Members of District 17, the state of Alaska have a reputation for doing things a bit differently from other districts. In keeping with this, their annual conference reflects their sense of individualism and adventurous spirit.

This year the conference was held in Valdez, AK. In the winter, air transportation is not reliable as the airport can be shut down by weather. So, getting members to Valdez became part of the conference experience and a real adventure.

Members from Juneau and the "southeast" area of Alaska were transported by C-130 to Anchorage. The flight up offered breathtaking scenery and even though the passengers were almost entirely from Alaska, they lined up to take turns looking out the observation ports as mile after mile of snow covered mountains, icy waters and glaciers passed below.

COMO Folkerts Swearing in RADM Olson

After landing in Anchorage, the contingent from Juneau was met by members from other areas and two buses started the four-hundred mile drive to Valdez.

The drive took a route through scenery that the rest of the U.S. associates with Alaska; towering mountains, sheer cliffs, miles of pine forest, frozen waterfalls - so scenic that many stops were provided for photo opportunities. Our bus took advantage of several of these and virtually everyone piled off the bus for photos. There was even a sample of wildlife with several sightings of bald eagles and at one point, a couple of moose who crossed and re-crossed the highway. The trip provided a true Alaskan experience and became a part of the conference experience.

The conference began with opening ceremonies on Friday morning. The conference hall was close to standing room only for remarks by District Commodore, Mike Folkerts, Area Region Commodore (ARCO) for the Pacific Area, Dan Neiderheiser and others.

The keynote speaker, Jeff Johnson, was familiar to most in attendance. Mr. Johnson is the first Boating Law Administrator the state has had. Due in large part to his efforts, the state passed their first boating regulation two years ago. As evidence of the need for legislation, he cited a sobering statistic. From 1991 to 2005, there were 240 fatalities among commercial fishermen. However, this was topped by 348 fatalities among recreational boaters in the same period. In the state the Auxiliary is working closely with state agencies to turn these statistics around. As evidence of the close working relationship, DCO Folkerts was presented with a Certificate of Appreciation from the state for public service in support of boating safety.

RADM Olson Congrats

In the following days, members were offered an opportunity to follow three different "tracks" for training, operations, Trident and commercial fishing vessel examiner training. Between classes and sessions, members of this far-flung district had formal and informal meetings - and fellowship.

The conference ended with the banquet. The District Commander, RADM James Olson, was the keynote speaker and immediately following, became the newest member of the Auxiliary. He was sworn in by District Commodore Folkerts and presented with a set of shoulder boards. RADM Olson can hardly wait to begin his training - and become qualified as a personal watercraft operator.

The following morning, two buses loaded up to begin the drive back to Anchorage. As the sun rose over the mountains, the buses navigated through fog and clouds over Thompson Pass and down into more open highways. At the crossroads in Glenallen, two hours out of Valdez, the buses made a brief stop with chance for final "good-byes" before leaving for different destinations in Anchorage.

In Anchorage the group returning to Juneau was met by a C-130 for the final leg. A measure of the respect the Auxiliary has earned in Alaska was demonstrated by the crew member on the C-130. After the safety briefing, he stated, "we are pleased to be able to provide transportation because of all the work the Auxiliary does to help the active side." Landing in Juneau on a rainy evening, everyone pitched in to unload baggage and conference equipment before leaving for the drive home carrying with them memories of a unique conference.