JANIE LEASK: I'm going to get started with just a couple of announcements this morning. Many of you, if you've already read the morning paper, you'll see that Glen Olds passed away this weekend at the age of 85 at his home in Oregon. Glen Olds held a number of different roles here in Alaska. He was a founding member of Commonwealth North and he was also president of Alaska Pacific University. He died peacefully with his family by his side.

Another member of Commonwealth North, Alden Todd, you may have read about that in the paper last week, also passed away. And Alden was there at a lot of our meetings at Commonwealth North and participated. And the last one that I remember was the study on Commonwealth North at 25. And Alden was just there at 7:00 o'clock in the morning and he'll be sorely missed.

So with that good morning. The moon is behind me. It's an absolutely gorgeous day. It's going to be cold, but it's going to be sunny. My name is Janie Leask. I'm manager of community relations for Alyeska Pipeline Service Company and I'm president of the board of Commonwealth North. And I'd like to welcome you all.

I'd like to give the cell phone announcement, please. With those of you who have cell phones, please either turn them off or put them on silent out of respect for the fellow members and guests who are here this morning.

I'd like to also recognize -- good, I hear the little bells going off. I'd also like to recognize and welcome Lieutenant General Douglas Fraser who is a member of Commonwealth North. He's the Commander of Alaska Air Command, so welcome this morning.

On your tables are question cards. Please write any questions that you may have and hold them up in the air, staff will bring them up to me and I will read them. I really appreciate good handwriting. It makes my job a lot easier then I might not even have to put on my glasses, so.....

At our head table this morning and joining Jim Clark who we'll introduce in a moment is Governor Walter Hickel, twice Governor of Alaska, former Secretary of the Interior, and also a founder of Commonwealth North. So, Governor, I'm so glad you're able to join us this morning.

Today Jim Clark is here to talk about the gas pipeline and petroleum production tax proposal. Jim Clark has served as Governor Murkowski's chief of staff since the Governor took office on December 2nd, 2002. Before that he was senior partner and managing director of the Juneau law firm of Robertson, Monagle & Eastaugh, a firm that he joined in 1973. Throughout his legal career Mr. Clark has worked extensively on environmental permitting, compliance and litigation for the mining and timber industries in Alaska. So with that introduction, please help me welcome Jim Clark. (Applause)