July/August 2008 - Absentee Shawnee Tribe Of Oklahoma

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! Michelle Lopez Secretary August 2008 Report Hello, Tribal Members: There has been some really good progress in which the Executive Committee is moving on with the Day Care. The casino contract has been signed and the work has started. I hope this will show tribal members that we are sincere in moving this tribe forward. I would like to say it has been a real honor working with Representative Gibson. I felt like he contributed a lot to the tribe and was a big part in getting the new casino started and many other economic development ideals. I feel that he was cut short by the election process and hope he will consider running again in the future. I have been working with the Culture Preservation Director Andy Warrior on finding a way to build a camping facility on some of our fee land. We are currently looking for the funds or grants to help build a camp ground for our tribal children. We can use it for summer camp, Diabetes camp, cultural activities or we could lease it out to other companies when not in use. The Following Programs I have over site of and would like to keep you informed in how they are performing. May 25 to June 25, the Social Services have assisted: 17 - TEA Tribal Energy Assistance 7 - LIHEAP Cooling 2 General Assistance 1 Direct Employment Assistance 4 - Summer Youth workers - on June 19th took SYS to tour OU campus. 4 - Summer Youth on July 9th toured the OSU campus in Still water. We will also be taking another tentatively scheduled trip to OCU and Bacone in late July. In addition we plan to attend the July 14-17 - Youth Leadership Conference in Warner, OK at Connors State College. May 28 - with the help of the maintenance and Representatives office we were able to pick up donated office furniture from IBC bank though Feed the Children. June 30 - I would like to welcome aboard new employee Annette Wilson.She will be our new Social Services Specialist. I would also like to say great job on completing the WIA Adult and Youth two year plan to Shawnee Larney and Grant writer Rick Short. ICW & PSSF: We are continually looking for more foster parents. If you are interested in becoming a foster parent please call Kim @ Ext: 206. # in foster care: 23 Home visits: 13 Home studies: 5 Referrals made: 13 Our ICW & PSSF staff, continue to attend trainings and better prepare themselves for any style of case they may come across. If you should have any questions please do hesitate to call or come by. BIA Self Governance Has been busy collecting the information for the 2007 Minimum Data Collection Report for the BIA Office of Self Governance and has been entering data as it comes in, along with communicating with the Executive Committee, Bureau of Indian Affairs, The Office of Special Trustee and the Office of Self-Governance regarding 2009 BIA-OSG negotiations. Realty is currently working on 35 Probates, 8 gift deeds, 12 appraisals, and several tribal leases. They continue to work hard for the tribal members and their families and if you should have any questions please call Rhonda @ 214. The School Clothing program has been running smoothly with the Visa cards and hope that this has made it easier for the parents and the children. We have currently served: 172 children with school clothing. The Burial program has helped a total of 12 tribal families this year. If you should have any questions concerning the school clothing or the Burial program please call Wynona @Ext: 154 Hope to have more in my next article. If you should have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or come by the office. n Thank you Lt. Governor Lopez A b s e n t e e S h a w n e e T r i b e Grocery & SmokeShop Open EVERYDAY! 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m. • Ice Cold Drinks • Gasoline • Fishing/Camping/Boating Supplies • Fast Food • Cigarettes/Cigars • Chewing Tobacco • Ice Cold Beer (405) 364-0668 15730 E State Hwy 9 Norman, Oklahoma Next to Thunderbird Casino Two Great Locations! AST SMOKESHOP I N H A R R A H , O K Come in or Drive thru? Smoking Lounge inside Cigars • Cigarettes • Chewing Tobacco Other Tobacco Products! Coffee • Soft Drinks • Smoking Lounge Monday - Saturday 7 am. to 7 pm Sunday 10 am to 3 pm Drive Thru Open Until 9 pm 19857 NE 23rd • (405) 454-0055 Harrah, Oklahoma 4 The Absentee Shawnee News August 2008
Anita Chisholm Treasurer August 2008 Report Hello Tribal Members I was sworn in as the Treasurer of the ASTribe on July 9. We had a great reception after the ceremony. Thank you all for coming to the reception to show your support. It meant a lot to see so many of you in attendance. The very next day the three new Executive Committee members met with the Governor, Scott Miller and Secretary, Michelle Lopez. Your five member Executive Committee members have been meeting nearly everyday discussing all the important issues you must have on The 22nd annual Red Earth Native American Festival was held in dowtown Oklahoma City, June 6-8th. The Red Earth grand parade opened the festival on Friday, June 6th and once again the Tribal Veteran’s Association was represented. However, the Veterans Association was supported a little differently this year. Instead of the float being filled with members of the association, it was primarily filled with tribal members and tribal leaders riding in support of the Veteran’s Association and Tribe. Roy Charley, David Voyles and John Vanderburg were the members of the Veterans Association who organized and attended the parade event. Tribal Governor: Scott Miller, Lt. Governor: Michelle Lopez, Representative: Isaac Gibson, Alicia Miller, Connor Miller and Brody Miller, Darrell Larney, Shawnee Larney and Taylor McKinley-Larney, Devin Voyles and Wynonna Coon were the others who participated and represented our tribe. A Special Thanks to the support and pictures; and to Alex Blanchard and Cecil Walker from the tribal maintenance department for providing and driving the truck and trailer and for all the work they put in on the day of the parade, it would not have been possible without them. your mind as well. We all realize that we must continue to work to balance our budget and to bring in new revenue to off set our current deficit. Your Casino, Thunderbird is beginning to bring new business and is in the process of paying the Tribe back the funds loaned to them several months ago. The tribe is in a difficult place right now but you do have five committee members who are talking, sharing and who will make the best decisions based on all our expertise as well as consulting with others. We are not taking our roles as your leaders lightly. We want our AST to succeed and we will with your help and prayers. You may want to know that the Executive Committee members are also discussing the following issues: 1)revision of the Constitution, 2)ASEDA,Inc., (our economic development authority),3)All Nations Bank, 4)Improving employee relations, 4)looking at the infra-structure of the tribe and 5) looking at strategic planning(where do we want to be in one year, 3 years and so on). Your ideas and thoughts will be gratefully appreciated. So at anytime please call or e-mail myself and other Committee members. I’d also like to hear from former Executive Council members. Your expertise is welcome. I’ve enjoyed talking with the employees of the Tribe. I’ve gained a lot of insight about how our departments operate. We have a lot of dedicated employees who work for the Tribe. The next time you meet one of our employees please tell them how much you appreciate their hard work. The finance department and I are meeting on a regular bases. We have some excellent people in that department. The finance department has undergone many changes since 2005 to date. Today, we have a Controller, Assistant Controller and other staff that are working hard to ensure AST has the best and most efficiency department around. The finance department will start providing training to departmental heads on their budgets. Our promise is that we will meet on a regular bases with the Executive Committee, the staff and others to keep everyone updated on our budget as we go though the next six months. I am totally energized by all the issues I feel we face as your Executive Committee and as a tribal member. I believe we can and will move forward and become successful in all our endeavors. We do plan to have our monthly meetings starting in September. I’ll be looking forward to meeting each of you in person on September 13th at Tecumseh Square. My e-mail address is: achisholm@astribe.com or call me at 405-325-4030 ext. 118. May the Creator bless you and your family and our AST family. n *** Attention*** Community Meeting September 13, 2008 Tecumseh Square Center 10:00 a.m. Hope to see you there! Tribal Leaders/Members Show Support of Veterans Thank you for the support of the Veterans and the Absentee Shawnee Tribe. August 2008 The Absentee Shawnee News 5
Page 1 and 2: Official Newsletter of the Absentee
Page 3: Dan Little Axe Sr. Lt. Governor Aug
Page 7 and 8: ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Page 9 and 10: ABSENTEE SHAWNEE TRIBE OF OKLAHOMA
Page 11 and 12: Obituary List We will be publishing
Page 13 and 14: Happy Birthday To All Tribal Member
Page 15 and 16: Employee’s Softball Game On Frida
Page 17 and 18: 2008 Employee Picnic Photos by Mich
Page 19 and 20: Do you have a Will? Realty Departme
Page 21 and 22: The Absentee Shawnee Tribal Clinic
Page 23 and 24: TRIBAL HOUSING IMPROVEMENTS PROGRAM

July/August 2008 - Absentee Shawnee Tribe Of Oklahoma

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