At 8:30 a.m. registration and membership was conducted by Bob and Bev Deister. Members were given time to get reacquainted and have coffee, juice and donuts prior to the start of the meeting.
At 9:30 a.m. the meeting was called to order by Chief Kameran Zeigler. Members and guests moved outside to participate in a smudging ceremony conducted by Ken Vernoy and Jim Grinter. Ken then led the group in prayer to open the meeting.
Secretary Linda Graff read the 2010 minutes, and together with Becky and Lexi Taylor presented a PowerPoint review of last year's meeting. The presentation was fun and everyone enjoyed seeing highlights and a recap of last year's meeting.
Sharon Schmidt gave the Treasurer’s Report for the year with totals for the general and scholarship funds.
Sam Grinter discussed the ongoing problem of keeping the forum pages free from spam. Several suggestions were made for updating the tribe's website, including adding buttons for forum page links to t-shirt sales, reports and photos from members who attend pow wows and Native American events. It was noted that a links page had been added to the website with links to other interesting Lenape websites. Please contact Jim Grinter with suggestions for links to be added to the page. Jessica Weeks Smith, who coordinates the newsletter, suggested adding a page in which visitors who wish to receive our newsletter can submit their contact information.
Kansas Delaware t-shirts and crafts items were available for sale at the meeting. Proceeds from these sales raise money for the scholarship fund. T-shirts and craft items are also available for purchase on the tribe's website.
It was noted that the website has a tribute page for recognition of "winter count" members lost during previous years. No winter count members were added to the memorial page this year.
Lunch was served with several Native American dishes on the menu, as well as deli meat and cheese, veggie and fruit trays and several potluck dishes. Introductions were given by all members attending, along with their connection to the original Kansas Delaware.
Nominations were presented for Tribal Council and the following members were elected: Bob Deister, Linda Graff, Jim Grinter, Anne Heaton, Arlene Miccuci, Carolyn Rowe, Sharon Schmidt, Jessica Weeks Smith, Ken Vernoy, Kameran and Ron Zeigler.
The next annual meeting of the Kansas Delaware Indian Tribe was scheduled for Saturday, June 23th, 2012, at the Wyandotte County Museum.
A plan was adopted to better inform members of upcoming meetings and tribal information. This includes a mid-July postcard with next year's meeting schedule mailed to all active members, a September email reminder and a newsletter in March prior to next year's meeting.
Chief Kameran Zeigler suggested that yearly meetings include history and cultural presentations. For the 2012 meeting Jim Grinter, Ken Vernoy and Arlene Miccuci will coordinate and present an overall timeline highlighting history from first European contact to present-day Lenape. It was noted that current tribal history (meetings, minutes, photographs, etc.) needs to be preserved. Linda Graff suggested checking with the Wyandotte County Museum to see if they will store current historical information for the tribe.
Treasurer Sharon Schmidt will obtain a post office box for the tribe so that business communication can be funneled through one central location.
Scholarship availability was changed to two annual awards each year as funds permit. Bob Deister will check to see if scholarship funds can be transferred from the general account if needed.
Tribal bylaws will be reviewed and possibly updated during next year's council meeting.
The 2011 Kansas Delaware meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.