Did you know that there are great opportunities to share your talents and maybe even develop some new ones by helping out in a service position on our Federation Council?  That’s right - each one of the twelve or more key service positions is recruited for in the winter and spring for the coming year.

Every leader who now sits on the Council either volunteered or was asked by someone to help.  It usually is someone who has been in the program for a year or two, but there is no minimum level of experience.  All it takes is someone to be nominated or to come forward himself and ask.  Experienced members will remain on the Council and will be happy to assist you in learning your new position.  

Each position has it’s own responsibilities to help ensure that the year’s experience is the best it can possibly be for each Y-Indian Parent and Child.  Everybody pitches in and helps and the jobs are pretty easy.  New Council members are important so fresh ideas and improvement can be made to the program.

We are now forming our new Federation Council and beginning plans for next year.  Each year we open up the positions for new people.  Many times someone continues doing the same job.  If someone is not continuing, then that position is open.

The positions and general responsibilities are:

Federation Chief
The program leader, creates the agenda for and runs the Council and Longhouse Meetings, delegates duties to other Council members and maintains a consistent, two-way open line of communication with each Council member and the Indian Agent. Approves emails sent to the Chiefs and Membership at large.

Sachem
Also known as the Assistant Federation Chief or the Federation Chief’s right-hand-man, ideally the next Federation Chief, but not always.  Assists in the running of meetings, takes on some other event and Council duties, stands in for the Chief in his absence.  Can approve emails sent to be the Chiefs and Membership at large.

Wampum Bearer
Basically the Federation Treasurer.  Keeps Council up to date on the Federation Budget, writes checks and reports to the Council on the status of their account.  He is responsible for ordering event patches, boats, Pinewood Derby Cars or other event paraphernalia.  Meets with Indian Agent to establish annual operating budget for the year.  

Sandpainter
The editor for the monthly newsletter known as The Smoke Signal.  Creates flyers for Federation events.  Calls roll at Federation Campfires and monthly Longhouse meetings, keeping track of Longhouse attendance.

Webspinner
Updates the Y-Indian website, working with the Sandpainter; posting information about upcoming events, the monthly Smoke Signal, and photographs submitted by Federation members.

Tallykeeper
Keeps a tally of the Tribal points for Tribes of the Month and Tribe of the Year.  Handles the acquisition and disbursement of Tribe of the Month beads.  Builds and maintains the database of Member email addresses.

Federation Elder
Typically the past Federation Chief, although it can be any experienced past Council Member.  Lends experience and assistance to Chief and Council at any level.  Can step in for any open council position.  Advises Program Director of any known needs of the council.  Maintains a consistent, two-way open line of communication with each Council member and the Indian Agent.

Tribal Organizer
A very important job for our Federation.  This person, or two, ensures that each recruitment event has a tribal sponsor, supplies and is set up to succeed.  Once the Fall recruitment is done, he ensures that new members get assigned to tribes, new tribes get assigned to a Meshenewa (the people who help new tribes to get stated) and not a single new recruit gets lost in the shuffle.  Responsible for conducting Meshenewas Training.  Job is mostly done by November at Fall Camp.  Helps Indian Agent place new enrollees throughout the year.

Medicine Man
Helps the Council and the YMCA to ensure that the program and everything about it upholds the program purpose, goals and the YMCA Mission.  He is a jack-of-all-trades and can assist any Council Position.

Property Keeper
Helps the Federation ensure that supplies remain in stock through the year.  Also ensures that each member get their supplies in a timely manner.  Works closely with YMCA staff.

Firestarter
This position is responsible for supplying, building and starting the fire at all major Federation events that have a campfire.  Ensures safety around Campfire. An important job where timing is everything!

Indian Agent
The paid YMCA staff representative assigned to ensuring that the program succeeds and that each member has a lifelong relationship fostering experience with their parent or child.  Has ultimate say in budget matters and YMCA policies and procedures.  Also known at the Program Director. 

Nation Chiefs
There is one Nation Chief for each Nation within the Federation.  Each one is responsible for between five to eight tribes each encompassing about 100 members.  This position ensures that all Nation events and Nation sponsored Federation events are successful.  Recruits volunteers from within his Nation’s tribes and delegates responsibilities to assist in those events.  Keeps tabs on each tribe within his Nation.  Runs a brief “Nation Meeting” at end of each Longhouse Meeting to disseminate information.

Assistant Nation Chief
Serves as the Nation Chief’s right-hand-man and assists Nation Chief in all of his duties.  Often, a Nation Chief in training.

Tribal Chiefs
Responsible for attending Longhouse meetings and taking the info back to their tribes.  Addresses tribal needs and communicates between tribe and YMCA. Organizes and runs individual tribes.  Brings ideas, crafts and outing reports back to Longhouse.  Submits points forms for “Tribe of the Month”.  Each tribe has an Assistant Tribe Chief to assist Chief or attend Longhouse in the Chief's absence.

Each on of these positions contributes to the success of your experience in the Y-Indian Programs.  Without them, the program would suffer.  This is a program where every member is asked to help in some way or another during the course of the year. 

If you would like to find out more about how you might be able to help on the Council in any one of these roles in the future, please ask the current Council Members or John Strickland at the YMCA.  There are many positions still available and the Council needs to be final for the Fall by the end of April.

AHO!