PAGE 8 WARM SPRINGS, OREGON MAY 13, 1977
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Secretaries Examine Office Communication
The third in a series of
five workshops sponsored by
the Tribes and organized by
Ernie de Rocher and Joann
Reynolds, was held May 5-6 at
Kah-Nee-Ta and dealt With
communication networks in the
office.
Instructor Gary Peterson,
Ph.D., of the University of
Puget Sound in Tacoma made
his presentation timely by con
fronting the changes that he
feels are inevitable when the
new administration building is
occupied.
After all, Peterson said, workers.
Maxine Clements, secre
even though secretaries were
left out of the Tribal organ tary to the General Manager,
ization chart, they are “they commented after the workshop
key persons in the commimi- that secretaries were gearing
cation network ... the vital up for the move to the new
building and beginning to re
link.”
cognize the changes that would
have to occur. One change,
“Most of us are likely to said Maxine, might be a strict
downplay our own roles in this er dress code because of great
network,” he continued. But it er visibility in the open en-
is important that secretaries vironment
be effective communicators
and understand how informa
tion flows in their organization.
Peterson pointed out that
the “landscaped office” or
open building concept will af
fect communication and work
patterns and that employees
can capitalize on these changes
by anticipating them.
About fifteen secretaries
listened to Dr. Peterson ex
plain how. the “grapevine” can
be used as an effective channel
of informal communication.
Since it already exists, why not
learn to use it as a supplement
to the formal flow?
Although noise will not be
a problem, he predicted, lack
of privacy will. Adjustments in
work habits will have to be
made, and the rearrangement
of space might be necessary to
suit the workers.
Dr. Peterson offered sec
retaries tools for tracking
down the flow of information in
their offices and identifying
problems and potentials in
communication.
“The whole building is de
signed with the notion of flex
ibility in relationships and ar
rangement,” Peterson said.
In the new building “you’ll
see where you do fit and that
you have relationships with
others, that you have a place
in the organization.”
Since few supervisors have
attended the workshops so far,
it is up to secretaries to take
their knowledge back to the
offices in the form of changed
attitudes and increased sen
sitivity. Dr. Peterson stressed
the importance of secretaries
taking it upon themselves to
suggest change and flexibility
to their supervisors and co
Maxine pointed to the pos scheduled for July 21-22, will
itive effects that such work center on self-development and
shops have in bringing secre zcareer opportunities.
Maxine encourages any in
taries together and creating
terested people to attend, re
good feelings.
The first two sessions fo gardless of their employment
cused on the secretary and status. Someone thinking about
supervisor relationship and in applying for work and wanting
ternal office management. The to brush up on office skills can
next workshop, to be held June benefit from the workshops.
16-17, will deal with Public Supervisors are especially wel
Relations and the final session, come to participate.
■
“Am F bothering you?” Dorothea Smith inquires of Muriel Broncheau during the role playing
office situation atthe latest secretary’s workshop on communication. Instructor Dr. Garj,^terson
looks on as Muriel does everything she can to discourage communication with her c°-wo™r-
rnuiu
Pre-Schoolers Observe
Indian Traditions
Children enrolled in Head
Start and Day Care spent the
week of May 2-6 celebrating
their Indianness. The climax of
the week was their Root Feast
which attracted a few hundred
people to the Community Cen
ter May 6.
It was a little late for the
roots, most of which were
dried up, but the kids enthus
iastically went digging with the
All ages enjoyed the Head Start Root Feast May 6. Sara Patt and staff. Roots for the feast were
Wayne Miller join Roberta Eagle Man and her son Buffalo Horse
largely donated.
at the Community Center.
CDS Photo
Kids dressed up in wing
Charlie Strom and Rachelle Bettles are surrounded by fried
bread salmon and roots at the Head Start Root Feat heldJ
at the Community Center. The children spent a week
their Indian culture.
dresses, vests and headdresses
for the feast and joined their
elders in partaking of the roots
and salmon. After dinner two
shawls, made by Rosemary
Smith and Geneva Smith, were
raffled off, along with an
assortment of beaded items
and canned foods. Danni Kat-
chia and Dechelle Davis helped
draw the winners.
it didn't take Iona for the new Council to get burled in papers as wejl as buried in ‘bought.
.< i. «W
th. Council returns to
their old chamber and quickly settled into the routine of decision-making.
Other activities through the
week included peeling and
cooking some of the roots right
in the classroom, telling Indian
stories and legends, drawing
pictures of Indian life, fash
ioning medallions from crea
tive clay and making paper
headdresses.
The Head Start staff ha“
hoped for more parental par
ticipation. Only a handful o
mothers helped throughout the
week in a program that was
designed to bring parents ana
kids together.
Cooks included Roseman
^mith, Janice Clements, Geor
gette Clements, Joyce Qm»1’
and Viola Governor.