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Jan 10 Membership

I've been thinking I owe the Council an apology for not speaking up for them in Membership meeting. I've sat back now and watched them and it's like they are doing their best to do what is best for the tribe. What I owe them an apology for is this: I heard them being accused of trying to control the Election Board. I can see this isn't true. As far as the Election Board is concerned the Council is darned if they do and darned if they dont. Dorothy kept saying the Council approved their mileage. Well, people, if the Council hadn't approved their mileage the Council would be in the same boat they are in as far as accusations being made. How much mileage does the Council know they will need? I believe in this Council and I am tired of hearing how bad this Council is. Someone gave me a copy of what this Kenny wrote and I'm ashamed for him. It was not a good thing. I wish I had spoken up about the mileage now. I'm sorry Council that I sat back and didn't speak up for you. I approve of what it sounds like you are trying to do. TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS LIKE YOU ARE TRYIG TO DO111111

Re: Jan 10 Membership

This is Mary Pat.

It would be a good thing if someone would post the letter that Kenny sent to all his constituants - since there are several of us who live in OKC & Norman and did not get a copy. It would help to know just what you all are talking about!

I understand that Parker has once again violated our constitution by signing a contract without the prior approval of the Council or the Memebership. Surely she knows by now that "we, the people" expect our Constitution to be followed and that any contract that is signed without Council or Membership prior approval is not legal--- Check out our Constitution and see just what it says. Someone told me that it does not matter - that Parker has always done as she pleases and will continue to do so. So why should we expect anything different.

Surely, "we, the people" have the right to expect our elected officials to follow our governing document - our Constitution. Does that mean that those people who now serve on our Council (and were not elected) are not obligated to follow our Constitution? No, it does not. If they were sworn in using the words written in our Constitution - they have sworn to follow and protect our Constitution. That means that all of the people now serving on our Tribal Council are obligated to protect our tribe by making sure that our Constitution is followed. Any member of the Tribal Council, who does not follow our Constitution, might get away with not following it one or two times - we might say that they just made a mistake - that it was not done deliberately. However, if a person does that three or more times - we know it is not a mistake - that they do know what is the right thing to do. We then know that they have deliberately violated our Constitution.

So what should be done about a Council Member who does that deliberately? It would seem that this Council Member is "trashing" our Constitution and saying to all of us that their oath of office is a farce and their obligation to "we, the people" for protection of our rights is unimportant. What should be done about a Council Member who deliberately violates our Constitution?

I believe that it is the obligation of the rest of the Tribal Council to protect our rights - to protect our right to have leadership who follow our Constitution. I believe that the rest of the Tribal Council is mandated by their oath of office to REMOVE that Constitution violating member from the Caddo Tribal Council. If they do not do so - then they are not living up to their oath and protecting our rights.

Do you all agree?

Re: Jan 10 Membership

I concur...

Re: Jan 10 Membership

Good Evening Everyone,



I hope everybody had a pleasant Holiday Season.



I would like to update everyone on the last two Council meetings and give my views on a few points. For the sake of the length, I will only address the meeting of the 19th in this email.



First, I would like to say that I am sure most, if not all, are aware of the division within the Tribe; the division between those who support Chairperson LaRue Parker and those who do not. Throughout my tenure on the Council, I have been witness to unpleasant outbursts in Council meetings regarding accusations of things our Chairperson is supposed to have done during her tenure. This division is a constant undercurrent in everything the Council does.



Not so long ago, it came to a head in the form of a resolution to remove the sanctions from the “Council Five”. I asked Laura Jarvis to read aloud the resolution in the meeting. The resolution written by Laura Jarvis was heavily slanted against Chairperson Parker and was basically an admission of guilt. Immediately, Chairperson Parker stated she would not sign the resolution and an argument ensued. In hopes of resolving the long standing division, I made the motion to remove the sanctions from all former Council members without prejudice. My hope was to end the division, stop the finger pointing and move forward. I believe there are good people on both sides and we need to work TOGETHER.



Council Meeting December 19, 2008



In this meeting, the resolution to close the Election Board account and transfer the money to the Caddo Nation was again brought up for a vote. The reason was that Chairperson Parker refused to sign the previous resolution. This time, according to Diane Sparks, giving Brenda Edwards (interim Vice-Chair) authority to sign the resolution was added.



In addition, Laura Jarvis presented a list of former and present Election Board members who she says owes money to the Tribe. It was stated in the meeting that the current Election Board members listed should resign or be removed. The issue of election Board members being paid both mileage and meeting fees was brought to the attention of the Council several months ago. The Council brought this to the attention of the Election Board and the practice was stopped. The time for this discussion was several months ago. The friction between certain members of the Council and the Election Board is known. This falls back to the division between those who support LaRue and those who do not. The Election Board has been accused of being LaRue supporters and four on the Council are not. My hopes of ending the division are bent and battered but are still there. Questions: why must we be on a side? Why can’t we focus on the future of our Tribe instead of all this petty infighting? How is the methodology of these four Council members better than what they accuse LaRue of doing?

There are better ways of handling these issues without tearing down someone’s reputation.



In my opinion, actions taken by four members of the Council against the Election Board could be taken as an attempt to control the upcoming election. We are six months away from the election and the Council should keep its distance from the Election Board. They are supposed to be autonomous. The time and place to correct money problems with the Election Board was the budget before we passed it. I am afraid the four members of the Council may be caught up in the phenomenon “Groupthink”. Groupthink may cause groups to make hasty, irrational decisions, where individual doubts are set aside, for fear of upsetting the group’s balance.



Chairperson, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Binger Representative, Fort Cobb Representative, and the Oklahoma City Representative are all up for Election July 2009.



I know some will disagree with me but that makes for good government. Through debate, ideas can meld and produce better decisions; provided, we work together.



Please share this letter with those who do not have email



As always, I welcome questions and comments.



Kenny Poindexter

Oklahoma City Representative

1405 S. Daugherty

Oklahoma City , Ok. 73108

405-228-0744

onekp2go@sbcglobal.net





ReplyReply All Move...

Re: Jan 10 Membership

Kenny said in his letter "The Election Board has been accused of being LaRue supporters and four on the Council are not." He should have said 5 on the council are not because he has told many of his constituents here in OKC that he wants Larue gone. He has also said she is rude and mean to him and he would vote to get rid of her if it ever came to a vote. I wonder what has changed his mind? We have been hearing that Kenny is wanting a job with the tribe and maybe supporting Larue is the way to get it. Why not! It works for everyone else that wants a job. Many of us here are very disappointed in Kenny and are ready to replace him in the July election.

Kenny, if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything. Stop riding the fence and stand up for our constitution.

Re: Jan 10 Membership

The statements made by kenny regarding the sanctions being lifted against the council five are crazy..there should have never been sanctions placed on them to begin with
As long as parker sits as chair we will be divided. get her out, in ten years she has done nothing but spend our money.. No casino, and no the Hydro one is not going to happen NO PLAQUE for you parker .
The election board is a joke of all jokes.. the got money they should not have. We can not move forward without taking care of the past..

Re: Jan 10 Membership

I find it strange that Kenny can voice his opinion regarding his fellow Council people, but he can't voice his opinion on the scholarships available for our children. Has he told anyone there are 2 in Arkansas? I think there is one in Louisiana and one at OCU. That would be a good thing. I don't see a divided Council. I see them trying to work together for the good of the tribe.
I will NOT vote for Kenny if he runs for anything. I hope if he applied for a job someone would show how bad he would be for office morale by voicing his opinions - which don't seem to be very mature.

Re: Jan 10 Membership

Personally, a lot of us like the way Kenny and Marilyn and Bob are standing up. Some of you ignore that the Council is slipping, slipping away from a casino by staying with NORAM & Schunook (sp. And hire Grellner back, and give the Caddos a lousy contract. Don't agree in this instance. Just not going to blindly agree every time. Not angry, just disappointed. Can agree that the Council is doing their best, but sometimes they're wrong and sometimes they're right. I know they try.

Re: Jan 10 Membership

The four council women, strange, was council five now council four. Why , anyone that opposes Parker and her people, and yes the election board are her people anyone who thinks differently ,course that your opinion but, they are wrong. Garrett;s husband has a lease with the tribe where the buffalo were, and she has made remarks towards people who were running for office, that an elecion board member should not make.
They will allow LaRue to run again, afterall, how many times have they said " the decision of the election board is final" ? Thats their motto Hinse moved from the city to Ft.Cobb so she can run for that district. She does owe money to the tribe and should not be allowed to run, but the decision of the election board is final.
Why do you think that put Kodaseet. She really isn't on the council can not call a council meeting in the middle of a membership meeting, now that we stupid on the council part, not to mention the legal issues surrounding such.

Re: Jan 10 Membership

OKC Caddo 2, you stated that the council has given us a lousy contract so you must have seen it, question is why have the rest of the membership not seen the contract. Are you privy to information the rest of us are not. So we don't know if the contract it lousy, guess is since Parker has given it to a few people in order to make the council look bad, this is her style, the way she operates.
Still can not believe she is sitting there, the council five removed her legally, this council should and their right Kenny has repeatedly told the same thing to many, he wants her gone , bet his butt has splinters in it from sitting on the fence so long. His legacy will be a no action , Parkers will be search and destroy, and most certainly the worst Chairman is the history of the tribe, oh she might get the casino, her name and picture on a plaque , but the only thing people will remember when they walk by , will be , **** she was a horrible chairman of our people, what a worthless photo.

Re: Jan 10 Membership

Guess I need to check my messages before I post. But you all get my meaning. Still waiting on that information about why OKC caddo 2 has a contract and we don't

Re: Jan 10 Membership

SOME OF US SAW THE CONTRACT THE MEMBERSHIP VOTED ON. DID THE MEMBERSHIP SEE WHAT THEY VOTED ON? SEE BELOW FOR ANOTHR POSTING:

"We are indebted to Crossland Construction approximately 1.2 million dollars because we moved forward on the word of Mr. Shounock and Mr. Grellner. We fired Mr. Grellner."


"In my opinion, the terms are not good for the Caddo Nation. The split is 70/30 with 8.5 percent covering the loan and 6 percent going to Mr. Shounock. The money people Frank brought to the meeting are basically money brokers and want 5 percent off the top or 600,000." END OF TERMS.


WAIT A MINUTE, SHOULDN'T CROSSLAND BE SSUING SHOUNOCK? IS NORAM THE DEVELOPER? MAYBE CADDOS SHOULD BE SUING GRELLNER FOR $1.2 MILLION. DON'T REALLY KNOW BUT BETCHA NIGC WILL KNOW. GRELLNER GOT US IN A MESS.

AND THANKS TO KENNY. HOW DO WE KNOW HOW TO VOTE IN MEMBERSHIP MTGS IF WE AINT SEE THE CONTRACT? GEORGIE IF YOU'RE OK WITH THESE TERMS, GUESS THAT'S YOU BUSINESS.

Re: Jan 10 Membership

Bitsi: that's a good question why some have seen the contract and some have not. Ask your representative to get it for you. Thos out of state caddos need to ask the Chairman or Vice-Chairman to get you the contract so you know what is going on. If it's a good thing, then they gott no trouble explaining it. Guess the whol council understands the terms

Sorry, Georgie, got you mixed with Bitsi.