An Open Letter from Assistant Chief Charles Locust

Dear UKB Tribal Members,

All United Keetoowah Band Tribal Memberscan be assured their Government continues tomove in the right direction. One example is by thefact in July 2008 we will have successfully completedthe last (5) fiscal year's tribal audits, whichwill place the Band in a positive position to applyfor the Department of Interior's Self GovernanceProgram. This is a first in history for the Band.

In the last 3 ½ years, the Band has witnessedannual funding double for Educational Scholarshipsand to the Human Services programs budgets.Another positive revenue generated programis the District Representative's Emergency AssistanceProgram. This program was developed formembers who sometimes fall through the cracksof the Federal Programs eligibility guidelines.One of the most important programs and the onethat we're most proud of, is the Elderly AssistanceProgram. This is for members fifty five andover. This assistance is given twice a year and ourmembers have stated this is a great benefit fromthe Band. These newly funded programs are allowingmore casino tribal support revenue to beput back into assistance for our tribal members,young and old.

These programs were developed by this Administrationand Tribal Council. All this was notavailable before and is now available due to theaccountability and integrity that has been implementedinto the tribe's daily operations. This activityis all documented though the AccountingDepartment and follows the UKB's Revenue AllocationPlan, which is recorded with the Departmentof Interior's Regional Office.

In another area, the Tribal Council, ElectionBoard and Enrollment Committees have workedvery hard in ensuring future elections are conductedwith as little interruption as possible. In the lastthree years they have studied and revised the ElectionOrdinance and Enrollment guidelines to makeit easier for our members to enroll and vote. Theyalso implemented a computerized voting system,which was used in the previous election and willbe used in the upcoming election as well. Thissystem has allowed faster returns. Based on the assessmentof the November 2006 election, the processproved to be a positive move for the Band.

These are just a few of the goals and objectivesthat the Administration stated 3 ½ years ago. TheAdministration wants to remind everyone of theseobjectives, and point out they were accomplishedahead of their original time schedules. This proveswe can have an efficient tribal government, if wehave experienced leaders who can strategicallyplan how to control daily operations which in turn,will direct our own tribal destiny.

We must consider along with these types of fastpaced changes, there has been enormous operationaland membership growth. In some situationsthis has caused some concerns to the Administrationand members, but through accurate and clearcommunication lines, these types of situations canbe properly addressed.

Overall, a great achievement was the fact everyonecould witness these changes through therevised organizational structure and financial balancethe Administration and Tribal Council haveimplemented into the UKB. This will make ourtribe and people stronger, because we are accountablewhile increasing services for our members.

Other areas of positive growth include the EconomicDevelopment Authority, Language, Historyand Culture Department, new Satellite offices,Scholarship increases, new and free languageclasses, annual wage increases to employees, anddevelopment of a new 401K plan. New constructionprojects include the Elder Community Center,and the upcoming Civil Defense Station, alongwith the Cultural Museum, which will all be a partof the UKB Tribal Complex, located on the tribe's80 acres.

One avenue which proved to be the greatest accomplishmentwas immediately taking control ofthe Gaming Facility. In the last three and one halfyears, by implementing positive Human Resourceand Internal Polices, Upgrades to Salaries, andImplementation of a 401k program, have provedto be positive management change. These changesimmediately increased tribal resources by 30 %in the second half of 2005 and have continued toproduce at an increased level since 2005.

One thing everyone should be asked to not toforget the negative financial position the Bandwas in, when this new Administration took overin January of 2005. At that time, the new Administrationentered an organization that was inchaos, and they had to struggle to regain controlof the tribal programs and finances. There werenot just issues with our finances, but most of thefederal and tribal programs were out of compliancetoo. The non-compliance was due to the lackof auditable financial and performance reportingrequirements. All this became stabilized and undercontrol, with the new Council and Administration.The Tribe is in the best financial position inits history.

As Assistant Chief, I wanted to take this opportunityto inform everyone, your tribal governmentcontinues to grow and move forward. This can beattributed to the current Administration and DistrictRepresentative's new operational philosophy.The next six months will be a very important andexciting time for the UKB, and with the continuedleadership and everyone's help and prayers, wecan all be assured it will produce additional positivebenefits. So remember, while utilizing the newprograms and receiving their benefits, assist us incontinuing in this new direction for the UKB.

If anyone has questions, please call us and/orcome and see us. Thank you for allowing me towork for you and to hold this important and honoredposition of Assistant Chief.

Thank You,
Charles Locust