yesterday's mtg at Cumberland University in Lebanon TN went very well, esp. because only four of us were there, so it went by very quickly.

present were Vicky Garland, David Teat, tom kunesh, and Dale Mitchell.
absent with prior notice were Don Hoff, John Smith and Floyd Ayers.
missing were Cubert Bell Sr, Alice Henry, Edna Fay, April Weller, Bob Newman, John Hedgecoth, Teresa Horn, and Man Many Trees.

we reviewed the SB41/HB1617 text referencing TNNAC and all agreed that TNNAC is not and never was conceived of being a state agency, that TNNAC's purpose and duties are to act as a non-partisan third-party to both the state and the TN NA community, that it is inappropriate for any future legislation to address the internal workings of TNNAC, and that all references to TNNAC and the caucuses and convention should be eliminated from future proposed legislation, leaving only the lines, "The Tennessee Native American Convention shall prepare a list of four (4) nominees for each position as a member on the commission [and] shall submit to the speaker of the house and the speaker of the senate a list of nominees."

now that TNNAC is officially registered with the state of Tennessee, and as soon as the by-laws are approved, TNNAC will publicly re-certify and affirm the results of the 2001 TNNAConvention in case there are any questions regarding their legitimacy and with the knowledge that not a single challenge to the elections or process has ever been made.

...... looooong discussion of by-laws, but that was planned. see them above.

our top choices for the location of the two-day 2003 TNNAConvention are:
1. Pinson Mounds (http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/pinson/) (but Archeofest happens there the 3rd weekend of september - http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/pinson/archfest.htm)
2. Tamarack Resort (Tamarack Park, 10 miles south of Jackson, "A 105-acre forested private Nature Park including a recreation of early American life and an outdoor amphitheater that seats about 1,400. ")
3. Montgomery Bell State Park (http://www.state.tn.us/environment/parks/montbell/).

we are trying to get a site for 20-21 september, but are also considering 27-28 september.

the next TNNAC board meeting will be held on saturday, 23 november, 10am central, again at Cumberland University.

between now and the next meeting we will be reviewing the 2001 census data on Native American population and location in Tennessee in order to determine the best sites for the caucuses.

;>

tom kunesh
TNNAC chairman

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11 november 2002

new rule proposal:

to obtain decennial population counts from the US Census Bureau of the American Indian population in Tennessee, by one race and in combination with other races, by counties, for the purpose of determining populations, redistricting and redrawing of caucus areas in Tennessee.