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ARTICLE II

To include "group," an entity recognized by the Indian Claims Commission, the change should be to "by an Indian tribe, group or officially recognized community or village, band, or combination of tribes and bands, recognized by the U.S. Department of the Interior, the Indian Claims Commission or the Court of Claims." As provided in subpar. b, the Indian tribe, group, ect., must be tribally organized to qualify for membership in the NCAI.

Subpar. c. Change passage in 8th line to "annual dues payment shall be in such amount as may be agreed upon by officers of ANB and the Executive Council of NCAI on recommendation of the Treasurer of NCAI..." The payment of dues has been made a constitutional and by-laws matter, and it is believed any exception should have the approval of the Executive Council. Otherwise, the ANB and the ANS, or any other tribe so favored, could fall into the habit of tendering only such sum as they please and the Treasurer of NCAI perforce would have to accept it since purportly no more would be forthgoing. This would be a loose way of administration, which should not be sanctioned by the constitution. 

Subpar. f. Last clause of last sentence should be changed to "unless he is at least 16 years of age and shall pay the remainder of the full amount of dues." Generally, the lowest age recognized by the federal government for majority is 16 hears [[years]]. NCAI representation of Indian causes would not look too good if it were to become known that 7 hear [[year]] olds, 9 year old or 13 year olds voted on them at our conventions. Perhaps the time has come for the NCAI to think of establishing an organized and active juniorate in its membership, with purposes akin to those of the Boy Scouts and the Girl Scouts, to instill good citizenship and pride of race and to develop individual talents, self-reliance and resourcefulness. Conceivably, a well-thought out plan and program coulds receive enthusiastic support from the Ford Foundation and others under the NCAI Fund. 

Subpar. g and h. Perhaps harmless but what good will a "sustaining" and "contributing" membership mean to the member? Will these members become life members upon payment of sums aggregating $100? Public recognition should be given to the extra-contributors in the NCAI Bulletin and by reading an honor scroll of their names on the convention floor. Some organizations require membership aggregating 25 years before life memberships are awarded withour [[without]] further payment of dues. Giving life membership for $100 is to good business because the cost of the services to be rendered to the member may greatly increase within a few short years. We would recommend the elimination of these artificial memberships. 

Paschal Sherman