“Synergy” was the word East Central University’s President John R. Hargrave, television legend William C. Thrash and Regent Connie Reilly all used to describe the cohesive talents working together in the offices and classrooms of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Art Center, as nearly 150 people gathered on July 22 for the formal opening of the William C. Thrash Television Studio.

In his opening remarks, President Hargrave described the Fine Art Center as the “jewel of the campus.” As an alumni of ECU himself, Hargrave introduced another alumni, the guest of honor, Bill Thrash of Oklahoma’s OETA, whose name and presence will forever be etched on the walls of the new high definition television studio. Thrash was raised in Ada, OK and is no stranger to the halls of ECU. He began his career in an ABC affiliate, KTEN, before catapulting his career in Oklahoma City. After two decades or more with OETA,

Thrash continues to stress the importance of finding stories in Oklahoma for an audience that was born and bred on a couple hundred years of red earth history.

He also gave the ECU students a goal, “I challenge the students to be creative and to stretch the envelope. My hope, in the not too distant future, is for them to develop creative programming to broadcast on
OETA.”

Later, after the ribbon cutting ceremony, the question was posed, “How soon do you expect that to happen?” “When the dust settles in a year,” was his estimation.

The vision for a Fine Arts Center and state of the art television studio began after the Telecommunications Act of 1996 that paved the way for the New media or converged media disciplines. Dr. Donna Gough was then ten years into her teaching career at ECU when she became a member of the team that outlined the vision into a practical reality that led to the creation of the jewel of Ada known as the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Art Center and the William Thrash TV Studio.

“Television production is not going away,” said Dr. Gough, from her new offices at Claflin University in South Carolina, where she now serves as Chair and Professor of the Mass Communications Department. “We knew back then that we had to train students for the converging New media that all leads to the Internet.” Gough left the halls of ECU the year the Art Center opened in 2009. Assistant Professor Chris Shofner, who now teaches television and audio production, filled her position. He is also in charge of the television studio.

The day before the dedication of the studio, Shofner was plugging in cables to the monitors and cleaning the counter tops with a feather duster. “The system is definitely high definition. It’s 250 percent better than the old system.”

Shofner himself is not much older than many of his students and understands the heartbeat of that generation. “Students love technology. There is no doubt. They love new toys.”

Shofner affirms Thrash’s challenge to the school and students, “The new system will be more hands on. The new curriculum in our department will also be more specific to the field of New media and more practical in nature.”

Thrash kept his words simple, a reflection of his 1950’s training in radio broadcast, “They [the students] should find cultural and historical stories that can be told in different ways with new and fresh ideas.”

The team effort that began in 1996 and culminated in the opening of the studio in 2009 is reflected in a quilt that decorates one of the Hallie Brown Ford hallways. Faces of former presidents and esteemed members of the campus are featured in the orange and black design. Former President Bill Cole was instrumental in the dream, and since his passing, Hargrave has taken up the baton as he brings ECU into the next decade.

By Linda Schaefer

Some people have all the luck! What are the chances that one raffle ticket holder would win the truck of his or her dreams? What are the odds that same winning ticket would also make a major difference in the life of a child? Fortunately for Ada, everybody won in the second annual raffle for the Boys and Girls Club of Ada.

This was only the second year for the Boys and Girls Club of Ada raffle, but the organization succeeded in raising an impressive $36,086 by raffling off a 2009 Nissan Titan, $1000 savings bond, I Pad, 42” flat screen TV and a children’s ATV.

Brian Ford, the organization’s executive director credits the raffle’s success to the generosity of sponsors and the heart warming response from the community.

“We are extremely grateful to Vision Bank, Citizens Bank, 1st United Bank, Ada Discount Motors, Pre Paid Legal, Ada Nissan and Cantrell Solutions for providing the prizes,” said Ford. “These are big-ticket items that created a great deal of excitement and enthusiasm for the raffle.”

Ford explained that all of the prizes were donated, except for the truck. “We purchased the truck for $20,000, but Ada Nissan gave us a very generous $14,000 discount,” explained Ford.

Ford said the Boys and Girls Club raffled off a 2008 model of the truck last year. It proved to be the “wow” factor that stimulated ticket sales, so they felt confident in the investment this year.

“We decided to build on what was successful last year and it paid off,” said Ford. “This year’s truck cost about $3,000 more, but it was certain worth it considering the attention it received. I think people were expecting a similar grand prize this year and they weren’t disappointed.”

Out of the 1000 tickets printed, 700 were distributed for a voluntary contribution of $62 per single ticket and $50 a piece for multiple tickets. “We decided on $62, because Boys and Girls Club of Ada first got started back in 1962,” said Ford.

He reported that out of the $36,086 raised, the Boys and Girls Club of Ada received about $10,000 after the costs of the truck, promotional costs and supplies. “We learned from last year that the closer we got to the deadline, the more excited people became and the greater the ticket sales. This year, we didn’t start advertising until toward the end. Of course, driving the truck around town with a big banner was a real attention-getter.”

Ford said the Ada Air Show provided a free both for the raffle. Tickets for the major prizes were sold on Friday and Saturday, as were $1.00 tickets for a miniraffle with prizes announced every hour through the use of a mega phone. The grand prize raffle winners were announced at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

How will Boys and Girls Club of Ada use their hard-earned cash? Ford said the money will be well-spent on summer and after-school programs, including the sports programs, field trips, staffing, snacks and other activities, as well as a current remodeling project.

“Our entire budget is about $300,000,” said Ford. “Most of that funding comes from the National Boys and Girls Club, local United Way, state grants, donors and sponsors and program fees. These resources, in addition to the funds we raise from the raffle, help ensure that we continue to provide quality programs and qualified instructors here in Ada.”

Ford said that prior to his accepting the position of executive director in 2008, a large percentage of the community was unaware of the services the organization offered.

“The annual raffle helps us get the word out that we’re here to keep the kids off the street by giving them a safe, supportive and positive environment after school and during the summer,” said Ford. “Our sports programs are growing each year; we currently offer basketball, flag football, T-Ball and wrestling. We’re also fighting the epidemic of youth obesity with nutrition education and there’s a library with computers for learning experiences. The children get to go swimming and skating, plus enjoy fun and informative visits from guests representing organizations such as the 4-H, Narcanon and ECU students.

The Boys and Girls Club of Ada currently serves about 1300 local boys and girls per year with the largest number being in the sports program.

“With schools all over the state eliminating extra-curricular activities and after-school programs due to budget cuts, it’s gratifying the see that that Ada understands and appreciates how this organization is stepping up to meet the need,” said Ford. “It takes everyone – sponsors, a great board of directors, volunteers, parents, funding resources, trained professionals – all working together to ensure the health and safety of our kids.

When everyone cares and gets involved, it really doesn’t matter who drives off in the truck. Our kids are the big winners.

By Denise May

For nearly two years Dr. Courtney Bratton and Ada Vision have been changing the lives of both children and adults who suffer from vision problems. Although their office is freshly opened, they are utilizing new treatment options that cannot be found locally. But what makes Ada Vision different from the other optometry services? Not only do they offer traditional remedies for optical ailments, they also have solutions for those with problems that can’t be corrected with traditional methods.

Dr. Bratton graduated from Waurika High School before obtaining her bachelors and O.D. at Northeastern State University College of Optometry. While working for her Optometry degree she won an award for “Outstanding Research in Vision Development.” She practiced as a faculty member at NSU for a year before opening her office in Ada. She now lives in Ada with her husband, a local dentist, and her three children.

Taking a walk through Ada Vision’s brightly colored rooms and halls; you notice that they have the machines and equipment that you would expect in an optometry office, but some of their services are less then ordinary. Ada Vision is possibly proudest of its Vision Therapy, an alternative for optical-corrective treatment. Dr. Bratton is in the process of becoming board certified by the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD) and has completed 80 hours of Vision Therapy sessions.

Ada Vision’s outlook is to help anyone who needs vision treatment, but according to Dr. Bratton her primary goal is also to help children. She says “My passion is with vision therapy for children.” Children benefit the most from Vision Therapy because in some instances eyeglasses are not a viable option to correct certain eye problems.

Vision Therapy can treat children or adults with disabilities and those with vision defects. Two of the most frequently corrected eye problems using Vision Therapy are strabismus, which is the turning of an eye or commonly referred to as “cross-eyed,” and amblyopia, or more simply a “lazy” eye. Symptoms for these common conditions usually are double vision, blurriness, and occasionally a loss of vision. Each therapy session lasts roughly 30 minutes to an hour, but results and treatment varies depending on each patient’s personal needs. For the best turnout, therapy is typically needed once or twice a week for 6-8 months, including exercises that must be completed at home.

Another unique service that you shouldn’t overlook is the Latisse treatment. Latisse is a safe, liquid solution for those with short unattractively thin eyelashes. The liquid is gently applied to the lashes with a brush and its effects are noticeable within just a few weeks resulting in thicker, longer, and lavish looking lashes.

No matter what your vision needs include, you have a clear selection of choices at Ada Vision. To contact Dr. Bratton’s office, you can call 580-272-9600 or stop by at 500 N. Monte Vista Suite 3 near Valley View Regional Hospital.

By: Brock Parsons

Local author Tamara Low is celebrating the release of her first novel, Rough Trails with an upcoming book signing at Hastings Bookstore, August 21st from 11am to 1pm.

Rough Trails is a coming of age story about a teenage boy who lost his father to cancer. Young Craig finds himself forced to grow up as he is left to care for his sister, assume his father’s responsibilities and worry about his grief stricken mother who is becoming a different person. Craig ends up asking a lot of questions about God and himself as he struggles through a crisis he never thought he would face.

The former youth ministry teacher and children’s church instructor almost fell into being an author, although she always loved to write. “I’ve written almost as long as I can remember. I started writing poetry. I always loved to write and I always hoped I would publish a novel someday,” said Low.

She was a little intimidated by the idea of writing a book and admitted it wasn’t the kind of book she thought she would attempt. “Back in 1996 I started writing a women’s publication called ‘Women Breaking Bread’ and it was a devotional that I published and distributed locally to family and friends. I loved devotional writing and I thought if I wrote a book it would be a devotional. I’ve never been any good writing stories or even making up bedtime stories!”

Still, in 2000 the idea for her book started playing into her imagination everyday and two years later, her novel was born. For the next several years, her work remained hidden. “I didn’t know how to get it published and finally I decided that I really believed God inspired me with the story for this book and if He did, I needed to do something with it.”

After reading a book on how to find the right publisher, Low decided to submit her manuscript to Tate Publishing but she was skeptical, hoping for a sign. “My son had a band and was performing in the Battle of the Bands in Oklahoma City. I’d just sent my manuscript to Tate a couple of weeks before but I didn’t tell my husband. We were at the concert and my husband ran into a woman who said she was a publisher and wanted to see my book. I asked him where she was from and he said, ‘Tate Publishing.’

The acquisition editor promised to rush the novel for review and shortly after, a contract came in the mail. Only 4% of all manuscripts submitted to Tate Publishing ever get a contract but she was still cautious.Finally after much prayer, she signed the contract and is now planning a sequel.

True to her minister’s heart, Low incorporated an interactive feature to her site where young readers can play along with the book and participate with others. “I wanted them to be able to go to the site and find something encouraging. It helps them start discussions about things they may be going through themselves.”

Although her book is targeted for a young adult reader, Low is delighted to see that the strong message of faith through adversity is something readers of any age enjoy. “I’ve had a lot of adult readers who are enjoying the book as well.”

You can purchase a copy of the book and find out about her upcoming book signing
when you visit tamaralow.tatepublishing. net.

By Mindy Wood

Injunuity is a local award-winning band whose sound is just a little different. “I guess we’ve kind of made a new genre of music,” said band-member Brad Clonch, while attempting to describe his band’s style. “It’s definitely not your grandfather’s flute music,” jokingly added Jeff Carpenter, the other half of Injunuity; “I guess you could call it ‘Flute-rock,’” though that seems to be only an aspect of their overall sound.

Injunuity’s first full-length album entitled Fight for Survival, which was released earlier this month, truly showcases their broad repertoire of musical styles. Nothing is really too much of a stretch for this duo as they are able to piece together divergent styles such as Native, folk, rock, classical, and even jazz into a coherent collection of songs. This unique amalgamation of genres did not come without plenty of inspiration though, as both members pull this unique style from their own experiences and journeys with music.

Clonch was introduced to music at a young age. “My mother was classically trained in the piano for over twenty years and I would always hear her playing… It wasn’t until about the sixth grade that I got a piano and started playing and teaching myself, but I’ve been playing ever since.” With this background, Clonch has become a rather technical and classically trained artist, which is an aspect of their music which can definitely be heard at times with various string orchestra and piano sounds. Amongst other instruments, Clonch also plays the Native-flute, which is truly what gives Injunuity its unique style. “I was given my first Native-flute by a woman I worked with in Purcell. I picked up on it from there and when I started working for the Chickasaws, one of my first jobs was to score and write music for a live stage production, and they had Nativeflutes there that I was able to use. That is when I really started to incorporate more Native-flute into my music.” While working for the Chickasaws and venturing into a solo career with the Native-flute, Clonch met Carpenter, who had his own unique background in music as well.

“I started in music playing the saxophone for elementary band,” said Carpenter. “The saxophone is what really piqued my interest in music and then when I was about sixteen I picked up the guitar. I took guitar lessons and I really didn’t like it. I didn’t like the structure of taking lessons and taking time to learn new songs, so I quit lessons and started playing on my own and playing with friends. That is what really got me—playing with other people.” By branching out on his own, Carpenter developed a looser style that was heavily centered on rock music, so when he met Clonch, he was able to offer a different sound than what Clonch was able to do on his own. In 2007 they began playing together resulting in the genesis of Injunuity.

Since then, the band has grown and shrunk in size. They have won a couple of awards including an Addy Award for Best Elements of Sound: Music Only, and a NAMMY (Native American… And they have had the opportunity to travel all over the United States playing their music. Along with all of these personal breaks, doors have also been opened to help change peoples’ perspectives on Native Americans and Native American culture.

“We both grew up with musicians but I was never really connected to my heritage,” said Clonch “and the same was true for Jeff [Carpenter] as well. By being introduced to the Native-flute I became more interested in my heritage and I began studying my culture more.” Through music, Clonch and Carpenter have come closer to their heritage than they ever have been before, and they try to share that with others wherever they go. “Every year we go to different festivals and sometimes we get to speak to kids about the culture and heritage, and I believe our style of music is able to pique the interest of the kids. We’re then able to open up our culture’s history and help educate the kids about Native Americans… You would be surprised how many kids don’t even know that Indians still exist, and it’s kind of sad, especially in Oklahoma. But through our music we are able to show them who we are and to show Native Americans in a positive light.”

Part educators, part rock-stars, part cultural preservers, this duo has been able to accomplish more in a few years than many bands are able to do in a lifetime. And if the past is any indicator for the future, then the future is bright for Injunuity.

If you are interested in picking up Injunuity’s new album, they will be available in various locations including Hasting’s and on CDBaby.com and iTunes.

By Josh Forrester

Sometimes, for various and indefinite reasons, great talent and accomplishment goes largely unnoticed by those closest to it. Just as Vincent Van Gogh, a revolutionary in the art world, received little notoriety by his contemporaries, few people in Ada are aware of the small group of revolutionaries working right in their own back yards. However, these are revolutionaries of a different kind of art—an art that exchanges paint brushes for drill bits and CNC machines, and trades canvases for fuel injection systems and unleaded fuel compounds. These are the men and women of General Aviation Modifications Incorporated (GAMI) and Tornado Ally Turbo Incorporated (TATI).

GAMI was founded in 1994 by George Braly and Tim Roehl. Prior to the founding of GAMI, Braly, who had a degree in aeronautical engineering, had become friends to Roehl, who had experience in aerospace manufacturing. Braly was an active pilot who practiced law in the area and who also owned a Beechcraft Bonanza airplane. The aircraft contained a new engine monitoring system that, at the time, was a fairly new instrument that allowed the pilot to monitor the exhaust gas temperatures and the cylinder head temperatures of all six cylinders in their airplane’s engine. With this new device, Braly began to notice that the cylinders were operating at different air-fuel ratios. This is significant because when engine cylinders have different mixtures of air and fuel the engine’s performance can suffer greatly, resulting in larger fuel consumption.

Because of this imbalance, Braly and Roehl wanted to see if they could balance the air-fuel ratios inside the engine’s cylinders and in doing so they began to modify the flow of the fuel injectors, thus leading to the invention of what they now call “GAMIjectors®” (GAMI + fuel injectors = GAMIjectors). By balancing the airfuel ratio they found that their engine would operate significantly better at more uniform temperatures and at much lower fuel flows, thus saving gallons upon gallons of fuel.

GAMIjectors® are manufactured in Ada and, as the recipient of Aviation Consumer Magazine’s “Product of the Year” Award, have not only become a worldwide success, but have also changed the way people fly planes. Because of the fact that these fuel injectors allow the engine to run much smoother they discovered that they could operate their engines at what is called “lean of peak EGT” (lean of peak for short). EGT stands for Exhaust Gas Temperature and the term “lean” essentially means to use less fuel, so therefore “lean of peak” basically means to run an engine with less fuel, lowering the exhaust gas temperature. This in turn saves a great amount of fuel, because before this discovery, pilots were told to run their engines “rich of peak” (the opposite of lean of peak) in order to make the engine work less, thus lowering the cylinder head temperatures, which keeps the engine from overheating.

Before GAMIjectors, there was no way to operate an engine lean of peak because the engine would not run smooth enough and the engine temperatures were dramatically different. With the ability to more closely control how much fuel is injected into the cylinders, they were able to operate the engine at lean of peak, and they found that they could indeed run leaner with the same amount of horsepower. Further, another difference was that when doing so, it ran cooler and it consumed significantly less fuel. There are now over 19,000 sets of GAMIjectors flying worldwide, all of which have completely changed conventional ideas within aviation and have also saved the general aviation industry tens of millions of gallons of fuel and this was merely the beginning of accomplishment for Braly and Roehl.

After the success of the GAMIjectors, one invention simply led to the next. The fact that they could now run engines at lower temperatures meant that there was a lot more power that could be utilized which opened the market for turbo-charging systems to become a more popular component in aircrafts. Turbochargers in essence increase the amount of air that is taken into the engine’s cylinders. With the engine running cooler the turbo systems could add more manifold pressure thus creating more horse power. Consequently, in 1998, Braly and Roehl founded TATI (Tornado Alley Turbo Inc.) and gained permission to modify existing turbo systems on many popular aircrafts to efficiently fit with their GAMIjectors.

Along with the modification of existing postmarket turbo systems, about four years ago TATI began manufacturing turbo systems for the most popular high performance single engine aircraft : the Cirrus SR22. For years Cirrus had been trying to incorporate a turbo system into the SR 22 model with little success. The people at TATI therefore decided that it would be wise to build a turbo system for this model in hopes that it would become a popular component for a popular airplane. When Cirrus caught wind of TATI’s manufacturing efforts, they decided that they would test it out for themselves and they liked it so much that they immediately started offering it at their factory. TATI has since manufactured close to 1000 turbo systems for the Cirrus SR 22 which is a venture that has led them straight into their current project: the creation of a highoctane unleaded fuel which can be used in place of the current leaded fuel that is used in many airplanes today.

The fleet of planes that TATI had manufactured the 1000 turbo systems for is now the first certified fleet to attempt to operate on their new unleaded fuel. The reason behind these attempts to create an unleaded fuel is that general aviation aircraft are some of the last remaining vehicles that still use leaded fuel because leaded fuels have high enough octane to satisfy and not damage the engines of aircrafts. But because of the pollutants that are emitted from leaded fuel, certain environmentalist interest groups have petitioned the EPA to crack down on the FAA in an attempt to rid the general aviation industry of leaded fuel. As a result the industry now faces the crisis of developing an unleaded fuel with a high enough octane to not hurt aircraft engines. GAMI has since taken this challenge and formulated an unleaded fuel with a 100 MON (Motor Octane Number) made only out of petroleum based chemicals. The fuel is now awaiting approval from the FAA. Once approved it will be one of the only unleaded fuels available with such a high octane, and for that reason, one of the most efficient. This could essentially solve the fuel crisis and provide the general aviation industry with a truly quality product.

With all of these innovations GAMI and TATI have rearranged and are still rearranging the landscape of the general aviation industry. Revolutionaries in their own right, with a gifted maintenance crew, without whom none of their work would be possible, their talent and accomplishments should not go overlooked. Citizens of Ada should feel proud to be home to such great minds.

By Josh Forrester

On June 4th, the Ada-Pontotoc County Relay for Life will be entering its 16th year of fundraising for the American Cancer Society. They have come a long way since their humble beginnings at the Ada High School football field all the way back in 1994. Since then, participation has grown from 17 teams to approximately 50 teams of 15 or more people. Fundraising has also grown exceptionally since the charity’s inception. In 1994 the Ada area Relay for Life raised about $19,000 and now for the past two years they have been the only Relay in the state of Oklahoma to crack the $200,000 mark. The Ada area Relay also now ranks in the top 5 teams in the United States in terms of money raised.

Essentially Relay for Life is a charity that raises money for the American Cancer Society by challenging members of communities around the United States to raise money in any way possible for the fight against cancer. Community members must form fifteen-member groups that pledge to raise money.

It is a year-long responsibility for many that culminates on one day per year. On this day, everyone involved gets together and each member from each team agrees to walk around a track or football field at various times throughout at twelve-hour timeframe. This is symbolic of the perseverance in the fight against cancer.

The evening climaxes at the luminary service in which candles are lit in memory or in honor of those who have faced, or are still facing, cancer. At this service all the names of those who have fought against cancer are called out so as to pay tribute to those who have struggled against this terrible disease.

Though the purpose of the event is serious in nature, the festivities surrounding it are anything but. The night is filled with entertainment including cake-walks, competitions, and live music. It is great fun for the entire family and is also for an awesome cause, so feel free to stop by and have some fun. This year’s event will be June 4th, starting at 7 pm, at the ECU football field. It is free and open to the public.

By Josh Forrester

For a man who has conversed with leaders as renowned as Barack Obama and Nancy Pelosi, Jefferson Keel is anything but vain. As both the Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaw Nation and the President of the National Congress of American Indians (NCAI), Keel is both a humble and self-aware leader who is extraordinarily dedicated to his work and to the service of the Chickasaw Nation and all Native American peoples.

Keel’s story is simple, but his achievements are anything but. “I’ve been a Chickasaw all my life, but I haven’t been in politics for very long,” jested Keel while remembering his beginnings as a politician. Keel “went into the Army when [he] was a youngster” in which he accumulated over twenty years of active duty service, and after he retired from the Army he went to work for the Chickasaws. In 1999 a man by the name of Bill
Anoatubby was in need of a Lieutenant Governor and asked Keel to run with him. After their election to office in ’99, Keel started attending NCAI meetings, and eventually was elected as the Area Vice President of the organization in 2000. In 2005 he was elected the First Vice President, and just last year he was the first tribal leader from Oklahoma to be elected President. This is no small accomplishment considering the NCAI is one of the most important Indian organizations in the world. Currently comprised of about 250 tribes in twelve different regions, it is the oldest and largest tribal organization in the world. Established in 1944 it has been on the forefront of halting termination legislation to end tribal governance and has played a large role in allowing greater Indian participation in the federal government’s decision-making process. With all of this history and influence the job as President can be a daunting task. “To look back
at all of those great tribal leaders who have gone before me as the president of NCAI… it’s a tremendous honor, but there is a lot of pressure involved in it too.”

Even with all of the pressure, as President, Keel has continued in the manner of those who have gone before him in working with “other tribal leaders around the country regarding budget reformation, sovereignty issues, and Supreme Court issues.” Keel, through the NCAI, has now achieved what he calls “true consultation” with the federal government. “Some government officials believe that a phone-call equals true consultation, but tribal leaders need to sit down with their federal counterparts and come up with real solutions,” and in November the NCAI achieved that true consultation with President Obama.

“President Obama is now reaching out to tribes, asking for our input on federal rules and regulations. We now have a place in those consultation meetings and now we feel our voices are truly being heard. We have two wars going on and an economy that is falling apart and the fact that he took that day in November to listen to tribal leaders and to have each of his secretaries sit down and listen and talk with the tribes is unheard of. There are things that are happening now in terms of true progress that I believe are enormous.”

Even as enormous as his job as President of NCAI is, Keel humbly states, “the job as Lieutenant Governor of the Chickasaws is my primary role and it is what I’m dedicated to— this is my day-job. The Chickasaw people come first and foremost in everything that Governor Anoatubby and I do. The needs of our citizens need to be paramount in everything that we do.” This self-awareness and dedication has served Keel well in his three terms as Lieutenant Governor. “I recognize that if I don’t take care of business here at home, there’s no need to go outside. I feel lucky to work for such a great organization as the Chickasaws. We’re really fortunate to have stable leadership and to have such successful businesses. If that were not the case I might not be involved in national politics.”

Being afforded the chance to see first-hand all the “tribes around the country that are less fortunate; tribes that are struggling with their economy, with citizen needs, with payroll to keep their doors open, and with threats to their environment, it makes you realize that sometimes you have to step back and say, ‘It could be a lot worse—we need to count our blessings.’ We complain about the unemployment here being eight to nine percent when other tribes will tell you that they would love to get down to fifty percent because there simply are no jobs to be had.” While Keel hopes to continue playing a role in letting Indian voices be heard through the NCAI, he is truly dedicated to his work here at home. “I hope to see that our people continue to thrive, that we one day become one-hundred percent self-sufficient and independent of the federal government, and that our young people will continue to strive towards education and above all to always remember that they are Chickasaw.”

By Josh Forrester

His music has been described as “utterly spellbinding” and “evocative.” His work has been performed by the National Symphony Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Colorado Ballet, the Contemporary Music Forum, and the Oklahoma City University Wind Philharmonic, just to name a few, and his name is Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate. He is a professional composer whose innovative blend of traditional Native American and classical music is both prolific and inspirational.

Tate essentially began his career as a composer at the age of eight. That was the age in which he began piano lessons and within a few weeks of lessons he “had made the decision that [he] would be a musician, that’s just how it was going to be.” Born with a Chickasaw pianist and vocalist for a father and an Irish choreographer for a mother, Tate “had been exposed to a lot of classical music and theatre as a kid.”

After graduating from high school, Tate decided to attend Northwestern University as a piano performance major. “Towards the end of my studies at Northwestern was when I received my first commission to write music,” recalled Tate. “My mother taught dance at the University of Wyoming and was embarking on an original ballet that incorporated stories from the Indian tribes of the Northwest Plains and Rockies, and she wanted me to write the music for it.” At first Tate was apprehensive. “Sometimes you push away the things you actually want to do, perhaps because you’re not quite sure if you can do them. Nowadays musicians are compartmentalized into different categories. You’re either a musician, conductor, or composer, so I had to overcome that formalistic split between those different roles.”

Even though he had no formal experience, for the first time Tate began to compose rather than play, which ended in him writing a full-length ballet entitled Winter Moons. He even received $8,000 in commission, which is nothing compared to what an established artist receives but for a first-time composition, it wasn’t too bad. “I was very fortunate to be commissioned right away,” stated Tate, “and that really set the pace for the rest of my career. From then, on, I decided to be a commissioned composer.”

Since then, Tate has gone on to produce multiple works, all-the-while injecting a flavor of unique nationality. “This,” said Tate, “is what makes my music unique. When we think about all the great European classical composers, they are most identifiable by their specific nationality. They infused their nationality into their music which is what made them distinct. That is what I want to do—to inject my personal nationality and heritage into my music. That, I believe, is one of the most satisfying feelings I can think of—to feel unique.” This tremendous passion for music and composition has led Tate to another passion: teaching. Tate is Composer-in-Residence for the Chickasaw Summer Arts Academy. The academy is headed into its sixth year and is dedicated to helping foster arts and heritage for children and young people, specifically in the tribe, but also
throughout the community. The students are able to take two weeks to learn a myriad of disciplines including “dance, theater, literature, 2D and 3D art, film production, textile design, and music composition.”

“Over the past five years I’ve coached over 100 original compositions by the students in this academy,” Tate said, “and these kids generate unbelievable music as far as I’m concerned.” Through the academy, Tate is able to coach students through the ins and outs of composition. Each student composes a piece for a string quartet from scratch and gets to see, first-hand, their compositions come to life. At the end of the program they hire a quartet to come and record the music that the students have written. “It’s one of the best feelings in the world to look at these kids and think ‘I just know you’re going to love what you’ve written. You have no idea how proud you’re going to be when this is all finished.”

Possibly the best outcome of this summer academy is the boost in self-esteem that these students gather. “I know that when the kids come out of this they are going to come out feeling better about themselves and that a greater confidence is going to be fostered in their lives. They have a better grasp of their capabilities and I just love helping to make that happen.” And in the end everything, comes full-circle. “By teaching, I’m inspired to compose more, which in turn, makes me want to go back and teach.”

As fulfilling as composing, teaching, and performing might be, there is one aspect that Tate’s profession provides that is more rewarding than them all, and that is the relationships that he forms with others. “To me music and composing is about relationships. Whenever I talk about music I’m building connections with people. Performing music is all about relationships because music is very personal to people. When you listen to an artist you form a relationship with that artist whether you meet them or not. This relationship is very important because they are making you feel a way that you need to feel. I love being the person that creates that.” Indeed, it seems as if Tate has grasped that which alludes so many, which is a true sense of fulfillment, evidenced by a simple profession: “I love music; I love people; therefore, I’m a composer—in what better way could you experience both?”

By Josh Forrester

An old farmer once told Scout Cloud Lee that she was one of the most courageous people he had ever known. As a cancer survivor and a carrier of the Olympic torch, Lee’s life is an inspiration. She is a keynote speaker, songwriter, reality TV star, and author of 14 books. Lee’s success stems from strong beliefs that come from an inner drive.

 “You need to want what you want,” she said. “Believe in yourself and intend well. Hold your focus and stick with it long enough for it to manifest. Follow your passion; it was put there for a purpose.” She shares these virtues with everyone she meets – from fortune 500 companies to her students at East Central University.

 Lee expresses her strong passion for today’s youth. This generation has captivated her heart. Before ECU, she taught at Oklahoma State University and the University of Illinois. A Florida native, Lee received her master’s and doctorate at the University of Georgia. She is currently an adjunct professor at ECU in Ada, Okla. Lee has lived in Oklahoma for 30 years and moved to Ada in August 2008 to assist her 91- year-old mother. She owns a ranch outside town and enjoys living in the small-town community. She teaches two courses at ECU. Her background as an administrator gave her the opportunity to teach Entrepreneurship and Team Building at the college.

 For much of her career, Lee coached Fortune 500 companies. In the process she became affiliated with the Chickasaw Nation and became what she described as “their peak performance coach and team building leader”. She is the founder of Vision Us Inc. The company uses diverse training methods to teach personal growth and performance improvement.

 The corporation became an immediate success and presented Lee a new concept called “High Games”. These games are designed to test endurance and build character. Contestants are required to camp for a week while participating in the games. She had no idea that her contest would gain notoriety and ultimately lead to being invited as a contestant on the most successful reality TV show on CBS. When “Survivor” aired on television for the first time, corporations from all over the country called Lee, suggesting that she watch the show. After studying “Survivor” for seven seasons, she sent in her application with an optimistic sense that she would excel on the show. She was picked out of 250,000 applicants. Her experience as a coach was evident on the show during the group challenges. Despite her third place finish, she claims her experience on the show was torture. “You had to forage for food,” she said. “We ate roots, leaves, and snails.” Her grit caught the attention from viewers everywhere. She was approached by a stranger at an automobile store. He asked Lee if she was on “Survivor” and she nodded. He told her she had more guts than common sense. There is no limit to Lee’s determination. She survived the deadly cancer Melanoma. When she received the news that she had two months to live, she was determined to survive. She said she “had to get right with her creator.”

 Her next step was to record albums. She describes her genre as “gypsy rock/country funk”. It is similar to Oklahoma’s “red dirt”. She puts emphasis on positive lyrics and upbeat sounds. Lee had a lifelong dream of running in the Olympics, but a personal setback delayed the run for thirty years. Lee received a certified letter saying that she had been recommended to run in the 2001 Olympic torch relay. She has no idea who made the recommendation. She was one of fifty two people to run the torch across Oklahoma.

 After a few decades of adventures and accolades, does Scout Lee have more to do? Her eyes are glazing blue as she tosses her blonde curls, “I think I’m in the prime of my life right now,” she said. “I feel like I’m just getting started.”

 By Jeff Burnett