Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission

Meeting Minutes

June 15, 2006

Mahoney State Park Riverview Lodge

Commissioners in attendance: Hull, Johnson, Hornbaker, Ruth, Slader, M. Smith, Wehrbein, Williams.

Staff in attendance: Emanuel and Bastemeyer.

Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Bat Shunantona, Ernie Ricehill, and Eric Wiseman.

Commissioners not in attendance: Mitchell, gaiashkibos, Moulton, R. Smith, and Stokes.

A quorum was satisfied. 

Staff not in attendance: Swenson

Chairman Ron Hull called the meeting to order at 9:15 a.m. 

Hull asked a motion to approve the minutes from the May 2006 meeting. Michael Smith moved to approve the minutes and John Slader seconded.  Unanimous voice approval.

Chairman’s Report:

Hull announced that Kim Bastemeyer will be moving to Florida next month.  She will work for the commission part-time from her home in Florida.  She will fly back on Sept 5-10 to attend the Omaha event and will write the final grant reports as well as a report for the Governor.

Wehrbein motioned that the commission approve Kim’s new work schedule.  Judy Johnson seconded.  Roll call vote was taken.  Approved: Hull, Johnson, Hornbaker, Ruth, Slader, M. Smith, Wehrbein, and Williams.  Disapproved: None.

The Tourism Office will answer the calls on the 471-3367 number.  Kim will keep her work cell phone and can be reached via phone or email. 

Hull also discussed the new grants that the commission had been awarded.  The Nebraska Humanities Speakers Bureau awarded the commission $1,286 and the Nebraska Lottery granted the commission $15,000.  The commission still needs to raise $24,000. 

Hull reported that he and Judi gaiashkibos had a meeting.  Hull asked Judi for suggestions on how to honor Native Americans during our September events.  Judi promised to help find a reader to read Chief Standing Bear’s speech.  Judi said that it would be o.k. if we could not find a Ponca to do the reading.

Hull also stated that Paul Barnes is willing to cut the concerto to 12 – 18 minutes.  gaiashkibos also thought it would be a good idea to invite the Tribal Chairs and have their names and tribe recognized during the concert.  The commission will need to give gifts to the tribal chairman at the concert that night.

One commissioner suggested that the symphony concert be started off with the National Anthem and end with Stars and Stripes Forever.

Hull asked for a motion to move ahead with the symphony concert plans.  Wehrbein moved and Williams seconded. 

Hull gave a report on behalf of Jim Swenson, who was not in attendance.  Swenson wanted the commission to know that the Corps of Discovery II is staying an extra day in Ponca…they have cancelled their stay in Council Bluffs.  Also, Swenson informed Hull that all performance contracts negotiated by Vic Gutman, relevant to the Omaha events, have been signed.

Native American Art Show Update:

Ernie Ricehill reported that he has 5 artist applications and commitments from 4 artists.  The Winnebago and Omahas have been the most responsive.  He is having problems getting responses from the Ponca, Santee, and the Otoe-Missouria artists.  Ricehill is going to travel to Oklahoma to recruit artists from the Otoe-Missouria Tribe.  He asked to commission to extend the artist application deadline from June 30 to July 15.  The commission agreed to extend the deadline.  The Omaha & Winnebago Tribes offered to cover the costs of framing the artwork of their tribal members.

Ricehill stated that the art judges are still to be determined.

Roundtable Discussion:

Bastemeyer gave a budget report and provided handouts.

Bat Shunatona extended an invitation from Chairman Harwell to attend the Otoe-Missouria July encampment.  Shunatona played the DVD documentary of the historical documents.

Hull thanked Shunatona for showing the documentary and for his continued attendance to the commission meetings.

Slader proposed using the DVD documentary on the Otoe-Missouria historical documents at all venues in September.  The documentary would put emphasis on their tribal history and relationships with Lewis & Clark.

Johnson announced that she has resigned from Wayne State College.  Her last day at Wayne State is July 15.  She has been accepted into an ordained Lutheran Ministry program.

Meeting adjourned at 11:16 a.m.