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78
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v. 40
January
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JANUARY 1, 2002
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503-879-5211
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A Publication of the Grand Ronde Tribe
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Successfully adapting to the constant change of the casino industry keeps
the Tribe's showcase Spirit Mountain Casino on top of the competition.
Editor's Note This issue is dedicated to the men and women, Tribal members and non-Tribal members, who make the Tribe's Spirit Mountain Casino
the top tourist attraction in the state of Oregon. The Tribe's success story is a compelling one. It is a story of heartache and betrayal. It is a story
of overcoming all the odds you could ever stack against one race of people. It is a story about becoming a community and then watching the community's
main industry Timber fail. It is a story about a cemetery and a little office with no heat. The story is about perseverance and effort and finally
success. Success for a whole community in the tune of 1,500 jobs andnew restaurants in Willamina and Sheridan and new housing and increased
enrollment in local schools that in turn bring in more money to the beleaguered school districts in our little part of rural Oregon. It's about giving away
$10 million to charity in the spirit of giving back.
But here is what else the story is about the people behind the plan the plan for Tribal self-sufficiency. This feature is about the casino
management. Who are these people and why do we care about them? Tribal members want to know who the key players are at the casino. They
want to know what these people do for the good of the casino and the Tribe in general. We decided to include something about each person's life
in the feature. We wanted you to know why you should care about these people just like we ask them to care about us and our Tribal members
and our Elders and our Veterans. And our cemetery.
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By Chris Mercier
Spirit Mountain Casino's press kit languishes on my desk. The
black folder glares. I've come to recognize the font by now,
though the exact name eludes me. But the logo.. .now there's
something that never dies. The coyote jumps over the moun
tain. Or is it a wolf? No, it's got to be a coyote. Why else would
they call their player services special the Coyote Club?
The press kit really does a good job of explaining SMC. And
the Tribe for that matter. Just about everything you need to
know is in there 90,000 square feet for gaming, 253,000 in
total; 1,500 employees (10 percent of them Tribal); an annual
payroll of $32 million; a five-story 100 room lodge; 1,400 slot
machjnes, an 850 seat bingo hall, 28 blackjack tables, three
Let It Ride poker tables, two Pai Gows and one Caribbean
Stud, plus a big wheel. They've also got a Poker room, off
track betting and some huge televisions.
But you've really got to hand it to the casino; they've made
a difference. They've put Grand Ronde on most maps, in
addition to pumping needed revenue into an area that previ
ously was in an economic rut. Spirit Mountain Casino has cre
ated something from nothing.
Welif the Smoke Signals have always wondered what went
on behind the closed doors of Spirit Mountain. As much as we
liked Martin Scorsese's Casino, we've always suspected .that
things were a little bit different at this one...
Who runs the show? Who calls the shots? Who needs to
know when to hold "em? Know when to fold 'em?
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Coyote inlftisr Night Sky The casino's newest coyote logo
debuted last night (New Year's Eve 2001) in the ceiling of the high
stakes gaming area "The Summit." The LED light display is made up of
hundreds of Light Emitting Diodes that come together for a vibrant ef
fect. The display was custom made for Spirit Mountain.
continued on page 3
Annual "Shop with a Sheriff" Program
is a Christmas Story About Giving
B Smiles, not crime was the business of the day for local enforcement. v
Holiday Exchange Polk County Sheriff Tom Wolfe participated in this year's
sixth annual "Shop with a Sheriff" gift program on Saturday, December 15. The pro
gram pairs officers with children to provide the kids a chance to buy Christmas presents
for their family members. Story on page 3
fj. Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde PRESORTED
Community of Oregon FIRST-CLASS MAIL
$7 9615 Grand Ronde Road y 5 POSTAGE PAID
7jh Grand Ronde, Oregon 97347 SALEM, OR
JJ! Address Service Requested PERMIT NO. 178
FOJw JAMES (SPECIAL COLL.).
KNIGHT LIBRARY, UOFO
EUGENE OR 97403
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Tribal Court
Christmas
Tribal Court Judge
Katherine English
hands out coloring
books to the
Headstart Pre
school children on
Monday, Decem
ber 17. The
children sang
during the Tribal
Court Christmas
party.
V 9
A.
Elder's Christmas Party Tribal Elders
gathered at Spirit Mountain Casino for their
annual Christmas party and Arvella "Granny"
Houck posed for a picture with Ila Dowd and
Nora Kimsey. Along with all the other Elders,
these living treasures make us proud.
The Tribal Council
and Staff would like
to extend our
warmest wishes to
you & your family
for your friendship
and goodwill in the
upcoming new year.
Ariluri' i iX
!&?rsity of Oregon Library
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