Viewpoints: Letters / Opinions
Thank you, Ketchikan!
By Michelle O'Brien
October 18, 2016
Tuesday AM
Once again, Ketchikan never ceases to amaze as a vibrant and welcoming community. The recent Open World Program delegation from Russia was greeted with open arms; from informative visits with local organizations, to a generosity that is unique to Ketchikan...you cemented the fact that Ketchikan is far and away a community unlike others.
Everywhere our delegation visited went above and beyond to not only tell our Ketchikan story, but to additionally educate the group on how truly outstanding life in SE Alaska is. We do not want to neglect mentioning the wonderful host families who so graciously housed the delegates in their homes.
Each of our delegates expressed how they truly felt at home here in our community, and that they never expected such an experience. Many of them did not want to leave.
Without the efforts of everyone involved in this program, their experience would not have been so successful. We, the members of Rotary in Ketchikan, would like to sincerely thank those organizations, individuals, and businesses, that took part in this historic event.
Kudos should go to the following for their part in making the visit great:
Michael Carney, Director, Ketchikan International Airport
Taquan Air
Alaska Fish House
Boyd Porter, Alaska Fish and Game
Cape Fox Lodge
Otto Roppel, Rosie Roppel, and Lois Munch for providing transportation
Kayhi Culinary and Doug Edwards
Ketchikan High School, Superintendent Boyle, Julie Landwehr, and Dave Mitchel
The Landing
Dave Owings and SEAPRO
KPU Telecommunications and KPU Electric
SSRA Whitman Lake Hatchery and Mayor David Landis
Ketchikan Gateway Recreation Center and the Pickleball participants
Godfather's Pizza
City of Ketchikan,Asst. City Manager David Martin and Council Member Bob Sivertsen
Sweet Mermaids
Totem Heritage Museum
Ketchikan Chamber of Commerce
Nathan Jackson and the City of Saxman
Ketchikan Area Arts and Humanities Council
Ketchikan Gateway Borough and Borough Manager Dan Bockhorst
SEAPA
KTKN
SoHo Coho and Ray Troll
Ketchikan Visitors Bureau
US Forest Service and the SE Discovery Center
Jerry Cegelske and the Planning Dept at the Ketchikan Gateway Borough
Vigor Industrial
Annabelle's
Parnassus Books
The Point Art Cafe
Crazy Wolf Studios and the Deckers
Paula and the gang at the Arctic Bar
KRBD
Ketchikan Daily News
Karl Richey, Dave Kiffer and the musicians at the Creekside Caberet
Ketchikan Fire Department and South Tongass VFD
Rosie Roppel, Lois Munch, Julie Isom, Christa Bruce and Father Ron Kotrc, Dick and Margo Miller, and Cynna Gubatayao, for hosting in their homes
Clearly, it was a group effort that went above and beyond. Thank you again, and we are so grateful for everything you did to help make the Open World Program a resounding success.
Sincerely,
Michelle O'Brien
District Governor
Rotary District 5010
Alaska & the Yukon Territory
Ketchikan, Alaska
Received October 17, 2016
- Published October 18, 2016
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