Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission Meeting
Mahoney State Park, May 19, 2005
The meeting was called to order at 9:05 a.m. by chairman Ron Hull. He introduced C. Michael Harwell, chair of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe and Sylvester Alley, Otoe-Missouria tribal representative, as well as Dallas Douglass of Lincoln, representing Commissioner judi gaiashkibos.
Hull asked commissioners if they all had a Lewis and Clark concerto CD. He announced that Colleen Seng, mayor of Lincoln, will present the commission and pianist Paul Barnes with the Mayor's Arts Award for the "Best Event of the Year." The concerto will be performed in Boston, Seattle and San Francisco this year.
Moved by Larry Ruth, seconded by Larry Sommer, to approve minutes of the previous meeting. Approved unanimously.
Hull discussed the need to set the commission's direction for the next few years. Recommendations include a focus on Native American culture, history, and art, cooperating with the four tribes in Nebraska as well as the Otoe-Missouria Tribe in Oklahoma. Possibilities include a serious, juried Native American art show along the Lewis & Clark Trail, a sort of"movable feast," with possible locations for the show at the Durham Western Heritage Museum and the Nebraska City Interpretive Center.
Another part of the commemoration of the return of Lewis and Clark would take place during the first two weeks of September 2006, which might include a pops concert featuring a western piece of 'grand' music (Copland, etc.), restaging the Lewis and Clark concerto, and a performance by Brule, a Native American musical group that was very popular at the commemoration last summer. Hull envisions it as a combination of Native American heritage, the expedition, and music.
Hull said the commission's share of the concert would be $75,000-$100,000. The executive committee feels that an overall budget of $200,000 for the events would be adequate. We can apply money left from last year's commemoration but will still need to raise an additional $100,000.
Jim Swenson said in addition to the art show and concert, there will be activities all along the trail in northeast Nebraska to commemorate the return of the expedition. In all, it will encompass a ten-day period of related events. He reported that several grant applications have been initiated that, if funded, would bring in approximately $75,000.
Other possibilities for events/performances to be included in the commemoration are the fife and drum corps, a symposium, and the document display from the Otoe-Missouria Tribe (now at Oklahoma Historical Society). Jeanene Wehrbein said that one of the beautiful things about the signature event was that it was free, and said she would hate to have something next year that people would have to pay an admission fee to attend.
Motion by Larry Ruth, seconded by Richard Williams, to give the executive committee permission to move ahead with plans as outlined for the return commemoration of the Lewis & Clark expedition in 2006. Roll-call vote; unanimously approved.
Regarding a proposed symposium to focus on Native American diplomacy, Williams moved, seconded by Wehrbein, to authorize the commission to spend up to $5,000 of the commission money for the symposium, payable to Chris Howell. Roll call vote; unanimously approved (Roy Smith not present--left meeting at 9:30 a.m. before vote was taken).
Hull expressed disappointment that the commission will receive only $15,000 from the National Park Service challenge cost-share grant in the latest round of applications. Williams said there is less money to go around, and that even states with signature events coming this year received substantially less than they requested.
Michael Harwell addressed the commission, saying that the Otoe-Missouria people appreciate the honor bestowed on the tribe last summer. The tribal council has authorized him to host the Lewis & Clark Commission during the tribe's annual encampment on July 14-15. He said he was honored to have Hull and Swenson come to Red Rock and meet with tribal members. The tribe has also authorized a memorandum of agreement with the Nebraska Lewis and Clark Commission, effective until Dec. 31, 2007.
Hull thanked Chairman Harwell, and said the commission is looking forward to continuing to work with the Otoe-Missouria people. He also thanked Harwell for the invitation to have the next meeting of the commission in Red Rock, and said that even if it doesn't work to have the commission meeting there (commission meetings must be held in the state of Nebraska), a contingent of commissioners will still travel to Red Rock for the encampment.
Moved by Leroy Stokes, seconded by Judy Johnson, to accept the memorandum of agreement and to attend the Otoe-Missouria encampment in Red Rock, Oklahoma in July. Motion carried.
In his report, executive director Jim Swenson said the recently-completed keelboat symposiums were very successful, and thanked Kim Bastemeyer for her work with them. A total of eight programs were presented, with 400 schoolchildren attending the one in Decatur., and approximately 80 Winnebago children attending the symposiums in Dakota City and Decatur. Hull commended Bastemeyer for an outstanding job in organizing the symposiums. Bastemeyer was unable to attend the commission meeting today.
Swenson reported that there will be a COSA national event in Montana from June 2-4. The commission has requested $55,000 from Douglas County's Visitor Improvement Fund, and has also requested $25,000 from the Nebraska Lottery for funding of cultural and historical events. He discussed budget priorities in Congress, and said that many people mistakenly think the bicentennial is over, so there may not be the level of funding support that we have seen in the past few years. Swenson said he has drafted a letter of support for the National Park Service challenge cost-share program, and sent it to all Nebraska Congressional representatives.
Regarding the commission's budget, Hull said that $2,636.86 remains from the state budget, with another $45,000 in the "Friends" budget. The new fiscal year will begin July 1. Wehrbein said the executive committee has cultivated relationships with state governmental officials to retain support for the commission, and it appears that the commission will receive $87,000 per year for the next two years, pending final budget approval by the governor and legislature.
Motion by Ruth, seconded by Stokes, to purchase new Lewis & Clark commemorative pins. Roll call vote; motion passed unanimously.
Laurie Larsen of the Shannon Trail Promoters reported on the activities of the 16 communities in the Shannon Trail area in northeast Nebraska. The trail covers 240 miles in the area. Wood statues of Private Shannon have been created by chainsaw artist Joe Serres, the Chainsaw Cowboy. The group also has a stamp program which includes 13 stops around the trail. Geocaching is also being done. A"Voices of the Trail" CD has been developed with Hal Stearns, Darrell Draper and others featured. Signs for each of the 16 communities on the Shannon Trail have been produced.
Shirley Kehne of Winnetoon, the secretary of the Shannon Trail Promoters, reported that she has written 171 articles that she has sent to newspapers in northeast Nebraska and Yankton, S.D., following the Lewis & Clark expedition day by day.
Shirley Frederiksen with the Iowa Passport Program described the success of the program which started in June last year. The program points out special events at each location in Iowa and Nebraska, with people receiving a stamp for each location they visit. During the nine-week program in 2004, a total of 8,000 people participated. This year, the number of locations is being reduced from nine to five. Volunteers will be at each site. She said the Iowa Lewis & Clark Commission is working with the passport program this year, and she asked the Nebraska commission to help promote and market the passport program. A link to the passport program will be placed on the Nebraska Lewis & Clark Website.
In other business, Swenson presented several Boy Scout patches to Chairman Harwell from Randy Yates and the Mid-America Council, BSA. Sylvester Alley expressed appreciation that the commission has decided to follow through with the Lewis & Clark commemoration next year. Harwell also expressed appreciation for the opportunity to address the commission, and thanked the commission for all it has done. Rudi Mitchell welcomed Harwell on behalf of the Omaha Tribe.
Ernie Ricehill, visitor representing the Omaha Tribe, said the tribe has three historical markers for the byway committee, and expressed amazement at the work done by the byways committee and the other volunteer committees. Bob Pawloski said the Peter Kiewit Institute will continue to host the Web site. He encouraged people to e-mail the site with information about upcoming events. From June 10-12, the second training academy will be held in Nebraska City.
David Hendee of the Omaha World-Herald has been recognized by the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation for his outstanding coverage of Lewis & Clark events.
With no other business to come before the commission, Hull adjourned the meeting at 11:15 a.m. The next meeting will be held on Thursday, July 21.
Respectfully submitted,
Judy Johnson,
acting secretary/commission member
Attendance Roster, May 19, 2005
1. Dr. Rudi Mitchell Commission member
2. Judy Johnson Commission member
3. Mary Ethel Emanuel Marketing Director, Commission
4. Dallas Douglass Representing judi gaiashkibos
5. Jim Swenson Executive Director, Commission
6. John Slader Commission member
7. Ron Hull Commission member
8. C. Michael Harwell Chairman, Otoe-Missouria Tribal Council
9. Leroy Stokes Commission member
10. Jeanene Wehrbein Commission member
11. Roy Smith Commission member
12. Richard Williams Commission member
13. Larry Ruth Commission member
14. David Hendee Omaha World-Herald
15. Shirley Frederiksen Golden Hills RC&D, Onawa, Iowa
16. Ernie Ricehill Omaha Tribe
17. Bob Pawloski Mouth of the Platte
18. Larry Sommer Commission member
19. Shirley Kehne Shannon Trail Promoters, Winnetoon
20. Randy Yates Mid-America Council, BSA
21. Laurie Larsen Shannon Trail Promoters, Bloomfield
22. Bat Shunatona Otoe-Missouria Tribe, Red Rock, Oklahoma
23. Sylvester Alley Otoe-Missouria Tribe, Red Rock, Oklahoma
Commissioners absent: Gary Moulton, Dan Curran
Also absent Kim Bastemeyer, coordinator