Smoke Signals
Tribal Member Addresses National Audience
in New Mexico
:vi.'"
6 MAY 1,2001
Sanda "Sam" Henny
gives presentation on
Tribal career development.
By Brent Merrill
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Tribal member Sanda
"Sam" Henny recently traveled to Albuquerque,
New Mexico to give a presentation to participants
in this year's National Indian Gaming Association
Conference. Kenny's presentation was about Tribal
career development and titled "Career Power."
Henny, who works at the Tribe's Spirit Moun
tain Casino as an Employee Development Special
ist, was honored by the invitation to present and to
represent the Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde.
"I was thrilled and excited to present at a na
tional venue," said Henny. "Although we some
times feel that we do not move ahead at a quick
enough pace with our goals, the Grand Ronde
Tribes' and Spirit Mountain are on the cutting edge
in Indian Country. I was honored to share our
experience with the Career Power program with
other Tribes."
Henny started her presentation with some his
tory about the Tribe and some history about the
Human Resources program at'Spirit Mountain.
The purpose of the Career Power prdgram is to
provide our participants with a broad base of skills
and expertise in development planning," said
Henny to the 50 or so people who attended her
presentation.
It was the Grand Ronde Tribal Council that
wanted the Career Power program, said Henny.
She said the council wanted to use the program to
develop Tribal member employees.
The first challenge according to Henny was to
respond to council's request quickly and get the man
agement team at the casino on board with the con
cept. Henny said another challenge was to design
a program that was accepting of the fact that Tribal
r
POWer Player - Tribal member Sanda "Sam" Henny recently gave a presentation to participants in
this year's annual National Indian Gaming Association In Albuquerque, New Mexico. Henny's presenta
tion was about the Tribe's career development program. Henny said she was honored to be asked to
present the Tribe's program to a national audience. Photos by Brent Merrill
members have varying degrees of education when
they come to work at the casino the range is less
than a GED to Master's degree holders. '.
Working around the casino's non-stop, 24 "hours
a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year opera
tion schedule to try and find time for employee
development and training was tough.
Henny gave each participant a Career Power
questionnaire to fill out. Each person was asked
questions about self-assessment, personal repu
tation, organizational trends, career options and
enhancing and gaining personal knowledge.
The National Indian Gaming Association
(NIGA) was established in 1985. NIGA is a
non-profit organization of 168 Indian Nations
and other non-voting associate members rep
resenting organizations, Tribes and businesses
engaged in Tribal gaming enterprises from
around the country. The common commitment
and purpose of NIGA is to advance the lives of
Indian people economically, socially and
politically. NIGA operates as a clearinghouse
and educational, legislative and public policy
resource for Tribes, policy makers and the pub
lic on Indian gaming issues and Tribal com
munity development.
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Foyirth Amiirayai
Safety Day IHleld
Safety is good. Safety in numbers is better. On April 9, Tribal staff took part in
the Fourth Annual Safety Day. The event is sponsored by the Safety Committee.
On hand was the Willamina Fire Rescue and Medic Units to promote safety
awareness. The Safety Day couldnt have come at a better time due to an
earthquake that shook the Northwest just a few months ago.
Red and Ready -The Grand Ronde
Tribal logo (above) is now proudly displayed
on the Willamina Fire and Rescue units.
A grant from the Spirit Mountain Community
Fund for $244,500 allowed the fire depart
ment to purchase the new ambulance and
medic units. Tribal member Roger Harrison
designed the Tribal logo.
First Aid Kit
Water
Canned Milk
HUnST
Canned Foods
Blankets
MUcellaneout
Here are some helpful Ideas for an emergency kit for your
home so that won't happen again.
Choose a location such as a closet or a corner in the garage
where it is cool and dark. If you live in an apartment or have limited
space, be innovative. Other possible storage locations are under the
bed, under the stairs or use it as an table and cover in with a table
cloth. Layer the supplies keep supplies together in a container such
as a plastic garbage can with wheels. Rotate food items every six
months. Include clothing items.
Start with what you already have if you are a camper, your
tent, cook stove and other gear can double as emergency supplies.
Curtis Rentsch,
on behalf of the
Facilities and
Maintenance
department,
accepted the
Most Improved
Department
Award.
f 1
Kevin Mueller
took home the
2000 Safety
Leadership Award.
A v
"r '' e' . f' $
f
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The Head Start Preschool staff scored the with
the Safest Department.