Siletz news /, August 01, 2008, Page 20, Image 20

NOTICES
Tribal Funding Helps Build OCCC’s North Campus in Lincoln City
by Teresa Simmons
“One man's dream, becoming a
vision that inspired a diverse county
to work together to make the dream a
reality ...”
These comments were made by
Barbara Jenkins-Gibson, chairman of
the Oregon Coast Community College
Board of Directors, referring to College
President Patrick O'Connor in her
opening remarks during the ceremony
to celebrate the near completion of the
first building of OCCC’s North Cam­
pus in Lincoln City. Ore.
On July 2, approximately 150
people turned out for a sneak preview
of the 20.000-square-foot building that
creates a campus of continuing educa­
tion, from Taft Elementary School to
the 7-12 high school, all within walk­
ing distance of one another.
A sense of pride, joy and accom­
plishment could be seen on the faces
of the crowd, which included many of
the volunteers who worked to bring this
dream to fruition.
Guest speakers included represen­
tatives of the four partnering entities
that were the major players in making
the building of the campus a reality:
Siletz Tribal Chairman Delores Pigsley;
Lincoln City Mayor Lori Hollings­
worth; Sherry Cummins, president of
the OCCC Foundation; and Terry Thomp­
son, chairman of the Lincoln County
Commissioners.
With Siletz Tribal Council members
Tina Retasket and Frank Simmons
looking on from the crowd, Tribal
Chairman Pigsley shared that. “One of
our Tribe’s top priorities is education
and this helps fill the need more than
you can imagine. It's really an outstand-
Left to right: Siletz Tribal Chairman Delores Pigs ley, Lincoln City Mayor Lori
Hollingsworth, Chairman of the OCCC Board of Directors Barbara Jenkins-
Gibson. College President Patrick O Connor, President of the OCCC Founda­
tion Sherry Cummins, and (standing in back) Lincoln County Commission
Chairman Terry Thompson (photo by Teresa Simmons)
ing community achievement that will
bring us together, not only now but in
the future.”
In her remarks, Mayor Hollings­
worth noted that the Tribe is one of the
major influences in Lincoln City, con­
tributing to the well-being of the com­
munity as a whole.
A bond measure passed by Lincoln
County voters for $23.5 million gave
the project its start, however, it took a
great deal of effort, many meetings,
fund-raisers and extensive planning to
bring the project to its present state. It's
no exaggeration to say that dedication
and commitment on a daily basis cre­
ated the facility. No loans were used
and the expected $17 million in match­
ing funds from the state dwindled to
approximately $7.5 million.
“Wish it, dream it, do it” was the credo
voiced by OCCC Foundation President
Cummins and used in the ongoing ef­
fort to move this project forward.
County Commission Chairman
Thompson spoke with great passion
about the opportunities for higher edu­
cation the facility will create for Lin­
coln County students who otherwise
might not have the option available to
complete their education.
This long-awaited day marked the
opening of the first new facility built
in Lincoln County specifically to house
the college, an affiliate of Chemeketa
Community College. Classes have
been held in rented make-shift facili­
ties, including an old fire hall in the
Taft area of Lincoln City and a remod­
eled nightclub in Newport.
The new “green” building, as yet
unfurnished and in need of equipment,
is expected to be fully operational by
the fall of 2008.
The Tribe's collaboration with other
entities to help build this building ac­
centuates the ongoing positive economic
effect and the improvement of the qual­
ity of life that the Siletz Tribe has on the
surrounding community through inter­
action and monetary contributions.
According to the June 13 issue of
the Portland Business Journal, “The
growing philanthropic gifts (from
Tribal casino donations) come at a criti­
cal time for the organizations, many of
which have dealt with dwindling fed­
eral and state funding in recent years.
“Five tribal foundations funded
through a portion of casino profits
have boosted their combined giving by
330 percent over a decade to $7.4 mil­
lion in 2007, according to the most re­
cent data collected by the tribes. Alto­
gether the tribes - including The Con­
federated Tribes of Umatilla Indian
Reservation, The Confederated Tribes
of the Grand Ronde, The Confederated
Tribes of the Siletz, The Cow Creek
Band of the Umpqua Tribe of Indians
and The Coquille Indian Tribe -
awarded $76.4 million in grants be­
tween 1997 and the first quarter of
2008. Dollars are dispersed all over the
state and non-profits, government en­
tities and tribes reap the rewards.”
Partners in the Community
Alice Werth shows two participants how to make a shawl during Culture
Camp. Prior to the three-day event, several elders in the Salem area, including
Alice, cut more than 100 pieces of cloth for the shawls that were made during
the camp, (photo hy Diane Rodriquez)
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Siletz News
•
August 2008
Dorothy Bishop from Operation Care Package and Diane Kusz, manager of
Tanger Outlet Center, accept a check for $250 for Stuff a Boat presented hy
Jim Kikumoto, general manager of Chinook Winds. Stuff a Boat is an annual
event held at Tanger to raise funds to send needed personal items to our
troops overseas. A long list of items, including socks, personal hygiene items,
books and playing cards, is collected for shipment (they actually stuff a boat).
The Human Resources Department at Chinook Winds stepped up and
volunteered to gather items donated hy staff to be sent to the troops,
(photo hy Teresa Simmons)