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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1994)
Smoke Signals May 1994 Page 6 Head Start The Grand Ronde Head Start class planed a baby cherry tree last There was a small ceremony where each of the children were dirt around the tree. Tribal leaders spoke about the importance of and keeping ties to the community. i, a" Children from Head Start helped plant the new cherry tree at the tribal offices. Council member Andy Jenness gave a closing prayer after the ceremony. He said, "Let us pray that the roots of this tree will remain healthy and strong, just as we hope these children will have strong roots in this community." - Angie Bedortha, Head Start teacher, felt that this activity was something that the children could do together while learning about the importance of growth and sharing tasks. Chairman Mark Mercier said, "It will be many years before this tree is fully-grown. I hope many of you will still be here in this community then. You will be able to tell everyone that you helped plant the cherry tree at the tribal offices. " Spirit Mountain Development Corporation The Tribal Council and the Spirit Mountain Development Corporation have developed an employment policy for staffing the new gaming center. Bruce Thomas, the corporation's executive director, said that if a tribal member and a non-tribal worker apply for the same job, the tribal member will be given preference - if the two are judged to be equal in all requirements. "Our corporation's tribal preference policy differs from the Tribe's policy," he said. Thomas said that the Spirit Mountain Development Corporation has to compete with non-tribal businesses, and must hire the most highly qualified employees. "The corporation cannot afford to risk the Tribe's investments with policies that impair the corporation's ability to compete," plants tree 4; . ' he said. "We must fill the positions with people who will make our operations successful and profitable. Quality employees are especially critical in a service industry, such as gaming, where employees are in constant contact with the public." The Tribe gives its members employment points or credit. Thomas said that it couldbe possible undertribal employment policy that tribal members with lower qualifications could be hired over non-tribal members. That policy will not be in force when the corporation hires staff for the gaming center. Thomas said that for many positions, tribal members will not have to be the most educated, and have the most experience to get the job. "If tribal members clearly have the necessary qualifications to perform these jobs, they will get the for future month near the tribal offices. given a chance to shovel the children to the Tnbe s future, If. jobs," he said. He said that the corporation will hire the best candidate, or candidates, for highly technical positions including: the casino manager, finance manager, risk control manager, public relations manager, marketing manager, managerof retail operations, human resources director and others. "Some of these positions are so specialized that the corporation may have to look out of state to fill the positions," Thomas said. "For example, there may be a few qualified casino managers or security managers outside of Nevada." Spirit Mountain will provide training to its employees after they are hired, but it will not provide taming to help secure employment Pre-employment training will be a tribal program. w yS if V" job openings ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT An administrative assistant's job in the Tribal Housing Program is open. The closing date for applications is May 20. The salary range is from $1,580 to $1,738 per month. The successful applicant will work for the housing program director. The administrative assistant is responsible for administrative functions in the Public Works Division. Applicants must be able to research and summarize information, put it into an understandable format and design; know the operations, policies and terminology of the division. The job requires preparing and maintaining financial documents; monitoring equipmentandasupplies inventory and toprovide confidential secretarial services. Applicants must be high school graduates, or have equivalency status; four years of progressively responsible secretarial or clerical experience, preferably in public works operations, or a combination of experience, training, knowledge, skill and ability to do the job. A thorough knowledge is required of general office practices and praures;Englishusageandgrammar,fdingsysterns; business telephone etiquette; public works operations, policies terminology, regulations and record keeping. Applicants must have the ability to maintain confidentiality; respond courteously to complaints and requests; organize, file and retrieve materials and documents', conduct effective working relationships with employees, officials, agencies and the public; communicate effectively in speech and writing; work independently; establish priorities; organize work load; record and prepare meeting minutes; interpret and implement regulations, policies and procedures. Applicants must have necessary skills in typing, operating office equipment, computersandassociatedsoftwareincludingword processing. Call 879-2257 for an application. CONTRACT FARMER ; ' The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon wants to grow an agricultural crop on 50 acres of land at Valley Junction. A contract farmer is being sought to plow, plant and harvest a crop. To apply for the contract, contact the Spirit Mountain Development Corporation by May 13 at (503) 879-2350. sets hiring policies "While successful completion of a pre-employment training program should increase a person's chances of gettingajob.it will not guarantee employment with the corporation," Thomas said. "The corporation will still hire the best people for the jobs." After a person is hired at Spirit Mountain, the corporation will provide training that will enable employees to advance. "Tribal members, and others, who don not initially qualify for supervisory and management jobs will have the opportunity to earn mosejobswithtrainingand superior performance," Thomas said. He said that Spirit Mountain will do everythingpossible to give tribal members the opportunity to obtain desirable jobs. Notice ofjob openings will appear in Smoke Signals. The notices will describe the types ofjob openings. Spirit Mountain will proved a description of the range of jobs at least 60 days before hiring starts. Thomas said that the corporation has the responsibility to hire its own employees. "Hiring is not a Council function," he said. "This has been confirmed at numerous Council and Spirit Mountain Development Corporation retreats." The Spirit Mountain board of directors will only decide on the hiring of the gaming center's general manager. The general managerwill havetheresponsibility for all other hiring decisions. However, the general manager will defer to the corporation's human resources director for most hiring decisions, Thomas said.
