Hull called meeting to order at 9:10AM

A quorum was present.
Members present: Ron Hull, Jeanene Wehrbein, Larry Ruth, Dan Curran, Judith Johnson, Dick Williams
John Slader, Larry Sommer
Absent members: Hal Stearns, Judi gaiashkibos, Rudi Mitchell, Gary Moulton, Leroy Stokes

Hull presented last months minutes for approval. Dick Williams moved the minutes be approved and Larry Sommer seconded. All were in favor, minutes approved.

Hull reported that he had given a speech to the Westerners that was well received. He also reported that gaiashkibos gave a speech to the Mouth of the Platte group. Ruth and Hull met with Congressman Bereuter about looking for a fundraiser. Hull reported that Feb. 21st the executive committee would meet with the Highway Commission at 9AM, location TBA. Hull stated that the executive committee would also be meeting with the governor on Dec. 27th. Hull then spoke about the Gutman Report. He stated that the commission would be receiving 3 bound copies and 3 short versions. The cover will be the Nebraskaland Magazine photo. All reported discrepancies in the report have been edited and now the commission needs to decide if they want to hire an events coordinator.

Ruth reported that Jeff Elwell is in contact with potential scriptwriters for the reenactment. He also announced that the Glass contract has been finalized and the first payment has been received. Ruth noted that we have received help from Dale Comer at the Attorney General’s office.

Bob Hastart announced that Omaha’s Lewis and Clark landing will be dedicated at the end of April or beginning of May. They will have a descendant of Clark there. Hastart recommended a high profile for the commission at the event.

Swenson reported that he as been working on the NPS cost share grant application and it is going well. He has been working with Jeff Elwell and they will submit the grant after the first of the year. Swenson announced that he was able to book the commission in for a retreat at Niobrara State Park the weekend of May 8-11th.

Gaiashkibos arrived at 9:30AM.

The commission decided to hold our formal meeting while at the retreat. Swenson also stated that we would be meeting at Ft. Atkinson in April. Swenson reported the annual meeting of the National Council would be April 13th-16th at Great Falls, Montana. He is currently working on land leases with the owners adjacent to the signature event site. Ruth asked for clarification on who the lease will be with. Swenson stated that the lease would be with the commission. Site plan is being worked over with the Professor of Architecture at UNL and they are working with Jeanine Nauss from the Army Corps of Engineers.

Emanuel announced that the postcards are here and that brochures on biking the Lewis and Clark trail have arrived. She reported that the Nebraska/Iowa coordinating council is still in need of $40K to print their maps. Emanuel stated that the Nebraska Press has a project called Newspapers in Education, which will be focused on Lewis and Clark in 2003. The Midwest Travel Writers Association will have its annual meeting in Bismarck near the Mandan site in the fall of 2003. Emanuel announced that Idaho tourism will be at Monticello and their Plog research on expected travelers will be announced then. Emanuel reported the one-fourth of tourism ads placed by the Department of Tourism for the next year will be Lewis and Clark.

Rhian reported that the meeting with the Nebraskaland Foundation went well and they are looking into ways they can help us with marketing the signature event. Rhian stated that she has a sign up sheet for working the booth at Monticello. She noted that the most current budget report was included in today’s folders.

Curran gave a recap of the reasons behind looking for a simpler logo and announced that he has received information from 5-7 candidates. Curran will hold a meeting with the logo committee in January to decide on a company. Once a company is chosen he will schedule a meeting with the executive and logo committees and the selected company. Proposals were given to members of the logo committee for review and rating.

Round Table
Slader – Handed out Byways Brochure. Announced that he met with a group in Tekamah and that Aug 5-8, 2004 will be their 150th anniversary, they will tie this in with Pelican Island. Slader also stated that he has a name and contact info for a man who does historical tents.

Curran – Announced that Tourism has done focus groups around the state and that Lewis and Clark is on everyone’s minds.

Williams – Reminded everyone that James Ronda will be at the Joslyn Art Museum on January 5th at 3PM. Stated that if anyone would like to receive the National Park Service newsletter to let him know. He was with Gerard Baker in Woodriver, IL for their groundbreaking. He stated that the Challenge Cost grant decisions might be delayed due to Congress not passing the budget yet. Williams reminded of the decision to put bios and photos on the website. Rhian was put on the task of ascertaining who wanted to have contact info and photos on the web and who did not.

Wehrbein – Reported that she and Rhian attended the Mouth of the Platte dinner Tuesday night and that Darrel Draper will be on standby to perform in the Tent of Many Voices. Announced that the IMAX film will continue to run at the zoo through the bicentennial, daily at 10AM and 2PM. Wehrbein also told the commission that she would be part of a conference call with Lee enterprises to decide what 200 papers will be reporting on Lewis and Clark.

Emanuel noted that Jon Frank put the post cards together and deserved a big thank you from the commission.

Johnson stated that the November minutes need to be amended to show her attendance. She reported there will be six
Nebraska birthday parties across the state the end of February that will be hosted by the Nebr. Secretary of State John Gale. Wayne State College will host one of the six parties. All fourth grade classes will be invited to attend one of the six (students in fourth grade classes study Nebraska history) parties. At the party hosted by Wayne State, Hal Stearns will
give a Lewis and Clark presentation.
Special Advisors
Morley – Reported that their Park Service grant application was 95% finished. The statue production is going well and all 6 figures are at Orland C Joe’s studio. The maquette is going to Nebraskaland magazine for a photo shoot. They are working on ideas for the dedication ceremony to take place this summer. Morley announced that after being approached by Loesshills collectibles they decided to sell medallions of the first council to help raise funds.
Hunt – Mentioned the article in the Omaha World Herald on fund raising. Gave the dates of the statue dedication as August 1-3, 2003 at Fort Atkinson.
Gaiashkibos asked him if he had looked at any tribal foundations for funding assistance and gave him some suggestions.
Bethea stated that Philip Glass is moving forward on his composition. Ruth asked what Bethea’s vision is for the performance. Bethea replied that they are looking at September 2004 for a full performance of the concerto potentially using the Omaha Symphony.
Jones – reported that he is booked through next fall and is writing stories on the First Encounter based on the Oto perspective. He is hoping to be done by the end of the year with the first portion.
Meisner – Announced that the Siouxland center is open and over 22,000 people have already been through it. Siouxlanders are working on more events and things are going well at Ponca. They have hired a PR/Fundraiser. He reported that the $300K mall mural project would have its grand opening on April 26th. They are also training step on guides in workshops. They have a goal of getting small plane and boat tours set up. Siouxland is using their logo on all products and try to have all products made in the Siouxland area. They will be hiring reenactors and have three seamstresses on board. Meisner reported that their strategic plan was developed last year and a play is being written. They are working on a celebration of Lewis’s birthday and the second meeting of the Oto tribe. When the play is finished it will move around Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota.

Randy Yates arrive 10:40AM.

Hull reminded all of the meeting with the Governor on Dec. 27th and an executive committee meeting afterwards at Senator Wehrbein’s office.

Meeting was adjourned at 10:45AM.

Attendees:

Commission Members:
Ron Hull
Jeanene Wehrbein
Larry Ruth
Dan Curran
Judith Johnson
Dick Williams
John Slader
Larry Sommer
Judi gaiashkibos

Staff:
Jim Swenson
Paula Rhian
Mary Emanuel

Guests and Special Advisors:

Jim Morley
Bob Hastart
Skip Meisner
Charles Bethea
Randy Yates
Matt Jones
Dan Hunt