The Natives invade Fairbanks...and we're ready!
Hello, everybody; I apologize for the lateness, but there was too much stuff going around me other than spending part of my Permanent Fund Dividend on a new camcorder (my third one, and it's DV) and other necessities.
Now, two years ago when we last hosted them, it was a huge success; and this year, we're doing it again. Yes, the Alaska Federation of Natives returns to Fairbanks this week for its 2007 convention at the Carlson Center, and all of Interior Alaska is once again rolling out the welcome mat for the 4,000 or so delegates and visitors from all over the state who are making landfall on the Golden Heart City.
As for the local businesses around town, you can expect them to be on their best behavior at least financially as millions of dollars will be pumped into the economy.
Of course, hosting big-name events in Fairbanks is not new. Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan briefly met at Fairbanks International Airport in the spring of 1984, and it was worldwide news. The annual Top of the World college basketball tournament since 1996 has attracted seven of the best teams from around the country up here to face our Alaska Nanooks. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race made history when they had the 2003 restart at Pike's Landing (where I work). And of course, there was this guy named John Leguizamo...ah, you know.
And now, it's our second AFN convention. I don't know if any of the delegates have blogs like these, but if they're reading this one...I hope you enjoy your time here in Fairbanks. Now if I can find ways to say "So long, and stay strong" in one of our Alaska Native languages...
Hello, everybody; I apologize for the lateness, but there was too much stuff going around me other than spending part of my Permanent Fund Dividend on a new camcorder (my third one, and it's DV) and other necessities.
Now, two years ago when we last hosted them, it was a huge success; and this year, we're doing it again. Yes, the Alaska Federation of Natives returns to Fairbanks this week for its 2007 convention at the Carlson Center, and all of Interior Alaska is once again rolling out the welcome mat for the 4,000 or so delegates and visitors from all over the state who are making landfall on the Golden Heart City.
As for the local businesses around town, you can expect them to be on their best behavior at least financially as millions of dollars will be pumped into the economy.
Of course, hosting big-name events in Fairbanks is not new. Pope John Paul II and President Ronald Reagan briefly met at Fairbanks International Airport in the spring of 1984, and it was worldwide news. The annual Top of the World college basketball tournament since 1996 has attracted seven of the best teams from around the country up here to face our Alaska Nanooks. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race made history when they had the 2003 restart at Pike's Landing (where I work). And of course, there was this guy named John Leguizamo...ah, you know.
And now, it's our second AFN convention. I don't know if any of the delegates have blogs like these, but if they're reading this one...I hope you enjoy your time here in Fairbanks. Now if I can find ways to say "So long, and stay strong" in one of our Alaska Native languages...
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