Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission
Meeting Minutes
March 16, 2006
Mahoney State Park: Peter Kiewit Lodge, Blue Agate & Prairie Agate Rooms
Commissioners in attendance: Hull, Johnson, Moulton, Slader, Stokes, Wehrbein, and Williams.
Staff in attendance: Emanuel, Swenson and Bastemeyer.
Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Bat Shunantona, Randy & Jennifer Yates, Jeff Troupe, Ken Bouc and Bob Pawloski.
Commissioners not in attendance: Hornbaker, Mitchell, gaiashkibos, Ruth, R. Smith, and M. Smith.
A quorum was satisfied.
Chairman Ron Hull called the meeting to order at 9:08 a.m.
Hull asked a motion to approve the minutes from the February 2006 meeting. Williams moved to approve the minutes and Moulton seconded. Unanimous voice approval.
Chairman Report:
Hull reminded the commission about the First Annual Chief Standing Bear Breakfast on May 12, 2006, 7 a.m. at the Lincoln Embassy Suites. Please let Kim know if you can attend. The commission is sponsoring a table. Priority will go to Commissioners and staff first, then Commissioner spouses.
Hull stated that he, Swenson and Wehrbein met with representatives of the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Interpretive Trail & Visitor Center, including Erv Friesen, Acting Director of the Center on Thursday, February 23. Bastemeyer sent Mr. Friesen a list of potential speakers and re-enactors for the Nebraska City event on September 15-16.
Wehrbein stated Friesen has secured Jane Smith to bring the Belle of Brownville Riverboat to Nebraska City on that weekend. The idea is to have a boat ride to Brownville and a bus ride back to Nebraska City.
Hull updated the commissioners on grant submissions. A grant to the Nebraska Lottery was submitted on March 13. The commission should be notified by the first week of April on whether we would receive funding from the National Park Service, Challenge Cost Share grant as well as the grant to Peter Kiewit Foundation. Hull also stated that he has asked the Abel Foundation for $10,000 to help pay for Paul Barnes and a flutist.
Executive Director Report:
Swenson reported that he met with Julie Neemeyer of Henry Doorly Zoo. The zoo will participate in our school field trip day on Friday, September 8. They will show the Lewis & Clark IMAX production and schedule tours through the zoo to see North American animals. Neemeyer said the zoo will do this for cost.
On February 21, Hull & Swenson gave a presentation to the Mouth of the Platte.
The Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation has asked the commission to help in a letter writing campaign in support of the Challenge Cost Share (CCS) program. The legacy of Lewis & Clark is dependent upon this program continuing.
Williams stated that the Office of Management and Budget have zeroed out the CCS program. If this program goes away, there will be no funding to maintain the infrastructure.
Swenson met with Michael Smith to discuss the Heritage Conference at Ponca on August 30 – September 1.
Swenson reminded the commissioners of Richard Williams retirement party on March 29.
Coordinator Update:
Bastemeyer updated the commissioners on the school field trip day on Friday, September 8. To date there are 2,205 students/teachers registered to attend. Only one Native American school, Santee Elementary, has called to register. Bastemeyer sent out a second letter to the other Native American schools to encourage them to participate.
Slader suggested possibly having a field trip at all three locations, Ponca, Omaha, & Nebraska City. It would save on transportation costs for those schools in the northeast to go to Ponca, and for those in the southeast to go to Nebraska City.
It was also suggested that a confirmation form/contract be drafted to send to the schools by May 1, 2006.
Marketing Director Update:
Emmanuel discussed the Native American art show. Vic Gutman’s office sent Ernie Ricehill a contract. Ernie asked for $4,000, the executive committee agreed to pay $3,500. The commission will pay him $1,000 up front and $2,500 after the successful completion of the show. Emanuel stated that the show would hang from September 8-23. There will a reception on September 7 or 8 and on September 9 there will be Native American vendors outside the facility. There will not be cash prizes for the artists, just the prestige of being in the art show.
Gutman’s office will perform the administrative work of organizing the art show. Ricehill’s responsibilities include: working with the four Nebraska tribes and the Otoe-Missouria tribe, recruiting the artists, organizing the jury of the art, and the installation and take down of the art exhibit. Gutman’s office is developing a timeline to make sure the event stays on schedule.
Hull called a motion to endorse Ricehill’s contract and funding that the executive committee approved. Moulton so moved, Johnson 2nd the motion. Roll call vote was taken. The commissioners approved the motion unanimously.
Roundtable Discussion:
Johnson stated that Hal & Sheila Sterns are in Wayne. Hal had wanted to attend today’s meeting, but their flight arrived late last night. Sheila is speaking at Wayne State tonight at 7 p.m.
Slader on behalf of the commission expressed his appreciation to Richard Williams for his service on the commission and the National Park Service.
Shunatona stated that he would visit with Mr. Harwell tomorrow. He will ask him to come to the April meeting. He also congratulated Gary Moulton on his induction into the Oklahoma Historical Hall of Fame.
Pawloski mentioned that the September events are on the commission’s website as well as on the national calendar. He will be traveling to Great Fall, MT for the National Lewis & Clark meeting. He will also try to attend the COSA meeting. Pawloski also stated that Linda Fitzgerald contacted the Mouth of the Platte about having Lewis & Clark activities before the Omaha event. Pawloski asked her to contact Gutman’s office.
The meeting adjourned at 10:27 a.m.