeminier of Fairbanks, AK; and Fred Kampfer of Anchorage, AK. Congratulations to all of you!
Larry Aumiller and his wife, Colleen Matt, were also kind enough to donate a framed print by wildlife artist Michael Sieve from Wild Wings that was auctioned at the meeting. After a lively bidding war, Jim Lebiedz was the proud new owner of the lovely print that Larry personalized by autographing the back.