LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
To the editor:
I would like to thank Margo Hudson
for your dedication and hard work; you
have helped me in many ways. Margo, 1
have been more receptive since 1 have been
your “client” of the 477 SSP Program.
Margo, your understanding on a
daily basis has brought humbleness to
me. I thank you for this and the many,
many out-of-the-way and above-and-
beyond service and duties you help me
with. Whether it is my paperwork or my
forgetfulness to real-life emergencies, I
thank you so for understanding.
1 was offered an “incentive” award
due to the consistency of my completed
paperwork. I thank you and my daughter,
Amber, also is grateful for the great time
we had at the aquarium. While there, I often
remembered why I was there. I thank you
for the recognition.
The frustration felt, the many times
you, Margo, helped me and my family
through no matter what in life, you are
very helpful. You offer encouragement on
different levels no matter the need, great
or small. I am thankful for this.
You, Margo, offered a way for me
to “look outside of the box” and I now
To the editor:
Hello, my name is Ralph Steele, an
enrolled Siletz. Tribal member in Portland,
Ore. I have talked to several people in Tribal
government about the possibility of having
a class in archery for Tribal members
(adult and youth) to learn how to shoot and
qualify for the state hunter's safety course.
As I understand it, to be able to fund this
type of program there would have to be a
consensus of Tribal members interested
in an archery course and then this project
would be presented to the Tribal Natural
Resource Committee for funding.
It is my hope to get as many people
as possible who would be interested in
learning archery to contact me so I could
then present this to the Natural Resources
Committee. There are a number of excel-
in different ways look at life in a dif
ferent aspect. I now know that there is
understanding (more important for both
sides) and the “in depth look” is appreci
ated also.
Being a case worker for a grouchy
client as me must be hard, yet you still
stand in and understand, offering direc
tion and caring kindness. No matter the
hurdle, Margo, you offer information
and feelings that go hand-in-hand with
understanding of the 477 SSP Program
for clientele in need, from a “case worker
to client” aspect.
Again, Margo, I thank you for taking
the extra step to help, understand, direct
and be caring; this is why 1 feel you stand
out as a “case worker,” although at times
now I feel more of a friend to you than
a case worker. I hope other clients and
Tribal members can see this in you.
I would also like to thank all the other
477 SSP case workers and staff. While
Margo is out, all of you step up and help
with solutions.
Thank you.
Warmly and grateful,
Glenn and Amber Yarbrough
lent reasons why this type of sport would
be beneficial for our community, such as
building self-esteem in our youth; deter
youth from being involved in alcohol,
drugs and crime; teach the lost art of
traditional hunting that was also a right
of passage into adulthood; archery has
been an Olympic sport since the begin
ning of the Olympics; and develops fine
motor skills.
If you or your children would be
interested in the Tribe sponsoring an
archery course, would you please send a
letter of interest to the Natural Resources
Committee at P.O. Box 549. Siletz, OR
97380-0549.
Thank you,
Ralph Steele
Ring in 2009 in Worldly Style
New Year’s Eve is fast approaching and Chinook Winds is ringing in the New Year
with the theme “Around the World. Bon Voyage 2008.
Join in the international-style celebration, dressing to represent the culture or
country of your choice or wear your best finery for a night on the town. Dressed to
the nines or casual, you are certain to have a wonderful evening.
With multiple options to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Perform
ing live in the convention center from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. will be the party band Dance
Factory, with dance music from the '80s to the present.
In the Rogue River Lounge, DJ Ultrasonic will spin songs from 10 p.m. until
2 a.m. Tickets for each party are $20 and include a midnight toast as well as party hats
and favors. Seating for dinner in the Rogue River Steakhouse will be from 5 p.m. to
9 p.m. and will close for one hour between dinner service and the party.
Join in on the fun at Chinook Winds Resort Hotel Lounge from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. and
listen to live music by the always popular Bret Lucich. This party is tree and includes a cham
pagne toast at midnight. The regular menu will be available throughout the evening.
Chinook Winds Golf Resort will host a party starting at 9 p.m. Listen to the local
rock-n-roll band the Salmon River Band. This party is free and includes a champagne
toast at midnight and party favors.
For those who hope to start the New Year off with a big win, there's New Year s
Eve Bingo with cash drawings all evening long. Buy-in includes holiday dinner buffet,
party favors, confetti cannon, noisemakers and a sparkling cider midnight toast. Dinner
buffet will be served starting at 4:15 p.m. with the first session beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The buy-in is $ 100 until midnight on Dec. 30 and then $125 until the session begins.
To the editor:
1 attended the General Council meet
ing on Nov. 1, 2008. I was shocked and
disappointed with the conduct of Tribal
members who were rude and inconsider
ate of other people. The attitude seemed to
be a fishing expedition of Tribal Council
members doing something wrong. Noth
ing was proved but the Tribal member
went on and on and refused to leave the
podium to let others voice their concerns.
1 was reminded of the years that
preceded the recall. The same type of
accusations and suspicions went on. The
history of the period is very sad because
the Tribal Council at the time was so
sure they could find something wrong
with the previous Tribal Council that they
hired a new law firm and a new company
to audit the books. A lot of money was
spent needlessly - because they didn’t
find anything wrong.
1 was on the Tribal Council during
this time of conflict. The stress was so bad
— I was diagnosed with diabetes. Many
staff members were so stressed they were
under doctor’s care.
Dee Pigsley has been a wonderful
Tribal chairman. We can all be proud and
thankful of how she has represented our
Tribe and the leadership she has provided.
She is well-known and respected by all
Tribal peoples and she has national rec
ognition among the federal agencies and
legislators we must work with to make
things better for our Tribal people. She
does not deserve the kind of treatment that
a few poisonous tongues spit out.
I would like the General Council to
approve a time limit for each member
concern and only one concern to be ex
pressed at a time at the podium. Let others
speak and then sign up to speak again to
ask another question or express a differ
ent concern.
The negative harangues and strings
of unfounded accusations are what keep
many of our people from attending the
meetings and drive others into leaving
early. There were many people who had
come to hear the candidates' declarations
to run for Tribal Council, but most had
to leave before getting to that part of the
agenda because of the two members who
made a number of motions, each of which
was voted down by large majority votes.
And still they went on.
We don't need these kinds of negative
attacks in our General Council meetings.
We need to be respectful of each other and
work together for the betterment of all.
Thank you.
JoAnn Miller
Dear friends:
A small group has hijacked our Gen
eral Council meetings. During Tribal
Member Concerns, they don't state their
concerns by describing the situation, sug
gesting solutions, and/or asking for help
to fix the problem. Instead, these folks
act like the General Council meeting is a
“fishing expedition.”
They ask question after question,
sometimes just an unrelated string of
questions. Many questions ask for de
tailed facts - not for things Council mem
bers should be expected to know off the
top of their head. For example, the exact
amount of property tax last year on a piece
of land. There is an answer, but one you
have to look up if you want accuracy!
The questioner’s intent is not even to
learn information, since they must know
they won't get good answers going about
it that way. Instead, it is just to ask a mil
lion questions and get “I don't knows" - or
to get an answer to point to later and say
was wrong or a lie. The goal seems to be to
“spin” things into a “Gotcha!” and to convey
disrespect by tone of voice. It's political
grandstanding and it is driving people away
from attending General Council.
At the November meeting, this balo
ney went on for hours. It went on so long
the Salem Elders had to leave before the
candidate's declarations. People became
exhausted and went home. It's not right
and it's counter-productive.
As a Tribal member. I have a couple
of suggestions. Tribal Member Concerns
could be put last on meeting agendas.
General Council could establish a time
limit for concerns, maybe 15 minutes,
with the option for an additional 15 min
utes if approved by a vote at that time.
That way, if someone has something
really important to talk about, General
Council can vote to extend the time but
one person can't take over the meeting
for hours.
Finally, we could all take a lesson on
how to act from our Elders. In the August
meeting, an elder explained a concern on
behalf of casino employees. She provided
information, she made suggestions and an
advisory vote was made. That s how we
all ought to do it.
Years ago, when the Tribe cut down
and distributed some beach pines for
firewood, many members complained at
General Council because the wood was
full of knots and pitch. I never thought I 'd
be nostalgic for those meetings, but they
had real concerns, honestly articulated
not like this last meeting!
Don't let yourself be driven away
from General Council meetings. Please
attend so we can get the meetings back on
track, so we hear about important Tribal
business and real concerns.
Sincerely,
Cathem E. Tufts
December 2008
Siletz News
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