******************************************************************************** TNNAC Regular Board Meeting MTSU Honors Building 9:00 Central AUGUST 28, 2005 Called to Order- 9:26 Prayer- Ms. Helen Wagner-Vinson Roll Call: John Smith- TNNAC Chair, At-Large Memphis Lynn Clayton- TNNAC Secretary, Humboldt/Jackson Ed Vinson- Memphis Chair Helen Wagner-Vinson- Memphis Vice-chair Vicky Garland- At-Large Shelbyville/Manchester Tom Kunesh- Chattanooga Chair Absentees: Brent Cox- Humboldt/Jackson Chair Donna Bivens- Humboldt/Jackson Alternate Sandi Perry- Nashville Vice-Chair (Mother Worse) Niles Aseret- Nashville Chair Melissa Shelby-Smartt- Shelbyville/Manchester Chair Anita Prevatte- Shelbyville/Manchester Vice-Chair Donna Davis- Kingsport/Greeneville Chair Christin Dingus- Kingsport/Greeneville Vice-Chair Cleata Townsend-Chattanooga Vice-Chair Mark Caldwell- Chattanooga Alternate Guests: Norman Clayton- Jackson Brenda Oliver- Manchester Doug Kirby- Manchester Approval of Agenda- APPROVED Secretary/Treasurer report: July 16, 2005 minutes Approved with corrections Treasurer's report: Passed Need to get caucus letters indemnifying Van Lynch and Jimmy Reedy signed and sent. Membership: Attendance records (4 missed meetings=Removal) Terminations- vacancies NEW STANDING RULE: Alternates are temporary stand-ins for their caucus area absent board members at board meetings only, and are not themselves board members. APPROVED TERMINATE: Alice Henry-Memphis Alternate-Terminated Brent Cox- Humboldt/Jackson Chair (resigned after the convention) Donna Bivens- Humboldt/Jackson Alternate-Terminated Lynn Clayton-Humboldt/Jackson Resignation letter- She will not come to a TNNAC meeting and represent Jackson/West TN. Resignation effective at the October Meeting Tom- Emotional Blackmail Read Ms. Van Lynch's letter of support for Lynn as Chair Proposed the TNNAC board unanimously support Lynn Clayton as Chair of the Jackson Caucus. FAILED Lynn: The caucus should get it's feelings in order and do what they need to do. Niles Aseret- Nashville Chair-Terminated Melissa Shelby- Shelbyville/Manchester Chair-Terminated Anita Prevatte- Shelbyville/Manchester Vice-Chair-Terminated Donna Davis- Kingsport/Greeneville Chair-Terminated Christin Dingus- Kingsport/Greeneville- Vice-Chair-Terminated NEW STANDING RULE: Caucus area board members need to inform their Alternates in advance of their absence from TNNAC board meetings. Alternates who miss four (4) TNNAC board meetings in their caucus area board members' absence may be terminated. Board members who know they will miss a meeting need to inform the TNNAC Secretary and their Alternate. APPROVED Preparing New TNNAC board members: Folders supplied by Lynn Clayton to contain- Bylaws, Standing Rules, SOP, list of web sites (TNNAC, TNCIA, ACTIA) Vicky will handle that Proposal: two (2) Alternates instead of just one (1) TABLED until new board takes over in October Old Business: Review and Approve Memphis August 15th meeting results 2nd Commissioner Nominee from Memphis Shelley Allen 19 Caucus sign INS and 19 votes for Shelley APPROVED Indian Preference Reviewed: 1. Verifiable documentation of Indian descent to be presented to TNNAC: ( send photo copy of card to Secretary Lynn Clayton to verify)) A. membership in a Federally-recognized tribe B. Membership in a state Legislatively-recognized tribe C. Tennessee State Native American Indian recognition D. Persons demonstrating biological NA descendancy 2. Unenrolled Commissioner Nominees requesting Indian Preference to come before the TNNAC board at a meeting with proof for verification. A. Personal Private Interview for unenrolled persons B. Individuals will have 30 minutes with TNNAC board in executive session ( board No notes, No minutes, No copies) C. If genealogy is presented descendant chart must be certified by a professional/accredited genealogist. John Smith wants a committee for this, not the whole board. Vicky Garland Agrees. + Ruth Knight Allen, Memphis- TN. State recognized- Past proof + Shelley Allen, Memphis- TN. State recognized- Sent copies - Niles Aseret, Nashville- - David Teat, Nashville- + John Anderson, Chattanooga- Federally Recognized tribe, formerly accepted/past proof + Tom Kunesh, Chattanooga- ? Doris Tate-Trevino, Chattanooga ? Joice Fickenworth, Knoxville + Jeanie Walkingstick King, Knoxville- Federally recognized Tribe sent copy - Val Ohle, Knoxville- not requesting IP NEW STANDING RULE: Photos copies of the membership cards (front and back) for members of federally and State recognized Tribes shall be submitted to the TNNAC Secretary. The TNNAC Secretary shall verify the information with the Tribal enrollment office and report the findings to the board. APPROVED Candidates approved for Indian Preference in the past shall be given Indian Preference unless evidence to the contrary is submitted. TNNAC shall appoint a committee to review unenrolled persons information seeking Indian Preference. Tom Kunesh presented proof that his Mother is an enrolled member of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Need check-box for Indian Preference on the application. Yes [ ] No [ ] PROPOSED STANDING RULES For consideration: 1. Each individual TNNAC caucus is responsible for its own caucus expenses apart from those approved in advance by the TNNAC board. 2. Each individual TNNAC caucus is responsible for submitting a clear voting tally with no electoral ties. If electoral ties are submitted to TNNAC, TNNAC will list the names in any electoral tie by surname in reverse alphabetical order (Z-A) from the list submitted. 3. A. Each individual TNNAC caucus is responsible for providing TNNAC with at least two (2) nominees for the position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs in its scheduled election year. B. If less than two (2) commissioner-nominees are elected by the individual TNNAC caucus; the TNNAC board shall determine an alternative selection process. 4. A. Each individual TNNAC caucus is responsible for providing TNNAC with at least one (1) nominee for the position of TNNAC board member each election cycle. B. If no TNNAC board nominee is elected by the individual TNNAC caucus, the TNNAC board shall defer to that caucus' list of convention delegates and, starting at the top of the delegation list and in elected order, shall invite a delegate to serve on the TNNAC board until a willing person is found and attends a TNNAC board meeting. C. No person shall be seated on the TNNAC board who does not attend a TNNAC board meeting following his/her nomination to the board. 5. A TNNAC caucus is an open, public meeting that is duly advertised, and has been authorized by the TNNAC board, and is chaired by a TNNAC board member, for the specific purpose of democratically electing one or more of the following: A. nominees to the position of Commissioner of Indian Affairs B. nominees to the TNNAC board APPROVED- all unanimous TNNAC board response letter to 2003 caucus questions to be reviewed and signed by Officers. John Smith, Chair and Lynn Clayton, Secretary read and signed, to be mailed Monday August 29, 2005 NEW BUSINESS: Review and finalize Convention planning 1. Convention Staff and Site Convention Chair- John Smith Convention Vice-Chair- Vicky Garland Sec. Lynn Clayton Ballot master- Dale Mitchell Master-At-Arms- Norman Clayton A. Mailed notice to delegates Vicky Garland already mailed to Knoxville Tom gets info in PDF and HTML Bring easy-ups/sun screens/shelters/umbrellas Health Care/First Aid Walkie-Talkie/ phones for first aid Signage Coffee and Doughnuts Water- Vicky suggested asking Debra Rodriguez, Cherokee Bottled Water Distributor if she might donate. List of All Delegates: Lynn snail mail and Vicky e-mail and tell about convention B. Food, Accommodations, shelter $5.00 Subway Sandwiches Pavilion rented, Amphitheater available Check out area Friday 23, 2005 at 6:30 central meet at the pavilion Drum: Pat Cummins- Tanasi Thunder- Dale Mitchell Convention agenda: Tom Kunesh and Dale Mitchell work out the details. Amend Referendum. Vicky Garland wanted to amend her referendum by deleting the first part of line C. [With the exception of Polk, McMinn and Monroe counties,]: Whereas: The seven caucus areas are seven separate areas, each requiring and expecting equal representation, and Whereas: The Law that created the Commission of Indian Affairs says seven areas, and Therefore: Be it resolved that A) The metro caucus areas and the grand divisions in which they are located shall be considered separate and equal caucus areas and B) Nominees shall be eligible for election only for the caucuses in which they are legal residents, and C) With the exception of Polk, McMinn and Monroe counties, voters may only vote in the caucus areas in which they have legal residence. 2. Authors/Sponsors: Vicky Garland 55 C.C. Rd. Lawrenceburg, TN. 38464 Lawrence County 931-766-0827 The new referendum would read: Whereas: The seven caucus areas are seven separate areas, each requiring and expecting equal representation, and Whereas: The Law that created the Commission of Indian Affairs says seven areas, and Therefore: Be it resolved that A) The metro caucus areas and the grand divisions in which they are located shall be considered separate and equal caucus areas and B) Nominees shall be eligible for election only for the caucuses in which they are legal residents, and C) Voters may only vote in the caucus areas in which they have legal residence. 3. Authors/Sponsors: Vicky Garland 55 C.C. Rd. Lawrenceburg, TN. 38464 Lawrence County 931-766-0827 Moved by Vicky Garland and seconded by Tom Kunesh APPROVED 2007 Convention Site Middle Tennessee Long Hunter State Park, Hermitage, Tennessee TNNAC special meeting, certify convention results, review Indian Preference requests: After convention on September 24, 2005 Preparing nominations to the State Add nominees state legislative districts Draft to be ready to mail, 1 October 2005 TPK get Bios ready to go NEXT MEETING: Saturday October 23, 2005- 10:00 a.m. central Add new board members OTHER ISSUES: Proposed Amendment to TNNAC bylaws Amend Article 5 Officers "(1) The board of the Tennessee Native American Convention shall elect a chairperson of the board, a vice chair, and a secretary-treasurer from among its members." To read: "(1) the board members of the Tennessee Native American Convention shall elect a chairperson of the board, a vice chair, a secretary, and a treasurer from among its members." And amend: "(4) Ö The secretary-treasurer shall take and keep the minutes of all TNNAC meetings, including the Convention, and shall keep a record of and keep safe all TNNAC monies." To read: "(4) Ö The Secretary shall take and keep the minutes of all TNNAC meetings, including the Convention. The Treasurer shall keep a record of and keep safe all TNNAC monies." APPROVED needs two (2) more votes 2:30 "Quorum shall consist of two (2) officers, at least one of whom is Chair or Vice-Chair, and one board member who is not an Officer." APPROVED unanimous (1) The board members of the Tennessee Native American Convention shall elect a chairperson of the board, a first vice chair and a second vice chair, a secretary and a treasurer from among its board members. (2) TNNAC officers shall serve terms of one (1) year, and may be re-elected. (3) Officers are elected by a simple majority of the board of directors at the first board meeting after the Convention in Convention years and at the first board meeting after 1 October in non-Convention years, or at such times as there is a vacancy. (4) The chairperson of the board shall call and preside at all TNNAC meetings. The vice-chairpersons shall call and preside at TNNAC meetings at which the chairperson is not present, in the order of first and then second vice chair. The secretary-treasurer shall take and keep the minutes of all TNNAC meetings, including the Convention, and shall keep a record of and keep safe all TNNAC monies." Dale, seconded, approved. Get valid wording for phone-in meeting/approval Future Business: Chain of command for replacing Commissioner Nominee's vacancies ********************************************************************************