The Cook Inlet Regional Citizens Advisory Council Annual and Board of Directors meeting was held April 14th, 2023 at the Cook Inlet Aquaculture Association building in Kenai. The Board also conducted its Annual Meeting.
CIRCAC recognized United States Coast Guard Capt. Leanne Lusk, Commander Sector Anchorage, as she will be ending her tour of duty and retiring at the end of June. The Board unanimously adopted a resolution thanking Captain Lusk for her service in the USCG and as an Ex-Officio member of CIRCAC. We have been privileged to work with Captain Lusk the past three years and wish her well on her future endeavors, and equally look forward to working with the next Commander for Sector Anchorage, Capt. Chris Culpepper, who begins his deployment in July.
The Board also awarded service recognition to several volunteers with the organization. A. Bruce Magyar was recognized with the 5 Year Service Award as a public member of the Environmental Monitoring Committee. Grace Merkes (pictured lower left, with Board President Gary Fandrei) was recognized with the 25 Year Service Award. Ms. Merkes currently represents the Kenai Peninsula Borough on the Council and also serves on the Prevention, Response, Operations and Safety (PROPS), Executive, and Audit 
Committees. Finally, James McHale (pictured right) was recognized as our 2022 Volunteer of the Year. Mr. McHale has served for many years as a public member and Chair of the PROPS Committee. We thank all of the public member volunteers for their continued dedication to the mission of CIRCAC and applaud them for the time, efforts and expertise the give the organization.
Our next meeting is scheduled for September and will be held in Homer.
Photos by: Shaylon Cochran
