On March 22, 1982 David B. Hall, then Supervisory Mathematical Statistician with the Centers for Disease Control in Anchorage, Alaska, wrote to Fred Leone, then the executive director of the American Statistical Association (ASA). In this letter David indicated that a petition for a charter for the Alaska Chapter of the ASA had been accepted. At the same time that David was working the national ASA, Dana Thomas and Steve Thompson were independently working on forming a chapter. The national office "got" these three individuals together, culminating in the formation of the Alaska Chapter.
Just prior to sending this letter, an "Organizational Meeting for Statisticians in Alaska" was held on March 6, 1982 at the University of Alaska, Anchorage. Statisticians from Juneau, Anchorage, Palmer, Fairbanks, and Kodiak attended.
Following this founding meeting the first newsletter was published on May 4, 1982. Appropriately introduced with the following salutation: "Our first newsletter! Hang on to this, it will be a collector's item." In this newsletter, Dana Thomas indicated that in addition to the aforementioned officers, Dan Reed and Art Brundage were also elected to serve as executive board members. Attached to the first newsletter was a copy of the founding constitution and by-laws of the chapter (as written by the executive board). Also attached was a list of the members of the chapter. And of course the newsletter told members to send in their "three (3) dollar interim dues (until September) payable to Steve Thompson".
The first newsletter also announced the first annual meeting to be held in conjunction with Arctic Science Conference, in Fairbanks. The meeting was held on September 17, 1982, and was followed by the second newsletter on October 7, 1982. This second newsletter summarized the events during the first annual meeting. A Membership Committee with Kit Rawson as chairperson was appointed to "encourage chapter growth and participation". A total of 25 members had paid their 1982 dues.
Following these initial founding meetings and newsletters, the chapter continued to grow and meet. As evidenced in the various newsletters that followed, the chapter continued to serve as a forum for the interchange of ideas, continuing education, information on employment opportunities, and as a link to our colleagues in the national organization. Annual meetings have been held each year.
Check out the subheadings under History for links to past newsletters, listings of meeting topics-locations-speakers, listing of past officers, and more!