Manikiki Nation History for 2007 - 2008
By Kurt “Big Bear” Leibensperger, Nation Chief
The state of the Manikiki Nation was strong in 2007-2008. We had 257 members, 110 fathers and 147 sons spread among 12 tribes. Nation officers included Nation Chief, Kurt “Big Bear” Leibensperger, War Chief, John “Sits by Fire” Waller, Talleykeeper Jeff “Last Hawk” Pearce, Medicine Man Jim “Iron Back” Cross, Web Spinner Charles” Kicking Buffalo” Campbell, and Sachem Scott “Singing Moose” Summers.
2008 was a year of transition for the nation and our tribes, as the Mingo tribe left the nation, due to all their remaining braves turning 12, but they were soon replaced by a new tribe from the David YMCA in Jackson Township, the Seneca. Many thanks to the last two co-chiefs of the Mingo, Scott Kanis and Tim Dunigan for their hard work in keeping the Mingo going these last few years. It should also be noted that Tim Dunigan, in addition to being a council member in the 90’s was a member of our nation as a boy back in 1964. The Mingo had a number of Big Medicine Awards to their credit, and put many members and nation chiefs on council.
Our recruitment efforts were successful in 2008, with our second annual recruitment drive at the Green YMCA, where we advertised in local newspapers, and put out flyers in area schools, resulting in over 20 new members to the Manikiki Nation. This was an all hands on deck effort, and everyone’s hard work was appreciated.
The Trailblazers tribe had one event this year, a football game on New Year’s Day.
Our nation budget was $15,000, and our Reverse Raffle on March 1, 2008 raised a record $15,480 from the reverse raffle, silent auction and sideboard ticket sales. 281 tickets were pre-sold, and the rest were sold at the event.
Service projects for the year included us cooking food (and donating proceeds) at the Green Relay for Life in June, and the participation of myself and Scott Summers, our sachem, in the Polar Bear Swim for Project St. Nicholas Returns in December 2007. Our nation generously donated over $800 to get both of us in the 35 degree water on a sunny, but very cold, December day.
Our events for the year included…
October…Akron University Football at the Rubber Bowl
November..the return of the Ghoul Walk at Camp Y Noah. It was a cold weekend, but 6 tribes got together to build some very creative and scary scares!
December…our annual Father-Son banquet was held at Guy’s Party Center. Winners included Big Medicine winner, the Navajo tribe. Joe Friday awards went to Rich Ashley, Dwayne Haines, Kurt Leibensperger and Jamie Wiggins. Outstanding Service Awards went to Pat “Running Bull” Duff, Gregg “Running Wolf” Badalich, and Tim “Flying Arrow” Dunigan. Superior Attendance awards went to the following braves…Michael “Little Eagle” Duff and Richie “Running Wolf” Ashley.
January’s event was a very fun, well attended winter campout at the Kalahari Indoor Water Park in Sandusky.
February was our annual FASCAR race, this year at Camp Y –Noah’s cafeteria.
March was a new event, a tour of the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton.
April’s event was our Late Nighter at the YMCA. The evening included the usual swimming, basketball, foosball, movies, pizza and a new event, a Guitar Hero contest. Most people stayed until 1 or 2 in the morning, although a few hardy souls slept on the couch in the Y’s exercise room.
May was our annual spring campout at Y-Noah. The weather was fantastic, and attendance was good.
June’s event was our annual trek to the Akron Aeros.
July’s event was a Sunday night at the Blue Sky drive in in Wadsworth. The movie Wall E was shown.
August saw our nation gathering for our picnic at Clay’s Park. The weather was a little cool for swimming, but everyone had a fun time with the paddle boats,mini golf, and other activities.
September saw the end of our year, with a return to the shores of Lake Erie to Camp Fitch. Sky high gas prices kept a few people away, but those that came enjoyed great weather and lots of fun, and a fire ceremony right on the beach where Andrew and I turned over our Chief feathers to John, Jacob and Sammy Waller.