As all of you know by now, I am departing CIRI at the end of this year after some 30 plus years, nine of which have been serving you as your CEO.  I do not have the words to thank all of you for the many years of support that you have given my staff and me. I have been privileged to serve in the most dynamic position in Alaska, a position whose challenges and difficulties have been matched every single time by unparalleled excitement and success. There is no routine day for the president and CEO of CIRI, as there is no routine day for any leader who serves by virtue of his or her values, beliefs and ability to inspire others.
 
Looking back over my career here at CIRI, there have been so many memorable times. Together we have faced the bad times, as well as the many wonderful shareholder meetings – including a few not so wonderful. In short, there have been so many ups and some downs. I can say without any doubt that I have thoroughly enjoyed my career here. Truly, I have been blessed in a lot of ways. I have had the honor and enjoyment of working with a wonderfully supportive staff without which this company nor I would not have been able to do the things that we did.  I am blessed to have been at the helm during the years of our largest dividend payout and our largest growth period. 
 
My hope is that our new CEO will be able to take CIRI to the next level of growth if given the kind of shareholder support that I have enjoyed.  My greatest wish is that the level and type of dissident actions that CIRI has seen in the past couple of years will subside and the Board will give the kind of support and trust that our new CEO needs to get her vision of the future in place and operational. I have worked hard to lay a foundation upon which the next person can build.
I congratulate the Board on their decision and I know of the many accomplishments that Margie Brown has made in her career. I am even more proud that the Board has selected a shareholder and a woman.

To you, Margie, I say that you pursue your vision with all your vigor for the future of our corporation, remember that you will make mistakes along the way. Don’t get discouraged. Believe me, I have made my share of them. I hope your Board will put their personal agendas behind them and focus on the business and growth that the shareholders elected them for. And finally, always be open and honest with the shareholders, the Board and especially your staff no matter how bad the news. And always share the success with your staff and partners.

We have a lot of very talented shareholders, and to those who made the final CEO candidate list: I commend you for submitting your names and hope you will continue to try to be involved in CIRI. This company needs all the youth and talent that you all have displayed. And I congratulate you on the fine jobs that you have done in building your own careers where you are serving today.
 
To our shareholders, I do have a couple of requests. First, look very carefully at candidates in the future during proxy campaigns and be wary of candidates who promise you large dividends. It takes a majority of the Board to declare a dividend, and the one thing that I have seen over my tenure as your CEO is that the Board has always had the best interest of the shareholders at heart. If there is capital in excess of commitments and future investment needs, the Board will give the shareholders that excess. Any individual candidate who takes credit for getting you the dividend is not being truthful. Second, give your new CEO all the support you can. It is important that the CEO hear from you when she does a good job, and it is important that you let her know when you have concerns.
 
I thank all of you for the many cards, letters, e-mails and phone calls since I announced my retirement. I will always have a soft spot in my heart for CIRI. I will always do anything I can in the future to help Margie continue to make CIRI a success so that our future generations will continue to have a slice of what our generation has enjoyed.

Our mission is to continue to enhance the social and economic well-being of our shareholders. That means that CIRI must continue to focus as much on our non-profits, in health, education and housing as we do on the dividend. We must continue to help our children and our elders. If we as shareholders lose the focus of our mission, we will lose CIRI.

CIRI is one of Alaska’s brightest shining stars. No one who has worked as hard as I have to build CIRI wants to see it torn down. A builder wants to see his work live on.
 
Again, I want to take this last opportunity to thank my wonderful staff for the many years of unselfish service they have given to CIRI and to me. I cannot thank you enough for allowing me the honor of serving you as your president and CEO. I look forward to seeing you all at our shareholder meetings as a shareholder.

I know in my heart that all endings are the beginning of something new. But I also know that goodbye means goodbye. As I say goodbye to you, I look ahead and wish Margie well. I wish CIRI well, and I wish you well.