Election 2022 Candidate Statements
OFFICERS
Jerry Fay
Office sought: President
Scout ancestor: Adam Fay
I was born and raised in Del Rio, TX, and grew up visiting Mexico and Brackettville. My earliest memory of our Seminole history is our oral history being sent down from my parents, grandparents, and other relatives, which is good information, but it’s always better to have it documented.
SISCA, to me, has been the organization that has brought the oral history and documented history together and has laid a foundation for our future generations to learn and appreciate our history. So this is why I would like to be your president. I’d like to build on this foundation that others have built, such as the founder Miss Charles and other past presidents. And I’d like to move us forward by being responsive to the times that we live in to bring the next generation into our organization.
Augusta Ann “Gigi” Pines
Office sought: President
Scout ancestors: Joseph Phillips and Joe Remo
When I was seven years old, I attended Carver School. My teacher was Miss Charles E. Wilson. She inspired me to become the person I am today, being honest, open, and confident. If I am re-elected, I plan to continue working toward SISCA’s goals, maintain the cemetery, Carver School grounds, and museum, also continue working with and planning Juneteenth and Seminole Days celebrations. I will continue sharing our history through presentations, working with others, and being involved in the community.
Rafaela “Affie” Brown
Office sought: Vice-President
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
What inspires me to run for vice-president is my devotion to share what my mother taught me as a Seminole Indian and build upon the foundation that our ancestors set before us. If given the opportunity, I hope to continue to share our history and educate fellow Seminole Indians, the younger generation, and others who may not share the same history. In addition, I would like to continue upgrading the cemetery and initiate a project that will identify unmarked graves, as well as remodel damaged headstones. Lastly, I believe my problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and capacity for teamwork will aid in helping SISCA flourish.
Beverly A. Kelly
Office sought: Vice-President
Scout ancestors: John Ward
I have been associated with SISCA from a very young age. I started helping in the early 70s, working with Ms. Wilson, doing the flyers, programs, and helping with meals. My love for SISCA is why I am passionate. It was something I saw all my elders doing as I grew up. I saw them working very hard for this association to keep it going.
I was president at one time and kept it going at that time. There were very few left, but I worked, did it all, cleaning the cemetery and school grounds. Now I would just love to work with museum. The museum needs a lot of attention, which all our buildings and cemetery do.
Windy Goodloe
Office sought: Secretary
Scout ancestors: Joseph Phillips and Joe Remo
I am inspired to become an officer because I care deeply about the history of the Black Seminoles/Seminole Negro Indian Scouts and want to help keep their story alive. I hope to help SISCA continue to thrive. There are so many projects that we have started that I would like to see through to completion. I would like to make sure that our museum’s infrastructure is taken care of. The skills and interest I bring to SISCA to help it flourish are my writing and speaking skills.
Corina T. Harrington
Office sought: Treasurer
Scout ancestor: Dallas Griner
I am inspired to run for treasurer for many reasons. First of all, I want to continue helping SISCA. After getting serious about reading and studying our history, I’ve learned how important it was for our elders to talk about our history and why. I hope to help SISCA establish a stronger connection with Nacimiento.
When I first started, I realized SISCA and Nacimiento didn’t have a connection, just like we know people from Oklahoma and Florida, but there is no connection. I have started many projects in Nacimiento, and I am very capable of doing the same in Brackett. The skills I bring to help SISCA flourish are my knowledge about the history and my ability to get things done.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bertha Benson
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
Allow me to say, first, that I feel that working with SISCA is a calling for me right now. Serving on the board these years, I have found myself working with kind, loving, caring people with great hearts. I know how amazing my people are, and I am willing to invest my time and effort in the work for the Association.
I hope to assist SISCA to continue in its efforts to maintain and care for all of its properties, including the cemetery, museum and Carver School. I would like to be a part of improving the properties where needed, also to meet and accomplish present and future goals of the Association. I am very proud of my heritage and love nothing better than to see SISCA flourish in the years to come. I want to be the bridge to help people know how great you are, how great our people are.
I believe I can play a part in helping SISCA flourish in that I am very familiar with the language, Seminole, as I heard it spoken by the vast majority of relatives that I had the privilege of growing up around. I want the world to know our language and not ever let it die. I also have college degrees, and if that can help in some way, I gladly offer. I want to contribute all I can to help expand and elevate SISCA. Let me use what God gifted me, for you.
Isabel Celestino
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
I would like to become a board member of this association because I am at a time in my life where I can help with all the work that is needed to get done. I’ve helped with cemetery cleanups and fundraisers, and I’ve realized SISCA needs help, especially physically. I am the great-granddaughter of Alice Fay and know how important this association was to her and how important our history is. This association is the caretaker of a very important cemetery to me, and I would like to help and be part of maintaining it, along with our history.
Joe Louis Factor
Scout ancestors: Pompey Factor
I would like to continue to help with the upgrades and maintenance on the cemetery buildings and grounds windows. The museum needs some upgrades. I am always willing to help with whatever else is necessary, whatever needs to be done to make everything look more beautified, as I have done in the past. For the past eight years, I have been the sole caretaker of the cemetery and school grounds and maintenance around the Carver school. This is a volunteer position, but I treat it like a job and often can be found in one of these places. Some projects that I would like to see are the installation of new windows in the school building, central air in the school building, adding a handicap ramp to the east side of the museum, and upgrading the BBQ shed.
John Fay
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
My reason for wanting to continue to be a board member is that I want to make sure that we keep up our traditions. I also want to make sure that we accomplish all that we are trying to do. I have always been able to help out with anything that needs to be done. I am always present at meetings and cemetery cleanups and any other event that requires active participation. A project that I would like to initiate is cleaning the cemetery’s fence. I would like to make sure that all the debris and all the trees and growth along the fence is clean and clear.
Lee Torralba
Scout ancestor: Adam Fay/Dallas Griner
Our history is important to me, and I would like to help the association in any way that I can. I have helped with cemetery cleanups, and I have helped with BBQ for Seminole Days and will continue to do so, and I never charged a dime. My grandfather and a lot of family members are in that cemetery, and it’s our duty to help however we can.
Jerry Fay
Office sought: President
Scout ancestor: Adam Fay
I was born and raised in Del Rio, TX, and grew up visiting Mexico and Brackettville. My earliest memory of our Seminole history is our oral history being sent down from my parents, grandparents, and other relatives, which is good information, but it’s always better to have it documented.
SISCA, to me, has been the organization that has brought the oral history and documented history together and has laid a foundation for our future generations to learn and appreciate our history. So this is why I would like to be your president. I’d like to build on this foundation that others have built, such as the founder Miss Charles and other past presidents. And I’d like to move us forward by being responsive to the times that we live in to bring the next generation into our organization.
Augusta Ann “Gigi” Pines
Office sought: President
Scout ancestors: Joseph Phillips and Joe Remo
When I was seven years old, I attended Carver School. My teacher was Miss Charles E. Wilson. She inspired me to become the person I am today, being honest, open, and confident. If I am re-elected, I plan to continue working toward SISCA’s goals, maintain the cemetery, Carver School grounds, and museum, also continue working with and planning Juneteenth and Seminole Days celebrations. I will continue sharing our history through presentations, working with others, and being involved in the community.
Rafaela “Affie” Brown
Office sought: Vice-President
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
What inspires me to run for vice-president is my devotion to share what my mother taught me as a Seminole Indian and build upon the foundation that our ancestors set before us. If given the opportunity, I hope to continue to share our history and educate fellow Seminole Indians, the younger generation, and others who may not share the same history. In addition, I would like to continue upgrading the cemetery and initiate a project that will identify unmarked graves, as well as remodel damaged headstones. Lastly, I believe my problem-solving abilities, leadership skills, and capacity for teamwork will aid in helping SISCA flourish.
Beverly A. Kelly
Office sought: Vice-President
Scout ancestors: John Ward
I have been associated with SISCA from a very young age. I started helping in the early 70s, working with Ms. Wilson, doing the flyers, programs, and helping with meals. My love for SISCA is why I am passionate. It was something I saw all my elders doing as I grew up. I saw them working very hard for this association to keep it going.
I was president at one time and kept it going at that time. There were very few left, but I worked, did it all, cleaning the cemetery and school grounds. Now I would just love to work with museum. The museum needs a lot of attention, which all our buildings and cemetery do.
Windy Goodloe
Office sought: Secretary
Scout ancestors: Joseph Phillips and Joe Remo
I am inspired to become an officer because I care deeply about the history of the Black Seminoles/Seminole Negro Indian Scouts and want to help keep their story alive. I hope to help SISCA continue to thrive. There are so many projects that we have started that I would like to see through to completion. I would like to make sure that our museum’s infrastructure is taken care of. The skills and interest I bring to SISCA to help it flourish are my writing and speaking skills.
Corina T. Harrington
Office sought: Treasurer
Scout ancestor: Dallas Griner
I am inspired to run for treasurer for many reasons. First of all, I want to continue helping SISCA. After getting serious about reading and studying our history, I’ve learned how important it was for our elders to talk about our history and why. I hope to help SISCA establish a stronger connection with Nacimiento.
When I first started, I realized SISCA and Nacimiento didn’t have a connection, just like we know people from Oklahoma and Florida, but there is no connection. I have started many projects in Nacimiento, and I am very capable of doing the same in Brackett. The skills I bring to help SISCA flourish are my knowledge about the history and my ability to get things done.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Bertha Benson
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
Allow me to say, first, that I feel that working with SISCA is a calling for me right now. Serving on the board these years, I have found myself working with kind, loving, caring people with great hearts. I know how amazing my people are, and I am willing to invest my time and effort in the work for the Association.
I hope to assist SISCA to continue in its efforts to maintain and care for all of its properties, including the cemetery, museum and Carver School. I would like to be a part of improving the properties where needed, also to meet and accomplish present and future goals of the Association. I am very proud of my heritage and love nothing better than to see SISCA flourish in the years to come. I want to be the bridge to help people know how great you are, how great our people are.
I believe I can play a part in helping SISCA flourish in that I am very familiar with the language, Seminole, as I heard it spoken by the vast majority of relatives that I had the privilege of growing up around. I want the world to know our language and not ever let it die. I also have college degrees, and if that can help in some way, I gladly offer. I want to contribute all I can to help expand and elevate SISCA. Let me use what God gifted me, for you.
Isabel Celestino
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
I would like to become a board member of this association because I am at a time in my life where I can help with all the work that is needed to get done. I’ve helped with cemetery cleanups and fundraisers, and I’ve realized SISCA needs help, especially physically. I am the great-granddaughter of Alice Fay and know how important this association was to her and how important our history is. This association is the caretaker of a very important cemetery to me, and I would like to help and be part of maintaining it, along with our history.
Joe Louis Factor
Scout ancestors: Pompey Factor
I would like to continue to help with the upgrades and maintenance on the cemetery buildings and grounds windows. The museum needs some upgrades. I am always willing to help with whatever else is necessary, whatever needs to be done to make everything look more beautified, as I have done in the past. For the past eight years, I have been the sole caretaker of the cemetery and school grounds and maintenance around the Carver school. This is a volunteer position, but I treat it like a job and often can be found in one of these places. Some projects that I would like to see are the installation of new windows in the school building, central air in the school building, adding a handicap ramp to the east side of the museum, and upgrading the BBQ shed.
John Fay
Scout ancestors: Adam Fay
My reason for wanting to continue to be a board member is that I want to make sure that we keep up our traditions. I also want to make sure that we accomplish all that we are trying to do. I have always been able to help out with anything that needs to be done. I am always present at meetings and cemetery cleanups and any other event that requires active participation. A project that I would like to initiate is cleaning the cemetery’s fence. I would like to make sure that all the debris and all the trees and growth along the fence is clean and clear.
Lee Torralba
Scout ancestor: Adam Fay/Dallas Griner
Our history is important to me, and I would like to help the association in any way that I can. I have helped with cemetery cleanups, and I have helped with BBQ for Seminole Days and will continue to do so, and I never charged a dime. My grandfather and a lot of family members are in that cemetery, and it’s our duty to help however we can.