Then new
executive director of the Alaska Federation of Natives said Saturday
that he is quite excited about his new job with its "enormous"
responsibilities.On April 15, Eben Hopson
will officially become the principal administrative officer of the
statewide native association as the result of a three-day board
meeting in Anchorage last week.
At the meeting the overall
structure of the organization was revamped.
Hopson was elected
following the resignation of the present director, Willie Hensley. As
a representative from Kotzebue, much of Hensley's time was required
in Juneau on legislative matters.
Also, the office of the
president, now filled by Emil Notti, took on a new look. The
administrative responsibilities previously held by Notti were turned
over to the executive director. In addition, the president will no
longer receive the $18,000 a year previously allocated to him.
The present deputy
director, Al Ketzler, who was appointed by Hensley, will be taken off
the payroll May 1.
Hopson said that he will
select a new deputy director when funds are available.
All of these changes came
in the wake of the termination of the organization's public relations
office by Ketzler the middle of March. At that time, Jim Thomas was
relieved of his duties as public relations director.
Hopson, who currently lives
in Barrow, will move to Anchorage by April 15.
In Barrow, he will give up
the position of executive director of the Arctic Slope Native
Association.
The small-built,
middle-aged man said that he is not aware of any drastic changes to
be made in the administration of the AFN.
"I will have to take a
close look at the entire organization," he added, "and plan to make
changes necessary to improve it."
When asked about the public
relations office, he said that he intends to reactivate it if the
funds are available.
Thomas, he added, has
accepted another job and, thus, will not be available. Thomas was
hired as the public relations director of the National Congress of
American Indians.
Concerning a weekly
newsletter, called the AFN
Press, which Ketzler began in March,
Hopson said that he did not know whether it would be
continued.
He explained that before
making a decision, he would evaluate the cost of publishing
it.
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