Present were:
Jack N. Richards, Commissioner Seattle Indian Center
Lillian Chappell, Commissioner American Indian Women’s Service League
Constance Griffin, Commissioner American Indian Women’s Service League
Terry Danysh, Commissioner Seattle Indian Health Board
Rosalee Walz, Commissioner Seattle Indian Health Board
Michael Marshall, Executive Director Seattle Indian Services Commission (SISC)
Absent:
Marty Bluewater, Commissioner United Indians of All Tribes Foundation (UIATF)
Carl Elliott, Commissioner Seattle Indian Center
Augustine McCaffery, Commissioner United Indians of All Tribes Foundation
Public: Seattle Indian Center-staff
JoAnn Cowan City of Seattle - Staff
Victorine Joyner Seattle Indian Center-staff
Carol Peloza SISC Staff
AGENDA ITEMS:
1. Approval of Minutes – The minutes of the February 20th, 2001 SISC Board meeting were discussed. Ms. Chappell requested a motion be made to approve the minutes as submitted. The motion was so moved by Mr. Danysh and seconded by Mr. Richards, the motion carried.
2. Executive Director’s Report – Mr. Marshall presented his report to the Board.
Financial Reports – Mr. Marshall asked if there were any questions on the financial reports? Mr. Danysh asked if everything else was pretty much consistent. Mr. Marshall explained everything was except long term maintenance. Mr. Marshall also reported that the Pearl Warren Building is ahead of budget on community space rental. Ms. Chappell requested a motion to approve the financial reports. The motion was so moved by Mr. Danysh and seconded by Ms. Walz, the motion carried.
Traditions & Beyond – Mr. Marshall explained the financial figures on the shop. The month of February was $1,800 under the same period last year. For the year to date the shop is $5,349 under budget on the income side. Mr. Marshall requested the spreadsheet comparing the year’s sales from 1993 to 2001. Ms. Peloza left the meeting to make copies of the sheet; the Board went on to Scholarships while waiting for the spreadsheet.
Scholarship Request – There were four scholarship requests. Ms. Chappell and Mr. Richards of the Scholarship Committee reviewed the scholarships prior to the meeting and Mr. Richards made the following recommendations: Mr. Candies Wheeler and Ms. Anna Bradley did not have all the documentation required for scholarship review. Ms. Ronnette Bailey did not list an amount on her request, based on her receipts the Scholarship Committee recommended approval of $750.00, Ms. Joyce Williams for $637.99 and that Mr. Wheeler and Ms. Bradley’s requests be held in abeyance until the prior documentation is received. Ms. Chappell requested that they be so informed. Mr. Danysh asked what action we were waiting for? Mr. Marshall responded a motion. Mr. Richards so moved, seconded by Ms. Griffin, the motion carried.
Traditions & Beyond – The spreadsheet comparison was explained the spreadsheet shows our best and worst years. Mr. Marshall requested that the Board wait until the end of the fiscal year to make any required changes during the upcoming budget process.
The changes in inventory were explained, the shop is getting away from “tacky tourist items”, like the plastic $3 totem poles. The shop did a high volume in these types of items. A majority of items in the shop are now Indian made. Mr. Richards asked if there were any indications either way up or down on sales since this occurred. Mr. Marshall explained it was to early to tell.
Ms. Chappell asked about our excess soapstone. Ms. Peloza explained what has been happening with the shop. Ms. Abada, Mr. Rock and Ms. Peloza have slowly been cleaning the shop and rearranging the items, so it doesn’t look like we have 500 pieces of soapstone in one case.
Ms. Chappell asked about the grungy rug? Ms. Peloza asked, which rug? Mr. Chappell stated the white rug. Ms. Peloza explained that both employees of the shop do not drive to work and that arrangements would have to be made to take the rug to the cleaners as both employees are on the bus and are unable to carry it. Ms. Chappell asked if we had two rugs? Ms. Peloza asked if she was talking about the main rug or the Navajo rug? Ms. Chappell stated the Navajo rug. Ms. Peloza stated that they had been told twice to have the Navajo rug cleaned.
Mr. Richards asked for clarification on how many employees we have at the shop. Ms. Peloza explained that Ms. McKinney worked five days a week and that Ms. Abada worked Saturdays. Mr. Richards asked if they had any expertise to do what I had described I had been doing and why was I doing it if we are paying someone. Ms. Peloza explained that Ms. McKinney could not do what we were doing, as it was impossible to clean and sell at the same time. Ms. Peloza explained that on one case alone it took the whole day to take items out, clean the case, clean the items and rearrange them. Ms. Peloza explained that what we are doing shouldn’t be done while the shop is open.
Mr. Danysh stated that based on what he was hearing that the Board should continue to monitor the shop on a monthly basis and start talking if not next month, the specific elements of a business plan or what to do with the shop by the end of June. Ms. Peloza stated that the Board should have a clearer picture of what is going on with the shop by then as we would be a couple of weeks into our tourist season. Ms. Peloza also stated that the sales are down this month due to the earthquake and people not feeling comfortable in shopping in Pioneer Square as it had fallen down on its ear during the quake and a lot of people are not shopping in Pioneer Square.
Ms. Chappell asked about advertising? Ms. Peloza explained that we are in the Pioneer Square Tour Map, the Quick-guide and the Seattle Visitor Guide. Mr. Richards asked if the tours were still being conducted. Mr. Peloza stated they were not and that was part of the problem. Ms. Chappell asked if that was going to be resurrected? Ms. Cowan explained what would be happening with the underground tour.
IWASIL – Ricky Belmont requested assistance for the sponsorship of Trophies for his upcoming Basketball tournament April 27-29th, 2001. Ms. Peloza had requested clarification from Ms. Belmont on the difference of trophy amounts between the boys and girls and who else is assisting him. The Board requested that clarification on what he is requesting and who else is assisting him be presented before they take action.

State Audit – Mr. Marshall explained that the State Audit has been completed and the exit conference had been conducted. Ms. Walz had attended the exit conference and Mr. Marshall requested that Ms. Walz comment on the conference.
Ms. Walz explained that there had been three individuals from the State Auditors Office and three individuals from the Commission. It was a pretty clean audit and they were complimentary of the audit trail that Ms. Peloza had provided for the store. They had no findings but they did have some management letter items concerning the shop. The management letter items pertained to daily deposits and the Z tapes not being consecutive. Mr. Marshall had reset the cash register and the Z tapes are no longer a problem. Deposits are being made daily so that is no longer a problem, we are back on track. It was a really good discussion about our records and record keeping and our responsiveness to their questions and concerns. The discussion was informing and it also made her appreciate more the work of the staff and the due diligence that is necessary when you are running a business with cash. There were no recommendations; they did bring up a previous conversation regarding the state conducting the yearly audit. Mr. Marshall explained the status of the conversation and that the state conducts their audit every two years and when that happens we are in the position of paying for two auditors, State and Commission auditor. The Board had a discussion regarding the pros and cons of using the State Auditors on a yearly basis. Mr. Marshall explained the difference between the audit the State conducts and what our Auditor looks for.
Economic Interest Statements – The statements are due into the City by April 13th. Statements are needed from Ms. McCaffery and Mr. Elliott.
Annual Report – Mr. Marshall informed the Board that the report to the City will be submitted and a copy of the report will be made available at the April meeting.
Elections – Mr. Marshall informed the Board that they need to conduct elections. The consensus of the Board was to conduct the elections in April.
3. Board Retreat - Ms. Chappell asked the status of the Retreat. Ms. Peloza stated that no response has been received. The Board stated that due to the crisis in the Kauffman family that they would postpone action on the Board retreat until it was more convenient for the Kauffman family.
4. New Business – Ms. Peloza informed the Board that Ms. Rita Bubak had passed away last Friday and that a dinner would be held at DayBreak Star on March 23 followed with a rosary, services will be conducted March 24th.
5. Old Business – There being no old business Ms. Chappell requested a motion to adjourn. Mr. Danysh so moved, seconded by Mr. Richards, motion carried. The regularly scheduled Board meeting of the Seattle Indian Services Commission was adjourned at 6:02pm.
Respectfully submitted: Carol Peloza, Assistant Director