AUGUST 1, 2001
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membership that we currently have. Just recently a Social Economic Survey was done
by the Tribal membership and it is my understanding and I haven't seen this yet, I'm
going to have to look at it, but many of us, many, many people have different ideas and
different things that could benefit the Tribal membership. At that point in time when
those endowments are fully funded I think we need to take a hard look at the survey
and identify some goals and areas where we can better serve Tribal membership. We
do that and when we do that, the important thing to do is to look at is establishing
endowments to protect those programs, because I don't think it's with to start expan
sion and new services without ensuring they will be around. That would be the ap
proach I think that would be the most important."
JACKGIFFEN, JR.:
"Jack Giffen, Roll 182. When the trusts become mature, I think we need to evaluate
to make sure they are going to be able to meet the needs for the future years. And if
they do, we need to develop new trust programs that meet the needs of each Tribal
member out here and their concerns. We also need to form some form of savings for
the future also. I feel evaluating is the main key; make sure we meet the needs of the
Elders and children of the future. Thank you."
PATSY PULLIN: .
"Patsy Pullin, 238. I agree with the other council members. I'm sure that the
council, current council members has gone over every item and every issue with legal
every month that they have saw they needed it with. I'm sure they have looked into it
and that our future will be secure and when this is all settled and it's perpetual, I think
we should look into economic development. I think that is part of what we are sup
posed to do anyway with our money, take care of the people around in our community.
I think if we can build something totally separate from the casino that would create
jobs for people, maybe some kind of a business, production line and even if it was a
small one, it would be something were we can turn over people and train them in
different sections, maybe cash handling skills or piece meal work. I think it would give
people opportunity to work and get them back into the work force by doing this. I have
a belief that if you give a man a fish, you feed him for one day, but if you teach him how
to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. I think that is what this would do, help our people in
the long run to help themselves. Thank you."
EDLARSEN:
"Ed Larsen Roll 414. Every time you add to the Elder's pension that stretches out a
little farther. So, I'd like to squelch a rumor I was asked during the lunch break that I
voted against giving the Elders more. That isn't quite correct, that is what I said that if
we stretch it out, even coming at a hundred (a month), we stretch it out another year
or so. But my mother wouldn't like that, she turns 85 tomorrow and she says she
wanted me to run three or four more years and hope it's up to a thousand if we keep
adding another $100 a year. But we do need to look at it; I think we need to keep
adding as the membership grows, we are going to have to keep adding even beyond
what our figures were before; Thank you."
LOREN HOLMES:
"I kind of agree with all these guys, except one thing. I think our older people should
get a raise, because the older people aren't going to be here and the younger people
are. If you are drawing it out of a trust fund, then you should put some back in there.
They should be able to afford more money for the Elders because they are going to die
pretty soon and the young people will be here forever. There is always going to be
young people and they are always going to be getting the money. So it think that's
what I would do. Thank you."
B Question from Les McKnight, Roll 510:
"I was kind of wondering, like, these council we got now; there is nine
meetings a year that you are supposed to be here and they are on Sundays.
I was wondering why people don't always, it seems like they plan stuff on
Sundays where they are not going to be here for the meeting. I think if they
are not here, they should at least explain where they were and why. I was
just wondering if you think the same?"
MARK MERGER:
"It was close to 16 years I served on Tribal Council and I believe I missed five General
Council meetings at that time. The majority of those was when I was on trips going
back to Washington, D.C. issuing with legislative issues affecting the Tribe directly.
Sometime family emergencies come up, but I do agree that if anybody does miss a
General Council meeting that they should have a good reason why they miss."
JACKIE PROVOST:
"I agree. Nine meetings out of the month (year) is not a lot, because you have to be
accountable for your job. If you are supposed to be at your job, then you need to be
there. I think it's important for Tribal members to be able to talk to the Tribal Council
on any level, at a meeting, walking in the hall or whenever you see them to be able to
have pretty much the open door policy, you know, to be approachable."
CANDY ROBERTSON:
"I agree that people should be accountable for if they are elected to attend meetings
and be available that they should do their very best to do that. But I also want to
comment that there is a system that from what I understand had been in order and still
is in order and it is similar to what Bob Haller did for this forum and it was to notify the
appropriate person. That person would let the general membership know why that
person couldn't be there. In the past, I know that the chair had always received an
explanation of the council member and would announce it to the Tribal membership,
Council Candidate
Withdraws from
Election
The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde's Election Board is announcing that
Wesley (Buddy) West is withdrawing his
name from the 2001 CTGR Tribal Council
Election. He stated, "due to the recent
deaths in his family, he regretfully is an
nouncing his withdrawal from the Tribal
Council Election." The Election Board ex
tends their condolences over the losses
of his family members.
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D Tom Leno
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D Jack Giffen Jr.
Richard McKnight
D Bob Haller
D Val Grout
Tim0tny E. Holmes
u ratsy Pullin
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whether it was due to a family illness or I n n r nmes
death in the family or something, so the I n a"Y (George) Robertsi
membership would know why the per- I frovost
son wasn't present. So I think that as WesteyfBuddyWoct
long as that is kept in order and the
membership is informed in that way, then the membership is
kept informed."
VAL GROUT:
"I agree with the other people that spoke, you should, it's only nine times a year and
you should try your best to be here, but there is times when the council is in travel, or
we all have emergencies in our lives, but I think that if all possible we should be here
because our membership expects us to be here. I think that if we do have to be gone
somewhere the membership should know why. That's what I think about it. We need
to try to be here, it's only nine times a year."
TIM HOLMES:
"Les, I do agree with you. I think if you are elected to Tribal Council you do have a
responsibility to be present at the General Council meetings. If elected, I will be
present. If a situation arises, like the other candidates mention, past council members
and current council members can tell you, if there is Tribal business that they are going
to be away from, then that's part of the job to. But I do agree too that if a council
member isn't going to be present, there should be formal notification and gave to the
Tribal Chair or probably the Tribal secretary that can be announced at those meetings
and I agree with you on that. Thank you Les."
PATSY PULLIN:
"Yes I agree. And I think if you accept a position you accept that responsibility. And
that maybe you don't have a job description, but it should be somewhere, that yes, you
will be at every one of those meetings unless you had a good excuse and go through
the proper process and I think the travel should also be included in that. If you are
expected to travel, then that is part of the job, you need to travel. I'm looking forward
to that if I go because I like to travel. I feel like that is part of your responsibility and the
open door method as well because you are here to serve and that should be included
in that. Thanks."
3ACK GIFFEN. JR.:
"I do agree with everything that's said here. It's accountability for the votes from
your Tribal members. Accept the position, you should be there like a job, every one of
you have to show up at jobs everyday. We are not talking about everyday; we are
talking about nine meetings and everyday at work."
EDLARSEN:
"Yeah. Maybe, Les, maybe you were thinking that meeting when there was only four
of us here and I think half of the others were sick and the rest were in travel because
we were down to four one day because I checked that meeting. I think two of them
were sick and three were on travel. But as long as I've been here eight and a half
years, I don't know of anybody that ever got unexcused. They have already called in or
wrote a letter or let us know why they weren't here."
LOREN HOLMES:
"Well I don't know how this works here, but if I was in council, if I got elected in, I'd
try to be here all the time, as much as I could. If I had something else to do, then I
would have someone take over for me. That is all. Listen to the problem; I'd have
them explain it to me. So that's all I have to say."
RICHARD MCKNIGHT:
"I agree that everybody else has said here that we should be present. If we are on
travel, I think there should be a short, maybe a brief statement on what you are on
travel for on the next meeting. If you have a death in the family or something you
usually get up and thank people for the cards and the prayers. So I mean there, you
know, there's certain reasons why you should be accountable for those reasons to
make sure the people understand why you weren't here. Thank you."
MARGARET PROVOST:
"I agree with all the other candidates what they've said, but in the past when I was
on council, and if we were on travel, or there were a death or whatever reason we
wouldn't be at the meeting, probably, I know I always called the secretary or chair if
there were some reason I weren't going to be there. But me feelings, it's a commit
ment, you are there, if a family is having a birthday party that wouldn't matter. You had
council business. And I firmly believe that, that is first that is the first priority when you
take this position. Also, probably, when the person was not going to be there, the chair
or secretary would have told. But, and the council knew, but neglected maybe to tell
the membership, so maybe we should on our agendas, have a space right below
where it has the council people's name, maybe if there is someone absent, there could
be a place written in there that we wouldn't forget to let the membership know why
that person wasn't there. We just need better communication I believe. Thank you."