LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
I take this opportunity to thank my
cousin Everett Butler, Dave Briley, and
John Potthoff for assisting our
tribal elders.
Everett volunteered his time and
truck to transport 128 bundles of kindling
for me from Salem to the tribal elders at
Siletz. He accomplished this after
working an entire shift at the paper mill.
Everett has made similar contributions
to our elders in the past. He truly
demonstrates our teachings to give of
one’s self to provide for the comfort and
needs of our elders.
Everett’s neighbor, Dave Briley,
accompanied and assisted him in
To the editor:
Something to think about...
In the recent tribal newsletter, it
is interesting to read the job openings
section. If you will notice, there are
various professional positions being
offered with our tribe. For instance,
dental officer, nurse practitioner,
pharmacist, office supervisor, and tribal
planner, just to name some of them.
Please look very carefully at the
qualifications that are required for these
positions. Each of these very
professional positions asks for at least
a degree in the related field of expertise
they are offered in.
Now then. In one of the
resolutions passed by our esteemed
Tribal Council, “The previous Tribal
Council
deliberately
set
the
qualifications for the general manager’s
position very high to make sure one of
our tribal members could not qualify.”
Oh my people! I was on that
committee and the truth is, we only
asked that the person or persons
interviewing for the position of general
manager of our tribe would have a
degree in the field of business
administration, accounting, business
management, or at the very least, a
degree in a related field.
The reason for this is that, at the
time, the tribe was restructuring and the
GM position was to be made responsible
for our timber revenue monies, our
casino monies investments, and all
expenditures
relating
to
the
administration of the tribe. Along with
these responsibilities, the GM is also
-2-
transporting the kindling and repair of his
truck when they encountered
motor trouble.
John Potthoff (mill operator)
donated the kindling and his time and
equipment to load Everett’s truck. John
has made many donations of surplus mill
ends and loose kindling to me in the past.
Tribal members in Siletz, Salem,
Springfield, Portland and Grand Ronde
have benefited from his donations.
Thanks again, Everett, Dave and
John. Words cannot express the respect
I have for each of you.
Ed Ben
over all the programs, the accounting
department, and the clinic.
Our main reason for changing the
GM requirements had nothing to do with
“politics,” only the desire to upgrade the
position to where it should be, “a top
professional spot.”
So, in their desire for control, the
Council sat down and changed the
requirement that the GM have this related
degree, and inserted that the position
require only “a degree.” This then
opened the door for the tribal member
who was not qualified before to apply for
the GM-position.
And who was this poor
unqualified tribal member? None other
than our esteemed tribal councilperson’s
niece! Only three people were asked to
interview for this important position, and
being as the niece was the only tribal
member, guess who got the job?
So now, we have a GM with a
degree in physical education running our
tribe and making the final decisions for
all of our top professionals.
Incidentally, the “previous” Tribal
Council did hire a qualified tribal
member who had a degree in business
administration, but he was fired to make
room for the “niece,” the highly qualified
physical ed teacher.
But one thing I can say for the
present Council, they take care of their
own. Hey! How else can they
keep control?
C.W. Case, Sr.
LETTERS, DEADLINES
AND SUBSCRIPTIONS
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accept no responsibility for statements
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Send letters to:
Siletz News
P.O. Box 549
Siletz, OR 97380
541-444-8291
1-800-922-1399, ext. 291
Fax: 541-444-2307
e-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us
Please note:
The general
manager of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-
in-chief of the Siletz News.
Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner
Editor: Diane Rodriquez
Deadline for the October
newsletter is Sept. 10. Photos are
encouraged. Everyone loves to see
photos of events, tribal members, and
especially babies. Don’t forget those
birthday or anniversary wishes for
loved ones.
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