Date: March 4, 2016 Meeting: Graduation Meeting
Members: √ Abe Bitok xCathy Bahe x Patrick Sandoval √Phyllis Begay xPriscilla Weaver
√Ed McCombs √Louise Litzin xLorene Jim xDonavan Delmar xBrendee Lewis
√Ed Curtis xApryl Joe √Verlena Livingston √Davina Morris √Lavine Blackmountain √Stella Ben
√Dawayne Bahe √Foster Gorman √Lori Tapahonso xCuyler Frank xThomas Bennett xEugene Glasses √Samson White xArnold Hicks xAnjeanette Lang √Althea Kinlahcheeny
√Roberta John xDr. Ahumada √Lisa Eutsey xHenry Fowler √Sharon Begay √Warlance Foster
√Ashley Tso √Steve Lang
Absent:
Time Convened: 10:11 a.m.
Time Adjourned:
10:50 a.m.
Guests : Location: Student Development Office
Facilitator :
Tanason James, Valerie Chee, Amanda Begay, Benita Lopez, Delphine Spencer,
Latoyia Largo, Rosalind Russell, Shirley Yellowhair
Abraham Bitok & Dr. Henry Fowler (Co-Chairs) Recorder : Roberta John
Agenda Items
A.
Assignments
1.
Graduation Site
Actions
Emergency Called- Meeting
1.
Abe announced that some concerns were brought to his attention regarding the graduation being held in Chinle at the Wildcat Den. Some graduates are expressing their concerns and requesting to have the graduation be brought back to Tsaile. Cultural relevance to the students who are graduating this year are requesting to have the graduation move back to Tsaile. The Co-Chairs will meet and would like to discuss as a committee before any action takes place.
Question to why the committee voted to have the graduation in Chinle; concerns were expressed regarding the tent was small, not everyone could fit; the visibility was poor; was too cold.
We failed to reach out to the graduates to get their inputs; since the word reach out that graduation is in Chinle, graduates are expressing their concerns.
We need to keep in mind that it’s about the graduates, not about us. We were only making the effort to accommodate the students, parents concerns about the weather, etc.
A quote from Garcia’s Tent Rental is shared to the committee that if renting the same size tent from previous years; it would estimate $13,500. The bigger tent can be rented but the cost would be $18,000 however; the set up would an issue.
Option to set up in front of NHC however the parking islands are an issue
Committee

2.
National Anthem
3.
Emcee
4.
Disability Access
5.
Fireplace
6.
Announcing graduates names/clans
Need to get more bleachers perhaps from Hondah Casino to help with the visibility in the tent; look more into it.
Issues with ground level, dust, visibility, accessibility for wheelchairs
Have the graduation in the gymnasium; have the graduation here in Tsaile
Rodeo grounds another option given
Tend to go overboard on one complaint, one concern; the committee made a decision to have the graduation in Chinle; explain our reasons especially to the BOR; our main reason was the cost
BOR have any concerns?
Rumor has it that some graduates are not going to attend if graduation being held in Chinle; they will not show up.
Reminder to the committee that they cannot please everyone; in 2010 no one listen to the student’s concerns on graduation and graduation was held in Shiprock.
Proposed and invest in a site on campus to have graduation; part of moving forward
Abe will meet with Dr. Fowler for an update
Question to the committee: Do we keep the graduation in Chinle?
Some members expressed their opinions and favored to have the graduation to stay in
Chinle mainly to save cost and accommodate the ADA accessibilities.
Majority of the members favored to keep graduation in Chinle; voting from Monday,
February 29 th stands as is.
2.
Miss Dine College has confirmed to sing the National Anthem
3.
Abe informed the committee that he reached out to Dr. Miranda Haskie to be the Emcee and she agreed to do the task.
4.
Main concern is mobility; fighting for space as before; accessibility is an issue
5.
Absolutely no fire inside the building however consider to revisit with the CUSD’s Superintendent to request to have the fireplace outside of the Den. Possibility to have a cast iron pan that is portable and set outside near the entrance so the students can blessed themselves with it as they enter the building. Other option is to have a ceremony at the Chinle Center for the graduates before graduation or during rehearsal. Consult with Avery or Wilson. Reach out to Lisa and Henry as well.
6.
Dawayne announced that he is stepping down as the announcement of graduates’ names during the ceremony; opening the opportunity to another individual. Abe named off the names that were recommended by the committee to take over:
Abe
Latoyia
Abe
Lavine
Abe
Dawayne

7.
Aramark
8.
Others
Meeting Adjourned: 10:50 a.m.
Next Meeting:
Date: March 21, 2016
Time: 10:00 a.m.
Location: 3 rd Floor Conference Room
Lavine Blackmountain:
Roberta John: Declined
Cuyler Frank: Not in attendance
Ordell Joe: Not in attendance
Merle Charlie: No longer with College
Patrick Blackwater: Possibly with the administration
Winifred Jumbo-Tallsalt: Not in attendance however has accepted the task. Abe will confirmed with her.
7.
Southwest Food Service with CUSD will have their concessions open at the Den during graduation. Aramark will cater the student breakfast before graduation and CUSD will have us use the facility next door which the elementary school. The VIP Luncheon hosted by President’s
Office will be catered by Aramark as well; location to be determine.
8.
Navajo Nation TV 5 will be streamlining the graduation again this year. Lori will reach out to them to confirm.
Abe/Delphine/Brendee
Lori