BOARD CHAIR LETTER
I’ m writing this after just returning from our annual CHARR Convention. Hopefully, you are one of our CHARR members who got to experience the great convention we had in Fairbanks this year. The work that Interior CHARR and our own CHARR staff put into the convention really showed in the fantastic speakers and great events this year. If you haven’ t
attended a CHARR convention yet, or if you missed this one, I highly recommend you start planning now for next year’ s convention in Anchorage. I ' m sure it ' ll be even better than this year ' s.
Along with our convention at this time of year, we also hold a regular board meeting. One goal of this meeting is to certify new board members, and this year we elected a new Executive Committee for the CHARR board. We hold elections each year for half of the director’ s seats and every other year for officer elections. The two-year term of the officers coincides with the legislative session, as we will be starting the 35th legislative session this year; new officers were confirmed.
Starting with the new year in 2027, your new officers will be: Chairman: RobertMcCormick, Orso / Glacier Brewhouse Vice Chair: John Blasco, Anchorage Distilling Treasurer: Steven Kantor, 49er Bar and Liquor Store Secretary: Amber Glasser, Mat-Su Resort
With this new executive team and your President / CEO, BreeAnna Erickson, in place, I am extremely confident that CHARR will continue to grow in support of our industry through Education, Training, and Advocacy. BreeAnna has already introduced us to new possibilities while streamlining the organization in the time I ' ve worked with her, and I’ m sure that, with the new faces on the executive committee and the knowledge they bring to the table, CHARR ' s offerings to our membership will continue to grow. One thing that came up multiple times at this year ' s convention is our push for Dram shop reform to make it easier and more affordable for our members to obtain insurance. We made headway last year, but the political machine didn’ t let us get it over the finish line in the 34th legislative session. This year, I believe we are in a good position to pass this needed reform. However, this also depends on our members ' participation. Always remember the highest impact on legislators comes from their local constituents.
As CHARR we can and will meet with all the key players multiple times, making sure they understand the need for this reform. However, nothing is more compelling for them than hearing that need from neighbors who have a vote to put them in office. If you didn’ t have an opportunity at convention to contact our Member Services Manager, Zackary, and give him your email to enroll in the new Quorum advocacy and coalition-building platform please take a minute now to get in contact with him and do so. CHARR will use Quorum this year to organize our industry ' s voice. This new software will help us track bills and legislators more strategically and get the right members to communicate with their legislators to have the most impact and accomplish the legislative goals our industry needs.
Thank you to everyone who joined us at this year’ s convention. We’ re grateful to the members who stepped up to run for a board seat or officer position and those who have served in past years. I also want to thank those now who will step forward this year, enroll in Quorum, and help achieve the reforms we need to pass through the legislature. As always, it’ s the combined strength and participation of our membership that allows for the quickest change in legislation we need.
Sincerely,
Paul Thomas Chairman of the Board