Starting Thursday evening, September 10, our D5010 embarks upon a major District-wide project to assist communities across Alaska in building our local economies and making our communities more resilient.  A key focus of DG Joe Kashi's year will be to work with interested Rotary Clubs to help build local economies. Every Rotary Club and Rotarian can participate.  There’s no cost involved with implementing this national award-winning, proven grassroots program and it’s open to every community.  Our first forum features experienced State of Alaska economists Neal Fried and Karinne Wiebold examining Alaska’s current economic situation and how we got here. Join us.  A reminder invitation is emailed to club presidents for distribution to members.

 
 
Starting September 10, 2020, a series of seven bi-monthly state-wide webinars, hosted at 7:00 PM on Thursday nights starting 9/10/2020 through December 3, 2020.  Each will be hosted by DG Kashi and D5010 eClub Rotarian Don Albrecht to spearhead this district-wide effort.  Professor Albrecht will introduce a nationally award-winning grassroots process to build local economies.  There is no cost to Rotarians or Rotary clubs to participate in the five webinars.  Alaska has officially been in an economic recession for the past several years, initially as a result of lower North Slope oil prices.  New State of Alaska data shows an additional 10% or more job loss in the past 12 months alone.
 
We, as District 5010 Rotarians, are among the community and business leaders at the heart of our state.  We can  make a huge positive difference in how well our local communities and economies are positioned for strong future growth and strengthened societies.
 
Over this Rotary year, your District leadership will be working with you, your local Rotary Clubs, and other community groups to help make our communities and economies strong through a well-proven, nationally award-winning, grassroots process to build local economies.  There's no cost. 
 
This is an opportunity for Rotarians and Rotary Clubs to make a major difference in your own community, building a stronger community with good jobs for our children.
 
Our eClub Rotarian Professor Don Albrecht will spearhead our district-wide project.  Professor Albrecht has 40 years experience in this area.  He heads a major federally-funded Western US Institute that works with local communities to rebuild after economic downturns.  Professor Albrecht has just published a major new book about building resilient rural US West economies poised for long-term economic growth.  
 
We'll start with a series of statewide webinar forums every two weeks, beginning Thursday evening, September 10 at 7pm , through December 3, 2020.  Shortly after January 1, we'll start the actual process for every Rotary club and community that wishes to participate.
 
Each forum is scheduled for one hour, with 40 minutes for presentations and then questions.
 
Even if this seems new or daunting to you, don't worry.   We have a great deal of hands-on expert assistance ready to help.  This is a rare opportunity for practical assistance building our local economies from experts with decades of experience.
 
The full Fall forum schedule follows and then the Zoom link.
 
Fall 2020 Building our communities forum schedule:
 
September 10. 2020 at 7pm ADT:   State of Alaska economists Neal Fried and Karrinne Wiebold discuss our current economic situation, how we got here, and Alaska's near-term outlook.
 
September 24, 2020 at 7pm ADT:   Professor Don Albrecht examines 21st Century economic trends and how to build economically resilient communities.
 
October 8, 2020 at 7pm ADT:   Former Commissioner of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development Mike Navarre discusses larger scale Alaska economic development projects.
 
October 22, 2020 at 7pm ADT:  Monica Babine of Washington State University  and Paul Hill of Utah State University examine broadband Internet infrastructure needed for rural areas to thrive in the 21st Century.  The State of Utah recently undertook a statewide effort to upgrade its Internet connectivity to make Utah more economically competitive, with some notable success.  Hear about it on October 22.
 
November 5, 2020 at 7pm ADT:  Kenai Peninsula Borough Emergency Management Director Dan Nelson, Soldotna Rotary Club Past President, outlines a proven FEMA-supported grassroots program to help local communities become more resilient when disasters threaten a community and its economy.
 
November 19, 2020 at 7pm AST:  MIT business school faculty examine labor and employment in the 21st Century economy.
 
December 3, 2020 at 7pm AST:  Practical lessons from communities that succeeded.
 
Here's the Zoom link for the first forum:
 
You are invited to the first of Rotary District 5010's  Zoom webinars on
 
"Rebuilding Alaska's local economies and communities - Where are we now?
 
When: Sep 10, 2020 07:00 PM Alaska
 
Topic: State of Alaska economists Neal Fried and Karrinne Weibold discuss Alaska's current economic situation and near-term jobs and economic outlook.