Warm Springs, Oregon
December 16, 1988 PAGE 5
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Tribal employees recognized for outstanding performance, exceptional work
SpilyayTymoo
For the first time in the recent
history of the tribal organization,
numerous employees were honored
earlier this week for their outstand
ing work performance on the job
and in the community. Secretary
Treasurer Larry Calica presented
letters of commendation, mounted
on plaques, to 23 employees and
one unit citation at a luncheon at
Kah-Ncc-Ta Monday, December
12.
The awards, said Calica, "are
long overdue. Some achievements
have gone without recognition."
Calica mentioned that police
department efforts to reduce deaths
on the highways for two consecu
tive years and voluntary drug test
ing among Community Service
Branch employees two years prior
to adoption of the policy as two
such instances.
Mov'ingthespotlightawavfrom
the negative, emphasis has been
placed on the positive. We tend to
"take for granted the good things,"
said Calica. "We need to tell our
selves we do good things here. We
souldn't be afraid to give ourselves
a pat on the back."
The awards will be presented
.annually forexceptional work tjer
formancc. Hopefully the awards
will encourage others to measure
their own performance and pro
mote employees to rely on their
own skills and abilities. These
awards are in no way connected
with the length-of-service awards
given annually.
Excerpts of the commendations
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I I B V ' ft k VI I iii II , ill 3
Tribal employees were honored during luncheon for outstanding work. Sol all were available for a photo.
follow. Those receiving the letters
of commendation were:
Joe Bidonl-Prlntlni With nearly
nine years of service. Joe was com
mended for his work on (he tribal
budget information packets.
Keith Baker-Search and Retcue
First hired in April. 1979. Keith was
rehired in April, 1987. He was com
mended for the initiatives he has taken
with the Volunteer Search and Rescue
program.
Charles Callca-Aislstant Commun
ity Services Manager With 12 years
of service, Jody was commended for
the development of the planning prot
otype for operations and for sharing
his managerial insights to the charter
concept and planning requirements.
Herb Craybael, Jr.-Public Works
Manager With nearly 21 years' ser
vice, Herb was commended for his out
standing performance, leadership skills
and handling of the gas spill.
Elton Greeley-Community Center
Director Hired in October, 1975,
Elton was recognised for his interest to
strengthen the community by organiz
ing events such as the Childrcns' Jam
boree and the community Christmas
tree project.
Theron Johnson-Tribal Forestry
Hired in April, 1 9X4. I heron was rec
ognized for his achievement in accu
rately scaling approximately $10 million
worth of logs each year.
Tony Keo-l'tilltles Tony, who was
hired April 27, 19X7, was recognized
for his dedication in completing and
passing his GED requirements which
serves as an inspiration to his co
workers and others.
Richard Krause-Tribal Forestry
Working for the Tribe for over nine
years. Richard was commended for his
leadership, knowledge and skills in get
ting the pre-salc cruise program opera
tional. Terry Luther-Natural Resources
Hired over II years ago, Terry was
commended for his dedication to the
coordinated resource planning team, a
process that will give long-term benef
its to the Tribes.
Jim Manion-Hydro Plant Working
for the I nbc since June, I9K I, Jim was
recognized for the example he has set
for other tribal members, especially (he
youth, through his leadership skills
and establishing the unique working
relationship with professional staff from
the I nbc and PGE.
Julie Mitchell-Early Childhood Edu
cationWorking for the Tribe since
November II. 19X2, Julie was com
mended for her leadership skills and
the initiation of nc- iropnmsand ser
vices within her department.
Evallne Patt-SecretaryTreasurer'i
Office-Working for the Tribe for
nearly 20 years, Evaline was recog
nized for her consistent work on the
annual operating budget and for pro
viding accurate financial information.
Satish Puri-Engineering Satish was
hired nearly 16 years ago and was rec
ognized for coordinating planning,
engineering and execution of both pro
jects and services with the III A, HIS
and tribal entities.
I.avonne Hot-()ffIff of Information
Sytltms first hired for two vcurs in
November, 19X0. then again in Janu
ary, I SIM, t uvonnc was recognized lor
her ability to consistently provide sim
ple solutions to complex situations and
lor helping with the I9X7-I9XX budget
packet.
Mary Sando-KWSO Hired June
22, I9H7, Mary was commended tor
her efforts, performance, enthusiasm
and skills gained as a competent
announcer and writer.
Sal Sahme-Assislant Fiscal Service
Manager Working for the I nbc lor
over 10 years, Sal was recognized for
his work on and completion of the Tri
bal Health Plan, a document which
will help launch the strategic health
plan efforts into the next generation.
Deepak Sehgal-Walrr Master
Hired October 15, 1979. Deepak was
commended for providing great insight
in the evolution of the total integrated
resources management plan.
Dean Seyler-FIre and Safety Direc
torHired six years ago. Dean was
commended for his coordination efforts
in the multi-agency fire protection
resources, in community fires that
threaten homes and family safety.
Ginger Smith-Fiscal Services Hired
March 3, 19X2, Ginger was recognized
for outstanding performance and for
three consecutive years in the prepara
tion ol the budget inhumation
packets, and her willingness to work
extended hours and meet deadlines.
Bob Stafford-Vehicle Pool-Working
lor the I nbc lor seven vears. Hob
was recognized lor demonstrating ded
ication to keep the tribal fleet operat
ing, even if it meant working after
hours and on weekends.
Ron Suppah-Vrhirle Pool Hired
December I, 19X2. Ron was com
mended lor obtaining a clear under
standing of the vehicle pool function,
thus developing new, clfeclivc policies.
Eloise Thornton-Accounting II ired
over 20 years ago, I loisc was recog
nized lor her dedication in coming to
work early, working after hours and on
weekends to ensure that tribal payroll
is completed.
Roy Vaughn-Water Treatment Plant
Manager Hired in August. 19X1. Roy
was commended for his dedication to
staff development activities and indi
vidual employee development. Under
his leadership. Warm Springs was the
only reservation to pass safe drinking
water requirements for one car.
A single unit citation was awarded
to the Community Center and Head
Start Staffs for their actions and judg
ment in the detection and reporting of
the gas spill, thus averting the harmful
consequences of a major health and
safety problem for the community and
tribal organization.
Seasons Greetings
Have a happy, safe holiday
from the Spilyay staff
;Spilyay receives "cooperators" award from OSU Extension
w k M y if "
S.-t :..Z. v JI I hs ! -
Spilyay received a "cooperators" award from OSU following nomination by the local off ice. Those present at
the awards banquet (left to right) were Clay Penhollow, Eraina Palmer, John Byrne, Donna Behrend, Sid
Miller, Deb Scott, Clint Jacks and Mollie Marsh.
Budget recommendations Continued from page 2
by Donna Behrend
The phone rang. It was OSU
Extension agent Mollie Marsh ask
ing about Spilyay circulation.
"About 2.000," I said. Subject drop
ped. About two months later. Marsh
calls again, only this time her voice
is animated. "We've got something
to tell you, but not over the phone."
Later in the week, Marsh and Clay
Penhollow, the other OSU Exten
sion agent, visit the office. Handing
over stapled papers, they inform us
that we've won the "Cooperators"
award from OSU. Come to find
out, the local OSU Extension office
had nominated us for the award.
How nice, we say. In our minds,
we're asking ourselves, what does
this mean. And why us.
Spilyay was among six indi
viduals and two businesses to re
ceive the annual award. Spilyay
editor Sid Miller and I were invited
to attend a banquet that culminated
a weeklong OSU Extension confer
ence that's held each year in
Corvallis.
During the awards ceremonies,
our questions were answered. The
awards are given to individuals and
businesses who assist OSU Exten
sion, either through 4-H or similar
programs or by providing an outlet
for their messages. Spilyay fits in
the latter category.
Since Spilyay began in 1976, we
have dedicated one page to Exten
sion news. Information provided
ranges from cattle care to cooking
tips, from child care to household
tips. Hopefully, there is something
on those many pages that has been
a help to someone.
Although the editor and I were
the only ones from Spilyay invited
to Corvallis, we are certainly not
the only ones responsible for Exten
sion news. Extension provides the
input, we prepare the output. 1 he
OSU award would not have been
possible without the "cooperation"
of both offices.
In this case, modesty must
prevail we do what we're paid to
do. And, we cannot take full credit
for this award, although we'd like
to. Both offices and all employees
therein should s' are the honor.
Warm Springs Elementary
Christmas Program
"The Sounds of Christmas"
December 19, 1988
7:30 p.m.
Warm Springs Elementary students cordially!
invite community members and their entire
family to join them in celebrating and promote
ng the joy, peace and harmony that the
Christmas season represents.
services are accessible, responsi
and affordable.
Another concern is that the
assistant plant manager position
has been vacant for a year.
Savings in electrical costs occur
throughout the year. These savings
are held to absorb unscheduled
requests.
Education Services
Even though there has been an
increase in the number of people
served by employment programs,
Council questions the long-term
benefit of job-readiness programs
in an environment of few jobs.
Council sees little parental
involvement when teaching child
ren basic values and learning skills.
The Tribe serves children from
infancy through high school, with
little emphasis on parents. This
lack of emphasis creates a need for
additional positions and further
dependency on the Tribe to be
primary teacher.
Council has been supplied no
report or proposal which shows the
effectiveness of higher education
programs and special programs
aimed at improving public school
success.
Training funds should be spent
only for those purposes that will
improve an employee's performance
rather than individual preferences.
The role of Culture and Heritage
providing higher education mate
rials, staff support to the culture
and heritage committee and off
reservation activities needs to be
clarified.
Financial Services
This budget was reduced by
$70,000. I he addition of profes
sional staff in this department
should reduce the need to provide
user design services by the Office of
Information Systems. However, the
security proposal should be retained
to ensure the integrity of tribal
information.
Council suggested that current
policies, procedures and practices
be reviewed so that costly and
unnecessary requirements within
the accounting and purchasing areas
can be eliminated.
Natural Resources
While there is no reduction in
this budget, Council expressed their
concern with user-oriented activi
ties, fearing that users would
become dependent on them. Plan
ning and communications are
necessary to ensure that tribal
government and user responsibili
ties are clearly distinct.
The resource management role
needs to be more clearly defined
beyond monitoring and facilitating.
High turnover within the job
training programs is a concern
among Council members. Ihey
suggested involvement of student
trainees as an alternative to acquaint
members with resource manage
ment. Tribal Court
This budget was reduced by
$25,000. Procedural requrements
and practices need to be reviewed.
Council sugggested the Chief Judge
eliminate those that are costly and
unnecessary, thus realizing a sav
ings. Council also suggested that the
Chief Judge correct operating prob
lems which cause rescheduling and
increased costs.
The Judge should also review
the court's role in cooperating with
departments, especially in stream
lining requirements and juvenile
court actions.
Increase use of bench probation
should be reviewed.
The effectiveness of the Appel
late Court system should also be
reviewed.
Council questions the accessibil
ity of legal aid services.
Council and Committees
Travel costs will be controlled more
closely by ensuring the necessity of
travel, delegation size and duration
of trips. The budget was reduced
by $20,000.
Enterprise
This budget has been reduced by
$52,000. Even though KWSI has
withdrawn its request for addtional
equipment ($47,000), Council
expects that KWSI will continue to
improve its market position, thus
increasing its revenue.
The budget reflects a reduction
in appropriation lor the Tribal
Garage and the Information Cen
ter because both entities hopefully
will, by mid-1989, convert to tribal
member ownership.
Capital Projects
The $525,000 reduction in this
budget is reflected in several areas.
The land purchase program is
reduced by $50,000 due to a carry
over. The building improvement pro
gram is reduced by $400,000.
Delaying improvements can be
expensive, however, the difference
between necessary and preferential
renovation is not clear in the budget.
Council suggested a three to five
year building improvement plan
that would help determine facility
maintenance costs in the future.
Additional setting of priorities
will be necessary when purchasing
new equipment as this budget was
reduced by $45,000.
The vehicle replacement request
was reduced by $30,000. Council
continues to see low priority vehi
cles in use and inappropriate use of
vehicles.
Special Projects
There was no reduction in this
budget, however, several points
were considered by Council.
The purchasing contract admin
istration project should improve
the organization's ability to bid
contract rather than internal con
tract administration.
Council suggested that the tele
phone and engineering project be
eliminated if no firm proposal
exists.
Council suggested further
detailed study before the proposed
outpatient, drug testing and em
ployee assistance programs are
launched. Council w ishes to ensure
these programs are w ell understood
and that community volunteer
groups are included in the planning
and delivery of these sen ices.
Community Assistance
This budget was reduced bv
$125,000.
Council was advised that scho
larship and vocational education
programs will need $60,000 less in
1989. They suggested that the
minors' trust fund and student
trainee programs be reviewed to
increase financial participation on
each student's part.
The donation's budget was
reduced by $20,000, reflecting
Council's commitment to reducing
dependency on the Tribe.
The Senior Citizen's Home
Repair program was reduced by
$20,000 to ensure that expenses are
consistent with the original intent
of the program and not a full
benefit without regard to need.
Lot survey funds totaling $25,000
were removed. An evaluation of
tribal government responsibility in
this area needs to be done.
Other Programs
Insurance costs were reduced by
$55,000 due to potential savings
made possible by tort claims.
The $100,000 reduction in the
overall operating expenses reflects
Council's desire to eliminate unne
cessary administrative policies, pro
cedures and practices that occur
throughout the organization.
Council suggested that improve
ment be made in terms of planning,
administration and supervision of
temporary employment and train
ing programs.
Final budget posted Continued from page 1
mental approach to bring jobs to
market, consideration of employee
performance and qualifications for
a position and the soundness of the
position description," said the
memo. Calica stressed that not all
employees will receive pay increases.
Some employees' wages are at
"market", while others' wages are
below. Any increases will occur fol
lowing a fair evaluation of the job
and the employees' performance
and qualifications.
For recognition of outstanding
employee performance, an incen
tive program will be established.
$50,000 has been appropriated for
this purpose. Calica 's office will be
responsible for the development of
the employee incentive program.
Tribal Council, in the memo,
expressed the desire to upgrade the
administration and management
of all benefits paid to employees.
$75,000 is earmarked for a position
dedicated solely to that responsi
bility. Council expects to see sub
sequent reductions of administra
tion retained under contract.
The additions reflected in the
memo total $625,000. bringing the
total operating budget to
$17,384,234. The appropriation is
approximately 10 percent above
the 1988 appropriation.
Expectations over and above the
budget
Councii. in their December 6
memo, informed Calica that plan
ning for the future is important.
While the current budgeting and
planning process may appear com
plex. Council feels it will and should
continue to be improved.
Tribal Council will consider
designating a budget committee
composed of Council members.
Also, input gathered at General
Council meetings indicated the
need for tribal members to partic
ipate in the budget process. The
invitation to tribal members to
participate in the 1990 budget
should be followed through with
clear role expectations. Council
said.
Council recommended to Calica
that, prior to the preparation of the
1990 budget, an analysis of the
1 989 budget be done. That analysis
should display three aspects of tri
bal government expenses: recurring
expenses considered to be a true
obligation of the Tribe; costs that
are expected to cease in one to five
years; and, the allocation of tribal
and non-tribal resources among
planning priorities rather than
standard budget categories.
Council is committed to setting
long range goals and developing
the necessary strategic plans to
support those goals. T he planning
efforts in the areas of finance,
health, water, hydro electricity and
federal legislation all point toward
the achievement of specific goals.
"Threshold" progress is being made
in the areas of integrated natural
resources, economic development,
infra-structure facilities and human
resources.
The expenses for drug and alco
hol programs docs reflect Coun
cil's support in combatting sub
stance abuse.
Council feels that real growth on
the reservation will come from
economic development. Council
expects to see major enterprises in
much stronger market positions in
1989. The small enterprises should
be either self supporting or con
tracted to private individuals in the
coming year.
Council also feels that the stand
ard of livingamongtribal members
can be improved through assist
ance opportunities offered by the
Tribe. However, those programs
can never be a substitute for family
instruction, individual initiative and
community spirit. Returning respon
sibility to families, individuals and
community groups should continue
to remain the keynote across govern
ment services.
Services directed at Warm
Springs youth appear to be directed
at problems afterwards, said the
memo. Council sees very few vis
ible efforts dedicated to prevention
and education. These two areas
deserve increased emphasis.
The memo concluded, stating.
" c would like to sec a response,
crcdibleand accountable organiza
tion w hich our employees are proud
to be a part of and our community
proud to support."