The Institute For Alaska Native Leadership

Optimizing Leadership & Governance Expertise

The Tribal Council Guidebook Series

Tribal Council Guidebook Series

$149.99

For orders outside the US, please contact the author.

Three practical guidebooks to enhance the governance expertise and leadership competence of elected Tribal officials

Category:

Description

The most effective and successful Tribal governments are led by Council Members dedicated to putting aside self-interests, family, and community conflict for a greater cause – their Tribes mission. These guidebooks have been created to enhance the governance expertise and leadership competence of elected Tribal officials.

They are written exclusively for American Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Council Members based on Dr. Harvey A. Meier’s more than 47 years of experience working intimately as an advisor and confidant to boards of directors, Tribal Councils, CEOs, Tribal Administrators (TAs), and business leaders to achieve ultimate governance success. In addition to facilitating his Tribal Council Member Training Course, attended annually by over 60 Council Members, he travels to Tribal communities, facilitates Council Member trainings and shows Tribal Officials how to deliver wisdom and leadership in governing their Tribal governments.

The three guidebooks cover these topics and many more:

  • What your roles and responsibilities are as a Tribal Council Member
  • How to use Robert’s Rules of Order to keep meetings in order
  • How to understand finances and financial statements — so you know if your money is safe and is being managed properly
  • What the responsibilities and accountabilities are of your Tribe’s Executive Management

Learn to be well prepared to effectively perform your oversight and governance responsibilities:

  • Enhance your Council Member skills and leadership ability
  • Improve communications in the Council Room
  • Strengthen the Council & Tribal Administrator/Executive Management  partnership
  • Plan for the future

Book 1 Contents

Guidebook #1 – Tribal Governance Best Practices

INTRODUCTION
v
ABOUT THIS GUIDEBOOK
vii
WHAT IS AN AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBE OR AN ALASKA NATIVE TRIBE?
ix
TRIBAL GOVERNANCE
1
Preamble Tribal Governing Documents
1
Section 1 Qualification and Expectations of a Tribal Official
1
Section 2 Principles
2
Section 3 Tribal Council Member Responsibilities
4
Section 4 Council Tasks and Accountabilities
5
Section 5 Criteria for Separating Council and Executive Management Decisions
6
Section 6 The Council and Executive Management Decision-Making Boundaries
8
    (a) Council Decisions
8
    (b) CEO/TA, Executive Director Decisions
9
    (c) Shared Decision Areas (Council and Executive Management)
10
    (d) Council Chair as CEO
10
Section 7 Why Tribal Councils Succeed
11
Section 8 The Council as a Partner
11
Section 9 Executive Management as a Partner
12
Section 10 Ten Questions that Matter
12
Section 11 The Council/Executive Partnership: Four Critical Questions
13
Section 12 Legal Responsibilities of Council Members
13
    (a) Duty of Loyalty
14
    (b) Duty of Care
14
    (c) Duty of Obedience
15
    (d) Duty of Confidentiality
15
Section 13 The Business Judgment Rule
16
Section 14 Council Member Ethical Responsibilities
18
    (a) Warning Signs
19
    (b) When in Doubt, Council Members Should Ask
19
Section 15 Removal of a Council Member
19
Section 16 Officer Indemnification
20
Section 17 Council Member Risk Management Responsibilities
20
    (a) Property Insurance
21
    (b) General Liability Insurance
21
    (c) Employment Practices Insurance
21
    (d) Crime Insurance
22
    (e) Fiduciary Liability Insurance
22
SPECIAL GOVERNANCE CONSIDERATIONS
23
Section 1 Tribal Council Committees and Charters
23
    (a) Finance/Audit Committee
24
    (b) Enterprise or Business Development Committee
24
    (c) Elections Committee
25
    (d) Community-Related Committee
25
    (e) Enrollment Committee
25
    (f) Cultural or Traditional Committee
26
Section 2 Bylaw Amendments
26
Section 3 Council Meeting Minutes
26
Section 4 New Tribal Council Member Orientation
29
Section 5 The Tribal Council Policy Manual
33
Section 6 Conflict Resolution in the Council Chambers
35
Section 7 Council Member Communication Styles
37
Section 8 Evaluating Executive Performance
39
Section 9 The Executive Manager Selection Process
41
Section 10 CEO/TA/Executive Director, Senior, and Staff Compensation
43
Section 11 The Tribal Strategic Planning Process
45
APPENDICES
Sample Tribal Council Member’s Pledge
50
Sample Tribal Council Member Code of Conduct and Confidentiality
52
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
55

Book 2 Contents

Guidebook #2 – Robert’s Rules of Order Made Easy

INTRODUCTION
iii
ABOUT THIS GUIDEBOOK
v
WHAT IS AN AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBE OR AN ALASKA NATIVE TRIBE?
vii
ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER
1
Section 1 Tribal Council Meeting
1
    (a) Example Tribal Council Meeting Agenda
1
    (b) Minutes of Council Meetings
2
    (c) The Executive and Closed Council Session 3
Section 2 General Council Meetings
4
Section 3 Tribal Member Communications
6
Section 4 Using Robert’s Rules of Order (RRO) to Conduct
Tribal and General Council Meetings
7
    (a) What is Parliamentary Procedure?
7
    (b) Principles of Parliamentary Procedure
8
    (c) Quorum of Members
8
    (d) Characteristics of an Ideal Chair
10
    (e) When is it proper for the Chair to Enter into Debate/Discussion or Vote?
10
Section 5 Voting Practices for Those Eligible to Vote
10
    (a) Quorum
10
    (b) Majority
11
    (c) Abstention Votes – Do They Count?
11
Section 6 General Guidelines for Using RRO
12
    (a) Motions
12
    (b) Improper Phrases
12
    (c) Point-of-Order
13
    (d) Obtaining the Floor
13
    (e) Asking to Speak a Motion
13
    (f) Speaking More than Once
13
    (g) Relevancy of Discussion
14
    (h) Decorum in Discussion
14
    (i) Conduct During Discussion
14
Section 7 The Seven Fundamental Motions Used During
Tribal Council Meetings
15
    (a) The Steps in Making a Motion
15
    (b) How to Present a Motion
15
    (c) The Seven Fundamental Motions
16
    (1) To State the Motion
16
    (2) To Table the Motion
16
    (3) To Stop Discussion and Vote
16
    (4) To Refer the Issue/Matter to a Committee
17
    (5) To Amend the Motion
17
    (6) To Amend the Amendment 18
    (7) To Adjourn the Meeting
18
Appendix A Chart Illustrating Seven Fundamental Motions
19
About the Authors
21

Book 3 Contents

Guidebook #3 – Tribal Financial Management

INTRODUCTION
ii
ABOUT THIS GUIDEBOOK
iv
WHAT IS AN AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBE OR AN ALASKA NATIVE TRIBE?
v
TRIBAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
1
Preamble
1
Section 1 Non-Profit Status
3
Section 2 General Funds
4
    a. Tribal Fund
4
    b. Indirect Cost Fund
4
Section 3 Enterprise or Proprietary Funds
5
Section 4 Grant Funds
6
Section 5 Budgets
7
Section 6 Reports Utilized by Tribes
7
Section 7 Balance Sheet or Statement of Net Position
7
Section 8 Grant Receivable/Deferred Revenue
8
Section 9 Income Statement or Statement of Revenue,
Expenditures, and Changes in Fund Balance
10
    a. Statement of Revenue & Expenses by Fund/Class
10
    b. Statement of Revenue & Expenses – Budget vs. Actual
10
Section 10 Audits
11
    a. Financial Statement as a Whole
11
        1. A Clean or Unmodified Opinion
12
        2. A Modified Opinion
12
        3. Adverse Opinion
12
        4. Disclaimer of Opinion
12
    b. The Single Audit
13
Section 11 Summary
13
EXHIBITS 1 – 7
15
ABOUT THE AUTHORS
23