Mission Statement

To strengthen ties between people of American Indian heritage, to develop a tribal consciousness and sense of community by learning the lessons of our ancestors and teaching the children how to live in peace and harmony with Mother Earth.

Friday, August 27, 2010

UPCOMING AIC MEETING FOR SEPTEMBER

Our next meeting falls on the anniversary of the 9/11 devastation of the twin towers in NYC. We will have a potluck luncheon of traditional, healthy foods to commemorate this day. Plans will also be made for the upcoming TPRC Odessa Powwow at O.C. on Sept. 25-26.

If anyone would like help making regalia, call Granny Cheryl at 432.362.1359. Also, goodie boxes will be put together to send to Cody and our other soldier friends still serving in Iraq.



Newcomers and old timers are all welcome to attend this meeting:



DATE: Saturday, Sept. 11, 2010

TIME: 12:30 p.m. (Indian time)

PLACE: Unitarian Church,

401 E. 42nd St., Odessa, TX

Words in the Wind, Vol. 1 Issue 7

AIC CERT TEAM COMPLETES TRAINING PROGRAM

The new Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members include Billy Frazier, LVN, Team Leader, Vicky Frazier, Granny Cheryl Helmers, Jan Davis, Cheryl Crist, RN, MSN and John Paul Sanchez.
The four day training program finished with a graduation ceremony August 14, 2010. The new CERT Team will serve Andrews County to support and assist Fire Department and Emergency Services under the direction of Andrews County Emergency Management Coordinator, Mike Cook. The training included light search and rescue, triage of victims with medical emergencies, CPR and first aid, organized searches and documentation of findings to assist professionals.
We all look forward to future training inlight fire suppression and in depth CPR Training. Congratulations Team ~!

AUGUST HARVEST

A goodly amount of organic pumpkins have been grown in the communal garden on Crisarosa Ranch and are ready for harvest. We will have plenty on hand for pies and goodies for our traditional Thanksgiving Feast this year.

SECOND ANNUAL YARD SALE FUNDRAISER HELD

Sat., Aug. 21st, our second annual Back-to-School Yard Sale was held at the Lowe's Grocery store in Odessa on 42nd St. & Dixie from early morning til dark-thirty. Our thanks to the car lot across the street for allowing us to have items dropped off there, to Lowe's management for use of their "front porch" and to all who helped organize this event. We sold hamburgers and hotdog plates and lots of school clothes.
Enough money was made to cover expenses and fund several projects in the near future. An added benefit is the fact that we now have clean, organized boxes of good, used clothing and household goods to use for many of the charitable events before the holidays.
Last year we donated warm clothing to the homeless in Odessa, stuffed animals to children in the court system through CASA Volunteers, business clothes to the Women's Crisis Center, and much, much more. All in all, we had a succesful sale ~!
A GREAT BIG THANK YOU to all who worked to hard to make this happen. We look forward to doing it again, next year, too.

HUNTING PARTY FORMING ~!

We are looking into putting together a hunting party to supply our members with fresh deer and rabbit meat this winter. If you are interested, or can help in any way, contact: Billy Frazier 432.416.6197 or Cheryl Crist, 432.524.4678.

CLASSES:

BEADING CLASS -- we now have beautiful, handmade cedar beading looms for sale for only $l5.00. A class is forming in Andrews with a limit of 10 students. The fee is $39.00 which includes: loom, all beads, thread, needles, design notebook and supplies (for students to keep).

CPR CLASS -- Billy Frazier, LVN, CERT Team leader, will offer a CPR class in the near future. If interested, call Billy at 432.416.6197.

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

AUGUST UPDATES ~!!

First... the next scheduled meeting of AIC will be on Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Unitarian Church in Odessa, 400 block of East 42nd St. at 1:00 p.m. Discussion will be about the upcoming AIC Back to School Garage Sale / fund raiser (details below) Aug. 21st. We'll need lots of help for this. Donations are already pouring in from Monahans, Wink, Kermit and Andrews. They can be dropped off early at the Trading Post car lot, corner of Dixie and 42nd St.

Second... AIC is going to be on the air, Channel 7 noon news, KOSA-TV Aug. 19th, promoting the Garage Sale.

THIRDLY, and most important -- a don't miss it SALE ~! This all-day event will be in front of Lowe's market, 42nd st. and Dixie, Odessa. We urge all shoppers and supporters to come stock up on items for back-to-school, household items, and enjoy Navajo Tacos and get some goodie grab-bags for the kids.

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Current Doin's -- The Latest

'Minder -- next meeting:

Saturday, July 10, 2010 at 12:30 (maybe 1:00 pm) Indian Time, Unitarian Church, 401 East 42nd St. in Odessa



We are gathering canned meats & treats to send to our adopted soldier friends, Lcpl. Steven C. Haynes or Cody & Company, now serving in Iraq. We met Cody at the annual Show of Support Volunteer Appreciation Dinner, where he was an honored guest. After hearing stories of how hungry they get for meats & "junk foods" it was decided that AIC could help. We will continue to send regular packages for Cody to share with his friends.

If you'd like to donate (money for postage, goodies to include in packages, etc.) just contact either of the Cheryls below.



Community Emergency Response Team (CERT)

Announcement will be made (and possibly a guest speaker) for the first American Indian CERT Team in the Permian Basin, and the first CERT team ever in Andrews County. We have been approved by the Commissioners Court of Andrews to form this team.

Anyone interested in being an emergency volunteer, please come to the meeting to sign up (or, again, contact the Cheryls). Training will begin in August. There is no age or educational requirement. Everyone is welcome & can serve a vital role.


For more information:

Cheryl Crist, Executive Director (432) 524-4678

Granny Cheryl Helmers (432) 362-1359

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

DOIN'S THIS WEEK, July 1-4, 2010

We have a meeting in Andrews, Tx this Thursday, July 1, 2010 at 6:30 pm (Indian Time) at the Andrews Business & Tech Building 201 NW Avenue D. Videos will be shown about CERT Teams and what part they play in emergency management.

Also, we will be at the July 4th celebration (actually Saturday, July 3rd) at the City Lake Park in the middle of Andrews, TX. We will have a booth with Navajo Tacos for sale, children's Grab Bags full of surprises, and homemade crafts and jewelry for sale.

Join us for a day of celebration beside the lake. Fireworks will be set off at the ACE Arena in Andrews at 10:00 pm.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

AIC helping with Community Emergency Response Team

Monday June 14, 2010 I (Cheryl Crist, AIC leader in West Texas) went before the Commissioners Court of Andrews County (for the 2nd time) and they unanamously approved the formation of a Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) by AIC and under the jurisdiction of Andrews County. This will be the very first CERT Team in Andrews County. We are very excited. We will be working with Michael Cook, the Andrews County Emergency Manager. I just contacted Permian Basin Citizens Corps Council (of which I am also a member) and gave them a count of at least 10 members of our team who will be participating in a two day training program during the first part of August. Isn't that great?

Thursday, June 10, 2010


Words in the Wind
May 2010 Vol. 1, Issue 5


SAN ANGELO POW WOW
AIC has been invited to the First Annual RIO CONCHO INTERTRIBAL POWWOW in San Angelo, TX, June 19, 2010 at the Santa Angelo Paseo (Ave. D / Orient, across from Fort Concho Natl. Historic Landmark)

11:30 a.m. - Welcome
12:00 p.m. - Gourd Dancing
1:00 p.m. - Grand Entry, Introduction of Head Staff / Guests and Intertribal Dancing
4:30 p.m. - Entertainment / Supper Break for dancers
7:00 p.m. - Grand Entry / Intertribal Dancing
9:00 p.m. - Closing Songs

For Info: 523-657-7099 or email: to_robert_bass@yahoo.com
Website: http://www.sanangelolady.com/

There will be Native American crafts vendors and food booths.
All events are FREE to the public.

New Andrews Chapter of AIC

We wish to welcome all of the new members gathered at the Andrews, TX Business & Technology Center for the first meeting of the Andrews Chapter of AIC. Twelve members were present and plans were made to host the Odessa Chapter at the Charreada celebration in Andrews. We sold Navajo Tacos, children’s grab bags and handmade items. Despite the rain and wind, we had a good time and learned that we can work well together. Many thanks to all who helped and attended.

AIC IS GROWING ~!

We have chapters spreading throughout West Texas (and into eastern N.M.), all organized under the home chapter’s 501 C (3) non-profit status. If you’d like to join a chapter. If you’d like to join or form a chapter, contact Granny Cheryl at
(432) 362-1359.

Andrews Health Fair

AIC was invited to the Health Fair where we distributed information and discussed Indian health issues, nutrition and healthy lifestyles. County Judge Dolgener, who will be a great help in establishing the Indian Burial Ground on the ranch, attended.

Big Spring Powwow


We had a good turn-out at our booth at the 2010 Big Spring, TX powwow. We were graciously given an entire corner of the floor with two tables for our diabetes prevention, nutrition and general health information and Granny Cheryl’s Native American food display. The third table, joining us, was for Liz Adams from the Ector Co. Health Dept., offering even more information on Indian Health and Emergency Preparedness. Liz and AIC will be working closely on our own member Emergency Preparedness Plan.