On Saturday, May 3, 2025, the Inspectors of Election announced there was a quorum present at the Bethel Native Corporation annual meeting of shareholders with 77,532.0196 shares represented in person or by proxy.  This represents 50% of the total 154,570.5961 outstanding shares entitled to vote.

The election inspectors announced the Board of Director election results as follows:

Nick Andrews – 7,737.5017

Dolly Boney – 14,153.3062

Valerie Nurr’araluk Davidson  – 42,820.5670

Beverly A Hoffman – 43,474.6962

Gregory Hoffman Sr – 40,809.8292

Mary Kenick – 25,524.0338

Gabriel A. King – 4,435.1656

Cory Lee LePore Jr – 9,183.4867

Donna Lindsey – 24,901.3134

Hugh Sherman Short Jr – 12,739.0362

Alexander Westdahl – 5,303.3957

Congratulations to the following persons elected to serve a three year term: Beverly A Hoffman, Valerie Nurr’araluk Davidson, Gregory Hoffman Sr.

Quyana to all eleven candidates for your interest!

Quyana shareholders for submitting your proxy!

Bethel Native Corporation Final Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000 Prize –

• Brenda Lynn Fox; Bethel, AK
• Daniel Michael Mute; Kipnuk, AK
• Bessie M Westdahl; Bethel, AK
• Gabriel Fox; Bethel, AK

$   500 Prize –

• Bethany Kaiser; Bethel, AK
• Anne C Hinz; Kipnuk, AK
• Konrad L Mower; Seymour, WI
• Margaret Herron; Bethel, AK
• Alexie Michael; Napakiak, AK

$  100 Prize

• Annie W Twitchell; Kasigluk, AK
• Jennifer Clark; Anchorage, AK
• Darren Curtis Lieb; Bethel, AK
• Donna Elliott Bach; Anchorage, AK
• James Active III; Kipnuk, AK

The final proxy prize deadline was Friday, May 2, 2025 at 5:00 pm.

$20,000 in proxy cash prizes awarded in total.

All proxy prize winners were randomly drawn by the Inspectors of Election, Mikunda Cottrell Accounting & Consulting.

Quyana for submitting your proxy and participating in the 2025 BNC Annual Meeting.

Congratulations 2025 Bethel Native Corporation 2nd Early Bird Proxy Prize Winner!

$1,000 Prize:

Kassandra George; Bethel, AK

Rose M Alexie; Russian Mission, AK

Theresa AM Kailukiak; Toksook Bay, AK

Jason L Lupie; Palmer, AK

$500 Prize:

Martha Lucy Merculief; Bethel, AK

Stephanie Lynn Dobson; Anchorage, AK

Flora Jean Olrun; Soldotna, AK

Alice C Amarok; Anchorage, AK

John Paul Kawagley; Bethel, AK

The final proxy prize deadline is Friday, May 2 at 5:00 p.m.

There are $20,000 in proxy cash prizes to be awarded! Shareholders are eligible to win one prize from each category, please submit your proxy before the next deadline!

All proxy prize winners are randomly drawn by the Inspectors of Election, Mikunda Cottrell Accounting & Consulting.  Shareholders who submitted their proxy by 5 pm on April 25 qualified for this second early bird drawing.

The BNC annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Contact BNC at 907-543-2124 if you have any questions.

Congratulations 2025 Bethel Native Corporation 1st Early Bird Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000 Prize –

• Wanda Pearl Watson; Wasilla, AK
• Ida A Alexie; Bethel, AK
• Constantinos Capun Dovolos; Bethel, AK
• Martha Elsie Crawford; Hilsboro, OR

$   500 Prize –

• Nikki N Michaels; Bethel, AK
• Thomas G Michael; Kwethluk, AK
• Duane Patrick Samuelson; Bethel, AK
• Kirsten Mary Kinegak-Friday; Anchorage, AK
• Raymond Allen Hoffman; Bethel, AK

The second early bird deadline is Friday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m.

The final proxy prize deadline is Friday, May 2 at 5:00 p.m.

There are $20,000 in proxy cash prizes to be awarded! Shareholders are eligible to win one prize from each category, please submit your proxy before the next deadline!

All proxy prize winners are randomly drawn by the Inspectors of Election, Mikunda Cottrell Accounting & Consulting.  Shareholders who submitted their proxy by 5 pm on April 18 qualified for the first early bird drawing.

The BNC annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 3, 2025.

Contact BNC at 907-543-2124 if you have any questions.

Go to www.bncvote.com to vote your proxy.

 

 

Attention Bethel Native Corporation shareholders:

The BNC Annual Shareholders Meeting is scheduled to take place in person on Saturday, May 3, 2025 at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel.  Doors open at 9:30 am, meeting begins at 10:00 am.

If you have any questions about the upcoming annual meeting, please call the Bethel Native Corporation office at 907-543-2124 during normal business hours.

2024 Final Proxy Prize Winners! Congratulations!

May 8, 2023 by Ana Hoffman

On Saturday, May 11, 2024, the Inspectors of Election announced there was a quorum present at the Bethel Native Corporation annual meeting of shareholders with 80,678.9079 shares represented in person or by proxy.  This represents 51.9% of the total 155,155.1107 outstanding shares entitled to vote.

The election inspectors announced the Board of Director election results as follows:

Lyman Hoffman received  63,399.6358 votes

Henry Hunter Sr received 59,664.1851 votes

Donna Lindsey received 53,953.8096 votes

Kirsten M. Kinegak-Friday received 63,141.7100 votes

Congratulations to the following persons elected to serve a three year term: Lyman Hoffman, Kirsten M. Kinegak-Friday and Henry Hunter, Sr.

Quyana to all four candidates for your interest! Quyana shareholders for submitting your proxy!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you want to opt in or opt out of receiving your annual meeting materials electronically in the future, please contact the BNC office at 907-543-2124 or email bethel@bncak.com to communicate that request.

Congratulations Bethel Native Corporation Second Early Bird Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000 Prize –

• James Carlie Evon; Bethel, AK
• Lorraine H Teague; Wasilla, AK
• Roderick Hans Haroldson; Anchorage, AK
• Bessie M Westdahl; Bethel, AK

$   500 Prize –

• Delcie Billingsley; Fairbanks, AK
• Helen Elizabeth Bush; Anchorage, AK
• Margie H Frost; Togiak, AK
• Gerene Sumpter; Palmer, AK
• Oscar Chaney; Bethel, AK

The final proxy prize deadline is Friday, May 10, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

There are $20,000 in proxy cash prizes to be awarded! Shareholders are eligible to win one prize from each category, please submit your proxy before the next deadline!

All proxy prize winners are randomly drawn by the Inspectors of Election, Mikunda Cottrell Accounting & Consulting.  Shareholders who submitted their proxy by 5 pm on May 3, qualified for the second early bird drawing.

The BNC annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2024.

Contact BNC at 907-543-2124 if you have any questions.

 

 

Congratulations 2024 Bethel Native Corporation 1st Early Bird Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000 Prize –

• Sally Jane Peterson; Anchorage, AK
• Barbara D Martinez; Anchorage, AK
• Garis Kinegak; Soldotna, AK
• Ray’nell Ann Watson; Bethel, AK

$   500 Prize –

• Natalia Alfred; Kwethluk, AK
• Carla E Johnson; Tulsa, OK
• Josephine Agnes Hale; Hooper Bay, AK
• James Martin; Bethel, AK
• Lorna Josephine Branzuela; Homer, AK

The second early bird deadline is Friday, May 3 at 5:00 p.m.

The final proxy prize deadline is Friday, May 10 at 5:00 p.m.

There are $20,000 in proxy cash prizes to be awarded! Shareholders are eligible to win one prize from each category, please submit your proxy before the next deadline!

All proxy prize winners are randomly drawn by the Inspectors of Election, Mikunda Cottrell Accounting & Consulting.  Shareholders who submitted their proxy by 5 pm on April 26 qualified for the first early bird drawing.

The BNC annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 11, 2024.

Contact BNC at 907-543-2124 if you have any questions.

Attention Bethel Native Corporation shareholders:

The BNC Annual Shareholders Meeting is scheduled to take place in person on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel.  Doors open at 9:30 am, meeting begins at 10:00 am.

If you have any questions about the upcoming annual meeting, please call the Bethel Native Corporation office at 907-543-2124 during normal business hours.

First Ever BEST Elder Benefit $300 Each!

BEST will also issue its first ever Elders Benefit this year. On June 30, 2023, shareholder beneficiaries approved an amendment to BEST authorizing an optional BEST Elders Benefit program. As a result, the BEST Board of Trustees has approved a special distribution of $300 per eligible elder to be payable on December 7, 2023.  Combined with the $4.47 per share distribution by BEST, eligible elders with 100 shares in BNC will receive a total of $747.00 from BEST this year.  Eligible elders are those BNC shareholders who are sixty five years or older as of December 1, 2023.

Any elder desiring to opt out of the elder benefit program over concerns that the payment may impact their eligibility for state or federal assistance, may contact Ana Hoffman, BNC President & CEO.  For more information please call 907-543-2124 or email bethel@bncak.com.

Elkartaa is a Yup’ik word meaning: to settle in place.

 

On December 7, 2023, Bethel Elkartaa Settlement Trust (BEST) distributions in the amount of $4.47 per share will be made to shareholder beneficiaries.  This results in an average payment of $447 for shareholder beneficiaries with 100 shares in Bethel Native Corporation (“BNC”). The BNC Board of Directors determines an annual cash contribution to BEST, which funds this payment, based on BNC’s five year average net income.  Distributions from BEST will be tax free to the shareholder beneficiaries.

BEST will also issue its first ever Elders Benefit this year. On June 30, 2023, shareholder beneficiaries approved an amendment to BEST authorizing an optional BEST Elders Benefit program. As a result, the BEST Board of Trustees has approved a special distribution of $300 per eligible elder to be payable on December 7, 2023.  Combined with the $4.47 per share distribution by BEST, eligible elders with 100 shares in BNC will receive a total of $747.00 from BEST this year.  Eligible elders are those BNC shareholders who are sixty five years or older as of December 1, 2023.

With the majority of shareholders residing in and around Bethel, these annual distributions have a significant impact on the local economy.  This December an aggregate amount of nearly $1 million is set to be distributed by BEST. Since 1987, annual payments have consistently been made, reaching approximate $15 million in total distributions to date.

For fifty years, Bethel Native Corporation has remained proudly headquartered in Bethel.  Any elder desiring to opt out of the elder benefit program over concerns that the payment may impact their eligibility for state or federal assistance, may contact Ana Hoffman, BNC President & CEO.  For more information please call 907-543-2124 or email bethel@bncak.com.

Elkartaa is a Yup’ik word meaning: to settle in place.

 

In April 2023, the BEST trustees presented proposed amendments to the beneficiaries to consider establishing an Elders Benefits option. An Elder is defined as a shareholder beneficiary age 65 or older and the benefits can be cash distributions or other benefits determined by the trustees in their discretion.  BEST amendments require a beneficiary vote of fifty percent plus one to be in favor of the proposal in order to be adopted.  By the June 30th deadline, 57% of the outstanding beneficiary votes were cast.  The results are as follows: 51% in favor and only 6% opposed.  The BEST Elder Benefit Amendments have been adopted.

Quyana for voting!

 

Congratulations Bethel Native Corporation Final Proxy Prize Winners!

This final proxy prize deadline was Friday, May 10, 2024 at 5 pm.

The final proxy prize winners also randomly selected by the Inspectors of Election:

$1,000 Prize –

• Stella Denise Adams; Soldotna, AK
• John Weise; Metlakatla, AK
• Alice N Noes; Bethel, AK
• Bertha Maggie Hoffman; Bethel, AK

$   500 Prize –

• Donna Christine Lindsey; Bethel, AK
• Raymond Oscar Samuelson; Bethel, AK
• Willie Takumjenak; Russian Mission, AK
• Forrest Jenkins, Sr; Bethel, AK

$  100 Prize

• Cliff Donald Thomas Westdahl, Jr; St Mary’s, AK
• Hazel M Chaney; Bethel, AK
• Avery E Hoffman; Bethel, AK
• Inamarie Chaney; Fairbanks, AK
• Maisyn Molly Westdahl; St Mary’s, AK
• Alice Hess; Anchorage, AK
• Alexander Westdahl; Toksook Bay, AK
• Lucy Esther Benn; Bethel, AK
• Michael Scott Shantz; Bethel, AK
• Wendalyn DA Nevak; San Diego, CA

The names of these winners were randomly selected by the Inspectors of Election.  In total $20,000 in proxy prize money has been awarded in relation to the 2024 annual meeting.

Quyana!

On Saturday, May 6, 2023, the Inspectors of Election announced there was a quorum present at the Bethel Native Corporation annual meeting of shareholders with 77,402.9122 shares represented in person or by proxy.  A total of 157,032.8993 outstanding shares were entitled to vote.

The election inspectors announced the Board of Director election results as follows:

Alton Alexie received 48,054.5378 votes

A. Louise Charles received 41,062.6840 votes

Mary Kenick received 34,780.4639 votes

Monique Henriksen received 16,341.2340 votes

Robert J Hoffman received 59,545.5950 votes

Kirsten M Kinegak-Friday received 30,597.5051 votes

Congratulations to the following persons elected to serve a three year term: Robert J Hoffman, Alton Alexie and A. Louise Charles.

The BEST Board of Trustees extended the deadline to submit the BEST ballot amendment to provide the option for an Elders Benefit to June 30, 2023.

Quyana to all six candidates for your interest! Quyana shareholders for submitting your proxy!

Congratulations Bethel Native Corporation Second Early Bird Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000 Prize –

• Olga K. Roland; Bethel, AK
• Hugh Augustus Snyder; Bethel, AK
• Lana Ann Bray; Chugiak, AK
• Kimberly D Jung; Wasilla, AK

$   500 Prize –

• Christopher Herman; Bethel, AK
• Andrew Kawagley; Akiachak, AK
• Albert James Tikiun; Berea, OH
• Glenn Anvil; Wasilla, AK
• Elena Haroldson; Bethel, AK

The final proxy prize deadline is Friday, May 5, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

There are $20,000 in proxy cash prizes to be awarded! Shareholders are eligible to win one prize from each category, please submit your proxy before the next deadline!

All proxy prize winners are randomly drawn by the Inspectors of Election, Mikunda Cottrell Accounting & Consulting.  Shareholders who submitted their proxy by 5 pm on April 21 qualified for the first early bird drawing.  Cash prizes payments will be processed only after quorum for the annual meeting is declared.

The BNC annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Contact BNC at 907-543-2124 if you have any questions.

 

 

Congratulations Bethel Native Corporation Early Bird Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000 Prize –

• Joann Brenda Paul; Atmautluak, AK
• James Alexie; Eek, AK
• Gertrude E Green; Bethel, AK
• Courtney James Geerdts; Bethel, AK

$   500 Prize –

• James Segundo Hoffman; Anchorage, AK
• Cara Brianne Cecelia Thompson; Bethel, AK
• Carol Rodgers Witt; Empire, CO
• Margie H Frost; Togiak, AK
• John Andrew, III; Albuquerue, NM

The second early bird deadline is Friday, April 28 at 5:00 p.m.

The final proxy prize deadline is Friday, May 5, 2023 at 5:00 p.m.

There are $20,000 in proxy cash prizes to be awarded! Shareholders are eligible to win one prize from each category, please submit your proxy before the next deadline!

All proxy prize winners are randomly drawn by the Inspectors of Election, Mikunda Cottrell Accounting & Consulting.  Shareholders who submitted their proxy by 5 pm on April 21 qualified for the first early bird drawing.  Cash prizes payments will be processed only after quorum for the annual meeting is declared.

The BNC annual meeting is scheduled for Saturday, May 6, 2023.

Contact BNC at 907-543-2124 if you have any questions.

 

The 2024 Annual Shareholder Meeting packets have been distributed.

Shareholders may vote electronically at www.bncvote.com

Shareholders may also return paper ballots by mail.

If you need any help, please phone the BNC office in Bethel at (907) 543-2124.

The BNC Annual Shareholders Meeting is scheduled to take place on Saturday, May 11, 2024 at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel.

Dear Shareholders,

This letter is intended to explain Board meeting attendance protocols. At BNC’s annual shareholders’ meeting, Directors are elected to serve on the Board of Directors to represent shareholder interests and to govern and grow BNC. Over the last fifty years, BNC has become a complex and sophisticated company. Consistent with BNC’s growth, the Board has worked diligently to incorporate industry and corporate best practices, based on guidance from legal counsel and other advisors concerning effective and efficient governance. One of those best practices is maintaining appropriate attendance at Board meetings.

Board meetings are held for the Board of Directors to make decisions regarding the operations and the strategic direction of the corporation. As a part of this process, the Board receives updates from management and advisors regarding confidential business matters. These updates often include confidential or sensitive information about corporate assets, investments, contract execution, real estate, financial performance, future opportunities, competition, and corporate strategy. The members of the Board of Directors have a fiduciary duty and legal obligation to act in BNC’s best interest and protect this information. Accordingly, to fulfill Directors’ obligation to protect corporate assets and strategy, it is necessary to limit attendance at Board meetings to Directors, Executive Officers, and advisors as necessary. This is not only appropriate, but the normal course of business for BNC specifically, and Alaska Native Corporations generally. In fact, it would be extraordinarily unusual for a Native Corporation to regularly allow (non-Director) shareholder attendance at Board meetings.

To facilitate shareholder involvement and engagement, the Board includes a “persons to be heard” portion on the agenda of its meetings. During this agenda item, any shareholder can attend, ask questions, and raise any issue, without limitation. The Board continues to welcome, appreciate and encourage shareholder participation in this manner. Additionally, individual shareholder engagement and assistance is available through BNC’s corporate headquarters in Bethel and its subsidiary office in Anchorage. Shareholders with questions, concerns, or suggestions about operations, can always contact the office by calling 907-543-2124 or emailing bethel@bncak.com. The general activities of the corporation are provided to shareholders through the distribution of the annual report, shareholder newsletters, direct mailers and through presentations provided during the annual meeting of shareholders.

On behalf of the BNC Board, thank you for the opportunity to provide this explanation.

Quyana,

Ana Hoffman, President/CEO 

Attention Bethel Native Corporation shareholders:

The BNC Annual Shareholders Meeting is scheduled to take place in person on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at the Yupiit Piciryarait Cultural Center in Bethel.

If you have any questions about the upcoming annual meeting, please call the Bethel Native Corporation office at 907-543-2124 during normal business hours.

Bethel Native Corporation is soliciting nominations for its board of directors. Any voting shareholder who is at least 18 years old and would like to be a candidate for one of the three available board seats must complete a candidate questionnaire. Each board seat is for a three-year term, expiring in 2027.

BNC BOD Candidate Questionnaire Form Hard copy forms are also available at the BNC office in Bethel.

Completed questionnaires must be received by the Bethel office before 4:00p.m. on Thursday, February 15, 2024. Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting May 11, 2024.

Options for submitting questionnaire:

E-mail: ahoffman@bncak.com

Fax: 907-543-2897

In-Person: 460 Ridgecrest Drive, Bethel, AK

Mail: Bethel Native Corporation, Attn: Ana Hoffman, PO Box 719, Bethel, AK 99559

The Trustees of Bethel Elkartaa Settlement Trust (BEST) approved a beneficiary distribution equal to $3.12 per unit share to be payable in December.   To request direct deposit, please submit your direct deposit form to the BNC office in Bethel office by November 10, 2022.  The shareholder record date for this distribution is Nov 11, 2022.  If you have moved, please update your mailing address in writing.

The annual distribution amount is determined by a dividend formula based on a five-year average performance. All shareholders of BNC are also beneficiaries of BEST.  This will be the thirty-fifth year of consistent annual dividends.  The annual distributions have a significant impact on the local economy since the majority of the shareholders still reside in and around the Bethel area.  The corporation continues to remain headquartered in Bethel with operations in Alaska and along the Pacific coast.

The Bethel Native Corporation Board of Directors serve as Trustees of the Bethel Elkartaa Settlement Trust.  Ana Hoffman serves as the President/CEO.

If you have any questions, please call the Bethel office at 907-543-2124 or email bethel@bncak.com.

On Saturday, May 7, 2022, the Inspectors of Election announced there was a quorum present at the Bethel Native Corporation annual meeting of shareholders with 81,121.14 shares represented in person or by proxy.  This represents 51.7% of the total 157,032.8993 outstanding shares entitled to vote.

The election inspectors announced shareholders overwhelmingly approved the adoption of the Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation and provided the Board of Director election results as follows:

Gregory Hoffman, Sr  received 44,192.56 votes

Robert J Hoffman received 43,037.83 votes

Robert Lekander received 46,368.33 votes

Rose “Sugar” Henderson received 24,212.95

Beverly Ann Hoffman received 45,138.35

Bethany Kaiser received 36,622.82

Congratulations to the following persons elected to serve a three year term: Robert Lekander, Beverly Hoffman and Gregory Hoffman, Sr.

Quyana to all six candidates for your interest! Quyana shareholders for submitting your proxy!

______________________________________________________________________________________________________________

If you want to opt in or opt out of receiving your annual meeting materials electronically in the future, please contact the BNC office at 907-543-2124 or email bethel@bncak.com to communicate that request.

Congratulations to the Final Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000  Gwendolynn Anna Gellerman, Anchorage, AK

$1,000  Ignatius Louie Andrew, Bethel, AK

$1,000  Adams Hollis Twitchell, Anchorage, AK

$1,000  David Nicholson, Dillingham, AK

$   500  Lanai Karoline Laraux, Bethel, AK

$   500  Christopher Charles, Bethel, AK

$   500  Stella Denise Adams, Soldotna, AK

$   500  Gwendolynn Geerdts Foster, Wasilla, AK

$   100  Christian S. Kompkoff, Tatitlek, AK

$   100  Joann Tikiun, Nunapitchuk, AK

$   100  Celeste Adkins, Aniak, AK

$   100  Myrna Lee Crutcher, North Pole, AK

$   100  Onessia Bahr, Unalakleet, AK

$   100  Luella Catherine Stephens, Tulalip, WA

$   100  Rex Kawagley, Bethel, AK

$   100  Peter Nook, Kalaskag, AK

$   100  Karl Dean Jones, Quinhagak, AK

$   100  Walter E. Pete, Aniak, AK

Congratulations to the 2022 Second Early Bird Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000   Raini Thorson, Gilbert, AZ

$1,000   Stella Wasuli, Bethel, AK

$1,000   John Adolf Nick Jr., Bethel, AK

$1,000   Clara R Wassillie, Bethel, AK

$ 500     Raymond H Andrew, Togiak, AK

$ 500     Daniel Delos Barnhard, Anchorage, AK

$ 500     Rebecca Hastie, II, Bethel, AK

$ 500     Martha Jane Jack, Wasilla, AK

$ 500     Stephanie Janeen Lieb, Anchorage, AK

Congratulations to the 2022 First Early Bird Proxy Prize Winners!

$1,000   Georgina Sumstad, Anchorage, AK

$1,000   Barbara Evon, Anchorage, AK

$1,000   Mary Twito, Bethel, AK

$1,000   Gary Alan Samuelson, Bethel, AK

$ 500     Darold Hoffman, Jr, Bethel, AK

$ 500     Mary Diana Brogdon, Juneau, AK

$ 500     Lee Stewart, Bethel, AK

$ 500     Melissa Alick, Pilot Station, AK

$ 500     Lucy Ann Fox, Bethel, AK

Congratulations to all of the 2022 Proxy Cash Prize Winners!

Contact BNC at 907-543-2124 if you have any questions.