Treasurer’s Report-September 2009
It is that time again to write the article for the Tribal
newsletter. I’ve had a very busy schedule since the
July report. We have a lot of business going on here
at the Tribal complex. Listed below are some of those
activities:
Finance department-We advertised/interviewed for a
Finance Controller. We had many outstanding applicants
and from those we selected Acting Controller
Belinda Collins. Belinda has been with the Tribe for
approximately 4 years. She has served as the Assistant
Controller for over a year. You may ask why
did we advertise and then select someone in house.
After all those interviews she proved to be the most
outstanding applicant with not only accounting expertise
but is also a good manager of people, schedules
and work. She is also the type that will work until the
job is done without been asked. We need that type
of person to work in that capacity. We also know her
work ethic is outstanding. We are currently advertising
for a Budget Analyst/Staff Account I person and an
Assistant Controller. Please check the AST website
for more information. We have been working hard
on the 2008 audit and expect that will be completed
within a few weeks- months ahead of time. Good
work Finance department in working with the auditors.
We’ll have more on the audit in the next newsletter.
The EC also interviewed several applicants for the position
of Self-Governance Director and selected Sheila
Harjo. Sheila brings many years of tribal government
experience to the tribe. She was the Budget Analyst
for the Tribe until her new position. You may recall
Lesa Byford was in that position until she resigned.
We wish Lesa well and thank her for her outstanding
work with the Tribe. We’ll be sharing more about the
Self-governance department in the next newsletter.
Please welcome Sheila aboard.
The Tribe’s AllNations Bank recently underwent a
change of personnel. Our new Presidents of the Bank
are: Mr. Bob Billy and Mr. Gene Davis. Gene Davis
is also our chairman of the board. With both of these
individuals in place we hope to share a new business plan for the Tribe in the near future which will help
our bank to grow to a $45 million bank in the next few
years. You may recall some of the 2005-2007 AST
administration halted the bank branch from opening
on the AST Tribal complex. The same administration
members also tried selling the bank well under the
fair market value. Thankfully, others in that administration
put a stop to that sale and we kept the bank.
Since that time the bank has not grown in the manner
it could have had the original business plan been followed.
For the first time in a long time I really feel we
have the right people working for the AST bank to get
it going in the right direction.