In gear
3SG Inc. has started operations as a managed security services provider at 3709 Spenard Road, Suite B-101 in Anchorage. The firm's telephone number is 907-929-4375. Initial offerings are available from 3SG's Net.Secure services and include managed firewall, anti-virus, content filtering, authentication, virtual pirate networking and detailed reporting. In addition to the managed services, the privately held company also provides professional services including policy development, host fortification, secure socket layer acceleration and auditing. According to Justin Burgess, president of 3SG, since few small- to mid-size organizations can afford to staff a security officer to address their network security needs, 3SG provides an accessible alternative for security provisioning.
The University of Alaska Anchorage is offering an online course on Alaska's economy as part of its distance education program during the spring semester. Professor Gunnar Knapp, who teaches the course, will post all notes and readings online as well as conduct discussions with students throughout the semester. The course will look at the structure of the Alaska economy and the changing role played by key industries, and discuss key economic policies such as rural economic development, Alaska's fiscal gap and the development of North Slope gas. For more information, visit (www.iser.uaa.alaska.edu/iser/people/knapp).
Media
The All Alaska Juried Art Exhibition will be displayed Jan. 13 - Feb. 24 at the Anchorage Museum of History and Art. The biennial juried art exhibition attracts 300 to 500 entries from artists throughout Alaska. Awards in each of the media categories will be presented, and a catalog accompanies the exhibition. The exhibition will continue to tour in the state's major urban centers for about one year.
Kudos
The Credit Union National Association has honored Credit Union 1 with the 2001 Dora Maxwell Award. Credit Union 1 was selected from a field of competitors nationwide and took first place in the top category for credit unions with more than $200 million in assets. The award is for community service during 2000. Last year, Credit Union 1 placed second in the same category. Credit Union 1 employees are involved with community programs in Anchorage, Eagle River, Ketchikan, Soldotna, Fairbanks and Kodiak.
Gov. Tony Knowles recently presented the 2001 WorkStar Awards highlighting welfare reform success in Alaska. WorkStar Employers of the Year included Odom Corp.; Tesoro Alaska Co.; Advance Till Payday, Fairbanks Store No. 1; North Pacific Processors, Togiak Fisheries Division; Cook Inlet Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse; and Alaska Family Hospices. The Governor's WorkStar Employees of the Year 2001 included Cheryl Haynes, payroll specialist for Cook Inlet Tribal Council; Anna Ekamarek, administrative assistant for Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corp.; and Trina Bartlow, who works for Cindy Coumbe of Advance Till Payday in Fairbanks.
Much obliged
Susan Knowles, Alaska's first lady, led Scholastic Book Clubs "United We Read" Campaign Dec. 14 by reading books to 55 students at Gastineau Elementary School in Douglas. Alaska students throughout the state joined students and teachers around the world on that day to read for 2002 seconds or 33 1/3 minutes in a celebration of the power of reading to delight, comfort and connect children. To support Knowles' efforts in Alaska, Scholastic Book Clubs donated 500 books to be distributed by the Juneau Reading Council to more than 40 Alaska schools.
Sundries
The Anchorage Museum of History and Art is seeking volunteer tour guides. Docent training will be offered each Monday in the spring. Topics include Alaska post-contact history, contemporary issues and Alaska art. For more information, contact Lori Fairall at 907-343-6185 or e-mail at (fairall@ci.anchorage.ak.us).
University of Alaska Fairbanks computer science students are seeking challenging software design projects from area government, public service and private organizations for a senior project and professional practice course. Last year students designed a computer re-use Web site for the U.S. Army, a database system for Alaska Family Partners, a family personal medical journal system for an Anchorage physician and a building inspector's records database system for the Alaska Fire Marshall's office. The deadline is Jan. 10. For additional details, contact Pete Knoke at 907-474-5107 or e-mail (ffpjk@uaf.edu).
Alaskans for Litter Prevention and Recycling, Carrs/Safeway and the Municipality of Anchorage Solid Waste Services are providing Christmas tree recycling until Jan. 13. Anchorage residents can recycle their trees at any Carrs' parking lot. Eagle River, Wasilla and Palmer residents can recycle trees at the Eagle River and Palmer Carrs stores. Trees will be chopped into biodegradable wood chips and distributed to nonprofit organizations and government agencies for use on trails, in gardens and parks, and to make compost.
