Commissioners in attendance: Hull, Wehrbein, Slader, and Curran. Commissioners Williams, Stokes, Ruth, Sommer, gaiashkibos, Mitchell, Johnson, Moulton and Smith were absent. A quorum was not satisfied.
Chairman Hull called the meeting to order at 8:50AM.
Bob Hastert presented the Mouth of the Platte update and handed out a flyer. He reported that the MOP are enthusiastic about the Signature Event and feel a special obligation to other members of the Trail Heritage Foundation. They are encouraging people going to the Bismarck meeting to come to the Signature Event on their way. MOP will be hosting receptions Friday-Sunday at the Wingate Hotel 4-6PM.
Executive Committee Report – Hull reported that he submitted a proposal to the Cooper Foundation requesting $10,000 and he is arranging a meeting with Duane Acklie. He stated that next week he, Swenson, Rhian and Ruth will be traveling to Red Rock to meet with the Otoe-Missouria Tribal Council and will be taking a letter from the Governor with them. Their goal is to finalize arrangements for the flag ceremony, actors, speakers and other areas of involvement. Hull reported that Jones and Moulton are advisors on the script for the dramatization and Jones gave Becker a copy of the Otoe language dictionary. He stated he is waiting to see the rewrite.
Hull stated that Nebraska is an Otoe word and asked the Commission to think of way to more prominently show the origins of the word. He announced that Dayton Duncan will be speaking at Joslyn Castle on March 29th at 7PM and invited everyone to attend.
Hull reported that 20 years ago the Junior League gave $10,000 to film tribal elders. He has been working in the archives to label those tapes and found 8 hours of Otoe-Missouria elders talking. He will have copies made and present them to the tribe next week. Pawloski said the g-net might be interested in helping with that project. Wehrbein asked if we could show some of that footage at the Signature Event.
Executive Director Report – Swenson thanked all the guests for their attendance. He reported that he met with Risk Management at Fort Atkinson and they walked the site to get a visual evaluation of the grounds. Bill Zursan of the Risk Management office identified hazards, traffic planning issues, pedestrian flow recommendations and will compile all this to recommend how much supplemental insurance we need. Zursan pointed out that we should designate the parameters of the site so people stay in the designated area.
Swenson referenced the COTA newsletter in the Commissioners packets and pointed out page 8’s article by Amy Mossett referencing her visit to our meeting last month. Swenson reported they would be leaving on Thursday to head for Oklahoma and that Mossett along with Dick Bash of the National Park Service will also be attending the meeting.
Swenson announced that the stamp unveiling ceremony May 13th originally planned to be held at Fort Atkinson would be moved to Lewis and Clark landing in Omaha. They have opted out due to conflicts with Game and Parks regulations and the postal regulations. Swenson stated that USPS would want to have a Commissioner on the agenda at the ceremony.
Swenson reported that work at Fort Atkinson is progressing and they have removed the deadfall trees and are working on the access roads. At the visitor center they are replacing the carpet and lighting. Swenson said that the parking area would probably need to be over seeded.
Swenson reported that the logo has been trademarked so we can enter into trade agreement with vendors.
Wehrbein asked about the special occasion permit for the group wanting to use our parking area this summer. Swenson stated that Ruth has it. Wehrbein expressed concerns about what would happen if it rained. Swenson stated that they would have to park elsewhere in case of inclement weather.
Swenson reported that Game and Parks had three people attend the Nebraska City Training academy; rangers from Niobrara, Ponca and Indian Cave completed the training. He also reported that they have received two signs from the MOP for placement at Pelican Point and Schilling Wildlife Area. Wehrbein asked about overflow parking sites. Slader said that since we have 5,000 parking spots we wouldn’t have or need another lot.
Marketing Director’s Report – Emanuel reported that she will be meeting with a group of travel writers brought in by the Omaha CVB this week. Several of them will be focusing on Lewis and Clark.
Coordinator’s Report – Rhian pointed out to the Commissioners that in their packets is the meeting schedule for the remainder of 2004. She reported that Sommer wants to let everyone know that the historical documents will be arriving from Oklahoma this month. Sommer will arrange a viewing day for the Commissioners to see the documents at the Ford Center while they are being conserved. Wehrbein said to make sure we let Hendee know when that will be. Rhian reported that Smith succeeded in getting a $2,500 donation from Wells Fargo bank. She stated that thanks to a lead from Curran she has a lead on a potential $1,500 from the Nebraska Diplomats. Rhian reported that she has been working with the Colonial Dames who have decided that due to the heat they won’t be able to volunteer at the site but are now considering sponsoring a program. She reported that VGA has submitted a proposal to Lincoln Benefit Life requesting $25,000. Rhian stated that at the end of March she would submit a progress report to the Kiewit Foundation for our challenge grant as well as paperwork on the Douglas County marketing grant. Rhian reported that she and Wehrbein attended the Iowa Commission’s meeting Wednesday. The Iowa Commission will host their Mid-West Trail States Native American Symposium in April of 2005. Rhian handed out a copy of the new Passport Program ad that covers the sites in Nebraska and Iowa. They are doing a familiarization tour for the docents who will be at each passport location and they would like someone from the Nebraska Commission to attend. The tour is April 17th & 18th. Rhian asked for a volunteer to go and Emanuel said she would attend. Rhian reported that their will be a symposium at he Lied Lodge and Conference Center June 3-5 that Moulton will be participating in and she has the information on registering if anyone would like it. Rhian passed out the current budget reports. Swenson called attention to the fact that the Kiewit Foundation grant is a challenge grant that is contingent on our raising our full budget. Rhian reported that at the executive committee meeting Monday March 22 it was discussed that due to an increasing workload as we get closer to the event due to phone calls, meetings, volunteer coordination etc it might be necessary to have some help in the office. She did some research and discovered that if we hired a work-study student we pay 30% of their salary and 70% from the federal aid package which we could afford, an intern we could not afford. She referenced the hand out specifying the number of hours they would work and that the cost for 240 hours would be $576. Swenson stated that we couldn’t vote today due to lack of a quorum but he stated that as we get closer to the event he and Rhian will need to be out of the office more to attend meetings and visit sites. It would help tremendously to not be saddled with mountains of email and phone messages. This would be an affordable way for us to manage this. Swenson asked the Commission to please give consideration to this. Slader asked if 240 hours would be enough. It was decided that 240 is a good place to start. Curran stated that the division of Tourism will cover the costs of the student for April if one can be hired allowing the Commission to vote on approving the expenditure at the April meeting for subsequent months. Swenson stated that nothing has been finalized on the usage of the historical documents at the signature event as a point of clarification.
Commissioner roundtable – Wehrbein reported that the Iowa Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commission’s total budget is $277K. They are producing a Chapbook with Chris Rossi of the Iowa Humanities Council that will show Lewis and Clark from the Iowa perspective with maps. Mark Monson will deliver copies to the Nebraska Commission when they are produced. Wehrbein went on to say that the Iowa Commissioners are writing 250 word articles on what Lewis and Clark means to them and will be using them for press releases and newsletters. They have cancelled their license plate program due to lack of participation, they needed 500 sold and received a total of 85. Wehrbein said that communities along the river don’t seem to know about the St. Charles group coming and haven’t been contacted. She stated that Plattsmouth’s new sign from the MOP would be installed April 15th.
Slader reported the Coast Guard Auxiliary communications officer contacted him and they would like to set up an event station at Fort Atkinson. He reported they would be burning the grass up top as soon as it dries out enough. Slader reported that the first weekend in April there would be a volunteer workshop with Dale Clark and Bev Hinds presenting. Slader asked about putting a fund-raising button on the website so people can donate. It was decided to get the proper wording from Larry Ruth to post on the site. Matt Jones asked that when the donation form is finalized that he receive copies of it to hand out at his presentations.
Curran reported that at the tourism website visitnebraska.org there are now package tours available for communities to put together and explained the criteria for being listed. He played the new tourism radio ads.
Emanuel showed the Commission an article in a Dutch backpacking magazine that mentioned Nebraska and Lewis and Clark.
Gutman reported that we have $70K left to raise and we are on course. He stated that Smith would be returning from Florida soon. Gutman reported that he met with Coca-Cola to be the beverage sponsor and is waiting on a response. He stated that the Omaha World Herald travel section would be out the end of March, the special section on Lewis and Clark in July. He will be meeting with Channel 7 and Waite Media on billboard, radio and TV spots. Gutman stated that he, Maddux and Rhian met with Washington County to share information.
Maddux reported that the due to the Army Corps of Engineers survey of the parking area and our 5,000 available spots she recommends against having shuttles from Omaha. They are too costly and not needed. Slader asked where tour busses would be parking. Maddux reported that she is working on that now that she has received the law enforcement plan from Washington County. She stated that performers are all booked except for the Otoe-Missouria. Maddux is working on the children’s hands on activity tent; the trader spaces are all filled. The UNO alumni center has been reserved for the VIP reception on Saturday night for dignitaries and sponsors after the Elmwood Park performance. Elwell will be sharing light towers with Shakespeare on the Green, which will enable us to start later and go after sunset with no additional cost. Gutman reported that he City Council in Omaha has been briefed on our event and that the Peter Buffet Spirit program may be in Omaha July 13-August 9th next to the Quest center with a $40 average admission charge. He stated that this is another draw for crowds in Omaha. Swenson made a point of clarification that as far as promotion goes the Commission is keeping focus on the All Nations Veteran’s Powwow is first and foremost until further status is defined.
Pawloski reported that the volunteer sign-up forms are now available on the website and UNO is getting the word out to students.
Maddux stated that we would need around 200 volunteers; Randy Yates has 100 boy scouts lined up already. The boy scouts will be handling set up, tear down, clean-up, morning parade/color guard.
Jones reported that he UNL Indian Club would be volunteering as well.
Maddux stated that Monday and Tuesday Camp Lewis and Clark will focus on kid’s ages 7-17. They are developing a list of kids groups in the area to attend the self-directed tour at the site. She reported that we could handle several thousand children per day.
Swenson asked for the needs of Craig Stover, Assistant Chief of Law Enforcement as related to safety. Maddux will send Swenson a copy of the law enforcement plan.
Steve Whitemore, Lewis and Clark Coordinator for the National Guard introduced himself and stated that the Guard wants to be involved and are here to support us. They are currently focusing on getting out into the schools.
Bette Davis handed out copies of the Rulo to Lynch by Orville Menard to the Commissioners. She reported that the Douglas County Historical Society has a Q&A section on their website, they are offering tours on the River City Star as well as bus tours. July 27th will be their “Walk in William Clarks Footsteps” cruises. Their website is www.omahahistory.org.
Diane Jensen reported that things are coming together very well for Washington County. They will have a vendor tent at the signature Event and will be hosting the book signings.
Yates reported that the Council would be meeting to finalize the special patch for Scouts at the Signature Event.
Pawloski handed up a list of websites on Lewis and Clark and reported that he is working with communities on getting more details for each event on our site.
Shunatona handed out a proposal for bringing an Otoe-Missouria dance group to the event.
Wehrbein reported the Hull sent a letter to the State Chamber of Commerce office authorizing our logo to be on their websites.
Bob Hastart reported that he attended the Signature event in St. Louis and that it was fantastic with wonderful panel discussions.
Meeting was adjourned at 10:59AM
List of Attendees
Commissioners
Jeanene Wehrbein
Ron Hull
Dan Curran
John Slader
Staff
Mary Ethel Emanuel
Jim Swenson
Paula Rhian
David Hendee – Omaha World Herald
Randy Yates – Mid-America Council Boy Scouts of America
Diane Jensen – Washington County
Stacy Maddux – VGA
Bob Pawloski – Kiewit Institute/Mouth of the Platte
Bat Shunatona – Otoe-Missouria Tribe
Matt Jones - UNL
Bob Hastert – Mouth of the Platte
Mel McPhaull - Mid-America Council Boy Scouts of America
Steve Whitemore – National Guard
Bette Davis – Douglas County Historical Society
Vic Gutman - VGA