NEWSLETTER - Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas

NEWSLETTER
February 2016
1
TRIBAL COUNCIL

The following actions were taken during the
Tribal Council Meetings held on January 11
and January 25, 2016 and Special Called
Meeting of January 8, 2016:
 Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-01 –
2016 AC Smoke Shops Budget
 Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-02 –
2016 AC One Stop Budget
 Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-03 –
2016 Lake Management Budget
 Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-04 –
2016 Washateria Budget
 Reviewed and approved a Revised Administration Organizational Structure
 Discussed a matter regarding a Personal
Appearance by Beryl Battise
 Accepted the Certification of Tribal Enrollment of two applicants
 Approved the Returning Membership application of one tribal member
 Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-05 –
Transportation Improvement Program
Grant Application
 Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-06 –
BIA Roads Maintenance Program Grant
Application
 Tabled ACITC Resolution #2016-07 –
Tribal Enrollment Standard Operating
Procedures
 Tabled ACITC Resolution #2016-08 –
Tribal Youth Programs Standard Operating Procedures
 Discussed a matter regarding a Personal
Appearance by Michael King and Todd
King
 Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-09 –
SORNA Policy and Procedures








Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-10
– Rescinding ACITC Resolution #201567 – Maintaining Census Roll
Discussed and requested additional information regarding request of Construction /Tribal Housing
Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-11
– EPA General Assistance Program
Grant Application
Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-12
– Cultural Resource Fund Phase II
Grant Application
Approved ACITC Resolution #2016-13
– EPA Clean Water Act Section 106
Tribal Water Pollution Control Program
Tabled ACITC Resolution #2016-14 –
USDA Rural Business Development
Opportunity Grant Application
Tabled ACITC Resolution #2016-15 –
USDA Rural Business Development Enterprise Grant Application
Approved Political Donations
Approved Request regarding Head Start
In-Kind
On January 11, 2016, Jo Ann Battise was
given the Oath of Office as the Tribal
Council Chairperson and the following
were selected as Officers for the Tribal
Council: Vice-Chairman Ronnie Thomas,
Secretary Johnny Stafford and Treasurer
Nita Battise. The remaining Members of
the Tribal Council are Member Clint Poncho, Member Roland Poncho and Member
Maynard Williams.
2
TRIBAL COUNCIL (continued)
2016 Tribal Chiefs and Tribal Council
Mikko Colabe III—Clem Sylestine
Mikko Skalaaba—Herbert Johnson Sr.
Chairperson— Jo Ann Battise
Vice-Chairman—Ronnie Thomas
Secretary—Johnny Stafford
Treasuer—Nita Battise
Member—Roland Poncho
Member—Clint Poncho
Member—Maynard Williams
Tribal Council Oaths of Office
3
TRIBAL FORESTRY
Tribal Forestry has taken on a special project that will
be beneficial to the Tribe for years to come. They are in
the process of planting more long leaf pine trees. This
is in addiction to the 400 acres that was planted several
years ago around tribal lands. Some of those trees
planted are growing very nicely.
4
HOUSING AUTHORITY
Teresa Cook Retirement
Housing Director Roland Poncho attended the retirement party for Teresa
Cook at the Southern Plains Office of
Native American Program (SPONAP)
office in Oklahoma City. Teresa retired after 30 years of service with the
Housing and Urban Development.
She assisted the Tribe as grants management rep and later as Grants Evaluation specialist. She received a special pine needle basket gift on behalf
of the Tribe.
SPONAP serves over 25 housing authorities throughout Oklahoma, Texas
and Kansas. It is the granting agency
from which the Housing Authority is
funded.
ATTENTION CRAFTERS!
We have opened the gift shop at the AC One Stop and are looking for local vendors. We are interested in jewelry and other tribal crafts to sell at
reasonable prices. Our hours will be 9am to 5pm. For more information
call Sheila Alec or Cordelia Battise at 936-563-1360. Thank you
5
TRIBAL ENROLLMENT
There are some tribal members that are still not updating your addresses to the Enrollment office. If you move,
please let the enrollment office know as soon as possible. Do not wait until the week of Distribution to change
your address. The required procedure to change address is to complete a Change of Address form or a Returning Membership form if a member moves back to the territory of tribal land. The Returning Membership Form
with supporting documents will then be submitted to the Tribal Council for approval/disapproval.
To apply for Tribal Membership an applicant must meet membership requirements as stated in the Tribal Enrollment Ordinance which coincides with the Constitution and By-Laws, published 2014. For enrollment eligibility the following persons are deemed eligible for membership in the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas; (1)
All persons whose names appear on the official census roll of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe of Texas as of
June 19, 2013; and (2) All persons who meet all of the following requirements: (a) the ability to show direct
lineal descent from an ancestor whose name appears on any of the designated official rolls of the AlabamaCoushatta Tribe of Texas; (b) at least one-fourth degree of Alabama Tribe and/or Coushatta blood. All enrollment applicants are now required to take a DNA test as part of the enrollment procedure. Testing must result
in 97% or greater probability of parentage. Only certified lab results from any independent, certified laboratory
shall be accepted at the expense of the applicant. For your convenience, DNA testing can be done locally by
appointment only through the Enrollment Department. NO WALK-INS ACCEPTED. Tr ibal Member ship
Application with all proper documentation has to be turned in to the Enrollment Department before the DNA
testing can be scheduled. There is a fee of $60.00 for EACH person to be tested. All costs associated with the
cost of performing the test shall be the responsibility of the applicant. Application deadline is the last day of
each quarter. There are four quarters to a year: March, June, September, and December.
To request a Tribal Membership Application, or if you have any questions, please contact Charlene Williams
Alec at the Enrollment Office at 936/563-1180 or email alec.charlene@actribe.org.
HELP AVAILABLE
From: Chuck McLaurin
I have been involved in ministry here at the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation for over 20 years. I am
currently ministering at the Boys & Girls Club in Livingston, and have been involved at the Dunbar Gym ministry as well. I am a Board Member on the Community of Care at the Reservation and have ministered to prisoners on Death Row at the Polunsky Unit in Livingston.
I am available for one-on-one private spiritual counseling for adults. If you need prayer and support for any
problems such as drug addiction, family violence, alcoholism, or depression & anxiety– please feel free to call
me at 936-327-0911.
WITH GOD’S HELP A CHANGE IS POSSIBLE.
6
48TH ANNUAL POWWOW
If any tribal member is interested in being the Indian Taco/Frybread vendor for the
48th Annual Powwow, please contact Teresa Battise at (936)563-1288
Volunteers are also needed to help with directing the traffic in the parking areas.
You may contact Herbert Johnson Jr. at (936)442-8706, if you are interested in doing so.
The next Powwow Meeting will be Monday, February 15th, at 6:00 PM in the Cultural Center building. Come on out!
7
ACT HOLDINGS, LLC
It is hard to believe we are already rolling
into our second month of 2016. With that
being said, mark your calendar for Monday, April 4th as the next Quarterly Information Meeting. Our first meeting will be
with the Tribal Elders at 11:30 a.m. at the Senior Citizen Dining Room, and our second meeting will be at 6 p.m. in the
Cultural Center Training Room.
Last month, ACT Holdings, LLC submitted a Rural Business
Development Grant (RBDG) to the United States Department
of Agriculture’s Area Office in Lufkin. Since then, the grant
application was forward to the Rural Development State Office in Temple, Texas as of January 29, 2016. The intention of
this grant is to dedicate a significant portion of the Leggett
land to establish a sound economic development strategy for
the property in the intent of developing a manufacturing hub
and Industrial hub facility for businesses looking to taking advantage of various benefits and incentives for doing business
on tribal land. We will provide more updates once we receive
the information.
On January 11, 2016, ACT Holdings CEO Bryan Small and
Executive Assistant Yolanda Poncho presented outgoing Tribal Council member Pete Polite a proclamation of sincere appreciation of his service and dedication exhibited during his
tenure as Tribal Council Treasurer. Aleelamoloo Mr. Polite
for your support to ACT Holdings, and Ochana Industries,
LLC.
For more information on ACT Holdings and Ochana Industries, LLC, please do not hesitate to give us a call
or visit. Our offices are located in the Cultural Center basement.
Bryan Small
CEO
936-563-1381
Yolanda Poncho
Executive Assistant
936-563-1382
8
Whitney Williams
Receptionist
936-563-1380
Wildland Firefighters!
It’s that time of year again!
We will be having a Refresher Course on February 16th, followed by
the Pack Test on February 17th and the 18th, for the upcoming 2016
fire season.
Also, please have all your documents ready for all the necessary paper
work we have to do each year.
Please, encourage any other interested people to join our Wildland crew
for this year.
Any questions you may have concerning Wildland Firefighting, you
may contact the Forestry office at (936)563-1352
Interested in Wildland Firefighting?
Tribal members who are interested in becoming a Wildland Firefighter
for 2016 may also contact the Forestry office at (936)563-1352 for
more information. Please call as soon as possible.
9
NEWS FROM THE A/C SOCIAL SERVICES OFFICES
The Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Programs are now available. The purpose of this program
is to offer assistance to the low-income families who are in dire need. Our objectives are to not only assist,
but to help alleviate some financial burdens. This is done to help families become more self-sufficient financially with an overall goal to help keep out of poverty.
CSBG applications are provided at the Social Services Offices, located in the Annex Building. All applications must be submitted to the office clerk with the following:
A valid TX drivers id
A CDIB id
A Social Security Card
Last 30 days proof of income (which include your job’s pay stubs, child
support payments, unemployment stubs, TANF, SSI Letters, or any
type of self -supporting income)
Copies of the above will be taken and placed with your CSBG application and processed by the office
clerk. It will be reviewed to ensure all information is complete and correct. After, it will be submitted to the Social Services Director for review. They in turn, will process the paperwork and return
to the office clerk with approval or disapproval.
If approved, the office clerk will then submit a purchase requisition for payment to the A/C Procurement Offices for pledge approvals.
PLEASE NOTE: This process may take approximately 2-3 business days.
Requests for utility payments must be submitted in a timely manner for us to make pledge calls. Please
do not wait until the “cut off day” or your propane levels to go below 20 percent. All assistance will
be done as long as you, the applicant, comply with the guidelines.
The CSBG Programs allows three (3) emergency assistances for the year. Once the first assistance is
granted, there will be a 45 day waiting period for the next assistance. If there is payment made for
electricity or propane, you cannot use the same two (2) assistances in a row.
The office clerk will contact you once an approval is made and also send you a confirmation letter.
Your CSBG application will be kept on file in our office so that you may continue to participate in this
program. If there are any questions about the CSBG Programs please contact Sylvia Johnson at 563
-1250 from 9 am to 3 pm Monday thru Friday.
10
CONGRATULATIONS
FUTURE ARTIST AT WORK, CONGRATULATION TO SETH BEENE-WILLIAMS!
SETH’S ARTWORK HAS BEEN CHOSEN “BEST OF SHOW” WITH THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO. HIS ARTWORK WILL BE ON DISPLAY
IN THE HAYLOFT GALLERY, LOCATED ON THE FIRST FLOOR OF NRG CENTER IN THE WEST END OF THE LOBBY THROUGHOUT THE 2016 EVENT FOR
VISITORS TO SEE.
SETH WILL BE RECOGNIZED AND RECEIVE AN AWARD ON SATURDAY,
MARCH 5, 2016 DURING THE HOUSTON LIVESTOCK SHOW AND RODEO
SCHOOL ART AWARDS PRESENTATION. THE CEREMONY WILL BE HELD IN
THE NRG CENTER MAIN ARENA.
ALL HIS DOODLING, DRAWING, SKETCHING HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED AND
SETH CAN NO LONGER DENY,
HE HAS TALENT.
WE LOVE YOU AND WE ARE VERY PROUD OF YOU, SETH.
MOM, SAGE, SENEKA, SHUDEY AND SOOLA
HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Lordy, Lordy! Look who’s 40!
Happy Birthday to Veronica Williams. We love you, Dee!
She will turn 40 on February 7th.
Love, your family!
11
THANK YOU’S
“Remember when we said when we turned gray
When the children grow up and move away
We won't be sad, we'll be glad
For all the life we've had
And we'll remember when”…
Memories will be cherished of our Dad, Jeffrey Ryan Alec. We would like to thank everyone
for all prayers, food, and flowers during our time of need. We especially want to thank Brother
Busby and the Assembly of God for all that you did, said, and gave to us. Thank you to the Indian Presbyterian and Baptist Church for the songs during the wake service. Our Tribe has always been known to show support and love it was surely shown to our family. The First Responders, EMT services, nurses, and Doctors were greatly appreciated for the kindness and
compassion given to our family. Thank you to all and please keep us in your prayers.
Jordan and Carlee Alec
HAPPY RETIREMENT
Tribal Administrator Stephanie Williams presents a plaque to Genevieve
“Janie” Rhinesmith in honor of her
retirement after 22 years of service to
the Tribe.
12
Come to our
Food Fest
at the
Indian Presbyterian
Church
Saturday, February 20th
Beginning at 11:00 AM
MORE DETAILS LATER
Proceeds go towards our Church’s Ministries
13
14
18TH ANNUAL CHILDRENS POWWOW
15
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE:
Friday, February 26, 2016
Email your news to: bullock.car los@actr ibe.or g or abbey.emma@actr ibe.or g
Fax your news to: (936) 563-1139 Attention: MARCH NEWSLETTER
Call if you have questions: (936) 563-1120 or (936) 563-1131
Drop your news off in the Public Infor mation Inbox or
Stop by the Communications/Media Relations Office (located in the Cultur al Center )
Please submit all information, news, announcements, etc. by the designated time so we can
see you in our next issue!
*******
Alabama-Coushatta Tribe
571 State Park Road 56
Livingston, Texas 77351
16