February 2024 Open Meeting Summary
Tribal Open Meeting Summary 2/2/2024 held at the tribal office and via Zoom
CM’s Marion, Susan, Emily, Glenn, and CoC Dalton were present. CM’s Robert and Chris arrived late. Elders Charles H and Larry J were present. Vice Chief Cheryl, 2C Alan, and 2C John were present.
Members Nancy J, Clayton G, Ronnie H, Carol L, Carolyn D, Randy W, Lisa L, Starla C, Rick H, and Andy W were present.
Financial Report (as of 2/1/2024 at 11:11 am)
General Fund: $42,403.13
Building Fund: $1906.61
Cemetery Fund: $407.00
Old Business
Online Votes
12/29 Approve December open meeting summary
Emily-yes, Susan-abstain, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Dalton-yes, 2C Alan (Susan)-yes
1/11 Cancel the January 2024 open meeting due to weather advisory
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Dalton-yes
Steve Jett: Benalign
Benefits to retrain employees; the app is available through the Play and Apple Store
It only costs money if you buy a product
Telemedicine: 24/7 access: $7.95/ month
Rx benefit & card: $0 copay for generics: $12/ month
Outpatient labs & medical imaging services
Accident Insurance
Hospital expenses
Critical illness
Sick pay
Dental/ vision plan
Term life
Bill negotiation
Credit planner: $5/ month
Pet insurance
Renters Insurance
Device protection: $5/ month for up to 18 devices
CoC Dalton: what would be the charge to the tribe?
Steve J: no cost for using the app, only if you want to sponsor telemedicine and some items
2C John: if you have Medicare, will this come on top of Medicare?
Steve J: it can, especially during the donut hole period
If you use telemed, will you get to an actual doctor?
Steve J: concierge first, then a doctor
You can use that doctor every time if you want
CoC Dalton: is this available to the public or does the tribe have to join?
Steve J: tribe would sponsor it and then we’d send a member an application
Does it cover weight loss surgery?
Steve J: no, because there’s no insurance component
There might be a discount in the hospital section
Glenn: is there a charge for the tribe to sponsor?
Steve J: no, but members could get benefits at under $20/ month
CoC Dalton: we will discuss it and get with you; it sounds like a good plan
2C John: if the tribe were to sign up, can individual members purchase what they want?
Steve J: yes, absolutely, correct
Glenn: is there a minimum for the tribe to get access?
Steve J: no
CoC Dalton: do you keep personal data or do you sell it?
Steve J: we don’t sell data
When you sign up for a product, it goes directly to the companies
New Business
2C John: have we looked into an interest-bearing account?
Susan: no
VC Cheryl: Mr. Mancuso could talk to the Chief to improve our finances
Susan: have him here for a meeting
VC Cheryl: him and Rick Elliott; start from there
Receipts
AC service: $40 paid by Glenn: Check 1073: B&G Fund
Suggest we pump water from under the office to the sewer
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, Dalton-yes
Committee Reports
Buildings & Grounds: Glenn
Water isn’t fixed; it’s been too wet to work on
AC: had a man come fix it; he found a loose wire and recommended a sump pump
Marion: can we level out the ground or do we need 2 pumps?
Glenn: he said it was rusted under there & he’d put in for $1000 (labor)
Unit is 3-ton and approx. $1800
Marion: there’s no need to put more money into this one if we go to the mini-split; think we’d need 2 heads
Glenn: yes, because of the distance
Glenn: we’d buy the unit directly and he’d charge us to install
Marion: can you bring back figures?
Glenn: yes
CoC Dalton: water under the building is a bad idea; think we should get the sump pump
Glenn: I’ll get figures on it
Arts & Crafts: Susan
I want to start classes again, but no one shows up
CoC Dalton: I suggest doing it via Zoom or recording it
Create a YouTube channel
Susan: they’d have to buy their own supplies
Have a maximum number of students for one-on-one classes
2C John: have them prepay with no refunds allowed
Dr. Dillian: would you be willing to do something that could link to the exhibit?
Susan: I see other tribes doing things; what are we doing wrong?
VC Cheryl: figure out what people are interested in
Center around fire ceremonies
Marion: with fire ceremonies, the Chief tries to make it educational
Plan to have A&C for a couple of hours after lunch on fire ceremony days
Grants
VC Cheryl: Catalyst Grant: building on something
Due in April; $25k (same as last year)
It’s used for culture, environmental/ land issues, education, networking
Then look at conservation funds
We could become stewards of the land
Met with Chief Creel- they are getting land donated to them
From HUD for an assisted living facility
Have to be smart about networking
Forestry & Wildlife services through Clemson: Coastal project
$500k max
Identify our historical lands that are wetlands or in watersheds of the Pee Dee River
Protect lands to avoid more flooding
I found a 1789 survey that said Chief John’s land
Upper Dog Bluff and a threatened area that connects us to the Marion side of the Pee Dee River
Partnering with Indigenous East from tribes from MD to LA
Michelle: The SCAC Grant deadline is 4/16/2024 this year
Dr. Dillian: the 2 grants for the exhibit project will end soon
Pauwau
Chairperson for 2024: Michelle
Looking for pictures of our older members
Start selling ads/ memorial pages for the program book
Working on demonstrators to finalize the flyer earlier
The deadline to get things in is 8/15/2024
Files
Philip Davis (honorary to full)
st we pump water from under the office to the sewer
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, Chris-yes Dalton-yes
Kayla Davis (honorary to full)
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, Chris-yes Dalton-yes
Jacoby Davis (honorary)
VC Cheryl: I need verification on honorary votes taken by the executive branch
Meeting 2/3 at 10 am
Newsletter
Susan: It’s not been done because the printer hasn’t been hooked up
Reminder: Family Day 2/17/2024
Susan: will 2C Alan cook and if so, what?
BBQ, slaw, baked beans
Glenn: I’ll get prices at Bojangles too
Reminder: Fire Ceremony dates for 2024: 3/16, 6/20, 9/21, 12/14
Marion: we need to have the grounds surveyed to pinpoint our property lines
The GIS map doesn’t work; it doesn’t do with the surveyor’s plat
Rick H: does the current deed have GPS coordinates?
CoC Dalton: the plat should have it on there
Rick H: if it’s at the courthouse, it should have coordinates on there
VC Cheryl: no, there’s deed and land records and there’s plats
Glenn: we need the map to pinpoint our corners
VC Cheryl: we can go to the courthouse on Monday, Marion
Reminder: Letters of Intent for the 2024 election are due ASAP but no later than 8/15/2024
The earlier it is in, the more newsletters it will appear in
Seats up: Glenn, Robert, Emily, CoC
Marion: David H will be here 2/24-25, maybe 2/23 to work on the longhouse
He would like to know if he can camp
Susan: we need to review our policy letters
VC Cheryl: would it be helpful to get an intern student to sit down with us and go over them?
2C John
Tribal lineage requirement to become Chief
It seems like a contradiction; I think all members should be able to run for all offices
One paragraph in the constitution says you have full rights to run for office; another paragraph says not everyone can run for all offices
We need a referendum to change it
VC Cheryl: it says elected, not the qualifications
2C John: the first constitution says core and non-Indian adopted members
Lineal descendants wasn’t added until after the Fab4 incident in 2008
According to Chief, Fab$ was the reason for adding lineal descendants and it was arbitrary
CoC Dalton, VC Cheryl: no, it was a referendum
2C John: but it can be removed
VC Cheryl: For example using the US Constitution: you could remove the 13th amendment and go back to slavery
2C John: you could
2C John: reasons
Some other members might want to run
Something could happen to the Chief and the VC
What if they don’t want to the position
Susan: if you change it to where anyone can be Chief, we’d have to change the name to Tribe of Aynor
It will hurt our chances of federal recognition; we are founded on people of the Dimery settlement
Rick H: are you going to keep shooting yourself in the foot?
2C John: is there criteria for federal recognition that it’s lineal to be Chief?
Susan: we have to go by 25 CFR 83.7
Elder Charles: how many core members do we have currently?
CoC Dalton: last I looked, between 75-80%
Rick H: how many core members have the time, capability, etc…?
CoC Dalton: the same could be said for non-core members
2C John: I looked at the federal recognition and saw nowhere that it says lineal descendants
CoC Dalton: if the most capable person to run for president is 18, would you let him run?
2C John: right now, we have inequality across the board
VC Cheryl: the latest constitution clarified role qualifications and the balance of core and non-core on tribal council
The reason for the responsive vote was when we nearly lost our tribe
2C John: a minute ago, you said it wasn’t the Fab4
VC Cheryl: I think we need to discuss this during an executive session
CoC Dalton: next time, there needs to be less rancor and more discussion
You have the right to put forth a referendum regardless
VC Cheryl
I think we need to schedule an executive session to prevent further embarrassment
CoC Dalton: I’m not sure it needs to be an executive session, but send me your reasoning and we’ll discuss it
Elders
Larry J: 2 samples of linoleum
Recommend taking the refrigerator out, turning the bar around towards the stove
Dr. Dillian
40 students between 2 classes making 20 panels for the grounds
They will be here on 3/16 conducting interviews
A geographer will create maps and enter them into the GIS database
Using a scanner for documents
Grand opening 4/16 at 3 pm: tribes in SC, VIPs, government officials, CCU, public media
4/17: Canadian Film Day: Trick or Treaty
Free tickets
Canadian VIPs
Susan motioned to close the meeting; Robert seconded.
Emily-yes, Susan-yes, Glenn-yes, Marion-yes, Robert-yes, Chris-yes Dalton-yes
The meeting adjourned at 9:3 p.m.
Respectfully submitted by Michelle Hatcher on 2/19/2023 at 3:17 pm.