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About Siletz news / (Siletz, OR) 199?-current | View Entire Issue (July 1, 2005)
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR To the editor: My name is Jesse Kirk and I am an en rolled Siletz Tribal member. I also work at Chinook Winds Casino as a cage cashier. 1 would like to respond to the recent issues regarding the Cage Department and answer the question of why there are no ticeably longer lines at the cage. First of all, we are not a little tribal casino anymore. The reality is that there is a transition currently under way in which our status as a complete world class. fully inclusive casino resort will be the final result. With the acquisition of the hotel, golf course, and development of the RV park, there as been a marked increase in net casino revenues and a sharp increase in occupancy levels since taking ownership of the hotel. For example, in the first four months of 2005, there was a 21 percent increase in net casino revenues compared to the same period the year before, and this does not include hotel revenue. Meanwhile, in the second half of 2004, after we acquired the hotel, there was a 24 percent increase in the hotel occupancy rate compared to the same period the year before. This means more guests. They are gaming more at our casino and staying longer at our hotel. When at one time a guest would stay for a few hours, guests will now stay for a few days. To the editor: On behalf of the Siletz Valley Friends of the Library, I want to say a hearty "thank you” for the recent donations for a new Siletz Library from the Tribal Charitable Contribution Fund. We applied for and received two grants on May 13. One was a donation of $20,()()() for our building fund. The other donation was for $8,700 for furniture for the 600-square-foot community room. Our building fund is now over 90 percent complete, our architect is draw ing up final plans and bid documents, and we hope to break ground this fall. We envision being open to patrons by sum mer 2006. This is excellent news for our tribe, but our casino is experiencing some grow ing pains. All departments in our casino have seen increases in workloads and in some cases, increased responsibilities. Specifically, longer lines have become more common at the cage lately and this you can credit to our unprecedented growth. Our Cage Department has been quick to respond, however. Many more cash iers have been hired recently, myself included. Significant changes have also been made in scheduling respects and occasionally a supervisor will work a window in the busiest of times. Six-day workweeks have become more common. All recent changes have been made with customer service and teamwork in mind. But there is also a downside to all of this. Our Cage manager, Linda Blochlinger, has initiated these changes and there are a small number of cashiers who resent heron a personal level because of this. I can say for a fact that I have never been asked what I do on my own time, nor have I been asked why I want PTO. In closing, I would like to add that my experience working in the cage has been very positive. Everyone in the Cage and Security departments has been ex tremely supportive to me during my own transition as I continue to gain valuable casino industry experience and knowledge. Jesse Kirk We are so grateful for the generosity of CTS1 in helping us to soon reach our goal of $745,000 for a turnkey library that the whole community can be proud of. We will, of course, give credit to CTSI for its donations and spirit of leadership. For example, our Building Committee is now beginning to plan for colors, finishes and furniture that are sensitive to this community’s Native heritage. Keep watching the lot next to the Siletz Post Office - the new library will soon take shape! Sincerely yours, Alice McCain SVFOL Member Ché Butler, Kera Logan. and Eddie Avila To the editor: On behalf of the Native students of Taft High School, we would like to thank you for sponsoring our trip to the 2005 Oregon Indian Education Association (OIEA) Youth Conference in Portland. Through your support, we were able to take 38 tribal youth and six chaperones from the Lincoln County Title VII Pro gram to the conference. Thank you again to Siletz Youth Prevention Program, Siletz JOM, LCSD Indian Education Program. Grand Ronde Youth Prevention, and the Siletz Tribal Tobacco Prevention Program. We are honored to share the news with you that three Siletz Tribal youth were voted onto the 2005-2006 OIEA Youth Board. Please join us in welcom ing Taft HS junior Kera Logan as presi dent, Taft HS sophomore Che Butler as vice-president, and Taft HS junior Eddie Avila as secretary/treasurer. Please contact us if there are any events concerning tribal youth that you want or need our help with at nati ve_tafthigh @ hotmai 1 .com Thank you very much, Kera Logan Eddie Avila Che Butler 2005-06 OIEAY representatives To the editor: Toledo High School baseball and contributions from the committee. The softball programs would like to thank the softball program has equipment for the Contribution Committee for supporting girls to play ball and be protected, includ the local high school athletic programs. ing catcher's gear and batting helmets. The baseball batting cage is up and Thank you, running with a nice cement floor with the From the Toledo Boomers f------------------------------------------------------------------ Siletz News Letters Policy Send letters to: Siletz News, a publication of the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians, 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, personal attacks, or unsubstantiated statements. 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. Siletz News P.O. Box 549 Siletz, OR 97380-0549 Please note: The general manager of the Siletz Tribe is the editor-in-chief of Siletz News. 2 • Siletz News • July 2005 Editor-in-Chief: Brenda Bremner Editor: Diane Rodriquez Assistant: Natasha Kavanaugh 541-444-8291 or 1-800-922-1399, ext. 1291 Fax: 541-444-2307 E-mail: pias@ctsi.nsn.us Deadline for the August issue is July 11. Submission of articles and photos is encouraged. Please read the Passages Policy on page 20 when sub mitting items for Passages. Member of the Native American Journalists Association | | I I Siletz News is free to enrolled Siletz Tribal members. For all others, a $12 annual subscription fee applies. Please make checks payable to CTSI and mail to Siletz News. | | | | । Name: । | Address: | | Phone: | Change of address: Tribal mem- I | bers-call the Enrollment Department | | at 541-444-8258 or 1-800-922-1399, | | ext. 1258; all others - call the news- | | paper office. k____________________________________ t
