January 2020 Open Meeting Summary
Tribal Open Meeting Summary 1/10/2020 held at the Tribal Office in Aynor, SC
CM’s Marion, Alan, Susan Robert, CoC Rick present. 2C Cheryl served as proxy for Dalton.
Ms. Elizabeth Chavis Jacobs from Census 2020 spoke
Census Questionnaire: invitation to do by phone or internet; also paper
Used for grants, redistricting, infrastructure projects
Only 10 questions to answer at 2020Census.gov: https://2020census.gov/en/about-questions.html
Constitutional requirement; must be completed by 4/1
Susan: has My Tribal Area been updated lately?
Ms. Jacobs: put your full tribal name in (200 characters of space online)
Susan: can we set up a day to do it here at the office?
Ms. Jacobs: that falls under Questionnaire Assistance Center
Each one has a code for every person
Glenn C: you said race; is there a wrong way to identify yourself?
Ms. Jacobs: put American Indian; it helps with numbers in the area
2C Cheryl: numbers might be low because there’s an impression it’s only used for federally-recognized tribes
Financial Report: Not available
Online Votes
1/4: Accept December Summary
Marion- yes, Alan-yes, Susan-absent, Robert-yes, 2C Cheryl (Dalton)-yes, Rick-absent
Old Business
Policy Letter: Planting Trees
Marion: we don’t need plaques
Susan: you could put the plaque in front of the tree
Rick: or hang it on a limb
Rick: what type of trees?
Marion: Indigenous trees
Rick: I suggest pecan trees
2C Cheryl: suggest fig trees
Rick: stay away from trees that are bushy at the bottom
Susan: suggest persimmon trees
Glenn C: keep it easy to weed eat around too
Alan: how much area isn’t cleared?
Chief Hatcher: think about 2 acres
Alan: don’t want to get overrun with them either
Susan: grapevines; pecans- the sap falls off; be careful with parking
Rick: suggest plum
Susan: suggest walnut
2C Cheryl: or both walnut and pecan
Alan: put them on the backside
Rick: should we set aside an area for memorial park?
Susan: a memorial garden: use plants, not trees because they’re easier to manage
Use a 20x40 area
2C Cheryl: use with an arbor; put trees on either side
Susan: or 4 trees total
Marion: do we want trees period?
Susan: trees along the roadway, not on the arbor
Rick: also on road beside RV spots; going to take work
Clear out the underbrush
Susan: leave some for privacy
Larry J: Red tips are low maintenance; evergreens
Rick: pecan trees, 40 feet apart?
Glenn C: read up on it, but at least 40 feet apart
2C Cheryl: think pecans would be best in back area to avoid problem with trees
Sugar Maples are good for driveways
Rick: motion to plant trees down the road 40 feet apart
Susan: is the individual responsible for the upkeep of the plants/ trees?
Rick: leaning towards the garden area; fill in from there (behind fire circle, etc)
Policy letter: add that they go in memorial area and that the individual is responsible for its upkeep for as long as it is alive
Let John T finish it and finish it next month
Alan F: did they ever do work on Donnie’s trailer?
Rick: don’t think so; floors need to be redone
New Business
Marion: donation in Jake’s name for bags, pens, etc…
Will give the receipt to Rick soon
Receipts: old receipt from Donnie Check:784
$10 receipt + $5 tribal stipend
Firekeeper Program: Marion and Robert to get in contact with each other
Susan: money from Joan A: letter is starting to dwindle down
Sara Mason: first talked to her in 2015
On 3/14/2017, she wasn’t approved but she received Joan A’s letter and sent $100
Susan read the letter from Ms. Mason
Susan: I suggest that anyone who has sent money in due to Joan A’s letter since 2017, make their file up-to-date and move forward from now
Rick: how far along on the file audit are you?
2C Cheryl: Marie has audited files for missing items
Rick: write Ms. Mason a letter explaining that we are working on files
Susan: other than Ms. Mason, those that have paid, go ahead and bring them up-to-date and show them as caught up
Alan: how’s that fair to those who did pay on time?
Chief to send a letter and check back to Ms. Mason
Susan: from 2017, bring people up-to-date
Rick: I agree with Alan, but you have to do what the letter said
Susan read Joan A’s letter; it doesn’t give them amnesty
2C Cheryl: probably better not to do it now until we get the files done
Suggest sending out letter in July- newsletter, Pauwau, membership fees
Susan: motion that those who sent in money after 1/2017 be brought up-to-date and anything after the February meeting goes forward (2/7/2020)
2C Cheryl: why not 2013?
Susan: wouldn’t go back that far
Chief Hatcher: set up a meeting with people to draft the policy
Rick: voicemail from someone claiming they have ties to us; where do we stand?
Chief: has to be an honorary member first; if they are an asset, you can nominate them for full membership
2C Cheryl: want to know why they want to become a member
Chief Hatcher: send them to me or 2C Cheryl
Marion: motion that we get a printed copy of the Tribal Roll Book with just names to put on the table; Robert seconded
2C Cheryl: will that require us to inform people that their name will be made public?
Marion amended the motion to only display the book during Tribal Council meetings
Marion- yes, Alan-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Cheryl (Dalton)-yes, Rick-yes
Starla will need ink
Family Day
Fire Ceremony at sunrise and noon
Lunch at 12:30
Starla C: suggest a covered dish; put it on Facebook with comments for food so people aren’t bringing the same thing
$50 in BBQ/ sauce
Larry J: go to the deli section for boxes of slaw
Elections
Rick to 2C Cheryl: send out email reminding candidates to send in their letter of intent in February
Marion: remember to state you are running for CoC if that’s the seat you want
Committee Reports
Buildings & Grounds: Glenn C
Work on bleachers & building on 1/11
Pauwau: Michelle H & Susan
Looking for Volunteers for Pauwau2020
Must sign in and out to receive credit towards membership fees
Begin submitting stories/ pictures for this year’s book today
Begin selling ads; cutoff date 8/15
Meetings are the 2nd Thursday at 6pm at tribal office (2/13)
2C Cheryl: interviews with Elders
Wristbands
Give out in bundles to get an accurate count
Drink Tent
Need more volunteers to help with this area
Program Book
Looking to do something with Mystery Dog/ Horse
Approve voting members for 2020: Michelle, 2C Cheryl, Mathea, Glenn, Starla, Courtney; changes to be brought to Council
Marion- yes, Alan-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Cheryl (Dalton)-yes, Rick-yes
Drum: Rick & Alan
Alan: anything from the guy who was going to come and help?
Starla/ Glenn C: he’s not interested
Chief: we could get Andy to come
Susan: Church may offer funds for it too
Michelle: question about exemption of membership fees
Does it cap annually or do the hours carry over?
Example: if they work 200 hours/ year, that’s the equivalent of $2000
Glenn C: the time should pay their fees
Susan: Resolution should say yearly and add line foro time
Rick: think 200 hours/year should receive lifetime exemption
Rick: each person should keep their own log and get it signed off
Marion: time isn’t transferable to others, just money
Alan F: amend Resolution DH-04-06-208-001 to include 200 hours of service as a lifetime membership; Robert seconded
Marion- yes, Alan-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Cheryl (Dalton)-yes, Rick-yes
Takes effect on 1/10/2020
2C Cheryl: Horry County Resource Survey: information read to Council
Done for planning and zoning
Perpetuation of misinformation, even after state recognition
Department of Archives is no help
Chief Hatcher: if they are paid by the state, they have to acknowledge us
Chief Hatcher
SC had its first state recognized Indians in 2005- us
Until recently, we/ Natives were not mentioned in textbooks; that’s being changed
Can turn it over to the CMA
Grand Strand Magazine will be doing a big article on us
We have pending documentaries
ICWA pertains to us as a state tribe, but not the same as federal tribes
2C Cheryl: will it set a precedent for other bills to pertain to us?
Chief Hatcher: yes
Horry County Council: working with Ms. Bellamy & will introduce a bill for recognition
Remains/ bones should be brought back to us within a year
Free hunting and fishing bill should come up soon
2C Cheryl: do we have more active lobbyists?
Chief Hatcher: we can’t speak for the tribe to a lobbyist; it could cost us our 501(c)(3)
Nominate Larry J as an elder; Robert seconded
Marion- yes, Alan-yes, Susan-yes, Robert-yes, 2C Cheryl (Dalton)-yes, Rick-yes
Glenn C: introduced Ms. Carol
Donating a popcorn machine, sno-cone machine, microwave, wireless printer
Susan: was privileged to do the death chant at Mike Benton’s father’s funeral
Marion: put in minutes whenever we put ashes into the fire
Charles Creech, Dean Walls, Johnnie Faver, Richard Turner’s wife
Marion motioned to close the meeting; Robert seconded.
Meeting adjourned at 9:45 pm.
Respectfully submitted by Michelle Hatcher on 1/2/2020 at 3:02 pm.