Projects & Proposals

Links to proposals, resolutions, and standing rules I’ve authored or co-authored (listed in date order from newest to oldest)

In Planning/Progress

• Agenda protocol (original revised proposal) - To make sure no old business gets overlooked and minimize the chances of more “agenda wars.”  This protocol was merged with a version written by Commissioner Meeks. Commissioners Meeks and kunesh were directed to review the merged version for final approval at the Nov. 8 2008 meeting.
• Regional Coalitions vs. Standing Committees (original revised proposal) - To replace non-functional/dysfunctional standing committees with focused regional coalitions. Tammera Hicks (East TN), Vicky Garland (Middle TN) and Helen Vinson (West TN) were appointed to help obtain community input and review the proposal for any changes. It has also been forwarded to TCIA’s legal counsel for legal review. The proposal will be discussed on Nov. 8, 2008 for final approval by the Commission.
• Citizens Committees (original proposal) - To create committees based on enrollment status or lack of enrollment status to ensure each group’s needs are heard and addressed. This was originally written for one committee specific to federally recognized Indians. After discussion by the Commission, it will be revised to establish three seperate committees - federal, state and unrecognized.
• Tribal Ties Task Force (original proposal) - To implement an interim program for assisting TN’s unenrolled American Indians in researching their genealogies, collecting necessary documentation, and applying for tribal enrollment in appropriate federally recognized nations or state recognized tribes outside TN until such time as TN has its own recognition criteria.

Approved

• Action plan (Approved as Strategic Planning, June 21, 2008) - To provide a “plan” for ensuring the commission addresses each of its mandates annually, including providing an opportunity for grassroots initiatives and identification of needs.  The commission began its strategic planning process on Sept. 13, 2008.  The next SP work session is scheduled for Oct. 12, 2008 by teleconference.  Original plan:  Click here. The final outcome is a work in progress. The template being used as a guide is located here.
• Appointment of TCIA Census 2010 Liaison - appoints Marion E. Orrick as the Commission’s official liaison with the Census Bureau for Census 2010. 
• Commendation and Support for Trail of Tears Commemorative Events - provides resolution supporting and commending TNTOTA and six other organizations/grassroots group for their work in planning and carrying out events to commemorate the Trail of Tears.
• Adding More Commission Meetings - To add four more meetings per year conducted via teleconference. The motion was passed at the Sept. 13, 2008 meeting. The teleconference meetings will be limited to 2 hours and to administrative tasks. For more information on TCIA teleconferences, click here.

Failed

• Standing Rule on Public Comments - would create opportunity for public comments to be taken at the beginning of the meeting if a quorum was not present, and until a quorum was established.  The motion was made in response to input gathered during July and August 2008 community round table calls. Some community members felt the commission was voting first, then allowing the community to respond after the fact. The argument against the motion was both a legal issue (meetings cannot officially start without a quorum present) and that the public has significant time before meetings to file comments, complaints, etc.  For a breakdown of pre-meeting public comment time versus Commission “work” time, click here.

On the Back Burner or Shelved

• Minutes protocol (Backburner) - To make sure the letter of the law is met without opportunity for personal bias on the part of the minute taker, intentional or otherwise
• Multiple Polling Points (Shelved) - To increase Indian voter participation; after considering it, I decided it would be to easily abused as a tool for redistricting to strengthen specific voting blocks.
• Early/Absentee Voting (Shelved) - To increase Indian voter participation; after considering it, I decided it was too problematic and created an opportunity for ballot box stuffing.
• Code of Ethics (Backburner) - Not necessary at this time, but saving it “just in case.”