Pioneers of Alaska - Juneau
About Us
Current Igloo 6 Officers
Current Igloo 6 Officers
Left to Right:

Men’s Igloo:
Fred Thorsteinson, Secretary/Treasurer; Jim Carroll, Historian; Bruce Botelho, 1st Vice President; Dan Kassner, Trustee;
Tom Dawson, Sergeant at Arms; John Pivar, Financial Secretary; Brad Austin, President

George Lounsbury, Grand President

Women’s Igloo:
Dorene Lorenz, President; Karen Bonnet-Petersen, 1st Vice President; Lorinda Kassner,
Trustee; Janice Holst, Inner Guard; Kate Austin, 2nd Vice President, Shannon Crossley, Historian, Barbara Potter, Marshall;
Cheryl Jebe, Treasurer, Robin Brenner, Chaplain: Virginia Calloway, Trustee; Denise Carroll, Sergeant at Arms

 
Articles
Pioneers of Alaska Igloo 6 donates $10,000 to Whale Project
Posted: Sunday, November 22, 2009
Article 1 JUNEAU -

Courtesy Of Kathy Ruddy

The Pioneers of Alaska Men's and Women's Igloo #6 presented $10,000 to the Whale Project, the community group which will place a life-sized humpback whale sculpture and fountain on Juneau's waterfront in recognition of the 50th anniversary of Alaska statehood. As envisioned by sculptor R.T. "Skip" Wallen, the bronze whale will be part of the Sea Walk and rise out of an infinity pool surrounded by a plaza.

Thanks for helping build Pioneer Pavilion

Posted: Sunday, July 12, 2009

Article 2The Douglas Fourth of July Committee wishes to thank the following organizations for their contributions in helping us build the performance pavilion in Savikko Park. Due to generous donation by the Pioneers of Alaska Igloo 6, the pavilion has been named the Pioneer Pavilion.

Courtesy Of The Douglas Fourth Of July Committee

The following companies donated time and or material toward construction of the pavilion: Gold Rush Commission, Holland America Line, Douglas Advisory Board, Parks and Recreation Department, Juneau Steamship Co., Jensen Yorba Lott Inc., Agpro, Alaska Stone and Concrete, Chatham Electric Inc., Channel Construction Inc., Commercial Signs and Printing, Douglas Volunteer Firefighters, North Pacific Erectors, Rozwick Music, Silverbow Construction, Tyler Rental Inc., U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Liberty crew, Savikko family and friends of the Douglas Fourth of July Committee.

Douglas Fourth of July Committee
First Juneau Alaska Day Ball to be held

Posted: Sunday, October 10, 2010
By Suzanne Haight

Article 3Juneau will celebrate Alaska Day this year on Oct. 18. The celebration will be in the form of a ball and will be held from 7 to 11 p.m. at Centennial Hall. The emcee willbe no other than the illustrious Mike Race. Festivities will include a welcome dance from our First Alaskans, represented by the Yees Ku Oo Dancers, our National Anthem and the Alaska Flag Song led by the Alaskan Youth Choir, followed by a short tribute to the actual transfer of 1867. The evening will be filled with ballroom dance music and jazz tunes presented by Alaska's Kit and the Kaboodles.


Courtesy Of Suzanne Haight

There is a flurry of activity as many Juneauites scurry around town assembling their period costumes. The time frame is best explained as the Civil War era, which included exciting ball gowns and lovely dresses. Men, of course, were most outstanding in their Union or Reb uniforms and dashing suits such as Clark Gable wore in "Gone with the Wind." Although period costumes are encouraged, they are not required to come and enjoy the evening.

Wikipedia explains Alaska Day as "a legal holiday in the state of Alaska, observed on October 18. It is the anniversary of the formal transfer of the Territory of Alaska from Russia to the United States, which took place at a flag-raising ceremony at Fort Sitka on Friday, October 18,1867.

"Alaska Day is legally observed statewide, and is a paid holiday for State of Alaska employees. The official celebration is held in Sitka, where schools release students early, many businesses close for the day and events such as a parade and reenactment of the flag raising are held ...

"Although the territory was sold to the U.S. in March, it was not until the 18th of October that year that the Commissioners arrived in Sitka and the formal transfer was arranged. The original ceremony included 250 uniformed U.S. soldiers, who marched to the Governor's house in Sitka at "Castle Hill", where the transfer was made. It was here that the Russian troops lowered the Russian flag and the U.S. flag was raised."
This First Annual Commemorative Alaska Day Ball for Juneau is being sponsored by the Men's and Women's Igloos #6, Pioneers of Alaska. Pioneers of Alaska is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of historical and generational data and relics. The Pioneers are hoping that this celebration will become a tradition in Juneau and encourage other groups and individuals around town to become interested in future Alaska Day celebrations. Next year, the Pioneers would like to see other forms of celebration in addition to the ball.

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  P.O. Box 21005     Juneau, Alaska    99802-1005            Email Us Today!
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