Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission
Meeting Minutes
August 17, 2006
Mahoney State Park, Peter Kiewit Lodge—Cedar Room
Commissioners in attendance: Ron Hull, Christian Hornbaker, Judith Johnson, Gary Moulton, Larry Ruth, John Slader, Tony Schmidt, Leroy Stokes, Jeanene Wehrbein, and Richard Williams. Commissioners not in attendance: Judi Gaiashkibos and Roy Smith
Staff in attendance: Jim Swenson and Sue Sitzmann. Staff not in attendance: Kim Bastemeyer and Mary Ethel Emanuel
Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Carly Barth, Erv Friesen, Bob Pawloski, Ernie Ricehill, Bat Shunatona, and Jeff Troupe
A quorum was satisfied.
Chairman Ron Hull called the meeting to order at 9:20 a.m. Hull asked a motion to approve the minutes from the July 2006 meeting. Dick Williams moved to approve the minutes and Christian Hornbaker seconded. Unanimous voice approval.
Chairman’s Report:
Hull thanked Kim Bastemeyer for her work with the Commission emphasizing how she “served the Commission beautifully”, and continues to serve the Commission half-time from her new home in Florida. Kim also will join commissioners three days before the event. On behalf of the Commission, Hull wished Kim and her family luck.
Moulton asked whether the Nebraska Department of Economic Development will be hiring a new person to fill the half-time position. Hull stated that this issue had not come up and Kim will be with the Commission through October.
Hull mentioned that Mary Ethel Emanuel is being honored as one of three women of distinction by the Nebraska Commission on Status of Women, and if at all possible, Commissioners would want to attend to pay tribute to her.
Hull, John Slader and Carly Barth conducted a site visit of Lewis and Clark Landing where the Omaha Symphony concert will take place, and the fireworks location (in Iowa). The symphony’s second movement “Sacagawea” will honor Chief Standing Bear. Hull indicated that Governor Dave Heineman was first invited to provide a brief history of the pivotal 1879 trial of Chief Standing Bear when he gave his stirring speech. The Governor will not be able to attend. Hull has invited Omaha Mayor Mike Fahey and is waiting to hear if he will be available. If not, Mark Peniske, chair of thePonca Tribe will be invited. Plans are for the Omaha mayor or Ponca official to welcome everyone and briefly talk about the trial then introduce State Senator Dave Landis who will be in
character as A.J. Poppleton, an attorney who represented Standing Bear. Poppleton will introduce Matt Sitting Bear Jones who will be in character as Chief Standing Bear. Sitting Bear Jones will recite the stirring speech. The Omaha Mayor or Ponca representative will then briefly explain that the New York Times stated this was one of the most pivotal trials/speeches in American history. Two representatives of the Ponca Tribe and Otoe Missouria Tribe in Oklahoma will present tribal blankets.
Slated for September 9, 8 p.m., the first half of the symphony will feature Philip Glass’ Piano Concerto No. 2 [After Lewis and Clark] including the Sacagawea movement. The second half will feature George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Fireworks will be shot off before 10 p.m. on the Iowa side of the Missouri River.
Ricehill indicated that the Omaha Tribe felt forgotten. They said they hadn’t heard about any Lewis and Clark events. The Omahas are very unique in this event because two members accompanied the entire Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Hull responded that he’s both written and called officials of all Nebraska tribes. The only person he has heard from is Mark Peniske. He said he would send a copy of his letter to Ricehill to be hand deliver to Omaha officials.
Barth, representing Vic Gutman and Associates gave an update. More than 2,100 students, including students from the reservation schools, are scheduled to attend the IMAX Theater movie at the Henry Doorly Zoo, or the Arvel Bird performance at the Joslyn Art Museum. In addition, the Joslyn Art Museum is providing free tours of the museum.
Volunteer recruitment for the Family Festival is going well. The festival is slated for September 9, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. in downtown Omaha. Barth will visit each site to confirm facilities and technical requirements. An August 28 meeting with Family Festival organizations will focus on last minute details. All performer contracts have been turned in.
Swenson asked if there was a way to incorporate the Boy Scouts and Barth answered that they’ve been enlisted to pick up trash following the symphony and will be reimbursed.
Swenson and Friesen also interjected and said that it’s important to emphasize all student involvement in all three events in any media materials, etc. In addition to the expected 2,100 students in the greater Omaha metropolitan area, 300 students are participating at Ponca, and 125 in Nebraska City. Barth indicated she would share these numbers with VGA colleagues producing promotional materials.
An all city meeting is set for August 28, 2 p.m. in the city/county building to review fire, emergency procedures and other information related to the symphony concert. An onsite symphony walk through meeting was held August 3 at Lewis and Clark Landing. The symphony submitted a contract to VGA and VGA’s Elizabeth Balazs and Buck Weyerman, production manager will review it before sending to Hull for signature.
The firework grand finale will be a 3-minute show choreographed to “Stars and Stripes Forever” performed live by the Omaha Symphony. The fireworks contract has been signed and was sent in August 4.
Rick’s Café Boatyard and Kobza Kettlecorn will be selling light food options/snacks. Guest pianist Paul Barns will have a table at the symphony concert selling his CDs, and the Mouth of the Platte Society also will have a table and sell Lewis & Clark books and distribute their literature.
The final VIP invite list has been prepared and includes government officials and dignitaries, sponsors and event underwriters to the Native American Art Exhibit opening September 8 and the symphony concert, September 9.
Wehrbein stated that the art community—gallery owners, managers, etc.—also should be invited to the private Friday evening reception.
Ruth asked if the contracts are specifically with the Commission. Barth answered yes, that Ron Hull is signing. Ruth requests that all contracts and contact names, etc., be sent to him.
Hull said that press kits went out last week from VGA. Barth said press kits were distributed to approximately 35 TV, print, and radio media contacts.
Barth reported that the brochures are at the printers and the art exhibit postcards are being designed and will go to print next week. The design of print advertisements for The Omaha World-Herald, Nebraska Journal Leader and Nebraska City News-Press also has begun.
Calendar announcements were distributed to roughly 200 TV and radio stations, newspapers and magazines in the Omaha, Nebraska City and Ponca areas. TV interviews are scheduled with KMTV Channel 3, KETV Channel 7, and WOWT Channel 6. Waitt Radio interviews will be scheduled next week.:30 TV spot productions are completed and airing on KETV Channel 7, and several cable network channels including AMC, The History Channel, and TNT.
All info for :30 and :60 spot productions has been submitted to Waitt Radio. These spots will air on KLTQ Lite 101.9, KKAR and other NRG stations in the area. A live remote will be held Saturday, September 9 during the Family Festival.
The Fife and Drum Corp. is arriving late Friday and will start playing at the National Park Service, move to the Joslyn Art Museum, and finish at the Durham Western Heritage Museum. They will not be playing before the symphony as funding through the Nebraskaland grant only covered their stay for one night.
Ruth said he would like for the Fife and Drum’s appearance to be extended to play for two nights. He said he thought that they were initially contracted for two nights. Barth said her understanding (per Kim) was that it was for one night only.
Ruth and Wehrbein expressed interest in the Fife and Drum Corp also playing from approximately 7 p.m.-8 p.m., Saturday evening, just prior to the symphony.
Executive Director Report:
Swenson passed out flier for Ponca program. He stated that it should reach broad demographics of people in Nebraska, South Dakota, Iowa, and maybe Kansas, and Missouri, etc. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission invested $20,000 in these events, in addition to partners’ contributions.
Pawloski stated he had distributed a number of fliers and posters to the History, Geology and Geography departments at the University of Nebraska at Omaha. He recommended that these be similarly distributed to other Nebraska college’s and university’s departments.
Swenson asked Barth for more posters, fliers. If anyone wants to order Lewis and Clark commemorative shirts, Swenson can order these for between $28-34 each.
Pawloski asked if the Commission was going to sell commemorative pins, and if so, where are the pins. Sitzmann agreed to contact Bastemeyer to find out the price per unit and location of the pins.
Troupe lobbied for schedule to be longer in Ponca—Thursday night, Friday and Saturday. If water is deep enough, they will launch the white pirogue. He estimated as many as 40-50 members encamped at Ponca. They also plan to participate in the Sgt. Floyd reburial ceremony on Sioux City. On Tuesday, they will stop at Decatur’s Beck Park for school children. They will feature camps and educational stations on medicines, foods, clothes,
and living life of Lewis and Clark. Troupe portrays Private George Gibson from Kentucky. On September 6, they will dock at Wilson Island on the backside of Desoto Bend. On September 7, they will be docked at the new National Park Service building in Omaha and will have a sack lunch with park rangers. That evening, they will be located at the Western Heritage Trails Museum in Council Bluffs, Iowa. On Friday and Saturday, they will be camped at the Marina in Plattsmouth. On Sunday, the six dugout canoes with six men each and white pirogue with 10 men will split up. Two dugouts and the white pirogue will travel to Nebraska City to participate with school children on Monday while the remaining dugouts will travel to Brownville. They will all meet up in Rulo for a big rendezvous.
Swenson asked if anyone was still interested in lodging at Ponca State Park or South Sioux City.
Friesen passed out posters advertising Nebraska City events and said he would correct dates and reprint posters. He said that there would be two consecutive weekends of activities. He thanked the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission for its help, and said that the birding trail by the new center is nearly complete. Since January 1, Friesen reported that the center has welcomed visitors from 48 states and 32 countries.
Friesen stated that the evening boatride/dinner cruise between Nebraska City and Brownville is sold out. Gary Moulton and Amy Mossett will be onboard speaking and Chris Sayre will portray a traveling minstrel.
Ricehill has been receiving artwork at his home and is shelving it there for safekeeping. He also is collecting artists’ biographies for Barth for the Art Show. There will be 28 pieces of artwork from 14 artists representing five different tribes. The show has now expanded into a traveling exhibition and will show at Winnebago’s Art Gallery in October-November. It will then be shipped to Reece Summers with the Great Plains Art Museum and Art Gallery in Lincoln and he will store it until a January 1 showing. The show will have a down date of November 30-late December.
Friesen asked if his center could feature the artwork. Ricehill indicated that there may be a timing issue, as well as showing issue. Friesen asked whether the artwork would be displayed on easels. Ricehill said no, it should be hung.
Hull and Friesen brought up the issue of business purchase awards for artists. What do commissioners think about raising $5,000-$10,000 for purchasing artwork for facilities, etc. The most expensive piece of artwork to be shown is $17,000.
Hull proposed that if the Lewis and Clark Commission could raise $5,000 private funds and purchase a piece, perhaps it could be hung in Reece’s museum, the Joslyn Art Museum, etc., and designated as a Lewis and Clark legacy piece.
Johnson asked how much still needs to be raised to cover outstanding expenses.
Hull said there was approximately $11,000 outstanding along with the $5,000 additional needed for the Fife and Drum Corp to stay an extra night. He also stated not to worry because the Commission doesn’t sunset until December 2007 so there would be time to raise the necessary funds.
Discussion ensued about the need to find a permanent, stable location for artwork purchased by the Lewis and Clark Commission, and concern about finding the right individual(s) who would be willing to share such artwork.
Dick Williams said the artist issues could be revisited after other financial obligations are met. He also indicated there may be other things the Lewis and Clark Commission would want to think about purchasing in terms of leaving a legacy.
Slader recommended that corporate sponsors of events, etc., be asked to contribute toward artwork.
Swenson suggested that Hull draft a cover letter stating that this is a “great opportunity…”
Ricehill also mentioned the great music played by Indian musicians and that this not be forgotten, and perhaps, included as part of the art show. He mentioned Many Moccasins.
Barth said that Many Moccasins has been contracted to play at the Omaha Children’s Museum.
Ricehill and Slader shared new Lewis and Clark Byway and Lewis and Clark Historical Trail Markers located north of Homer and other locations. Ricehill urged people to promote Blackbird Bend Overlook at Macy, Neb., the Winnebago Hospital, which supports, one of, if not the largest collection of Indian art in Nebraska, and the Circle with 12 statues depicting the 12 clans sculpted by Charles Aldridge, alongside a new Winnebago art gallery opening with Indian art and studio space upstairs for artists to rent.
Swenson mentioned that he and Hull will be on public radio on August 25, and he will be on Greg Wagner’s Saturday show promoting the Lewis and Clark events.
Stokes stated he’d found several Standing Bear speeches online, but which one is the right/original one?
Pawloski reported that he’s been busy updating the lewisandclark200.org, and lewisandclarkne.org websites.
Rain date for the Omaha Symphony concert is Sunday, September 10.
Meeting adjourned at 11:15 a.m.