# SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN ONEIDA TRIBAL SERVICES (SEOTS) ADVISORY (2020)

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URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aoneida_nation%3A87a5af96cd228b3d

## Record

- **Collection:** Tribal code
- **Document type:** Tribal code

## Text

SOUTHEASTERN WISCONSIN ONEIDA TRIBAL SERVICES (SEOTS) ADVISORY
BOARD BYLAWS
Article I. Authority
1-1. Name.
The name of this entity shall be the Southeastern Wisconsin Oneida Tribal
Services (SEOTS) Advisory Board and may be referred to interchangeably
as SEOTS or the Board.
1-2.

Establishment. The Board was established through resolution BC-4-4-94-A, which was
adopted by the Oneida Business Committee on April 4, 1994 pursuant to
the authority delegated it under Article IV, Section 1 of the Oneida Nation
Constitution.

1-3.

Authority.

(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)

The Board was established for purposes of providing advice and
constructive input to the Southeastern Wisconsin Oneida Tribal Services
(SEOTS) Director working in partnership to formulate social services
programs for the Oneida people residing in Southeastern Wisconsin by,
including, but not limited to:
Acting as an ambassador for the SEOTS program by promoting its mission
whenever possible;
Reviewing the SEOTS program’s budget;
Guiding and advising the SEOTS administration;
Adhering to the appropriate chain of command in any and all relative
communications with the Oneida Business Committee; and
Carrying out all other powers and/or duties delegated to SEOTS by the laws
and/or policies of the Nation.

1-4.

Office.

The official mailing address of the Board shall be:
Southeastern Wisconsin Oneida Tribal Services Advisory Board
c/o Southeastern Wisconsin Oneida Tribal Services
5233 W. Morgan Avenue
Milwaukee, WI 53220

1-5.

Membership.
(a)
Number of Members. The Board shall consist of seven (7) members who
shall serve three (3) year terms.
(b)
Appointment. Board members shall be appointed in accordance with the
Boards, Committees and Commissions law.
(1)
Each member shall hold office until his/her terms expires, he/she
resigns, or his/her appointment is terminated in accordance with the
Boards, Committees and Commissions law.
(A)
Term Expiration. Although a member’s term has expired, he
or she shall remain in office until a successor has been sworn
in by the Oneida Business Committee.
(B)
Resignation. A member may resign at any time verbally at a
meeting or by delivering written notice to the Oneida
Page 1 of 9

(c)

(d)

Business Committee Support Office and the Board Chairperson or Chairperson’s designee. The resignation is deemed
effective upon acceptance by motion of a Board member’s
verbal resignation or upon delivery of the written notices.
Vacancies. Vacancies on the Board shall be filled in accordance with the
Boards, Committees and Commissions law.
(1)
The Board Chairperson shall provide the Oneida Business
Committee recommendations on all applications for appointment by
the executive session in which the appointment is intended to be
made.
Qualifications of Members. Board members shall meet the following
qualifications:
(1)
Be an enrolled member of the Nation;
(2)
Be at least eighteen (18) years of age or over; and
(3)
Reside within one (1) of the following six (6) Southeastern
Wisconsin Counties: Milwaukee, Racine, Kenosha, Waukesha,
Ozaukee and Washington.

1-6.

Termination. A Board member may have his or her appointment terminated in accordance
with the Boards, Committees and Commissions law.
(a)
Upon majority vote of the members in attendance at a Board meeting of an
established quorum, the Board may, by formal motion and action, request
that the Oneida Business Committee terminate a member’s appointment for
one (1) or more of the following reasons:
(1)
Accumulating four (4) unexcused absences from regularly
scheduled meetings within a twelve (12) month period.
(A)
An absence shall be deemed unexcused if a member fails to
provide written notice of his or her pending absence to a
Board Officer at least thirty (30) minutes before the missed
meeting.
(2)
Failing to attend at least fifty percent (50%) of the regularly
scheduled meetings within a twelve (12) month period for any
reason.
(3)
Using alcohol while performing official responsibilities of the Board
or using illegal drugs at any time.
(4)
Violating these bylaws and/or any other laws of the Nation.
(5)
Receiving a felony conviction while serving on the Board.

1-7.

Trainings and Conferences. Board members shall be required to attend mandatory trainings
and/or conferences in the following areas:
(a)
Robert’s Rules of Order;
(b)
Oneida Language Classes; and/or
(c)
New Board Member Orientation by the SEOTS Director.
(d)
Regardless of the number of trainings/conferences that he or she is required
to attend, no member shall be eligible to receive stipends for attending more
than five (5) full days of mandatory trainings/conferences per year.
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Article II. Officers
2-1. Officers.

The Board shall consist of the following Officers: Chairperson, ViceChairperson and Secretary.

2-2.

Responsibilities of the Chairperson. The responsibilities, duties and limitations of the
Chairperson shall be as follows:
(a)
Call and preside over all meetings of the Board.
(b)
Vote only in case of a tie.
(c)
Sign all correspondence of the Board.
(d)
Submit quarterly reports to the Oneida Business Committee, as well as
annual and semi-annual reports to the Oneida General Tribal Council, in
accordance with the Boards, Committees and Commissions law; and attend
or designate a Board member to attend the Oneida Business Committee
meeting where SEOTS’ quarterly report appears on the agenda.
(e)
Assign sub-committees as necessary and maintain Board functions and
responsibilities.
(f)
Prepare and follow scheduled order of business.
(g)
Perform such other duties and functions from time-to-time as may be
requested by the Director of SEOTS, who is of management staff of the
Oneida Nation; as required by the Constitution of the Oneida Nation; per
the direction of the Oneida General Tribal Council; or as provided for by
the laws of the Nation.

2-3.

Responsibilities of the Vice-Chairperson. The responsibilities, duties and limitations of the
Vice-Chairperson shall be as follows:
(a)
Perform the Chairperson’s duties under section 2-2 of these bylaws, in the
absence or incapacity of the Chairperson.
(1)
In the case of termination of appointment, resignation or death of
the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson shall become the Chairperson for the remainder of the Chairperson’s term.
(b)
Notify the Oneida Business Committee Support Office of any Board
vacancies or planned vacancies in accordance with the Boards, Committees
and Commissions law.
(c)
Perform such other duties and functions from time-to-time as may be
requested by the Director of SEOTS, who is of management staff of the
Oneida Nation; as required by the Constitution of the Oneida Nation; per
the direction of the Oneida General Tribal Council; or as provided for by
the laws of the Nation.

2-4.

Responsibilities of the Secretary. The responsibilities, duties and limitations of the
Secretary shall be as follows:
(a)
Provide notice of meeting agendas, documents, and minutes to all Board
members, as well as the public, in accordance with these bylaws and the
Nation’s Open Records and Open Meetings law.
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(b)

(c)
(d)

(e)

(f)

Record and review the minutes of the Board’s meetings and submit recorded
minutes to the Oneida Business Committee Support Office in accordance
with these bylaws.
Maintain files for all minutes, reports and correspondence to and from the
Board in accordance with the Open Records and Open Meetings law.
Submit signed and completed A/P Check Request Forms, Minutes
Approved Signature Sheets, and Meeting Attendance Sheets to the
appropriate recipient.
In the event that both the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson positions
become vacant before the end of their terms, call Board meetings to fill the
vacancies and preside over those meetings for the sole purpose of
conducting an election of new Officers, at which point the Chairperson, or
Vice-Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson, shall preside.
Perform such other duties and functions from time-to-time as may be
requested by the Director of SEOTS, who is of management staff of the
Oneida Nation; as required by the Constitution of the Oneida Nation; per
the direction of the Oneida General Tribal Council; or as provided for by
the laws of the Nation.

2-5.

Selection of Officers. Officers of the Board shall serve one (1) year terms.
(a)
Any member of the Board may self-nominate or be nominated for the
offices of Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson or Secretary.
(b)
Elections of Officers shall take place at the first regular Board meeting of
an established quorum in March of each year by majority vote of the
members in attendance.
(c)
Board members may be dismissed from their Officer positions by majority
vote of the members in attendance at a Board meeting of an established
quorum.
(d)
Board members may hold only one (1) Officer position per Officer term.

2-6.

Budgetary Sign-Off Authority and Travel. The Board shall follow the Nation’s policies and
procedures regarding purchasing and sign-off authority.
(a)
Levels of budgetary sign-off authority for the Board shall be as set forth in
the manual titled, Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin Purchasing Policies
and Procedures, for Area Directors/Enterprise Directors.
(b)
All Board Officers have sign-off authority and (2) Officers shall be required
to sign-off on all budgetary requests, except as follows:
(1)
The Oneida Business Committee Support Office shall have sign-off
authority over requests for stipends, travel per diem and business
expense reimbursement.
(c)
Travel shall be approved by majority vote of the members in attendance at
a regular or emergency Board meeting of an established quorum.

2-7.

Personnel.

The Board shall not have authority to hire personnel for the benefit of the
Board.
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Article III. Meetings
3-1. Regular Meetings. The Board’s regular meetings shall be held on the 2nd Monday of each
month, beginning at 6:00 p.m., in the SEOTS building located in
Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
(a)
The meeting date, time and location may change from time-to-time as
determined by a majority vote of the members consisting of no less than a
Board quorum so long as notice is provided to all members in writing and,
along with the public, in accordance with the Open Records and Open
Meetings law, prior to implementation of the new date, time and/or location.
(b)
The annual meeting schedule shall be posted in the SEOTS office, on the
Nation’s website and in the Kalihwisaks.
(c)
The Secretary shall provide notice of meeting agendas, documents and
minutes to all Board members in writing and, along with the public, in
accordance with the Open Records and Open Meetings law.
3-2.

Emergency Meetings. Emergency meetings may convene as needed outside of regular
meeting times when time sensitive issues require immediate action.
(a)
Board Officers may call emergency meetings so long as they provide notice
to the entire Board via telephone call and in writing a minimum of twentyfour (24) hours prior to the beginning of the meeting.
(1)
Notice provided to members via email must be sent to the official
Oneida Nation email address that was provided to each member to
conduct business electronically on behalf of the Board.
(2)
Notice of emergency meetings shall further be provided to all
members, as well as the public, in accordance with the Open
Records and Open Meetings law.
(b)
Within seventy-two (72) hours after an emergency meeting, the Board shall
provide the Nation’s Secretary with notice of the emergency meeting, the
reason for the emergency meeting, and an explanation as to why the matter
could not wait until the next regular meeting.

3-3.

Joint Meetings. Joint meetings with the Oneida Business Committee shall be held on an as
needed basis per the approval of the Oneida Business Committee.
(a)
Notice of the joint meeting agenda, documents and minutes shall be
provided, and the joint meeting conducted, in accordance with resolution
BC-03-27-19-D titled, Oneida Business Committee Joint Meetings with
Boards, Committees and Commissions – Definitions and Impact, as may be
amended from time-to-time hereafter.

3-4.

Quorum.
(a)

A quorum shall consist of at least four (4) Board members, one of which
shall be the Chairperson or the Vice-Chairperson.
The Board shall not conduct any official action without the presence of a
quorum.
Page 5 of 9

(b)

In lieu of the Chairperson and Vice-Chairperson, the Secretary may
complete the quorum for meetings that are called pursuant to section 2-4(e)
of these bylaws.

3-5.

Order of Business. The order of business, as far as applicable, shall be as follows:
(a)
Call to Order
(b)
Adopt the Agenda
(c)
Approval of Minutes
(d)
Old Business
(e)
New Business
(f)
SEOTS Director’s Report (once a month)
(g)
Other Business
(h)
Executive Session
(i)
Adjournment

3-6.

Voting.

(a)
(b)

Decisions of the Board shall be based upon a majority vote of members in
attendance at a regular or emergency Board meeting of an established
quorum.
The Chairperson, or Board Officer presiding in lieu of the Chairperson, shall
not be allowed to vote unless a tie needs to be broken.
E-polls are allowed so long as conducted in accordance with the Boards,
Committees and Commissions law.
(1)
The Vice-Chairperson shall serve as the Chairperson’s designee for
the responsibility of conducting e-polls in the Chairperson’s absence
or discretion.

Article IV. Expectations
4-1. Behavior of Members. While acting on behalf of the Board, members are prohibited from:
(a)
Bullying;
(b)
Name calling;
(c)
Using excessive profanity; and/or
(d)
Engaging in other disrespectful behavior deemed inappropriate by the
Board.
(e)
Enforcement. A member who violates this or any other section of these
bylaws and/or any governing law of the Nation, may be subject to one or
more of the following:
(1)
If deemed violent or threatening during a Board meeting, dismissal
from the meeting by the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson.
(A)
If the unwanted behavior escalates after dismissal, the proper
authorities will be called.
(2)
By majority vote of the members present at a Board meeting of an
established quorum, the Board’s recommendation to the Oneida
Business Committee for the termination of his or her appointment.
(3)
Disciplinary action in accordance with any law of the Nation
governing sanctions and penalties for appointed officials.
Page 6 of 9

4-2.

Prohibition of Violence. Intentionally violent acts committed by a Board member that
inflict, attempt to inflict, or threaten to inflict emotional or bodily harm on
another person, or damage to property are strictly prohibited.

4-3.

Drug and Alcohol Use. Alcohol use while performing official responsibilities of the Board
or use of illegal drugs at any time by a Board member is prohibited.
(a)
Any member discovered to be under the influence of alcohol or an illegal
drug while attending a Board meeting or event will, along with any other
possible action under section 4-1, be dismissed by the Chairperson or ViceChairperson from that meeting/event.

4-4.

Social Media. Members shall comply with the Nation’s Social Media Policy, their oath of
office and the following when using social media on behalf or as a
representative of the Board.
(a)
Use of the SEOTS Advisory Board Facebook Page.
(1)
If a post by a Board member on any social media platform is made
and it is perceived in a negative or inappropriate way, that Board
member shall be counseled in the following meeting.
(2)
If a post is made by a community member and is perceived in a
negative or inappropriate way, one (1) of the three (3) administrators
will delete the comment or post. That community member will be
contacted by an administrator. If the conflict cannot be resolved, the
Board will decide how to proceed at the following Board meeting.

4-5.

Conflict of Interest. Board members shall comply with all laws and policies of the Nation
governing conflicts of interest.

Article V. Stipends and Compensation
5-1. Stipends.
Board members are eligible for the following stipends as set forth in and
subject to these bylaws; the Boards, Committees and Commissions law; and
resolution BC-05-08-19-B titled, Amending Resolution BC-09-26-18-D
Boards, Committees and Commissions Law Stipends, as may be further
amended from time-to-time hereafter:
(a)
One (1) meeting stipend per month, provided that:
(1)
A quorum was established;
(2)
The meeting of the established quorum lasted for a minimum of one
(1) hour; and
(3)
The member collecting the stipend was physically present for the
entire meeting of the established quorum.
(b)
A stipend for attending a Judiciary hearing if the member’s attendance was
required by official subpoena.
(c)
A stipend for attending a duly called joint meeting between the Board and
the Oneida Business Committee, provided that:
(1)
A quorum was established by the Board;
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(2)

(d)

5-2.

The joint meeting of the established quorum lasted for at least one
(1) hour; and
(3)
The member collecting the stipend was physically present for the
entire joint meeting.
A stipend for each day of attendance at a conference or training, provided
that:
(1)
The member attended a full day of training or was present at the
conference for a full day; and
(2)
The member’s attendance at the conference or training was
mandated by law, bylaws or resolution.

Compensation. Besides reimbursement for travel, per diem and business expenses
authorized by the Boards, Committees and Commissions law, members
shall not be entitled to any other form of compensation for duties/activities
performed on behalf of the Board.

Article VI. Records and Reporting
6-1. Agenda Items. Agendas shall be maintained in a consistent format furnished by the Oneida
Business Committee Support Office.
6-2.

Minutes.

(a)

Minutes shall be typed and in a consistent format designed by the Oneida
Business Committee Support Office to generate the most informative record
of the Board’s meetings.
Within thirty (30) days of Board approval, the Secretary shall submit the
minutes to the Oneida Business Committee Support Office for filing.

6-3.

Attachments. Handouts, reports, memoranda and the like shall be attached to the minutes
and agenda of the meeting in which they were presented to be maintained
in accordance with the Open Records and Open Meetings law.

6-4.

Oneida Business Committee Liaison. The Board shall regularly communicate with the
Oneida Business Committee member who is its designated liaison.
(a)
The frequency and method of communication shall be as agreed upon by
the Board and liaison, but no less than that required in any law or policy on
reporting developed by the Oneida Business Committee or Oneida General
Tribal Council.
(b)
The purpose of the liaison relationship is to uphold the ability of the liaison
to act as support to the Board.

6-5.

Audio Recordings. All meetings of the Board shall be audio recorded using a device
approved and/or furnished by the Oneida Business Committee Support
Office.
(a)
Audio recordings shall be maintained on the network in accordance with the
Open Records and Open Meetings law.
Page 8 of 9

(1)

Exception. Audio recordings of executive session portions of a
meeting shall not be required.

Article VII. Amendments
7-1. Amendments. These bylaws may be amended by majority vote of the members in
attendance at a Board meeting of an established quorum.
(a)
Proposed amendments to these bylaws must be presented at one Board
meeting and cannot be approved until a subsequent Board meeting.
(1)
A majority vote of the members in attendance at a Board meeting of
an established quorum is required before bylaws amendments will
be forwarded to the Oneida Business Committee for approval.
(b)
Amendments shall be approved by the Oneida Business Committee and/or
the General Tribal Council, before implementation.
(c)
Amendments to these bylaws must conform to the requirements of the
Boards, Committees and Commissions law, as well as any other policy of
the Nation.
(d)
The Board shall conduct a review of its bylaws no less than on an annual
basis.

These By-laws, as amended and revised, are hereby approved by the Oneida Business Committee
at a duly called meeting held on February 12, 2020, by the Secretary of the Oneida Business
Committee’s signature.

Lisa Summers, Secretary
Oneida Business Committee

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Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/documents/tribal%3Aoneida_nation%3A87a5af96cd228b3d. Public record. Not legal advice.