Dear all,
This isn’t a comprehensive list, but I thought it might be a good start for announcing the 2012 Conference of Young Alaskans (COYA), to be held January 4-7 in Juneau.
Many of you know COYA, but I wanted to work right now to involve as many of you as possible in this process. The 2012 COYA builds on the success of past Conferences, which in 2006 and 2009 were hosted by the University of Alaska. It has a steering committee formed, and website newly revamped and growing (www.youngalaskans.org).
The application process opened on August 1, and attached you will find a letter of invitation to delegates, as well as an application form. Please feel free to spread these through your many networks. We’ll be working on getting these and other materials to schools very soon.
We are actively looking for partners and sponsors who can help ensure the continued prestige and impact of the Conference of Young Alaskans. Northrim Bank has committed $55,000 – $1,000 for each of the 55 delegates – and we will be approaching others who are committed to this next generation of leaders.
If you have any questions or would like to know more, please contact me. A very early program has been drafted and we will be working to invite speakers, subject matter experts, and established leaders to participate. I hope that you will consider being involved at some level. A more formal invitation will follow.
The 2006 and 2009 Conferences were highly thought of, and delegates who participated remain closely connected to one another, to issues facing the state, and to staying in Alaska to address those issues.
Respectfully,