THE NEXT MEETING OF THE FRIENDS WILL BE AT
3 PM. ON SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12, 2010 AT THE
CHEROKEE REMOVAL MEMORIAL PARK
VISITORS ARE WELCOME
JULY 3, 2010 - STATUS REPORT
By Ray Hoskins, Chairman
Phone 770 831 1271
Our Friends Organization has been in existence for six months. Our goal is to have 25 members before establishing the nine member Friends Board of Directors. In the interim we are operating as a Committee of the Whole with a three person Executive Committee to perform essential Board functions: Ray Hoskins as Chairman, Shirley Lawrence as Vice Chairman for Education Activities, and Billy Ogle as Vice Chairman for Facilities Activities. I had hoped to have established the Board by now. I would like to turn over control to the Board as soon as possible and will help as much as my health will permit. Currently we have 15 members and $468.72 in our General Account including $100.00 designated to the Library and $65.72 dedicated to Park Operation and Maintenance. We have$303.00 un-obligated
To improve our credibility as a non profit we need to become a 501(3)c organization under IRS regulations.
We have delayed applying until we have the necessary governance in place. In the interim we can temporarily accept tax exempt contributions. The application fee is $300.00. If we should receive a large donation we can channel it through the County.
Mayor Jones recently indicated that $179,000 is left in the Federal Highway Administration Grant for use on the Memorial. The County is eligible for a $150,000 T21 Grant which will require 20 percent matching funds. Together this funding should be adequate for a first class Memorial. TDOT has authorized the County to use available funds for the Memorial up to the point of beginning construction. All the necessary funding must be in place before construction can begin. Everyone agreed that we should develop a Request For Proposal(RFP) and take bids to hire an Architect-Engineer to design and manage construction of the Memorial as soon as possible. I suggested a three phase approach: Phase One would allow the Principals to decide on the location and basic design of the Memorial with reliable project cost estimates, Phase Two would complete the detailed design and support coordination of obtaining the necessary approvals and the taking and evaluating construction bids, and Phase Three would be managing construction of the Memorial. I have volunteered to help in any way I can. Mayor Jones indicated that he has been invited to appear before the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council in October to seek their financial support.
The 1998 TVA Easement that created the Park placed the primary responsibility for developing and operating the Park on the non profit Friends of the Cherokee with County Support. As the project has evolved and the inability to sustain the non profit organization over the intervening years requires redefining the role of the non profit organization. I have defined the Mission of the current non profit Friends of the Cherokee as clearly in a supporting role to the County. I have developed a draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Friends and County which undertakes to define our working relationship. It recognizes the Visitor Center’s dual role as a community center as well as it’s Memorial related functions and provides for the Friends to take on defined responsibilities with County approval. The Mayor has indicated a willingness to enter into such an understanding and I will continue pursue it with him. There had been some feeling that there was no need for a Friends organization. It will be up to us to demonstrate our value and it is important that we have some accomplishments.
Mayor Jones is currently facing re-election in August which could result in a change of Administrations. We have been very fortunate for the Mayors personal commitment to developing the Park including the Memorial. There has been some indications that a new Administration may not be as supportive and we may need to take-on justifying the continuing development and operation of the Park.
We applied for and received a $1,000.00 Volunteer Energy Cooperative(VEC) grant for Park Maintenance which was used to purchase 200 bales of pine straw and other supplies. We are grateful to the Park Staff for their good work in spreading the pine straw and caring for the landscape. We have a balance of $65.72 in this account which will be used for Park Operation an Maintenance.
The Daughters of the American Revolution(DAR) has made several significant contributions to the Park for the planned Genealogy Library in the Visitor Center. I think it is time to make some progress on the Library and have submitted a draft Library proposal to the Advisory Board that attempts to define the scope of the Library for current circumstances and what is needed to get started. Peggy Hall has agreed to coordinate further development of the proposal for submission to the County. If you have suggestions get in touch with Peggy at 423 775 1654.
Rick Houlk of Blue Moon Cruses sent me some intreptive material for use in the Wildlife Viewing Shelter which I have incorporated into three posters for the display case. One is an 11 by 14 color Wildlife Refuge Poster featuring bird photographs. The other two are B&W 11 by 17 Posters featuring Hiwassee Island and the life of Sam Huston. I also prepared drafts of three B&W11 by 17 posters for use in the Visitor Center featuring: Fort Cass, 1835 Census Data, and the Self Removal Detachments.
At the last meeting we discussed the need to develop an Interpretive Plan for the Visitor Center taking into account the very limited space available. We discussed the use of video presentations. It was suggested that now would be a good time to apply for a VEC grant for the necessary equipment which was submitted to VEC the following day. A $750.00 grant was approved. The plan is to mount a 37 to 40 inch flat screen TV on a stand with casters so it can be used any place in the Center in support of various programs. I have asked Ken Dubke to coordinate preparation of a Visitor Center Interpretive Plan so we can begin to seek support for its implementation. If you have thoughts on the subject get in touch with Ken at 423 886 7118.
Shirley Lawrence and the Mayor Jones are exploring arrangements for a Native American Fund Raiser for this Fall.
Shirley Lawrence and Shirley Hoskins will have a booth at Red Clay Days August 7 & 8 to promote the Park and will offer to lookup Miller Role Application Numbers for those interested in tracing their Cherokee Ancestry.
We need Members willing to take on some responsibility, or helping, in developing programs or activates that we hope to be capable of performing now or in the future as our organization evolves. Several potential areas are suggested in the Options Paper under the ORGANIZATION link in our web site CherokeeRemoval.org. If you have friends that would support our Mission invite them to become a Member.
MEETING NOTES - APRIL 11, 2010 MEETING NOTES - MARCH 14, 2010 ORGANIZATION MEETING - NOTES FEBRUARY 7, 2010 SOME ORGANIZATION CONSIDERATIONS SUGGESTED MANAGEMENT STRUCTURE LINK TO SUGGESTED BYLAWS
LINK TO OPTIONS PAPER LINK TO ORIGINAL ROLE OF FRIENDS AND COUNTY
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