Truman Ware (Kiowa)

Chairman of the Board of Trustees

"When the Indian Center was first started," says Truman Ware, who is also a full-time inspector for the Sedgwick County Department of Public Works, "we sought advice from professionals in our fields of endeavor - museum curators, social scientists, and businessmen. " With such experienced advice, the Center made great strides. Even the "hoped-for forecasts" of the experts were reached, and then passed. The progress was so great - in availability of services as well as construction of the new Center - that about a year ago Justin Orr, Regional Program Director of HEW's Office of Native American Programs, made an interesting observation: "Mid-America All-Indian Center has gone further than any other cultural-type center in the county. Others will be seeking your advice now in developing future centers."

At that point, according to Truman, Board Members and staff "really began making solid decisions" because now they were the experts and their performance could possibly influence future centers as well. One group they did go to often was the non-Indian Advisory Board, a select group of area leaders who advised the Board on financial and governmental operations. "They provided us with the insight they had developed."