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From: LONGTIME VOTER (Hoping, too)
Date: 3/22/2006
Time: 12:46:09 PM
Remote Name: 207.200.116.196
I can see where the Ray of Hope is coming from and Hope is surlely needed....A call to the tribal membership office gave the news one hopes not to hear. It is no one's imagination that we have to have the new membership card signed by Chief Gray to vote. The Osage Tribal Council has given the Reform Commission the go- ahead to run the election and so it does with the blessing of the council. All voting requirements in past and information in Govt Reform mailout {"dates to remember"} state the CDIB card or membership card sufficient for the upcoming elections.... Included in the DATES TO REMEMBER is THE JUNE 5TH ELECTION AND IT STATES EITHER MEMBERSHIP CARD OR CDIB CARD IS ACCEPTABLE; however, THE RULES HAVE CHANGED..... BECAUSE of the NEW CONSTITUTION which states tribal MEMBERS may vote. All of us trusting members who voted last two times thought we WERE members. A PHONE CALL TODAY to the Osage Tribal Membership office resulted in the following information by a very nice, polite lady: Council and Reform commission are following the Constitution. It is in the Osage Constitution that Osage members are qualified to vote....therefore CDIB cards no longer are used to qualify for voting....only the new membership cards determine if you are a member.....of course, the l994 cards are invalid. The Osage Tribal Membership Office INFORMED the Reformation Committee that IT IMPORTANT THAT THE REFORM OFFICE GET THE WORD OUT TO THE VOTERS of this NEW, IMPORTANT CHANGE IN VOTER QUALIFICATIONS. Memberhip office said there is a big mailing going out to thousands of Osages... The Membership office said they had NO IDEA IF THE REFORM COMMISSION INCLUDED THIS VITAL INFORMATION in the mailing. Only the Tribal Officials and the Reform Commission have charge over the June vote...not the tribal membership office. Question was asked if the Membership Office was inundated with requests to get the new membership application and they said, "no, we are able to get the form mailed the same day." The application requires one to go back three or four generations with death dates, roll numbers, etc. but nice lady said if you have parents' information, they have the rest in the Office (other ancestors). Beat the rush, ask for applic and be aware, those wishing to run for office cannot run without new membership card and cutoff date for running is April 10th. . Texas and California have the biggest voting base and have most to lose. Could someone get the word to this membership base, please......Someone needs to give them the news.