an.
4 -ii '
Ginger Lew, (center), the new Deputy Administrator for the Small Business
Administration in Washington D.C., visited the Tribe's Small Business Devel
opment Department on August 21 for a walk through of the Business Informa
tion Center and a roundtable discussion with Elaine Moore, Division Manager.
Ms. Lew was very interested in learning about the Tribe's business develop
ment projects as well as how the Business Information Center has been uti
lized by the Grand Ronde community and tribal members. Other guests for the
discussion included Patrick Borunda, of ONABEN; Don Matsuda, Portland Dis
trict SBA; John Gillman, Portland District SBA; tribal member Clyde Stryker,
owner of Spirit Communications; Mitch Conley, Marketing Manager for Spirit
Communications and ONABEN board member; Duke Olson, owner of Eagle
Feather Construction; Doug Hampton, Computer and Training Specialist; and
Shelley Hanson, who's now a Development Specialist at the Casino.
Tribe underwrites Yamhill Education Service District Program
Casino donates $4,000 to fund student transportation for Youth Transition Program
CO-OP ARTS & CRAFTS MARKET
Open to everyone, with the emphasis on Native American culture.
OPEN DAILY - 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Take Casino Exit Stop in and shop
All craft items are handmade
Rugs Tic Dye Items Baskets
Ties, Vests, Ribbon Shirts Dolls Drums
Handbags Dream Catchers Jewelry
Leather Items Moccasins Pouches
Framed Photographs and Paintings
Wood, Bronze, and Stone Sculptures
X
On Thursday, August 29 at Spirit Moun
tain Casino, Tribal Council presented a
check in the amount of $4,000 to the Yam
hill Education Service District (ESD) to
fund transportation for students enrolled in
the Youth Transition Program, a vocational .
education program.
Mark Mercier, Tribal Chairman, pre
sented the donation to Bill Conlon, Direc
tor of Special Education for the Yamhill
ESD; Jasmine Chase, Director of Instruc
tion and Program Development; and Mary
Kerns, Superintendent of Yamhill ESD.
The Youth Transition Program is an oc
cupational education program which pro
vides on-the-job training experiences for
students in Yamhill County. "The major
ity of the students we work with are disad
vantaged and at-risk," notes Conlon. "Be
cause many of them also live in rural areas
of the county, including Grand Ronde, Wil
lamina, Sheridan, Amity, Dayton, Carlton
and Yamhill, transportation' services for
these students is a major obstacle when pro
viding community job placements and plan
ning field experiences. Spirit Mountain's
donation will help ensure they can continue
to participate in the program." The dona
tion will be used for the lease or purchase
of a van that would be used to transport stu
dents to and from job sites," says Conlon.
"A van specifically designed for vocational
education programs will allow us to trans
port these students to their work sites." In
addition, the van will be used to facilitate
tours to community college programs, Job
Corps sites in the area, and tours of area
businesses.
"The Grand Ronde Tribe and we at Spirit
Mountain Casino are delighted to be able
to support the Youth Transition Program,"
notes Bruce Thomas, President of Spirit
Mountain. "Educational programs like this,
which provide on-the-job training for at-risk
kids right here in our own communities, are
invaluable."
In addition to the donation to the Yam
hill Education Service District, the Tribe
and Casino also recently funded two teach
ing positions for the Willamina School Dis
trict and continue to make substantial
monthly contributions to Head Start pro
grams in Yamhill, Polk, Lincoln, and
Marion Counties. See page 4 for more in
formation on contributions.
DONATION TO EDUCATION DISTRICT ON AUGUST 29. From left: Mark
Mercier, Council Chairman; Bill Conlon, Director of Special Education for the
Yamhill ESD; Jasmine Chase, Director of Instruction and Program Develop
ment; Mary Kerns, Superintendent of Yamhill ESD; Kathryn Harrison, Council
Vice-Chair; Council members Margaret Provost, Val Grout, and Ed Larsen.
Child care for children
with special needs
Families, child care providers, and advo
cates will take part in a discussion whose
topics will include:
What families say it takes to meet the
needs of their children with special needs
in child care settings.
Things that make it difficult for families
to find or hire child care providers for
children with special needs.
Difficulties child care providers have
offering care to children with disabilities.
Effective solutions to these problems.
The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde,
the Confederated Tribes of Silctz, the Oregon
Developmental Disabilities Council, the Or
egon Child Care Division, and community
agencies in Polk and Marion Counties are
working together on a project to improve
access to child care for children with disabili
ties. These agencies are joining with fami
lies and child care providers to identify prob
lems locating care for children with special
needs. Together, we will also recommend
solutions to those problems.
Tribal parents, guardians, and child
care providers are invited to a group con
versation on October 9 at the Spirit
Mountain Casino Banquet Room from 6
to 8 p.m. Child care will be provided for
the duration of the meeting, and refresh
ments will be served during the discussion.
Please confirm your attendance at the dis
cussion (and reserve child care if needed)
by contacting Wendi Spencer at the Youth
Education Division at 879-2280.