A leadership forum: give them E * for effort.

• Author: McCorkle, Vern C.
• Position: From The Publisher

Last month, one of the most amazing events ever staged in Anchorage took place. Billed by its sponsors as the "first of its kind in North America," (and we are quite certain that it must have been just that), the two-day confab was designed to focus on "poverty reduction and sustainable development" for the indigenous People of Alaska. Event sponsors were Alaska's famous Denali Commission, Harvard University's Center for International Development, and the Alaska Federation of Natives.

Earlier forums, and continuing programs, designed to lift Alaska's rural residents from poverty have taken place. That was not the unique aspect of this conference. What sets this effort apart from others is the list of leading luminaries that the event attracted both as participants and as attendees. It was just spectacular!

The Secretary of the U. S. Department of the Treasury flew here from Washington, D.C., as did Alaska's Congressional Delegation. Then add, either in person or the special envoys of The World Bank, the Asian Development Bank, the Inter-American Development Bank, Gov. Murkowski and (Gov.) Walter J. Hickel, the absolute creme de la creme of Alaska's business, professional, educational and social ranks and high ministers plenipotentiary from several foreign countries, and one begins to see just how much heat might be generated at this splendid affair.

HOPE IS A FOUR LETTER WORD

And so is hype. The vernacular was rich in skillful wordsmithing: starting with the main theme itself--"Building Knowledge-Based Economies," and then going on to high-impact assistance, foundations of a knowledge society and knowledge economy, lessons learned and best practices (mostly in tropical latitudes), indigenous ownership of intergenerational equity and economic initiatives, and much more, all included to inspire one to aspire to high achievement. Exquisitely noble goals and much to be praised and sought after.

Translating words into action is exceptionally hard to do. Magically crafted...