Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission
Meeting Minutes
July 20, 2006
Mahoney State Park: Peter Kiewit Lodge – Little Bluestem & Cottonwood Rooms
Commissioners in attendance: Hull, Hornbaker, Ruth, Slader, Schmidt, and Wehrbein.
Staff in attendance: Swenson and Bastemeyer.
Special Guests/Advisors in attendance: Bat Shunantona, Ernie Ricehill, Dan Hoffman, Donna Goodier, and Bob Palowski.
Commissioners not in attendance: Johnson, gaiashkibos, Moulton, R. Smith, and Williams.
A quorum was satisfied.
Staff not in attendance: Emmanuel
Chairman Ron Hull called the meeting to order at 9:18 a.m.
Hull asked a motion to approve the minutes from the June 2006 meeting. Larry Ruth moved to approve the minutes and Christian Hornbaker seconded. Unanimous voice approval.
Chairman’s Report:
Hull summarized the meeting with Governor Dave Heineman, which took place on Wednesday, July 19. The Governor thanked the Commission for their hard work. Jim Swenson spoke to the Governor about the Ponca & Nebraska City September events, as well as the Commission’s legacy work. Kim Bastemeyer outlined for the Governor the school field trip event in Omaha on September 8. Hull concluded the meeting by discussing the Omaha activities and inviting the Governor to all three events, but most especially the Symphony concert in Omaha on the evening of Saturday, September 9. Hull would like the Governor to say a few words introducing the Chief Standing Bear tribute. Hull stated that he has asked Senator David Landis to perform the part of Chief Standing Bear’s lawyer. Mathew Sitting Bear Jones has agreed to play the part of Chief Standing Bear.
Hull also reported to the Commission members that Mary Ethel Emmanuel has been diagnosed with an illness, which will involve a leave of absence from work for an undetermined period of time. While Emmanuel is temporarily away from work, Sue Sitzman, the Public Information Officer at the Department of Economic Development, has been asked to help promote/market the Commission’s events. Hull stated that he, Swenson & Bastemeyer will meet with Sitzman to discuss the Commission’s needs and expectations later that afternoon.
Bastemeyer passed copies of the lasted version of the Lewis & Clark poster. Hull asked the commissioners to look at the poster and provide feedback. The suggested changes were as follows: lighted the text at top of poster, add the logos of the major sponsors at bottom, provide more information about the events, and to add the website address.
Hull updated the commission on two new grants that the commission received: $2,500 from the Burlington Capital Group and $5,000 from the Whitmore Foundation.
Executive Director Report:
Swenson notified the commissioners that a list of the Lewis & Clark September events is also posted on the websites of the Nebraska Game & Parks, the Nebraska Historical Society, and the Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce. The Game & Parks is planning for 200 people for the History Conference in Ponca on August 30 – September 1. A copy of the brochure/registration was provided for the commissioners. Swenson also gave a report on behalf of Vic Gutman. (See copy of report at end of minutes.) The commission is challenged to raise an additional $10,000. Swenson noted that he met with a potential donor and asked them to fund the remaining balance, but has not heard back yet. Swenson recommended that the commission purchase event insurance for all three events in September, similar to what was done in 2004. John Slader moved that the commission purchase event insurance. Jeanene Wehrbein seconded the motion. A roll call vote was taken; unanimous approval. Swenson also stated that Rick’s Boat Yard Café offered to facilitate alcohol sales during the symphony concert. Wehrbein moved that the commission not accept this offer. Slader seconded the motion. Motion was passed by a unanimous roll call vote.
Native American Art Show Update:
Ernie Ricehill gave an update on the art show. Ricehill has ten artist applications and is expecting to receive an additional six. Ricehill stated that there will be three art judges; Reece Summers of the Great Plains Art museum in Lincoln, a Omaha tribal member and a Winnebago tribal member.
Roundtable Discussion:
Slader stated that he has 30 boxes of the 2004 commerative programs. He asked the commission what he should do with the programs. Some of the commissioner suggestions were as follows:
Slader also reported that he has been given permission by the Oklahoma State Historical Society to us the Otoe-Missouria DVD at Ft. Atkinson. However, the DVD can only be used at Ft. Atkinson. Shunatona offered to check with the Oklahoma State Historical Society about the possibility of the Commission using the DVD at all three event locations.
Shunatona also offered to buy two blankets for the Commission to give as gifts to the Ponca Chairman and the Otoe-Missouria Chairman at the Symphony Concert in Omaha. The Commission will reimburse Shunatona for the blankets.
Pawloski reported that the next MOP monthly meeting will be in Council Bluffs at the Western Historic Trail Center. He also stated that the Douglas County Historical Society Fundraiser will be held on July 27 at the River City Star. Pawloski also told the Commission that the Durham Western Heritage Museum is enhancing their Lewis & Clark exhibit. The museum intends to have the new exhibit done before the Omaha event.
Larry Ruth asked Shunatona if anyone else from Oklahoma will be attending the Commission events in September. Ruth also proclaimed a resolution in Mary Ethel’s Emmanuel’s name.
Meeting adjourned at 11:07 a.m.
Vic Gutman’s Report
Lewis & Clark: The Journey Home
Commission Meeting Update
July 18, 2006
Field Trip Day
As of July 18th, over 2,100 students are scheduled to attend IMAX Theater movie at the Omaha Zoo or the Arvel Bird performance at the Joslyn Art Museum. Three of the reservation schools will be attending including Winnebago Elementary School, Walthill Elementary and Umo N Ho N Nation Elementary School. Letters have been sent out to the participating schools to confirm their field trip location and time.
Family Festival
Volunteer recruitment for the Family Festival is going very well. Mouth of Platte members and veteran volunteers from Vic Gutman & Associates (VGA) will fill the spots. A meeting has been set with the Family Festival organizations for August 28th, to go over any last minute details.
The following performer, speaker or demonstrator contracts are still out: Butch Bouvier, Darrel Draper, Dennis Ferraro, Cleo Frazier, Renae Hunt and Matt Jones. Carly Barth of VGA has been in contact with all of these performers. Several of the contracts are running late due to time and venue changes. Follow up calls have been made and will continue to be made until all contracts are in.
Symphony Concert
Rick's Café Boatyard is excited to participate as a food vendor for the Symphony Concert. A kettle corn and roasted almond vendor will also be onsite. Rick's Café Boatyard has also offered to help coordinate and sell alcohol for the concert. However, VGA does not recommend pursuing alcohol sales and liquor license for this event. An onsite Symphony walkthrough meeting will be held on for August 3rd at 3 p.m. on Lewis & Clark Landing.
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 will be signed pending final insurance details.
Jennifer Barlament, General Manager of the Omaha Symphony, will be dropping off the Symphony contract this week to Vic. He will review it and send it on for signatures.
Marketing
Calendar announcements have been approved and are being sent out to roughly 200 television stations, newspapers and magazines and radio stations in the Omaha, Nebraska City, and Ponca areas.
A print advertising proposal is being prepared and it include ads in The Omaha World Herald, the Daily Nonpareil and The Reader.
A graphic timeline for print ads, media kit cover, poster and brochure is being produced and will be submitted to Peter Morris, graphic designer for Lewis & Clark: The Journey Home.
Interviews are set at Channel 3 and Waitt Radio stations. Other Interviews will be set at WOWT Channel 6, KETV Channel 7 and other radio stations this week.