Approximately 100 shareholders turned out for CIRI’s 43rd Annual Meeting, held June 4 in Puyallup, Wash. The event featured a report from CIRI President and CEO Sophie Minich and the election of five shareholders to serve on CIRI’s 15-person Board of Directors, with entertainment provided by the Young Native Fiddlers, a group of young adults – including CIRI descendant Nathanial Sherwood – dedicated to teaching Athabascan fiddling and guitar to Alaska Native children, building community and creating youth leadership.
Again this year, CIRI offered to donate $1 to the Brother Francis Shelter for every shareholder with a valid, active proxy (for any proxyholder or candidate) on file by the proxy deadline. Brother Francis Shelter provides temporary, emergency shelter to Anchorage’s homeless population. CIRI’s planned donation to Brother Francis is estimated to be $3,700.
“CIRI’s Annual Meeting is one of our biggest events of the year – and shareholder participation in Board elections is of vital importance,” Minich said. “Our Board of Directors provides strategic direction for our company to ensure we continue to promote the wellbeing of CIRI shareholders now and in the future.”
During the President’s Report, Minich provided an overview of the company’s financial performance, strategic plans and CIRI’s efforts to engage shareholders and descendants, villages, tribes and other organizations that benefit Alaska Native people.
To best accommodate its geographically diverse shareholder population, CIRI rotates its Annual Meeting between Anchorage, Kenai and the Pacific Northwest – the regions with the highest concentrations of CIRI shareholders. The 2017 Annual Meeting will be held in Anchorage.
