April 2017 Open Meeting Summary
Tribal Open Meeting Summary 4/7/2017 held at the Tribal Office in Aynor, SC
CM’s Homer, John, Susan, Robert, Dalton, and CoC Rick present. Summary prepared from audio file of March meeting.
March summary read
Dalton motioned to accept; Susan seconded
Homer-yes, John-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, Dalton-yes, Rick-yes
Financial Report
General Fund: $9888.50
Building Fund: $1599.15
Cemetery Fund: $531.26
Online Votes
2/18: Increase Chief & CoC daily spending authority to $150
Susan-yes, Robert-yes, Dalton-yes, Rick-yes
Old Business
Cemetery Encroachment
2C Cheryl: Meet with Mr. Beverly Monday at 2pm for update; will send out email once updated from him
Chief: told Beverly that if we went to arbitration, giving Mr. James equal land was off the table; we want boundary lines
John: if you went to arbitration, don’t they decide what’s right & wrong?
Chief: first, we’d have to agree to the arbitrator. We would have no recourse once we agreed
Chief: went out to the cemetery the other day, Daddy’s grave is caving in & others too; need to look at raking some dirt into a lot of the sites
Cheryl: the same at the cemetery on Mt Pisgah Church Rd; Holliday land & David & Eliza (sp?) Dimery’s sites
Elder Doug: went there many years ago, asked permission from landowner in trailer to get to the cemetery
Dalton: call him
Follow it up with written request
Rick: Cheryl, do you want to write/ call him?
Rick: Chief, do you want to schedule a work day for Sat?
Chief: going to take some rakes down there
John: a few months ago, we had someone volunteer to make crosses for sites that needed them; did it ever get done?
Rick: think Larry was supposed to do it
Larry: they’ve been done for a year
Roof Case Update
Chief: court date coming up; not sure of date yet
Asked Horry County police to serve Mr. Sampson because I don’t think he’s going to take it via mail
New Business
Welcome Homer back to the table
Homer: good to be back
2C Cheryl: talked about using all-inclusive database
Sat through webinar with Salesforce.org
We would be able to use it for everything we need it for so far, as well as mailings, newsletters
Can be modified for security & permissions; can be linked through the tribal website; can set expiration dates on logins
Dalton: how much does it cost & is there a monthly charge?
2C Cheryl: just starting dialogue with salesperson; haven’t found that out yet
Dalton: (prefaced with his database writing experience) it sounds like sales pitch; all databases should be able to do that; however, some are easier to use than others
Dalton: have you talked to Doug about databases because I think he is automating a database already
2C Cheryl: plan to collaborate with him
Dalton: pretty sure our website hosting service has a database built-in & that Doug said he could import our database right in
Rick: if you’re talking about importing our current database, that gets us back to the same problem: we don’t own the information
Dalton: I still have to talk to Iris about it, but a lot the data that’s in it is already electronically stored
2C Cheryl: Jeania didn’t scan all the files; she created a cover sheet
We need to take a scanner out here and go through them
Dalton: get with Doug & check on pricing with Salesforce
Susan: also need to vote for her to take over as Filekeeper
Dalton motioned; Susan seconded to make 2C Cheryl Filekeeper
Homer-yes, John-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, Dalton-yes, Rick-yes
Rick: will this also run things for the LLC once it’s up and going?
2C Cheryl: I think it could link into it; should be able to import information over
Rick: Few things
We talked a bit about an office computer
Dalton: should be able to get a computer for $200-300, monitor would cost more, and $40-50 scanner/ printer/ fax
Cheryl: talking more about a laptop to be able to use at the Pauwau
Michelle: we need better internet access/ bridge down at the circle; office access doesn’t reach the circle
Susan: we can email more on this
Think we need to make some Council requirements as far as attendance and more; we can discuss it online
Dalton: do the Elders think that we should require more attendance for the Council of Elders?
Doug/ Dan: yes
Dalton: should it be something that we police or that you police?
Doug: a lot of our people are sick; we also have a lot of good talent in the tribe that come to meetings that could be an Elder
John: we have 3 branches of government
Chief: and one branch can’t supervise another, except with Council making constitution changes
Rick: we need a working Council of Elders
Dalton: think it can be done with a policy letter, but be flexible
Chief: don’t think missing a certain number of meetings is an impeachable offense; shouldn’t be the reason you are removed from office
John: can’t we establish that in the policy letter?
Dalton: yes
2C Cheryl: look at Congress; they miss 75% of the times they are supposed to vote
Dalton: and they vote for each other
2C Cheryl: maybe it would be good if the people were made aware of who was present at meetings
Michelle: it’s at the top of each meeting summary
Susan: used to put it in the newsletter too
Elder Doug: businesses use excused/ unexcused absences and let you go after so many unexcused
Rick: we can discuss it more online or in a work day
Susan: do it in a work day, but have your thoughts written down so we have something to share
Chief: just remember that emails come across as harsh, even though most times they aren’t meant to sound that way
Eligibility for Council members to be proxied; currently only 2Chiefs
Discuss more online
John: when we decided on proxies, what did we come up with?
Dalton: if not mistaken, at the time, we had very low Council attendance; was the available people
Susan: we worked out a policy on it
Dalton: we also had for a bit where a CM could proxy for another CM, but then he could outvote everyone at the table
John: a lot of the votes that come up at a meeting aren’t known ahead of time
Dalton: we would probably need to make it that if you give someone your proxy, you are trusting their judgement
John: some of that comes with having the agenda out ahead of time
Dalton: it’s also something that could be worked onto the website, allow for signups & print before the meeting
Susan: it’s still in the constitution, so we would need an amendment
Dalton: and then that part would need to be ratified; not the whole constitution
Susan: received a call from Drew, an officer with Sons of Confederate Veterans
On 4/23, from 10-2, they are going to be on the Goodson Bridge waving confederate flags
They want to be able to park here & have someone shuttle them back up to the bridge
Elder Doug: that would put us into a political thing
Dalton motioned to reject
2C Cheryl: ask for a donation
John: say no; going to get some who aren’t the same as the others (a few bad apples)
2C Cheryl: that’s the same for bikers; James Dimery was a PoW Confederate
Rick: what if it’s just members of this organization?
Elder Doug: Confederate flag is offensive to a lot of people; we don’t need to get that opinion out there to start off with
John seconded the motion to reject
2C Cheryl & Dalton read different statements from their website
Rick: we fight discrimination all the time; are we going to discriminate now?
Elder Doug: you aren’t; you’re denying a request
Dalton: We aren’t discriminating against them because of their color, religion, disability, etc… I’m disagreeing with what they’re about; the same that they could do for me
Donnie: main concern is if we do it and the next week, we don’t have an office because it was burned down
Dalton: it’s not discrimination to not allow someone to not do something that you don’t allow anyone else to do
Derek: we have to protect our land
Dalton reiterated his motion to reject; John seconded
Homer-yes, John-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, Dalton-yes, Rick-yes
Susan/ Chief to notify them
Committee Reports
Arts & Crafts: Susan
4/22: Choker with dropdown class @2pm, $40; will post to FB
Michelle: also on Google+
2C Cheryl: can also do free event post in Sun News
Chief: where does the money go?
Susan: $25 to office; $10 back to tribe
Grants: Michelle
SCAC: waiting to hear back
Chief: UMC: $500 for electrical
Susan: waiting to hear back from lady about food for Special Needs Fishing Day
Elder Doug: did anybody track the amount of money sent in for Special Needs Fishing Day?
Rick: let me get to it on the agenda
Pauwau: Michelle
Meeting Thursday 4/13 @ 6pm
Sell ads for the program book
Hog Heaven fundraiser with Chris Judge 6/13
Buildings & Grounds: Rick
Roof is done; need vinyl siding and trim done
Thanks to everyone who helped
Donnie to give Council a list for a sprayer to put behind the truck
John: did we ever look at the electrical?
Rick: not yet; Iris gave me the name of a man to call that she recommended
Dalton: Paul? Don’t bother, he’s about to have surgery
Susan: Ferguson asked if we got our electrical fixed. He said he tore his trailer apart and it wasn’t his trailer
He’s the food trailer that always pulls the 30amp out of the box and puts his 50amp in
Rick: we can meet out here Thursday and try to address it
Drum: Rick
Last thing we did was Mr. Hank’s funeral
Four of us that play: me, my two sons, & Glen
Chief: received a lot of good comments about the drum and the funeral
Parking Lot & Shuttle: John
Chief needs to look at the cost increase, if any, of insurance
Emailed 35 dealers/ Harley Davidson owner groups
Facebooked 27 potential area businesses; 7 responded that they would post flyers (presented)
Susan: put them at the campgrounds too
Larry: different motorcycle groups use different colors; how can/ will you stop a group from coming in?
John: they aren’t holding a demonstration here; don’t see it as a concern
Fuel Receipts
One for $20, Donnie would like to donate that and buy mothballs for the pond
Rick: Receipt says prepaid card. Instead of paying him back, he will buy mothballs
Special Needs Fishing Day
Articles in two newspapers: NMB Times & Loris Tribune
Jerry: will run next week too
Prize: zip up bag (little tackle box, rod, reel), as well two A Reel Fix rod & reels
Giveaways: spinners and measuring tape
2C Cheryl: can we offer them an ad in exchange for sponsorship?
2C Cheryl motioned to offer companies assisting with Special Needs Fishing Day an ad in the Pauwau program book in exchange for their sponsorship; Dalton seconded
Susan-yes, Dalton-yes, Michelle-yes, 2C Cheryl-yes
Food: do we want to set an amount since we haven’t heard from the lady yet?
Susan: let me talk to her Monday
Rick: let us know something by Wednesday night, else we may have to call for a vote to buy food
Alan: I have paper hot dog trays at the house and can buy packages of hot dogs at the commissary for 77cents or so
Rick would also do hamburger
Susan: he’s saying that he can buy food cheaper
Budget: $986.40
Cash: $325, Yard Sale: $661.40
Going to have to do bait, possibly tackle, and food
Horseshoes, bean bag toss
Alan: DNR called back and they plan to have a trailer out here with fishing and bb gun simulator; requested from 8:30-3
Susan: talked to Ronnie & he said he didn’t know if they would be out here all day
Have plastic Easter eggs to fill with candy to hand out
Rick: 2C Cheryl, would you mind do registration like last year?
2C Cheryl: I can do that
Elder Doug: suggest you get their email addresses and keep them informed
Dalton: and give out Pauwau flyers
Jerry: what about p-o-p?
Rick: will call Gary for 2
Jessie will take pictures
Alan: CMA met this week. If you want to start a small business, a list of contacts is available to assist; DoT business is separate
Have a rough draft of Native American businesses
Have to be able to show you’re Native- tribal ID card, birth certificate
2C Cheryl: LLC
No official vote for name of the LLC
Need to decide on board members
Council cannot be on the board; they can control who is on the board
Dalton: can members of Council be on the board?
2C Cheryl: not recommended; conflict of interest
Last month, we thought about using committee heads
If the committee head is a Council member, they would need to nominate someone to the board
We need to amend last month’s vote to include this
For a 5-person board, we could not use the B&G Chair since it doesn’t have an event usually and it’s the only one where a CM ends up as chair most of the time
2C Cheryl: looking at members, who would we have?
Michelle: A&C: Phil, grants/ PW: Michelle, B&G/ Drum: Neal
2C Cheryl: think it would be okay to have an Elder on board
Dalton: wouldn’t that be the same problem?
2C Cheryl: don’t think so; they aren’t voting on anything
Rick: that’s three to get it off the ground
John: are people who are chairs of committees the best people to have on the board of a company?
Dalton: for this company, the things it will do are the things the committees are doing already; and they are the most active people
2C Cheryl: do discussion online and make sure people want positions
Dalton: think it would become an external matter
Dalton motioned to rescind previous decision of board members; Rick seconded
John-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, Dalton-yes, Rick-yes
Chief
Sent information to Council information about government surplus sales; open to any 501C unless they are an Indian tribe; then it is only open if you have a reservation and your people live on the reservation
Federal law; contacting Congress members
Can’t say enough about Council, Elders, others who bust their can to make this tribe what it is
We set the pace in this state
One of the things I find important is that I haven’t had to appoint a Council member; we always have more people running than there are seats to fill; which means they would be proud to sit around that table and you are setting the example for them to take part in
Lost one Elder, need to appoint another
Also need a Chief of Elders
Jerry was on Elders at one time; he has expressed his desire to come back into the tribe (which is up to Council)
We can discuss it online; hope to have decision by next meeting
Think current Elders should recommend to us who they think should sit on CoE
Request from SCIAC to use grounds to honor a member of Dakota, Lakota, Nakota Nation during Summer Solstice
6/17-21 Fire Ceremony celebrating White Buffalo
Invite anyone from any tribe
Would need p-o-p, some may want camp
Rick motioned to give Chief authority to use grounds for this event on 6/17-21 and set the agenda; John seconded
John-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, Dalton-yes, Rick-yes
Elder Doug: will you charge people to camp?
2C Cheryl: yes
Michelle: there’s a policy letter already in place
Alan is also doing a great job; don’t know how to thank him for it
John motioned to close the meeting; Robert seconded.
Meeting adjourned 9:08 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Michelle Hatcher on 5/3/17 at 8:18 am.