Just about every room in town is already booked for the 46th annual Southeast Conference set for Sept. 15-18.

The convention of the region’s local and state officials, up to 275 strong, is significant for Haines this year, and not just because of the money participants bring to town, said borough economic development director Robert Venables.

"It’s a fantastic opportunity to showcase Haines to individuals and organizations around Southeast. We’ve got a lot to be proud of, as a place or partner in locating ventures."

Jim Clark, Gov. Frank Murkowski’s chief of staff, is set to deliver the conference keynote address Tuesday. Presentations by industry officials representing timber, mining, tourism, transportation and fisheries companies are scheduled throughout the three-day conference.

Events Tuesday include a review of a study conducted in l999 by U.S. Forest Service researcher Lee Cerveny on regional attitudes toward tourism, and an update on expansion of the ship dock in Hoonah.

Alaska Marine Highway officials will present information on ferry system capital projects, and representatives of Alaska Airlines and the Inter-Island Ferry Authority will talk about their organizations’ plans.

Also Tuesday, the conference’s environment committee is scheduled to review regional solid-waste issues and Southeast legislators will meet in an afternoon caucus. Wrangell Republican Peggy Wilson and Juneau Democrat Kim Elton are confirmed to attend, Venables said.

On Wednesday, representatives of regional mining ventures, Greens Creek, Kensington and Rubicon, talk about the state of their industry. Regional health service providers SEARHC and Catholic Community Services are also scheduled to present updates on their organizations at the inaugural meeting of the conference health-care committee.

Also Wednesday, timber and fisheries committees meet and Cathy Rasmuson, president of the philanthropic Rasmuson Foundation, will make a presentation.

Meetings of the Southeast Alaska Conference of Mayors and the Southeast Chambers of Commerce are scheduled prior to Wednesday’s banquet and scholarship auction at Harriet Hall at the fairgrounds.

To donate items for the auction, which funds scholarships at the University of Alaska-Southeast, call Lisa Herzinger at the Haines Visitor Center, 766-2234.

"We definitely want to raise more than the $20,000 they raised last year in Craig," Herzinger said.

On Thursday, Lieutenant Governor Loren Lehman is scheduled to talk about the Denali Commission, Alaska Department of Transportation planners will speak about future road projects and Connecticut-based Derecktor Shipyards will show how they built the new fast ferry, Fairweather. The Fairweather’s schedule and other ferry issues will be among topics at Thursday’s meeting of the governor’s Marine Highway Advisory Board.

The conference concludes with its annual business meeting. Venables said governor Murkowski has pledged to try to get to Haines to meet with conference attendees Thursday. "We’re really hoping that will happen."

Southeast Conference events will be held at various venues around town, including the Chilkat Center, ANB Hall, the American Bald Eagle Foundation, the public library, the Fort Seward Tribal House and Harriet Hall.