APRIL 15, 1999
Dear Editor:
My name is Milton Roy Sherwood
Jr., Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde tribal member for years.
I am truly distraught with the
amount of new enrolled members. I
am writing this letter not only to
commend Kathryn Harrison, but
also to keep it in the minds of long
standing tribal members where our
Tribe is headed if such a rate keeps
up.
I had heard there was quite a few,
but never imagined such a magni
tude of this. I believe, and believe
many others will feel the same way,
that we are heading in a direction
of self destruct if it continues at any
where near the rate it is now, thank
you Kathryn for bringing this issue
out in the open.
Hopefully we can resolve this situ
ation in the near future.
Milton Roy Sherwood, Jr.
Roll 990
SMOKE SIGNALS
Public Information Office
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Or 97347
1-800-422-0232
(503)879-2254
FAX: (503) 879-2 173
SMOKE SIGNALS, a publication
of the Confederated Tribes of the
Grand Ronde Community of Or
egon, is published twice a month.
We have established an Editorial
Policy to encourage input from read
ers about stories printed in SMOKE
SIGNALS, and other tribal issues.
However, all letters must be re
ceived at the newspaper office with
author's signature, address, and
phone number in order to be con
sidered for publication. SMOKE
SIGNALS reserves the right to edit
any letter for clarity and length, and
to refuse publication of any letter
or any part of a letter that may con
tain libelous statements or personal
attacks. Not all letters are guaran
teed publication upon submission.
Published letters do not necessarily
reflect the opinions of SMOKE
SIGNALS, tribal employees, or
Tribal Council.
DEADLINE
April 20
May 5
May 20
June 4
June 21
ISSUE DATE
MAY 1
MAY 15
JUNEl
JUNE 15
JULY 1
Submissions must reach the SMOKE
SIGNALS office by the dates listed.
lb tribal members:
Attention, Grand Ronde tribal
members: have you registered to
vote? It is important that you have
registered to vote for Tribal Council.
We need you to vote, and it is impor
tant to you to know what is going on
with your money and business. Your
vote puts the right person in Coun
cil. Make sure your Council is work
ing for you.
Thank you very much.
- Marcia Bolton
Roll 1187
Dear Editor:
It is that time again! I recognize
the familiar schmoozing and the ral
lying for positions. I have observed
the obvious, "I won't take a stand or
voice my opinion, it might cost me a
vote."
That's right, it's election time! I
hear a lot of promise-making and of
course, "let's make a deal." "My fam
ily will support yours," and vice
versa. This really doesn't, have any--thing
to do with who can do the best
job or represent the whole General
Council by putting principles before
personalities. I have to ADMIRE
the large families that have orga
nized and voted collectively, they
generally get their candidate elected.
I am not opposed to this strategy and
sometimes I wish my parents would
have had more kids, but the reality
is I have nine voting members in my
family. I know there are other small
families out there who feel the same
as me...OUT NUMBERED.
It would be nice if some of the
smaller families or other tribal
people who don't necessarily agree
with their family's politics could sup
port candidates who uphold our
Tribal Constitution, ordinances, poli
cies and procedures. Candidates
who recognize conflicts of interest,
micro-management as bad business,
and adhere to a professional code of
ethics. Candidates who can look
past family issues and think objec
tively and envision the bigger pic
ture. I believe small families and
tribal members are hungry for rep
resentation. We need to develop
strategies to overcome the Goliaths,
acknowledging that diverse perspec
tives are important and essential for
decision making. Success comes in
"I can." Failure comes in "can'ts."
Your voice can count.
Kathleen Tom
Roll 817
Correction
Smoke Signals staff would like to
apologize for placing the wrong Ca
sino ad in the last issue. The prizes
listed in the ad on page 12 of this
issue are correct.
Respect our Elders;
free meals belong to them
Every Monday, Grand Ronde
tribal Elders and a guest can receive
a free meal at Coyote's Buffet at
Spirit Mountain Casino. The buffet
staff have a list of tribal Elders who
sign next to their name when they
arrive at the buffet to eat.
Lately, however, some folks have
been abusing this benefit to get free
meals for themselves and others by
signing-in next to a name that isn't
theirs. In some cases, an Elder has
come to the buffet only to find a false
signature next to his or her name!
It has been decided that Casino staff
will start asking Grand Ronde El
ders to show their tribal enrollment
cards before entering the buffet.
Grand Ronde Elders are upset by
this "stealing" of buffet meals.
Free Monday meals at the buffet
are for Grand Ronde Elders and a
guest only. Show proper respect to
our Elders. Don't try to get a free
meal at the buffet if you are not en
titled to one.
Elder passes away
Tribal member Vincent Melvin Mercier,
82, formally of Grand Ronde, passed away Feb
ruary 24 in Beaverton. Vincent was born No
vember 25, 1916 in Grand Ronde and married
Catherine Mary Kirby in 1943 in Wellington,
New Zealand. She preceded him in death in
1995.
After serving in the Marines in WWII, he
graduated from Linfield College in McMinnville. He worked as a teaching
principal in Grand Ronde and moved to Beaverton in 1958. He taught
special education in Portland schools and retired after 39 years.
Survivors include sons, Lon and Michael, both of Portland; daughter,
Carmel Mercier of Beaverton; brother, Vernon Mercier of Salem; sister, Opal
Davidson of Sheridan; and two grandchildren.
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Tribal members are needed to serve on the Election Board .
APPLICATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL APRIL 29, 1999.
For more detailed information:
please call Val Sheker at 379- 2221 or 1-800-442-0346.
Tribal Election Board Application Form
Name:
Address:
Phone Number:
Enrollment Number:
Is transportation a problem? .
Cmyou travel overnight?
When are you available for meetings?
Why are you interested in serving on the Election Board?
Do you have any background in this board area? (optional)
Comments:
I Return form to: Vilorie Sheker
9615 Grind Ronde Road, Grind Ronde, OR 97347
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