Dear Friends and Neighbors:

Gayle and I journeyed to Juneau at the start of January for the beginning of the Second Session of the 23rd Alaska State Legislature. Our flight took us from Anchorage and then we over headed Juneau and went to Sitka where we spent the night. The next morning we flew from Sitka to Juneau where I arrived just in time to make my opening remarks to new legislative employees who were starting orientation sessions.

We have several major issues confronting the Legislature this session: gas line issues, our fiscal crisis and passing a budget reflecting a more efficient and better run government.

Please stay in touch.

1. Community Councils:
   
   Monday, February 9, 7:00 p.m., Sand Lake Community Council, Sand Lake Elementary School, 7500 Jewel Lake Road. Contact: Sherri Jackson, at jacksonsherri ''at'' hotmail.com. Check out Sand Lake Community Council's web site at: http://www.communitycouncils.org/slccinfo.html.
   
   Thursday, February 12, 7:00 p.m., Taku/Campbell Community Council, Take Elementary School, 701 East 72nd Avenue. Contact: Don Peacock, at birdie ''at'' alaska.net.
   
   
2. Legislative Meetings:
   
   The Anchorage Caucus has scheduled a Town Hall meeting for Saturday, February 7, from 9 a.m. until noon. The meeting will be held at the Anchorage Assembly Chambers, 3600 Denali. For further information on this meeting, please contact Rep. Tom Anderson's office at: (907) 465-2811 or by e-mail at
   
   
3. Denali Commission Seeking Interns:
   
   The Denali Commission has notified me that it is seeking up to four students, undergraduate and graduate, to participate in their summer intern program. General areas of internship work available are: rural workforce development, health care and health facility construction, government coordination and economic development, rural energy development, and IT/database development.
   
   Applications are due Friday, March 12, 2004.
   
   Further information is available at www.denali.gov or by contacting the Commission at (907) 271-1414.
   
   
4. Conference of Alaskans:
   
   The Governor's Conference of Alaskans will take place in Fairbanks on February 10-12, 2004. I will be attending the conference but will not be a delegate. Your comments on the matters the Conference will consider would be appreciated. If you would like further information on this conference, visit the web site at: http://conferenceofalaskans.com/
   
   
5. Budget Research:
   
   If you are interested in understanding more about Alaska's budget process, one of the best web sites I have found is maintained by the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. This web site provides easily understood information and examples. I would encourage you to visit http://www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu and select "Citizens Guide to the Budget" from the Special Programs Section.
   
   This site also provides other information regarding Alaska. I'm sure you would enjoy cruising around the site.
   
   
6. Following the Legislature:
   
   The Legislature's web site is at http://www.legis.state.ak.us. You can access information on legislation, daily calendars, committee meetings, and other legislative information from this web site.
   
   Gavel to Gavel provides daily coverage of the Legislature, through television station 18 in the Anchorage area and on the web at http://www.ktoo.org/gavel/. This service through the web also allows you to listen to committee meetings that might not be presented live on the television.
   
   

Best regards,

Norman Rokeberg
State Representative
House District 27

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All addresses are "blind" for your privacy. A strict "no spam" policy is observed. If you don't wish to receive these e-mail notices, just let me know. If you know a friend or neighbor in District 11 who has not received my e-mails but would like to be included, I will be glad to add them to my list if they will contact me.

Your replies, comments, questions, and/or suggestions are welcome. Constituent comments on legislation and policy issues may be tabulated, shared with other legislators, or quoted in speeches. Names, however, will be kept private.