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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 1, 2001)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: We want to thank all of you plain and simple for being there for us during the loss of our mother, Norma Kentta. Your caring, kindness, and thoughtfulness generated wonderful happenings, such as the speakers, the singers, the drummer, the delicious generous amounts of food, and the memories you shared with us. Thanks to maintenance and ladies from the tribal center for their work in organizing and managing all that we couldn’t have done had it not been for you. You did a beautiful job and it was greatly appreciated. Finally, kind hearts are the garden, kind thoughts are the roots - kind words are the blossoms, kind deeds are the fruits. With heartfelt thanks to all for your kindness. Sincerely, Rose, Arlen, Lydia, and Theresa To the editor: I am running for a position on the Tribal Council. I was on Tribal Council from 1990 to 1998 and was recalled in 1998. I never wrote, spoke, or challenged the recall because of personal issues going on with my brothers and sister. However, I can clearly focus on the recall to date. Other Council members and I were in the process of reorganizing the tribal administration. Through the process of reorganizing, we were reviewing the accounting department because of transfers of monies done without authorization. We had started reviewing the TANF manual and had questions about a $90,000 expenditure that the manager could not account for. I attended a Council meeting in November, after the recall, and the TANF budget was overspent by $235,000. A quorum voted and passed a resolution to relieve the attorney of his duties with the tribe. We were also getting away from micromanaging Chinook Winds. The general manager was to keep expenses down and increase profits that would come to the tribe. Delores Pigsley and Bonnie Petersen strongly supported the recall as they stated at a General Council meeting. Delores Pigsley was not the chairman of the tribe for two years and after the recall, she was again elected as the chairman. The Council after the recall rehired the same attorney who was let go. Individual members of the Council have been charged with a Notice of Violation for 1999 regarding comps that were used at the casino. They have spent thousands of dollars for meetings and attorneys to keep themselves out of trouble. The Council could have written a well-planned policy for comps but they chose to spend a great deal of money. They will eventually have to write a well-planned policy and the cost will be one Council meeting. The Council let the casino general manager in 1999 keep expenses at approximately 96 percent of the revenues, which left about 4 percent for the membership. In late 1998 and 1999, tribal members were fired from jobs and some have not been given a reason why they were fired. In 1999, the Council removed a tribal member as general manager for the tribal administration and put one of Delores Pigsley’s family members in as the general manager. The Council recently tried to change the Constitution without input from the membership, but a majority of those who voted, voted no against all five proposed amendments. Do you want more coming back to you? Do you want to see a change in Council? Tribal members, you need to vote for different leadership. I am asking for your vote in the coming election. Lillie Butler To the editor: I attended my first CTS1 employee Christmas party/staff meeting at Chinook Winds on Dec. 20.1 had a wonderful time. In speaking with others in attendance, it sounds like we all did. The entertainment was fantastic, from our very own talented staff of singers and poetry writers to the outstanding performance of Joe Stoddard. Hats off to those who obviously worked very hard to allow the rest of us to have fun. You folks did a great job! Once again, thanks for the great time! Rebecca Williams PAO Supervisor LETTERS, DEADLINES AND SUBSCRIPTIONS Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians of Oregon, is published once a month. Our editorial policy encourages input from readers about stories printed in Siletz News and other tribal issues. All letters must include the author’s signature, address, and phone number in order to be considered for publication. Siletz News reserves the right to edit any letter for clarity and length, and to refuse publication of any letter or any part of a letter that may contain profane language, libelous statements, or unsubstantiated statements. 2 Not all letters are guaranteed publication upon submission. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Siletz News, tribal employees, or Tribal Council. Please type or write legibly. Letters longer than 450 words may be edited for length as approved by Tribal Council Resolution #96-142. 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 The newsletter is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $ 12 annual subscription fee applies. Fill out this form and mail it with $12 (make check payable to Confederated Tribes of Siletz) to Siletz News. Name:_________________________ Address:_______________________ e-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Phone:( Please note: The general manager of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief of Siletz News. Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner Editor: Diane Rodriquez Deadline for the February issue is Jan. 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. )___________________ Change of address: Tribal members call Lisa Norton, enrollment clerk, at 541-444-8258; all others, call the newsletter office at 541-444-8291 and leave your new address with the editor.
