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AUGUST 1, 2000
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Robert Martin wants Tribe to be more
focused on Tribai member services.
By Brent Merrill
Executive Officer Robert Martin wants Tribal pro
grams to have more of an emphasis on services to
Tribal members and he hopes his reorganization plans
will do just that.
"We have three definite tasks to do," said Martin.
"There are strategic functions, mission functions and
support functions.
"Senior management is where most of the strate
gic functions exist," explained Martin. "Strategy is
usually based on current strategy with incremental
changes and strategy is a commitment to under
take one set of actions rather than another.
"Mission functions are unique for each functional
unit," said Martin. "Mission statements specify what
activities the organization intends to pursue and what
course management has charted for the future. The
mission outlines 'who we are, what we do and where
we are headed.'
Martin said the basic direction of the Tribe comes
from a shared vision between management and the
Tribal Council.
"We had a visioning session with the Tribal Council
and we tried to look out 20 years from now," said
Martin. "We talked about things like what we want
the community to be like and what do we want to
have available to the Tribal members. The vision is
sort of hope and that is where you develop your mis
sion statement. You ask yourselves 'how are you
going to achieve that vision?'"
The Tribe's mission statement has not changed.
"The mission statement is very well written," said
Martin. "It basically is to help the Tribal members be
come self-sufficient, live in good health and improv
ing their living conditions.
"How you achieve that vision is where the strategy
comes in to play," said Martin. "There is not one over
riding strategy, but a number of smaller strategies
that build up to - it is like a comprehensive plan to
what it is going to be like in 20 years. You have the
strategy to achieve all of those goals.
"We have to strategize on how to achieve our '
goals," said Martin. "The Tribal Council, the adminis
tration and the Tribal committees need to find shared
goals and objectives."
AGENCY
( (DIVISIONDEPARTMENT) )
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I A I A
TRIBAL MEMBERS
(CLIENTS)
V2
Strategic Functions
Senior management is where most of the
strategic functions exist.
Strategy is usually based on current strategy
with incremental change being the norm.
Strategy is seldom the result of annual planning
rituals.
Strategy is a commitment to undertake one set
of actions rather than another.
Mission Functions
Mission functions are unique for each functional
unit.
Mission statements specify what activities the
organization intends to pursue and what course
management has charted for the future.
The mission outlines "who we are, what we do,
and where we are headed. "
Support Functions
Accounting & Finance
Facilities & Maintenance
Human Resources
Legal
Information Systems
Safety & Security
Bob Martin: traditional upbringing
In June 1999, Executive Officer Robert Martin came to Grand Ronde from
his pecan farm in his wife Malacha's home state of Oklahoma.
Martin, a member of the Assiniboine and Sioux Tribe on the Fort Peck
Reservation in Montana, is married to a member of Oklahoma's Chickasaw
Nation.
Martin came from modest, yet traditional upbringings and worked hard to
get where he is today.
"I grew up in Tribalism. We didn't have electricity and we had to hunt fish
and small game during the summer months to live," said Martin of his early
days. "We had cows, but we had no way to keep them unless you dried
them and it takes a lot to dry a whole cow. We always raised chickens and
rabbits for protein. I never really appreciated the life. Winters in Montana
are pretty harsh you know."
Martin attended Indian boarding schools in South Dakota (at Pierre and at
Flandreau) as a youth.
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