Commissioners in attendance: Hull, Curran, gaiashkibos, Moulton, Slader, Sommer, Wehrbein, and Williams.
Staff in attendance: Swenson and Bastemeyer.
Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Jeff Troupe and Bob Pawloski.
Commissioners not in attendance: Johnson, Mitchell, Ruth, Smith, and Stokes.
A quorum was satisfied.
Chairman Hull called the meeting to order at 9:10 a.m. and welcomed everyone. Hull stated that he has communicated with the Otoe-Missouria Tribe in Oklahoma. The new tribe chairman is Michael Harwell, and he is interested in keeping our current relationship.
Hull presented the commissioners with a DVD of the Philip Glass Concerto. He stressed that we cannot duplicate or sell these DVDs. They are gifts from NET.
The National Park Service, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail 2005 Challenge Cost Share Program Application was discussed. The application was completed and sent in on January 13, 2005. This grant will help us accomplish the events and activities that we want to do in 2005 & 2006. Letters of support accompanied this application from Jane Hood of the Nebraska Humanities Council, Nancy Gillis of the John G. Neihardt Foundation, Jennifer Barlament of the Omaha Symphony, Chadwin Smith of American Rivers, and Bob Pawloski of the Mouth of the Platte. In the grant we are proposing a Pops concert at Lewis and Clark Landing with a performance of the Lewis & Clark piano concerto and Brule on July 4 or some time during the summer 2006. The amount of money that we receive from the park service grant will lay the foundation for our success in these next two years.
Hull reminded the commissioners that the executive committee still meets biweekly at NETV at 8 a.m. and that all commissioners are welcome to attend these meetings.
Hull asked Richard Williams is the National Park Service encouraging commissions like ours to continue the study of history and commemoration of Lewis and Clark, and what has been the precedence of the other six commissions for their plans through 2006?
Williams response was yes. The parks service is encouraging legacy projects to continue on after the bicentennial. By working with COSA, state parks, and other similar organizations the Lewis & Clark Trail will continue after the Bicentennial Commissions sunset.
Jim Swenson talked about his most recent COSA meeting in Bismarck, ND. The states that have already had events are working with COTA and other organizations to formulate plans to bridge into the future. They are creating transitional questionnaires to identify who will be around after the commissions sunset, what agencies can pick up the work and move forward. One important challenge is funding.
Williams stated that there will be cuts in President Bush's budget for the Challenge Cost Share. It is not currently known how much, but it will be substantial. Williams asked the commissioners to talk to their elected representatives to express that the money needs to remain the same.
Swenson mentioned the major components of our submitted Challenge Cost Share (CCS) application. A key focus of the application is education.
1. Living history events, interpretive programs, and/or symposiums at selected sites or small communities relevant to Lewis & Clark or Native American. These programs can be adopted as part of a school or library curriculum.
2. Public pops concert of the Glass concerto and art show. These events will promote cultural awareness and diversity, as well as expose Native American artists to the public.
3. Functional, current, and user-friendly web page.
4. River symposiums, which will provide educational messages to expand appreciation of the Missouri River resource.
John Slader asked if the National Park Service manages programs in other states.
Williams responded by stating that there are 20 different trails in the United States and each of those trails have Challenge Cost Share Programs.
Gary Moulton asked why the CCS application only states Omaha as a venue for our proposed events.
Swenson responded by stating that in the application narrative we are limited to a 1,000 words, therefore, we did not expand on other possible locations for our events, but that is referenced elsewhere.
Hull stated that education is an important aspect of this application, because education is the only thing that lasts.
Williams noted that there were 144 submitted CCS applications, which is fewer than last year, however, the quality of the applications is higher than previous years. There is approximately $11-12 million requested.
Judi gaiashkibos stated that when she attended the events at Fort Atkinson she noticed that the majority of the Native Americans were from the Otoe-Missouria Tribe. Jeanene Wehrbein asked why the tribes close to Omaha did not attend the events. gaiashkibos replied by stating that many tribes do not have the available funds to make these types of trips. In addition, gaiashkibos stated that these tribes are not organized to attend as a group. She suggested that we meet with the tribes in order to identify incentives for them to attend our events. She suggested the Commission pay for the tribes travel expenses, for example.
Swenson discussed the MOU. An addendum has been drafted between the NE Lewis & Clark Commission, the IA Lewis & Clark Commission, and the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Council. The addendum was approved at an executive meeting and has also been approved by the IA Commission. It is now pending until we travel to Oklahoma.
Swenson also presented a copy of the COTA newsletter and gave it to Kim to keep in the file.
Jeff Troupe, a guest at the commission meeting, gave a presentation to the commissioners about the Rediscovery Corps. from St. Charles, MO, which Troupe is involved with. Jeff stated that Nebraska has a part to play in 2005 with the return of the animals that were sent to President Jefferson. Lynch, NE is taking part in this event. Starting in Sioux City, IA on April 17, 2005 a keelboat will be traveling back down the river. The Rediscovery Corps. are looking for financial support. It will cost $7,000 to travel through Nebraska. Through the month of April the keelboat will be stopping in six towns in Nebraska (Dakota City, Decatur, Ft. Calhoun, Omaha, Nebraska City, and Brownville). At each location there are opportunities for schools to bring students for them to learn about the plants and animals that were brought back to President Jefferson.
Troupe stated that the Omaha World Herald (OWH) did a great job reporting on the '04 events, and he thinks that OWH could help publicize '05 events.
Williams stated that the keelboats coming back in 2005 would be a great opportunity for the commission to help in planning/organizing with the reservation schools to get the Native American students to one of the six Nebraska locations.
Swenson suggested that the keelboat tentative schedule be published on our website to help publicize the Rediscovery Corps. activities.
John Slader suggested that the commission contact the IA commission about the events. Swenson stated that he would give Mr. Troupe the information to contact Mark Monson, chair of the IA commission.
Wehrbein asked gaiashkibos what schools and tribes the commission should contact to let them know about the keelboat events down the river. gaiashkibos stated that the commission should contact Carol Rempp, the Statewide Coordinator for Native American Education at the Nebraska Department of Education.
Williams made a motion for the commission to approve up to $10,000 to help pay for the costs of the Rediscovery Corps and for the transportation for the Native American schools to attend keelboat events. Larry Sommer seconded the motion. Roll call vote was taken. Those that approved were: Hull, Curran, gaiashkibos (as long as the Indian Commission was not responsible for the handling of the money), Moulton, Slader, Sommer, Wehrbein, and Williams. There was no opposition to the motion.
Wehrbein moved to approve the minutes from the November 19, 2004 commission meeting. Slader seconded. The motion passed with unanimous voice approval.
Swenson gave the financial report in Larry Ruth's absence. Swenson reported that after the payment of the most recent bills, the balance of the Friends account is approximately $42,000. Copies of the Friends account bank statement as well as copies of the budget status report for the state account were passed out to the members of the commission. Being unfamiliar with the layout of the state account budget status report, Swenson stated that he would have to study this report in more detail before he could comment on the account balance.
Hull stated that the executive committee would meet with the new Governor (Governor Heineman) next month. Hull will contact Carmelee Tuma of the Governor's office to schedule an appointment.
A roundtable discussion of Lewis & Clark commemorations for 2005 & 2006 took place. Slader presented the commission his thoughts for future projects. Slader suggested:
1. All partners contribute items, text and/or photos for a time capsule to be opened in 2102 as an aid for the tri-centennial.
2. A gathering of the historic tribes of this region. Osage, Ponca, Otoe-Missouria, Pawnee, Iowa, Sac & Fox, Omaha, Pottawatomie, Yankton Sioux, Santee Sioux, and others.
3. Feed Funds into the Humanities or another entity for speakers to go into schools and/or trips to Lewis & Clark sites in NE & IA. A grant system.
4. Scholarship to a NE institution of higher education with one recipient from NE at large and one from one of the four NE tribes. (This could be a fit for the Great Plains Studies.)
5. Produce from file footage a video of Lewis & Clark historical highlights from this region, native outlook, play and music. Directed to schools, and/or sold.
Hull suggested that the commission pay Native American scholars to communicate to school children, or hire Native American scholars to lecture at visitor venues. He also recommended a pops concert.
gaiashkibos stated that she would like something more institutionalized to be a lasting legacy (i.e. a Native American tourism specialist).
Williams suggested establishing an annual statewide convention of Lewis & Clark enthusiasts.
This would be an opportunity for them to network and listen to scholarly presentations.
Curran suggested having a "Jazz on the Green."
Wehrbein suggested that the commission work with NE Historical Society and NE Humanities to establish long lasting Lewis & Clark events.
Swenson would like the commission to help the Game & Parks build activities (i.e. a re-enactment camp) during Corps. Of Discovery's return trip to Nebraska in September 2006.
He also recommended library reading programs and "Lewis & Clark Trail Tours" similar to former Game and Parks program called Know Nebraska Tours to expose people to the Lewis & Clark Trail. Swenson also suggested providing communities along the trail grants to allow them to establish/create their own Lewis & Clark activities/events.
Sommer liked the ideas of having a pops concert, a scholarship, and having Lewis and Clark conferences.
Moulton liked the idea of having a "Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Scholarship." He stated that he would check on the endowment needed for a scholarship.
Wehrbein asked Moulton's impression of 2004 Lewis & Clark events. Moulton stated that Kansas and Montana had a difficult time organizing events. Nebraska "did it right." However, enthusiasm about the bicentennial is decreasing.
Bob Pawloski discussed the commission's website. Pawloski stated that the Mouth of the Platte also submitted an application for the 2005 Challenge Cost Share program. The money would be used for enhancement and maintenance of the website. In order to keep the website updated, Pawloski plans to hire a student worker to work 10 hours a week.
Pawloski stated that he is going to add a map quest feature to the website. This will allow visitors of the website to search for maps of trail segments, visitor centers, etc.
As the current President of the Mouth of the Platte (MOP), Pawloski stated that MOP is focusing on what to do after the bicentennial. They are broadening their focus to include the Oregon Trail. He also announced that next month (February) MOP is celebrating Pompey's Birthday, and all the commissioners are invited. Pawloski announced that MOP is hosting a regional Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation meeting on May 7, 2005 at the National Park Service's new facility.
Williams stated that a Lewis & Clark Coordinating Committee should be established after the Bicentennial Commission sunsets in order to keep the website updated.
Hull thanked the commissioners and guests for attending the meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.