As the President of Seldovia Native Association, Inc. (SNAI) I have been privileged to work with my fellow board members and our management team to continue to grow SNAI for the past 6 years.  Although the 2010 economic climate impacted our businesses; SNAI ended the year on a positive note.

The Dimond Center Hotel performed remarkably well during 2010 given the economic climate staff operated under. The general manager has worked with staff to implement new tracking systems and increased the levels of employee development that has all staff actively engaged in achieving better results while focusing on 100% customer satisfaction. With a change in focus and reaching out to new customers that were not traditionally targeted in the past; our customer base continues to grow.

SNAI joined with several other CIRI villages in an effort to move the conveyance process forward with regards to the 12(a)  and 12(b) lands located on the West side of Cook Inlet.  SNAI continues to play a leadership role in working with the other villages to finalize these pending conveyances; unfortunately this issue is still pending.

Your management team has worked with a vendor over the past few months to digitize all of the SNAI land maps and records. As they complete this project; staff will be trained in Seldovia and Anchorage on how to utilize the system. This endeavor will streamline the process for accessing information.

With the momentum Red Mountain LLC has gained through contracts garnered in 2010; management has the ability to work with bonding companies to secure bonds without a third party indemnifying the bond.  A couple of challenges facing the 8a arena are the current status at the Federal level with regards to the deficit; budgeting process and Senator McCaskill of Missouri trying to level the playing field by removing the special advantages enjoyed by Alaska Native Corporations.

It was with much deliberating over many months that the board and management made the decision to wrap up the Main Street Market in Seldovia. Moving forward the board will work with management to decide what the best option is for the building and property.

Leading up to the 38^th Annual Meeting of the SNA Shareholders on May 21^st in Anchorage; you will notice a difference in the process around the elections for the board of directors; at the March board meeting; the decision to retain Mikunda Cottrell & Company, Inc. to assist with the process was made.

Alexis Colberg-Nelissen, Former SNAI President