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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Jan. 15, 2000)
8 Smoke Signals January is, 2000 9 Four tribal offices change locations Some important tribal programs have moved their offices. The Tribe's Cultural Resource Protection department and the Office of Museum Development have moved from the Governance Center into the newly remodeled Community Center, and the Tribe's Small Busi ness Development department has moved from the Tribe's human re sources building on Highway 18 to the Governance Center. According to Small Business Division Manager Elaine Moore, while the move has been difficult, all program operations are currently up and running. Moore said the only change for tribal members wanting to access program services is the need for an appointment when needing the staffs help. Cultural Resources Specialist June Olson said her department is al most back to full operation. "We still have some unpacking to do and are waiting for some new furniture and file cabinets to arrive," said Olson. "We are not provid ing some of the services we would normally provide because we are still in boxes." Olson said by mid-January the Cultural Resources Protection De partment should be back to normal. "We are planning an open house on February 28 to get people re acquainted with our program and see our new space," said Olson. Additionally, the Grand Ronde Gaming Commission is now located at 28840 Salmon River Highway, in the same building as the casino's Human resources department. Upcoming Community Meetings Tribal Council will hold a series of Community Meetings in March of this year. Council is interested in learning what issues the tribal membership would like to discuss at these meetings. Please take a few minutes to write down the top concerns you would like Tribal Council to discuss with you. 1 Clip this ad and mail it to: Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Attention: Jackie Whisler 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 Or, if you prefer, call Jackie Whisler at 1-800-422-0232., ext. 2320. SMOKE SIGNALS is available to anyone at no cost. Fill out this form with your name and address, mail to: Smoke Signals, Attn: Justin Phillips 9615 Grand Ronde Road Grand Ronde, OR 97347 OLD ADDRESS: NEW ADDRESS: GRAND RONDE ROLL : . I 1 J Community Fund helps a variety of non-profits The Tribe continues its tradition of giving by supporting causes rooted in education, culture, and health. Continued from front page The fund was created when the Tribe renegotiated their gaming com pact with the state of Oregon. Spirit Mountain Casino became the larg est gaming enterprise in Oregon with the signing of the new agreement. In the compact's language was an agreement for the Tribe to distribute six percent of the casino's net rev enues throughout the community. The fund has allowed the Tribe to be a leader in the support of impor tant and vital community resources. The fund also allows the Tribe to con tinue its ancient tradition of sharing with others. The Life Flight helicopter system and women's and children's shelters have seen money come their way from the fund. "I think it is a great deal," said Spirit Mountain's top executive Bruce Tho mas. The Tribe has always reached out to the community. We are pleased to be able to help in the community and this is a great way to do it." The Tribe views the Community Fund as an obligation and a cour tesy. The fund is not available to the Tribe for programs or distribu tion to members. The Community Fund is adminis tered by a Board of Trustees that in cludes a who's who list of prominent Oregonians. Tribal Chair Kathryn Harrison," Tribal Council Secretary Ed Pearsall and Tribal Council mem ber June Sell-Sherer represent the Tribe on the board. Spirit Mountain Marketing Direc tor Chuck Galford helped develop and implement the fund and is a member of the board, as is Commu nity Fund Administrator Amber Russell. Russell is the fund's event coordinator and she handles public issue management. Polk County Commissioner Ron Dodge serves on the fund's board. Polk County Commissioner Ron Dodge serves on the Community Fund Board. Dodge is a highly active member of the Polk County community where he has lived his entire life. Sho Dozono, president and CEO of AzumanoCarlson Wagonlit Travel, is a highly respected business and community leader who makes time in his busy schedule to participate on the board. Oregon Senator Kate Brown brings the credibility of her office to the board. The Senator believes in environmental conservation and en joys working with the tribes in Or egon. The Senator has served on many committees and boards, but said her involvement with the Spirit Mountain Community Fund has been the most rewarding experience. United States Attorney Kristine Olson serves on the board and has worked on a number of Native Ameri can issues during her career. Olson brings a distinguished law career as experience with her to the board. Olson said she is proud of the Tribe, proud of the contributions made by the Spirit Mountain Community Fund and she is proud to be a mem ber of the fund's Board of Trustees. "First of all, I was very honored that the Tribe had that amount of trust in me to have me in that position (as a member of the board)," said Olson. "I think that the Community Fund has done a world of good in convey ing the message that the tribes are good neighbors in their county ser vice area. I think the way the board and the Tribe have gone about allo cating the grants and making sure that we work across counties and work through the different substan tive areas like law enforcement, health and education has really fos tered excellent relationships in the community." Olson said she is impressed with the other members of the board as well. "Chuck Galford has done a really good job in reviewing all of the ap plications and really doing an objec- tive analysis on the applications," said Olson. "People (on the board) really listen and respect each other's opinion. The members of the board have had a wide view and that is really wonderful to see." Olson said board members have been able to look beyond their spe cialty areas and personal concerns to help a broad spectrum of people. "All of those people on the board bring not just heightened awareness in some areas, but a real global con- People really listen and respect each other's opinion. The members of the board - ; have had a wide view and that is really wonderful to see. Kristine Olson United States Attorney I 0 ill J cern to the task," said Olson. "We have terrific people on the board," said Thomas. "They are ac complished people." Thomas said board members exam ine the community to see where the fund's contributions can really make a difference. "They try to look for causes either that have a profound effect on a few people or maybe a less profound effect that benefits a whole lot of people," said Thomas. "What causes will our con tribution have the most impact on. That is how you measure it." Thomas said the board tries to bal ance contributions. For example, a contribution could be made to a can cer hospice that benefits only 30 people or funds can go into an edu cation program that will benefit thousands of students. Olson said there is a shared feel ing among board members that what they are doing is important. "There is more consistent and dili gent attendance on that board than any other board I have ever served on," said Olson. "It is real clear to me that people really care." Olson said several individual fund grants stand out in her mind as sig nificant; some more than others. "For me, rather than the huge awards that we have done that have had a significant impact on Portland like OMSI (Oregon Museum of Sci ence and Industry) and the arts museum and the library (Mult nomah County Library) which are the ones that always get all the at tention some of these smaller com munity programs that are operating on a shoestring "are the ones that have had an impact on me person ally. For example, the hospice that serves seniors in the last months of their lives that would have more of an impact than many of the grants I can think of. "When we actually turn over the money and we hear the difference it makes it means so much," said Olson. Senator Brown agreed with Olson and said she is proud of her associa tion with the Tribe and her position on the board. "I certainly have been honored to be on the board," said Brown. "One of the things I like best about it is that we are helping to build new pro grams. " I really enjoy the building t A Community Fund grant helped bring a Native American mask exhibit to the Portland Art Museum. up the lifting up. "It has been an opportunity to work more closely with the tribal members," said Brown. "This gives me an opportunity to know the Grand Ronde Tribe better. "These are really prominent Or egon people so it has been a really good opportunity for me to be able to work with them," said Brown of her fellow board members. "I feel like I've learned more from the experi ence than I've been able to give. It has been a really wonderful experi ence. It has been really fun to see the Tribe nurture and develop this incredible potential that is out there." Thomas said the Fund reflects well on the casino as a community-based enterprise. "I think it helps demonstrate to the public that the casino is more than just gambling," said Thomas. "There is all the jobs we have created throughout the community. It is turning things around for the Tribe, but also it is giving back to the com munity in a positive type of atmo sphere." Thomas said the Community Fund makes the casino more a part of the community. "We are participating in issues that are very important to the commu nity," said Thomas. "I think the fund has been well-organized since the be ginning and it is meeting its mission. I think the causes they have selected have been very worthy. Willamette University's Hallie Ford Museum of Art received a grant to fund its Native American gallery, which was named after the Grand Ronde Tribe. 1999 Community Fund grants: Grants went toward improving the access rural or disadvantaged Oregon families have to emergency services and education. Grants also focused on preserving and enhancing Native American culture, and on making it more accessible to all Oregonians. Major grants included: fl $270,000 to the Raphael House in Portland to renovate a building so the domestic shelter can increase its capacity by 60 percent, allowing more than 500 women and children to be served each year. D $265,000 to the Oregon Garden Foundation to preserve a stand of Oregon white oaks, including the "Signature Oak," which is at least 400 years old. Invasive plants will be eliminated and the grove will be replanted with native species so visitors to the 240-acre garden under construction north of Salem will be able to see how Western Oregon looked before Europeans settled here. D $250,000 to the Multnomah County Library Foundation to build the library's collection of books written by and about Native Americans. The grant also will be used to fund Native American programs and speakers. B $247,264 to the Polk County Sheriff's Office, continuing the Tribe's funding of additional deputies to improve highway safety, especially on heavily traveled Highway 18. B $150,000 to the Oregon Classical Chinese Garden Trust to develop an urban garden in downtown Portland intended to acknowledge the role Chinese immigrants played in Oregon's history. B $149,800 to the Oregon Children's Foundation for the SMART reading program. SMART provides free books and volunteers to read to disadvantaged children. Spirit Mountain's contribution funded SMART programs for Grand Ronde and Willamina Elementary Schools as well as for schools in Corvallis, Albany, Eugene, Hillsboro and Portland. Other grants included: Education - B $77,000 to the Saturday Academy and Oregon Graduate Institute of Science & Technology to fund high school apprenticeships. B $33,208 to Grand Ronde Elementary School to enhance i,,: reading education in grades first through third., , ? B $50,000 to Young Audiences to encourage and enhance arts education. B $25,000 for various education and training programs run by the Oregon Restaurant Foundation. B $15,500 to the Oregon State University SMILE program for science and math education. B $15,150 to Un Lugar Para Ninos (A Child's Place) in Hillsboro providing educational opportunities to preschool children. B $14,940 to Junior Achievement to promote learning about the free-enterprise system. Emergency services B $60,000 to the Assistance League of Salem for clothing for low-income children. B $50,000 to Community Outreach Inc. in Corvallis to help build a health clinic to serve low-income, indigent and elderly people. B $5,000 to Interfaith Caregivers in Albany to support services for elderly shut-ins. B $9,874 to the Oregon Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence for support materials for area domestic shelters. B $28,790 to Yamhill County Veteran's Services for transportation services. B $7,600 to the Grand Ronde Community Resource Center to create a Food Bank. Cultural and environmental B $30,100 to the Salem Art Association for ceramics workshops for at-risk youths. B $20,000 to help fund the fall beach cleanup sponsored by Stop Oregon Litter and Vandalism (SOLV). B $7,000 to the Portland Opera Association for school performances. B $14,000 to the Oregon Symphony to fund concerts in Salem. B $15,000 to the Salem Art Association for an art exhibition series. B $2,500 to the Oregon State Parks Trust for riparian habitat restoration. Health - B $50,000 to the American Diabetes Association for diabetes research. B $25,000 to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation for diabetes research.
