Positive Strides and Some Continued Challenges
WELCOME
Letter from the Chairman
BY PAUL THOMAS | CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
Positive Strides and Some Continued Challenges
With the publication of this edition , Alaska ’ s 33rd legislative regular session will have wrapped up . Overall , it was a good session for the industry as there were no negative industry-wide bills we had to call on our members to fight . While we
“ didn ’ t get over the finish line with the current pro-industry legislation we worked on this session , we have seen that it is helping to pull the industry together with common goals while also mending some of the fences that were torn down over the many years as we worked through the licensespecific topics during the Title 04 rewrite . I look forward to continuing this positive movement on these bills in the next session .
Now , let ’ s move on to some continued challenges our industry is facing . Hopefully , this isn ’ t popping up in other areas of the state , but Juneau is again facing a citizen initiative to restrict tourism . Some of you may remember that in 2021 , Juneau had to fight three citizen initiative petitions that could have cut cruise traffic by more than 75 %. Well , they are back again . This time , they are aiming
I LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING MANY OF YOU IN KODIAK THIS OCTOBER AND PARTICIPATING IN LIVELY DISCUSSIONS AND TRAINING ON HOW TO TACKLE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES WE ARE
FACING .
to stop ships with a capacity of more than 250 passengers from port calls on Saturdays and the 4th of July . While less impactful than the original petitions a few years ago , losing an estimated 137,000 passengers in Juneau alone would take an estimated $ 32 million in direct spending out of Juneau , not to mention the potential ripple effect to other close communities . Please keep in mind if you see extremism like this growing in your community that acting fast to make the economic and social impacts known is critical . This anti-tourism group , while Juneau-based , would like to put a negative light on tourism statewide if they received enough signatures . Our tourism industry , which the State , City , and supporting organizations have spent years and millions of dollars building could be broken down in a flash . Not to mention the immediate harm it would have done to Juneau and its surrounding communities . Stay diligent and active in the fight against these threats to our businesses and livelihood and remember to stand up for and support our tourism partners .
Finally , staffing continues to be one of the most significant challenges for many of us in recent years . Not only trying to fill positions but the constant turnover , with staff joining and leaving , has made it challenging to maintain an educated and trained workforce . Don ’ t forget as you onboard new staff , that in addition to any in-house training you have them complete , to also enroll your new team members in CHARR ’ s Training for Alcohol Professionals ( TAP ) course . It is of critical importance that your entire team is certified , so be sure to also check on the certification expiration dates of your long-term staff and yourself . Remember that anyone involved in the sale of alcohol in any way , including servers , bartenders , security , managers , owners , and retail clerks , is required by Alaska State law to take and pass the class . Registering and taking the class is easier now than ever , with the Online Webinar class schedules and registration all available on the CHARR website under the EDUCATION & TRAINING heading .
I look forward to seeing many of you in Kodiak this October and participating in lively discussions and training on how to tackle some of the challenges we are facing .
ALASKA CHARR MAGAZINE | 2