APRIL 1, 2002
Smoke Signals 3
General Council Meeting Held on Sunday, March 3
Spirit Mountain Casino's Michael Moore, Adam Henny and Ty Huff make presentations.
By Chris Mercier
The March General Council meeting was held
on Sunday the 3rd at the Community Center. A
quorum was present.
Spirit Mountain Casino-SMGI
Board of Directors Report
In order to give Tribal members an idea of what
goes on at SMC, most department heads and
executives attended the meeting. It was also an
opportunity for membership to see in the flesh
who runs the casino. Executive Officer Mike
Moore and Chief Financial Officer Ty Huff at
tended. Interim Marketing Director Adam Henny pro
vided membership with a report on Spirit Moun
tain Casino and its activities during the preced
ing year of 2001. Though the entire country as
a whole went into recession for most of the past
12 months, the casino still enjoyed relative pros
perity. 2001 saw some notable changes at Spirit
Mountain Casino, as the company poured
$8,000,000 into new additions and amenities.
A new non-smoking section was added, as well
as the Summit View which allows for live enter
tainment. More seating was added to the Rock
Creek Deli.
Successful state compact negotiations allowed
SMC to bring in 300 more slot machines, raising
the grand total now to 1,500. Many of the new
machines are top of the line and have enjoyed
unprecedented popularity, particularly the "Aus
tin Powers" line.
On the Human Resources front SMC also im
proved, announcing increased health benefits
for employees. Tribal members working at the
casino can now enjoy additional training oppor
tunities and career development services. In
spite of the national recession, SMC had no lay
offs. And in the wake of the September 11 trag
edies, the casino brought in grief counselors for
stricken employees.
2002 promises then to be another year of ex
pansion, Henny explained. Due to increased
demand from customers, SMC will be looking at
the possibility of adding more quick food outlets.
These will be modular stands where guests can
purchase hot dogs and tacos.
Expansion in the Spirit Mountain Lodge is also
being explored, though no timeline has been set.
Three-Card Poker was added to the Table
Games area, a move that hints at the Casino's
continued devotion to new ideas.
Announcements
B Tribal members living outside the Grand
Ronde area will have the opportunity to get their
say in during the following Community Meet
ings: April 16 Portland
April 18 Eugene
April 30 Grand Ronde
Members of Tribal Council will be attending
all these meetings. A meal will be provided.
D Ad Hoc Veterans' Committee Chairman Marce
Norwest updated membership on the status of
Steve Bobb and Brent Merrill, the two who were
engaged in the walk from Table Rock. Norwest
announced that the pair would be arriving later
in the week and Tribal members interested in join
ing them for the final mile could join in at Grand
Ronde Elementary School. A reception would be
organized at the Tribal Governance Center.
B The engagement of Tribal member Wanda
McCoy to Dennis Hicks was announced. A June
22 wedding is planned.
B Tribal Chair Cheryle Kennedy reminded
membership that Daylight Savings would be
taking place the date of the next General Coun
cil Meeting.
B It was announced that the Falmouth Insti
tute was present in Grand Ronde. Their project
involves researching and reviewing the Tribal
organization.
Door Prizes
Val Sheker-Robertson: $50
Suzie Mooney: $50
Jon George: $50
Les McKnight: $100
Collin Raye tickets for April 11: Ruby Bigoni
Next Meeting: Sunday, April 7.
Community Meetings Notice
The Tribal member community meetings for the Grand Ronde Tribe will be held in April to share information on current Tribal plans and to
gather information for goal setting. Included will be a review of recent projects and key achievements. Comments will be used in guiding
programs and projects and in grant applications (e.g. Community Development Block Grant, Administration for Native Americans, HeadStart,
etc.). Your participation is needed, appreciated and makes a difference.
A meal will be served at the start of each meeting and there will be a coffee break during each meeting. The meeting will be held at the
following locations in Eugene, Portland and Grand Ronde.
April 16, 2002
Tuesday
6:00 8:30 p.m.
April 18, 2002
Thursday
6:00 8:30 p.m.
April 30, 2002
Tuesday
6:00 8:30 p.m.
DoubleTree Hotel, Eugene-Springfield
3280 Gateway Road
Springfield, OR 97477
Take 1-5 Exit 195A to Gateway Road and take a right.
The hotel is visible from the freeway.
The meeting is in the Lexington Room.
Sweetbrier Inn (Columbia Room)
7125 SE Nyberg Road
Tualatin, Oregon 97062
Ten miles south of Portland.
Take 1-5 Exit 289 and go east on Nyberg Road.
The Inn is just east of the Interchange on your left
and is visible from the freeway.
Grand Ronde Community Center
Grand Ronde (Tribal Campus)
One mile north of Hwy 18 on Grand Ronde Road.
For additional information call the Policy & Planning Department at 503-879-2250. If you cannot attend and wish to comment on Tribal goal
setting, please write to Mr. Kim Rogers, Policy & Planning Department, Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road, Grand
Ronde, Oregon 97347.
Tribal Safety Day
"Hazard Awareness" "
Date: Monday, April 8, 2002
Time: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. '
Place: Community Center first AID
Topics Br Guest Speakers: l
Hazard Disposal - City Sanitary Service
Biohazard Information - US Post Office and CTCR's Jeff Mercier
Hazard Communication - Chris Hernandez of OR-OSHAConsultative Div.
Pesticide Reporting - US Dept. of Agriculture
Poison Control - OHSU Poison Control
Fire Extinguisher Demonstrations - Willamina Fire District
There will be information booths, Annual Safety Awards,
Price Drawings, and Food & Beverages will be served.
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