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A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
February 1, 2000
Jay Lemo performs at Spirit IMoiDimtanini
By Brent Merrill
The Tribe's Spirit Mountain Casino
showcased one of the big names in
Hollywood on Monday, January 17
when The Tonight Show host Jay
Leno performed back-to-back stand
up comedy shows.
Leno, who takes his act on the road
annually, poked fun at the news,
joked about the differences between
men and women and their pets, told
stories about his many airline ad
ventures, shared intimate details
about a unique relationship with his
parents, waxed poetic about his love
of old cars and still managed at times
to be raw and edgy with his humor.
Leno was totally relaxed on stage
and strutted about in a tailored blue
suit and used his tie more as a prop
than wardrobe accessory. He made
eye contact, flashed his huge smile
and engaged the audience in his rev
elry joking about their means of
employment and amount of hair.
Leno talked about life in Los An
geles and although he had the au
dience laughing robustly, you could
tell he is genuinely mystified, like all
of us at times, at human behavior.
The stories about trying to teach
his elderly parents how to use a VCR,
showed his human side. His story
about bringing the wrong napkins
to a holiday dinner was insightful
and truly humorous.
Before the show, the question on
many people's mind was why does
an "A" list performer like Jay Leno
need to go on the road when he has
a long-running hit television show
that pays him extremely well.
After the show he answered that
question.
"It's like working out with weights
or something, you can't be a weight
lifter and not train," said Leno of his
desire to hit the road now and then.
"The way you keep sharp is you go
out and you learn something each
show and you get another ad lib that
you can turn into a joke or some
thing. At this point, people kind of
know you and they seem to want to
come to the show so it's fun. The
days of fighting to get on stage and
you get booed and you're jokes aren't
very good and nothing's working and
continued on page 6
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The Tonight Show host Jay Leno performed two shows at the Tribe's
Spirit Mountain Casino on Monday, January 17. Leno said he takes his
act On the road SO he Can Stay "Sharp." Photo by Brent Merrill
-uilding in the rain
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Photo by Kim Mueller
The Elders' Housing Development keeps progressing, even with the
cold spell in January. Here, a recent photo of one of the units.
Completion of the project is still scheduled for August 2000. Inter
ested Elders are encouraged to contact Bryan Langley at the Tribal
Housing Authority at 1-800-422-0232, ext. 2467.
Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde
Community of Oregon
9615 Grand Ronde Road
Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347
Address Service Requested
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PERMIT NO. 178
Health Authority brings
expertise to clinic operations
By Tracy Dugan
The Grand Ronde Health Author
ity Board of Commissioners are busy
people. Since its formation in Octo
ber, they have been meeting twice
per month, discussing health center
operations and making decisions to
assure the quality of health services
provided to tribal and community
members.
Dr. Tom Austin, executive direc
tor of the health center, says that
the individuals who serve on the
Health Authority have made a com
mitment to excellence in services and
quality health care.
"Tribal Council wanted to set up a
body that would be responsible for
carrying out policy and procedures
at the Health Center," said Austin.
"The board is made up of individu
als who have expertise in health
and finance issues."
The Health Authority will assess
the quality of services, health cen
ter improvement proposals, and from
time to time address financial issues
by looking at ways to capture all
possible revenue from services. They
will maintain contact with Tribal
Council and the Tribe's Executive
Office.
Tribal Council Vice-Chair Ed
Larsen sits on the board as an ex
officio member.
"It's important to the Council that
we keep informed about new poli
cies at the health center, but we also
want it to run on its own," said
Larsen.
Merle Leno, who served on the
Tribe's health committee for 12
years, and currently serves as chair
man of the Health Authority, said
that during the first few weeks of
operation the commissioners have
been busy setting up bylaws and
establishing policies and procedures,
which must be formally adopted by
the board.
"We want the health center to run
as a business," said Leno. "Every
meeting we receive a financial re
port from John Casale and Dr. Aus
tin, who also report to us about other
issues."
Leno said that new service propos
als are also brought to the Health
Authority, and the commissioners
are responsible for approving them
as well.
"The new triage area at the clinic
was approved by the Health Author
ity," he said. "And that is going to
be good for the patients."
In upcoming months, the Health
Authority will look at ways to im
prove the services in other compo
nents of the health center. And
other upcoming issues include the
accreditation process for the health
center.
"As an accredited health center, it
will show that our quality of care is as
good or better than other health care
facilities in Oregon," said Austin.
Tribal Council decided to organize
a Health Authority for the health
center after looking at other success
ful tribal clinics and health centers
continued on page 4