Tennessee Native American Convention Board Meeting . October 25, 2003 Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro . 10:00 a.m. 2003-2005 Board Members Memphis: Ed Vinson - absent Kathy Shassere - absent Ron Lema - absent Humboldt: Joseph Walters - absent Brent Cox - present Lynn Clayton - present Nashville: Sandi Perry - present Niles Aseret - absent Doug Kirby - present Shelbyville: Vicky Garland - present Melissa Shelby - present Tina Mote - present Chattanooga: tom kunesh - present Cleata Townsend - present Mark Caldwell - absent Kingsport: Donna Davis - present John Hedgecoth - present Christin Dingus - absent Knoxville: Thomas Wynn - present Valerie Ohle - present Gene Branson - absent At Large: Joe McCaleb - present John Smith - absent Guests: Floyd Ayers, Edna Faye, Tommy Veal, Dale Mitchell, Sara Cantrell, Van Lynch,Georgia Dennis, Lee Vest, David Teat, Jo Nicholson, Jesse Garland, Debbie Bowman, Norman Clayton I. The first part of the October 25 2003 quarterly meeting was conducted by the 2001-2003 TNNAC Board members and notes were taken by Dale Mitchell, Secretary and Treasurer 2002-2003. An introduction of the 2001-2003 Board members and 2003-2005 Board members was given by outgoing Chairman tom kunesh. II. The second part of the October 25 2003 quarterly meeting began with election of the TNNAC Board officers. Eligible Voters were: tom kunesh (incumbent chair), Vicky Garland (incumbent vice chair), Brent Cox, Lynn Clayton, Sandi Perry, Doug Kirby, Melissa Shelby, Tom Wynn, Cleata Townsend, Donna Davis, John Hedgecoth, Valerie Ohle, Joe McCaleb or 13 voters. A. Election of Officers - 2003-2004 1. Chair of TNNAC Valerie Ohle nominated Tom Wynn, Sandi Perry seconded. Vicky Garland nominated tom kunesh, Brent Cox seconded. Doug Kirby closes nomination. A call for secret ballots: blank paper handed out and all 13 voted. tom kunesh was re-elected Chairman with 10 votes, Tom Wynn received 3 votes. 2. Vice Chair of TNNAC Brent Cox nominated Vicky Garland, John Hedgecoth seconded. Vicky Garland ran unopposed as Vice Chair - unanimous vote. 3. Secretary/Treasurer of TNNAC Cleata Townsend nominated Brent Cox, Lynn Clayton seconded. Brent Cox ran unopposed as Secretary/Treasurer - unanimous vote. B. Agenda 1. Tom Wynn moved to discuss commissioner-nominee Teri Ellenwood's Poll first, seconded by Sandi Perry. The motion carried with 12 votes and one abstention. 2. Discussion continued for a long time and without result due to the fact that only a few board members had seen and read the actual poll and the results. 3. John Hedgecoth moved to table the discussion until everyone had a chance to review the poll and to carry over the discussion to Jan. 17, 2004, Joe McCaleb seconded. The motion was carried and tabled until the Jan. 17, 2004. C. Discussion of the next Convention (2005) at Little Cedar Mountain and who hosts the event. 1. Vicky Garland made a motion that the Chattanooga Caucus should be in charge of hosting the event, Valerie Ohle seconded. The motion carried. 2. The Convention meeting will be on Saturday. Requests were made by several Board members for the possibility of Friday and/or Sunday for entertainment and ceremonial activities. 3. tom kunesh asked to amend the motion for Chattanooga to host the event with the help of the Humboldt Caucus to explore optional activities for the weekend of the convention, Valerie Ohle seconded. The motion carried. D. Discussion of the Saturday, March 27, 2004 Public Forum. 1. Vicky Garland made a motion that the Nashville Caucus should find a location for this event, Joe McCaleb seconded. 2. Amended - to charge the Nashville-area board members with planning the conference and to report on progress at the January 17 2004 meeting of TNNAC. The motion with amendment carried. E. Discussion of the length of time between the Caucus meetings and the Convention to be six months - as determined by the 2003 Convention at Pinson. 1. Valerie Ohle and Sandi Perry said that 6 months was too long, 3 months would be sufficient. 2. Vicky Garland made a motion to make it 3 months instead of 6 months. 3. Joe McCaleb said the Convention voted for 6 months, so it should be 6 months. 4. Vicky Garland withdrew her motion. 5. Joe McCaleb made a motion to contact the voting delegates and ask them if they wanted to change the length of time, John Hedgecoth seconded. Motion carried. 6. Vicky Garland agreed to send letters to all voting delegates and ask them whether they wanted three or six months. 7. A hat was passed around to collect funds to do the mail-out, total collected: $76.10 F. Discussion on Protocol and Ethics in regard to improper statements made to the press by members of TNNAC, and about TNNAC. 1. How should TNNAC deal with false and misleading information given to the media by TNNAC board members? Should members talk with the press without approval of TNNAC board? Cases cited. 2. Valerie Ohle stated "this discussion needs to go into Executive session." Sandi Perry seconded. 3. Joe McCaleb stated that the discussion does not need to go to Executive Session, it is public info. The chairman supported Joe McCaleb's statement. 4. Valerie Ohle stated "I want to go on record as saying 'Don't use names.'" Lynn Clayton stated "the Old Board knows." 5. The chairman called it to a vote: Do we go into executive session? Motion failed. 6. The chairman asked how TNNAC should handle abuse of the TNNAC name, or incorrect statements made about TNNAC by members of TNNAC. a. Misinformation has been given to the press by board members, as stated by Lynn Clayton. b. Valerie Ohle mentioned that the reporter may have made the mistakes and not board members of TNNAC. c. Brent Cox stated that the reporter had verified that misinformation had been given to the press. 7. David Teat, a member of the Advisory Council, suggested that we create a committee to address the issue. Pick seven members. This committee would evaluate and make rules to go by, and disciplinary actions to be used in case of misrepresentation of TNNAC. Approved. 8. Protocol and Ethics Committee created: Doug Kirby, Ed Vinson, Cleata Townsend, Valerie Ohle, Brent Cox, Melissa Shelby, Tina Mote, Donna Davis, Christin Dingus, Joe McCaleb. 9. Vicky Garland agreed to send the addresses to each member of the Committee. G. Discussion of board members, lack of attendance and removal of absentees. 1. Sandi Perry suggested that after 3 absences, a board member should be removed. 2. Valerie Ohle suggested it should be two meetings. 3. Doug Kirby made a motion to create an attendance committee, Valerie Ohle seconded the motion. The motion carried. 4. Attendance Committee created: Tom Wynn, Melissa Shelby, Lynn Clayton. H. Dale Mitchell suggested that the Secretary and Treasurer position of TNNAC should be separated. 1. The chairman suggested that someone introduce a written proposal on this. 2. Brent Cox (secretary/treasurer) and Vicky Garland (vice chair) will consult with Dale Mitchell (past secretary/treasurer) to create and submit to the board an amendment to the TNNAC bylaws to separate the one position into two positions. I. Tom Wynn asked if TNNAC could be given the minutes of the October 25th meeting before the January 2004 meeting. 1. The chairman asked Brent Cox if we could, and stated that it was required to be posted on the Internet by 21 days after the meeting. 2. The Vice Chair, Secretary/Treasurer, and Dale will compare and combine notes to be approved by the Vice Chair and Chair of TNNAC. J. Valerie Ohle asked that the agenda for the January 2004 meeting be sent out sooner. 1. The chairman stated that we could. 2. Advisory Council member David Teat mentioned that the Advisory Council Protocol called for the agenda be sent out 30 days before their meetings. K. Sandi Perry asked for the Oct. 25 2003 meeting to be called to end. 1. Valerie Ohle made a motion to end the meeting, Tom Wynn seconded. The motion carried. 2. The meeting ended at 4:27 P.M. Central time