There are a couple of things I do every single day that help me keep my perspective. When I get ready for work, I remind myself that Congress created Native corporations as a response to the real economic and social needs of Alaska Natives. And once I get to work I look often throughout the day at a painting of the house just up the slough from the bridge in Seldovia where I grew up. It reminds me on a daily basis where I came from, who I am, and what I'm working for.

These are just a couple of the things I do to remind myself that as the president and CEO of CIRI, my job goes beyond my ego. It goes beyond any personal feelings I may have that come as a response to people attacking me and your company with false statements and accusations for whatever we might have done or not done.

As I write this message to you, we have seen continued charges leveled at CIRI in the media. These charges hurt, especially when you consider where they are coming from. But one of the things I have learned over the years is that if you respond in anger - if you get mad back at somebody - you can lose sight of your goals. And if I allowed myself to get mad, I would be thinking of myself and not the good of the company. That's something that I will not do because I believe in CIRI, and I believe in our goals. I've believed in them since I started with CIRI as a land trainee in 1973. I believed in them when I was privileged to be named your president in 1995. I believed in them several years ago when paying out $314 million in a special dividend was just a dream, and I believe in them now, as we set a course for the future.

You are all aware that CIRI has just had a phenomenal year. Our net profit was $432 million for 2001. This success came from a lot of teamwork, planning and hard work. It came because shareholders had patience with CIRI's Board of Directors and management over these recent years as we set a course that has taken us to our current business success buying and selling telecommunications, oilfield services, real estate and other financial investments.

The fact is, CIRI's position is more secure, more sustained and more the result of a well thought out plan than it ever has been. Our corporation has earned the high respect it enjoys throughout Alaska, as a result of the manner in which the company conducts its business operations. I am grateful and humbled that this respect extends all the way to our congressional delegation. Just recently, Sen. Ted Stevens called CIRI a "beacon of success."

CIRI does have a plan for the future, and it's built around the knowledge that in the future we will be a corporation that pays taxes. We can't avoid this, and we are developing strategies that will take this into consideration. Now is the time for us all to take a deep breath, appreciate the gains that have been made and go forward to our future without losing sight of why we are here, which is to continue to enhance the economic and social values of you, the shareholder.

The Board-endorsed slate of candidates is, in my judgment, the choice you should make if you want a strong and stable direction for CIRI's future. It is a vote in favor of all the business knowledge and experience we have garnered over the years. It is a vote to move forward together.

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