next TN Native American Convention board meetings:
saturday, 17 may - 10am central
Keathley University Center conference room,
third floor - southwest corner
Middle TN State University

2003 TNNAC schedule: commissioner nominations for the three grand divisions only - West, Middle & East:
open 24 may 2003, close 26 july 2003

all seven caucuses will be held: saturday, 23 august 2003 - 7pm ET, 6pm CT

Convention: saturday & sunday, 27-28 september 2003
Pinson Mounds, south of Jackson, West TN

TNNAC agenda

- minutes
- check-in by areas
- committee reports
- old business
- new business

A. Welcome to the visitors from the new northeast TN caucus site up in the Tri-Cities/Kingsport.

B. minutes from last meeting ... (MTSU pow-wow 1 march)

1. Given recent concerns about TNNAC's role in the election process,
Should TNNAC consider amending the language of TNNAC's purpose (1)? [http://www.tnnac.org/TNNAC-bylaws.html]
ARTICLE 2. PURPOSES
The purposes of the Tennessee Native American Convention are to:
from: "Democratically elect representatives from the Native American community to represent Native American interests in and to the State of Tennessee;"
to: "To create and sponsor the election process in which representatives from the Native American community are democratically elected to advocate Native American interests in and to the State of Tennessee;"
The original language may be interpreted to mean that the TNNAC board itself elects commissioner nominees rather than only structure the process.
[amendment received with approval]

2. Discuss 2003 commissioner nominations for the Grand Divisions: West, Middle, East TN
a. final approval of the commissioner-nominee & signature forms
b. seeking and promoting candidates for the Grand Divisions
c. verifying signatures with county election commissions

3. Should TNNAC take nominations to state-appointed boards other than the Commission of Indian Affairs?
a. Archaeological Advisory Council - (10 members, apptd. by Gov., "Three (3) members shall be persons of Native American descent of at least one-quarter (1/4) blood quantum and representative of the Native American community in Tennessee", terms expire in 2003 (Middle TN), 2005 (East TN), 2007 (West TN))
b. State Historical Commission - (24 members, apptd. by Gov., "In making the appointments, there should be a conscientious effort by the appointing authority to insure that persons meeting these criteria are inclusive of African-Americans and of Native American ancestry.")
c. State Arts Commission - (15 members, apptd. by Gov., "the governor shall strive to ensure that ... at least one (1) person serving on the commission is a member of a racial minority.")
d. Human Rights Commission - (15 members, apptd. by Gov., "The members shall be appointed on a nonpartisan basis and shall be broadly representative of employees, proprietors, trade unions, religious groups, human rights' groups and the general public.")
If so, when should TNNAC begin to solicit nominees for these other positions?
[yes. now.]

4. Should TNNAC specify qualities/factors to consider in choosing Caucus sites?
qualifications of sites (eg, public, non-sectarian, ... Should we accept caucus meeting sites at individuals' homes, or churches/temples/mosques?)
[passed: TNNAC caucus locations shall be held at public, non-sectarian locations, and are subject to approval by the TNNAC board.]

5. Should TNNAC specify qualities of Caucus chairpersons and assistants elected at caucuses, who become the new TNNAC Board ?
(concern about takeover by external {non-indian} parties)
- must be approved by outgoing TNNAC Board? no.
- indianness a factor? (51% indian membership?)
[TNNAC should apply to the TNCIA for recognition as a Native-American organization]
- must sign confidentiality agreement to keep all TNNAC genealogy information on individuals confidential.

6. Should TNNAC limit/restrict its own members' membership on the TN Indian Affairs Advisory Council and Indian Affairs Commission? Can TNNAC members be commissioner-nominees? Can caucus chairpersons be commissioner-nominees? What are the potential conflicts of interest that we should be aware of? [can't do currently given the shortage of active indians willing to participate in these orgs]

7. Should TNNAC allow caucuses to select delegate -alternates- in case any of the delegates cannot make the Convention? [yes: 5]

8. Should TNNAC invite any other members of the state indian community to sit on its board? [3 at-large positions on TNNAC board; 2 currently held: tom kunesh & Joe McCaleb. yes.]

your agenda items/ideas ...

9. need confidentiality agreement for all TNNAC board members.

10.

11.

12.

...

see you on saturday, the 17th, at MTSU !

PLEASE! let me know if you will be there or not.
thanks.

;>

present:
Dale Mitchell
Two Dogs
Diane Caldwell
Edna Fay
Lawrence Sampson
Joe McCaleb
Floyd Ayers
Cleata Townsend
tom kunesh

absent but comments pre-submitted
John Hedgecoth
Vicky Garland