Minutes of 06/30/01 Tribal Council Meeting

A short executive session with the Elders, Council and Chief Overturf was held prior to the start of the Regular Council Meeting.  The Council Chairman briefed current issues related to legal action being taken by the Council on behalf of the Nation.

The Tribal Council Chairman called the meeting order at 10:30 AM.  Elder Jerry Summers gave the opening prayer.

Council Members present were:

Paul Drew
James Ellis
John Watson
James Green
Paul Matheny
Kathy Householder
Jan McDonald
Hugh Thompson
Becky Overturf-proxy for Art Cook
Don Collier-proxy for Ray Dennison

Absent:

Carlo Carlino
Tim Sanders

Elders present:
Jim Gillihan
Elmo Foster
Bea Foster
Jerry Summers 

Absent:
John Duke
Polly Roark
Jim Jones

Also Present:
Deputy Chief, Lee Overturf
Treasurer, Kenneth Householder

 Motion made by James Ellis and seconded by Paul Drew to waive reading of the minutes.  Motion passed unanimously.

James Ellis read Carlo Carlino’s letter of resignation from the Council.  Paul Matheny read Grover Barbee’s letter of resignation from the Council.

Brief discussion of ground rules for meetings by the Tribal Council Chairman, Paul Matheny.  The Elders requested that the meetings be more business-like and to the point in order to keep the meetings to a reasonable length.

Lee Overturf gave financial report.  Donations of $194 had been received on the storage of records.  Balance still owed was $218.  Donations on hand to pay from the meeting hall totaled $64.

Paul Matheny read a letter from Elder Polly Roark explaining she could not attend due to illness and that she enclosed a $5 donation to the legal fund. 

Legal status of the Turman lawsuit was discussed.  A July 17 court date was selected by the Judge to hear the case.  At least one of the lawyers could not make that date.  The date of the hearing may be moved. 

Under Old Business:

There was no report from the Constitutional Committee.

The temporary address for the Nation is:

Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri
208 Country Meadow Lane
Atoka, Tennessee 38004

The temporary phone number is: 901-837-7516

Paul Matheny related that enrollment questions should be referred to the Enrollment Committee.  Persons with questions on enrollment may call the number listed on the web page or send correspondence to the temporary mailing address. 

 Discussion on Satellite Offices was tabled until the next meeting.

Under new business:

The Council unanimously voted to elevate Lee Overturf to Acting Chief until elections.  A vote on filling the Acting Deputy Chief positions was tabled until the next meeting to give interested candidates an opportunity to submit resumes for consideration.

Kenneth Householder, Treasurer, requested that the minutes reflect that he desired a signed statement that he has not voted nor spent one penny of tribal monies nor signed one check.  A general discussion took place concerning the Business Committee.

Paul Matheny reiterated that written ballots would be used commencing with the next meeting to document the actions taken by the Council.  Ballots, along with the minutes and the agenda will be placed in historical files.

Action on proposed committees was tabled until the next meeting.

The Business Committee reconfirmed Bea Foster, Polly Roark and Jim Jones as members of the Elder Board.

Chief Overturf reported that the Enrollment Committee has processed over 300 records.  Ms. Scholl had removed Checks/money from the records.  The enrollment committee was processing the applications that were discovered with the Nations files without additional charge to the applicant.

Elder Comments:

Jim Gillihan greeted the Council, the Chief and the audience.  He expressed his strong desire to see the traditional ceremonial cycle restored.
Bea Foster remarked that she hoped we all could find the path of peace.

Council Member Comments:

Paul Drew thanked everyone for their prayers and phone calls during his recent illness.
James Ellis encouraged everyone to attend the SAC River Chickamauga Days July 6, 7 and 8.

Elder Bea Foster encouraged everyone to correspond with or send pictures to James “Captive Hawk” Lee, a young Cherokee man on Death Row in Georgia.  Paul Matheny gave a short summary of James Lee’s past and also asked that our members correspond with him and give him encouragement. 

Comments from members:

Ron McDonald encouraged Council Members to give reports on activities from their regions at Council Meetings.

Deanna Hennington gave her thoughts on Peace.  She gave tobacco to the new Acting Chief in the name of Trust, Truth and Integrity.  Deanna spoke about Carlo Carlino’s spiritual leadership and that he is still available for assistance with spiritual matters.

James Ellis announced that Western Cherokee Nation of Arkansas and Missouri Highway Beautification sign would be erected in Dent County Missouri.  He hoped that as many Council members as possible would attend a planned photo opportunity which would be put out as a press release in the local newspapers. 

Paul Drew announced that he would be putting out information about his background in the near future on his web page and would encourage those opposing us to do the same.

Chief Overturf urged the Nation to work together to move forward.  He invited individuals with questions to call or write using the temporary mailing address or phone number.

The next meeting will be scheduled sometime in August, probably the second Saturday.  An announcement will be made at a later date dependent on the current legal action being taken by the Nation.

Elder Jim Gillihan gave the closing prayer.

Meeting adjourned at 2:00p.m.