Board of Directors Meeting

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Today our Board of Directors met for our semi-annual meeting. We listened as the auditors presented their annual findings. The numbers seem to be in good order, and I compliment our staff for having a good sense of stewardship with the donations people send in.

Fr. Jack was new to our Board, and he told us afterwards that he was impressed by the quality of materials our staff uses to brief the Board on how our programs are doing. In addition to all that’s going on around campus, we also heard reports from the Mission Churches in Lower Brule and Crow Creek, as well as the ongoing Social Services work taking place on the Cheyenne River Reservation. We are involved in a lot of outreach.

I have a wonderful Board and feel lots of support from them, yet still these meetings are stressful. I have to make sure to make them aware of issues we struggle with – trying to work on retention and graduation rates, keeping our costs to raise a dollar down, providing quality health care for employees with spiraling medical costs . . .  but we have been blessed by many generous people who believe in our work and help keep it going. Once the meeting was finished, I felt a sense of relief, but also a recommitment to work on areas of programs, staffing and infrastructure that need improvement.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future. View all posts by St. Joseph's Indian School