About the annual meeting

The 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders will be held on Friday, March 15, at the Westmark Fairbanks Hotel. 

The theme for the 2024 Annual Meeting of Shareholders is Our Family Tree: Connected by Our Roots, Strengthened by Our Diversity.

This year, we honor our shareholders: past, present, and future – and our connection with one another, with our lands, and with our way of life. Just as a healthy forest depends on the biodiversity of its trees, plants, and animals, the diversity of Doyon’s shareholders, employees, and business operations gives us strong roots to grow and stand resilient through the passing years, shifting seasons, and changing climate.

A network of roots connects all trees within a forest, facilitating communication and supplying resources throughout the forest’s family of trees. As your corporation, we see ourselves in a similar role: serving as a resource and connection point to support the growth of our companies and, most importantly, our shareholders – you.

Board Election

Doyon’s Board of Director election serves to give new leaders a voice in the Boardroom. Through proxy voting, our shareholders determine who represents them each year.

The election will be held at the 2024 Annual Meeting on Friday, March 15, in Fairbanks. Current directors whose terms expire at the March 2024 Annual Meeting are Chris Simon, Walter “Wally” Carlo, Jennifer Fate, and Charleen Fisher, Ph.D.

Vote by Friday, February 16 at 5 p.m. AKST, for a chance to win prizes!

PROXY & ePROXY

Our shareholders live all over Alaska and the rest of the world. For many of you, traveling to the Annual Meeting is out of the question. Proxy voting ensures every shareholder voice is heard — even from thousands of miles away.

The eProxy system allows you to vote for board directors and ensures that we follow our bylaws, which require over 50 percent of our voting shares to be present for a valid annual meeting and for the election of our board.

When you give your proxy or eProxy to the Doyon proxy committee or to a voting Doyon shareholder who attends the annual meeting, your votes will be cast exactly as you wish. Voting typically starts 60 days before the annual meeting in mid-January, and closes in mid-March.

You can find FAQ’s at the bottom of this page.

Annual Meeting Webcast

The webcast will be available on Friday, March 15, at 8:00 a.m. AKST with call to order at 9 a.m.

The password to enter the webcast is located in your email and printed Annual Meeting materials. 

We want to hear your voice

Here at Doyon, we celebrate the uniquely outstanding individuals who make up our vibrant communities.

Ranging from dedicated leadership, to cultural mentors and veterans, our Shareholder of the Year awards recognize our family, friends, and neighbors who selflessly give all of themselves to their communities and culture.

Awards are presented at the Annual Meeting in three different categories.

Photo: Henry Beatus, Sr., Hughes, 2023 Poldine Carlo Citizen of the Year Award recipient.

2024 Shareholder of the Year Awards

Poldine Carlo Citizen of the Year

This award recognizes a person who has demonstrated leadership, strong commitment, competence, and sensitivity in the educational and cultural survival of Alaska Natives. Recipients may be chosen for contributions in the fields of health or education, maintenance of a traditional lifestyle, or for the example they set as parents.

GIN’TITH RICHARD FRANK MILITARY SERVICE

Recognizes a veteran or active duty service member in good standing from any military branch who has demonstrated strong qualities of leadership in service to our country and commitment to fellow Alaska Natives and military families. The award is named after the late Gin’tith Richard Frank who was a strong advocate for our people to serve the country.

CHIEF ANDREW ISAAC LEADERSHIP AWARD

Recognizes an individual, age 35 or younger, who has demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities. The award is named in honor of the late Traditional Chief Andrew Isaac, who emphasized the importance of education for youth to become strong leaders of tomorrow. 

The period to submit nominations is closed.

Opt-In for Electronic Delivery

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Our shareholders live all over Alaska, and the rest of the world. For many of you, traveling to the Annual Meeting is out of the question. So Doyon uses an eProxy system to make sure every shareholder’s voice is heard—even from far away. Below are frequently asked questions about voting at the Annual Meeting.

Why does Doyon use a Proxy system for the board election?

Most shareholders cannot attend the annual meeting in person; therefore, Doyon uses a proxy system. Doyon’s bylaws require that more than 50 percent of voting shares be present to have a valid annual meeting to select a board of directors. Less than 3 percent of our 20,400+ shareholders show up in person at the annual meeting. To reach a quorum, most shareholders are represented by proxies. The use of proxies is not unique to Doyon. It is a business practice used throughout the corporate world where the business is owned by shareholders.  If you vote by proxy and later decide to attend the meeting, you may still vote in person by registering.  Registration is required to vote in person. Day-of-meeting registration will take place on Friday, March 17, 2023; Westmark Fairbanks Hotel; 8 to 10 a.m.

Is it true the Proxy Committee re-elects themselves through undirected voting?

When the Proxy Committee receives undirected votes, as part of the election rules, the votes MUST be distributed evenly to all the candidates running for the open board seats.

Does Doyon still use a board-recommended slate of candidates?

No. Doyon no longer uses a board-recommended slate of candidates. Over 12 years ago, at its August 2010 meeting, the board of directors voted to discontinue its use. 

Can someone else vote my shares?

You can choose to have someone else vote your shares at the Annual Meeting or any adjournment thereof by identifying a shareholder on your proxy. You may also choose to have the Proxy Committee vote your shares. The committee will be responsible for voting your shares based on how you directed your votes.

If you choose to name an individual who is a member of the Proxy Committee, your shares will be voted by that individual and not by the Proxy Committee.

If the person you appoint to vote your proxy does not register at the Annual Meeting, and does not appoint a valid substitute, then the Proxy Committee will vote your proxy based on how you directed your votes.

Do I need to designate a proxyholder?

No. By filling out and submitting the proxy card or eProxy, your vote is counted. 

What is the difference between directed and undirected voting for election of directors?

DIRECTED VOTING: If you cast your votes for one or more candidates on your proxy, this is directed voting.

UNDIRECTED VOTING: If you do not cast your votes for any of the candidates and leave the space blank next to all candidates on your proxy, this is undirected voting, and your votes will be voted as follows:

  • If your proxyholder is the Proxy Committee, then your votes will be distributed equally among those candidates listed on the Doyon proxy card.
  • If your proxyholder is an individual shareholder, then your shares will be voted as your designated proxyholder sees fit, with the power to cumulate votes.
Why can’t I designate a proxyholder in my eProxy?

We removed the “designate a proxyholder” option in the eProxy to address the issue of shareholders who thought they were signing their eProxy but were instead designating themselves as a proxyholder.

On previous eProxies, shareholders who directed all their votes saw the option to designate a proxyholder, even though they did not need one. This was confusing and resulted in hundreds of shareholders naming themselves proxyholders, meaning they would need to attend the Annual Meeting to vote in person. 

If a shareholder names a proxyholder who does not attend the Annual Meeting, the Proxy Committee, under the rules of the election, votes the proxy as directed by the shareholder. 

Shareholders who wish to direct all their votes and still designate a proxyholder may do so by completing and returning a paper proxy card. If you need a paper proxy, contact the Doyon Records Department to request one. Shareholders may then complete the paper proxy, directing their votes and designating a proxyholder.

If I don’t have a proxyholder, does that mean someone else can vote my shares or change my vote?

Your vote is counted by filling out and submitting the proxy card or eProxy. Shareholders do not need to designate a proxyholder. It is important to understand that no one can change your directed votes; neither the Proxy Committee nor your designated proxyholder can change your DIRECTED votes.

Can the Proxy Committee change my votes?

Your vote is counted by filling out and submitting the proxy card or eProxy. Shareholders do not need to designate a proxyholder. It is important to understand that no one can change your directed votes; neither the Proxy Committee nor your designated proxyholder can change your DIRECTED votes.

Can I direct my votes AND designate a proxyholder?

Shareholders who wish to direct all their votes and still designate a proxyholder may do so by completing and returning a paper proxy card. If you need a paper proxy, contact the Doyon Records Department to request one. Shareholders may then complete the paper proxy, directing their votes and designating a proxyholder.

Can I change my vote after I’ve voted?

If you vote by eProxy, you may log back in at any time before the proxy deadline to change your vote.  If you submit a paper proxy, you can change your vote by submitting a new paper proxy before the proxy deadline of 5:00 pm, Tuesday, March 15, 2023.

Why can’t I be my own proxyholder?

Shareholders who wish to direct all their votes and still designate themselves as proxyholder may do so by completing and returning a paper proxy card. If you need a paper proxy, contact the Doyon Records Department to request one. Shareholders may then complete the paper proxy, direct their votes and designate themselves as a proxyholder.

Those shareholders designating themselves as a proxyholder are advised to register at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders to vote their proxy in person.  Registration is required to vote in person. Day-of-meeting registration will take place on Friday, March 17, 2023; Westmark Fairbanks Hotel; 8 to 10 a.m. 

Is there a second ballot?

Please note that Doyon, Limited does not have a second ballot. Therefore, there is no need to designate a proxyholder for a second ballot. Over 17 years ago, at its December 2005 meeting, the board of directors voted to discontinue its use. 

Why does Doyon have a candidate matrix?

Doyon’s Board of Directors felt that a candidate matrix would be an easier, at-a-glance way to see and compare each candidate’s background. In 2011, the candidate matrix was added to the annual meeting, and proxy information was sent to shareholders.

Please explain the required rural representation on the Board of Directors.

Doyon, Limited’s articles of incorporation require rural representation on the board of directors. Rural shareholders are defined in the articles of incorporation as those shareholders residing within the Tanana Chiefs Conference region but outside the Fairbanks North Star Borough. The minimum number of board seats that must be held by shareholders who reside in the rural area is determined by a formula contained in the articles of incorporation. Rural directors must hold 20 percent of the 13 board positions, a minimum of three seats. Based on the current number of rural shareholders and continuing rural directors, no rural directors are required to be elected during this year’s election. However, Doyon’s board can have a higher number of rural directors.

How do candidates get my personal contact information? I didn’t give it to them and yet I’m receiving materials from board candidates.

Doyon is required by Alaska law to make shareholder names and addresses available to candidates for the Doyon board of directors. However, the information may only be used with proper safeguards. Doyon only releases the information to approved third-party vendors who print and mail or email candidate messages. Third-party vendors sign a confidentiality agreement that only allows the use of shareholder names and addresses for proxy solicitation messages sent on behalf of a candidate. Shareholder names, addresses, and email addresses are not released directly to candidates or anyone else. Doyon takes the confidentiality of shareholder information very seriously and will continue its efforts to safeguard shareholder information.

For more information, contact the Communications Department at
907-459-2097, 1-888-478-4755. ext. 2097, or communications@doyon.com