Untitled Document

FOGLI - How It All Began

In the spring of 2001, following an informational meeting held at Wayland Union Schools, the wheels began to turn. The Tribe had held the meeting to tell the community of its proposal to place a casino in Dorr Township. The project was met with much opposition and the meeting quickly became uncontrolled with the crowd getting hostile and throwing many racial slurs.

Judy Bott read about the meeting in an article in the paper and wanted to do something. She called the tribal office. That led to a meeting with the Gun Lake Chamber of Commerce, they then talked to the Tribe allowing them to present their project.

Marcia Halloran, at about the same time, also contacted the Tribe to see what she could do.

She and Bott traveled with the Tribe to Lansing to give testimony for the Tribe.

The two talked and discovered both were passionate about the project and the Tribe’s desire to become independent.

It was then the idea blossomed for FOGLI. The first meeting was held July 23, 2001. An article was printed in the local paper, announcing the new group and its intention of supporting the Tribe.

Another meeting was held at Wayland Township Hall Aug. 15 where more than 250 people showed up to lend their support.

Shortly after that a rally took place at the former Ampro building where the crowd grew to 500. Another followed a year later with 1,000 turning out for the rally.

Today FOGLI has more than 10,000 members who continue to support the Tribe and its efforts.

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		FOGLI BOARD:
		Judy Bott, Kathy Bowerman, Elise DeYoung, Marcia Halloran, Bob Wagner, Terry Whitley
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