GILA RIVER URBAN MEMBERS ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 17794

Phoenix, AZ 85011-0794
http://gilariveruma.org/

April 6th, 2016

Honorable Chairman Christopher Mendoza, and
Members of the Committee
Government & Management Standing Committee
Gila River Indian Community
P.O. Box 2138
Sacaton, Arizona 85147
Chairman Mendoza and Committee Members:
We respectfully request to be placed on the next Committee meeting agenda of Monday, April
11th, 2016 to present our Quarterly report for the Gila River Urban Members Association. Please
place under Reports on your agenda.
Thank you in advance for your time and attention regarding this matter.
Respectfully,

Anthony Newkirk, MBA

Chair, GRIC Urban Members Association
Board of Directors
Cc:

File
GRIC UMA Board of Directors

To continue the purpose of the Association which is to ensure that all rights, opportunities and services are
given to all enrolled members of the Gila River Indian Community, regardless of where they live.

Gila River Indian Community

Urban Members Association
1Q Report to GMSC
11 April, 2016

New Officers & Staff

Chairman Anthony Newkirk, MBA

Vice-Chair Kristine Nelson
Treasurer Sharon Newkirk
Secretary Felicia Jackson Kaufman
Member OPEN

Executive Admin Candice Nelson

Professional Hires
Accountant: Kristina Haskell
o Avalon Accounting, LLC

Attorney: Samantha Skenandore

o Skenandore Law, PLLC

Non-Profit Specialist: Pat Overton

o Chi-Los Consulting, Inc.

To Date
Property Transition
New Bylaws*
New Code of Conduct* Conflict of Interest
o In line with GRIC policies

New Priorities
Membership voted to include Active Duty Military
Facebook now active
Website update
Newsletter sign-up
Survey* to justify budget - Ongoing
* Documents Available Upon Request

Still Work To Do
Dissolve prior corporation
Set-up 501(c) 4 with IRS
Ensure all document are complimentary and in
compliance with State/Federal/Tribal Laws and
Resolutions
Software Aquisition

Priorities
Elders/Disabled/Veterans
Housing
o Short Term:
o Long Term:

Rent/Lease @ 100%
Continued Care Retirement Community

Education
Pre-K - 12
o Short Term:
o Long Term:

Private schooling / Montessori

Oodham/Pee-Posh Private Charter School

Services

Transportation Bus Passes, UBER, etc.

Gym Memberships
GRIN Delivery
Discount Verizon Service (voice/data)
Minor Home Repair Handyman Services
Utility Assistance - Occasional
Nutrition Assistance - Occasional
Emergency Assistance
School Clothing Allowance - Annual
Professional Resume writer
Criminal Record Clean-up
Other (as needed)

Activities

Monthly Meetings General/Elders/Executive(2)

Quarterly Elder Outings
Quarterly Youth Activities
Elder Convention Attendance
Youth Convention Attendance
Annual Graduation Celebration
Holiday Celebrations
Transportation to GRIC Events
Constitution Reform
Sporting Attendance (Suns, D-Backs, Cards)
Voter Registration
GRIC Engagements

Happy Days Again!!!

Constitution Election
Editorial

GRIC Urban Members Association (UMA) opposes the May election regarding the GRIC
Constitutional Amendments. It is our opinion that it is in the best interest of the People that the
proposed amendments should be voted on by the People in a separate Special Election and
not attached to a general election, as stated in the Constitution. The Special Election should be
held at a later date allowing for proper outreach regarding the amendments.

It is also our opinion that GRIC Constitution is being RE-WRITTEN and not amended. Currently
GRIC has a 1936 and a 1960 Constitution. If the current amendment process continues in this
direction there will also soon be 2016 and 2017 Constitutions as well. The U.S. Constitution has
been amended 27 times since 1789 and those amendments are attached to the original
document. In order to avoid confusion in referencing multiple constitutions, GRIC should follow
the same process.

Finally, why are we voting on amendments that pertain to matters of council first? The purpose
of the Constitution is to limit the powers of council and to protect the rights of the People. It is
also the foundation of our tribal sovereignty so it is extremely important that the People be
thoroughly and properly informed before they cast their votes. Council members took an oath
to promote, and protect the best interest of the Gila River Indian Community and by
extension its People. We believe that continuing with the current process would be a violation
of that oath.

Go to our website (gilariveruma.org) and/or Facebook (GRICUMA) for more information.

Anthony Newkirk, MBA

o

President, GRIC-UMA

Gila River Indian Community

Urban Members Association
Summary of comments regarding the
Constitutional Amendments presented to
the membership on March 19th, 2016

Quick Refresher on our U.S. Constitution

U.S. Constitution
7 Articles -1789

Bill of Rights First

10 Amendments to
the constitution.
1791

The remaining 17
Amendments were
passed individually.

The U.S. Constitution was always amended and not re-written.

GRIC Constitutions
1936

1960

2016

20??

THE 1960 REFERS TO THE 1936

2016 Re-Write Articles:

III Membership
VI Qualifications
VII Appointments
VIII - Tenure
IX Vacancies
X Elections
XV - Powers
Continuously rewriting the constitution will erase
history and will add more homework to those that
are expected to know our Constitution.

First things First

Although we voted to remove the Secretary of
Interior, we never amended the Constitution.
This should be the first amendment of our
constitution conducted as stated in the 1960
Constitution.

This is the current law of the land until Amended

and Ratified.

Unconstitutional to add to General Election

The Constitution is explicit about purpose of elections either for a Referendum, Initiative or
Amendment.

Oath of Office

Just Curious!
Why was the 20 year rule not removed?
Our first concern is procedural as presented and to
ensure we have a valid constitution.
A concern of UMA has always been Article III,
Section 3. Tribal Constitution Reform Project (TCRP)
stated:

Any Questions?