MAY 15, 2002
Smoke Signals
Tribal Council Candidates Nominated At The
May General Council Meeting in Grand Ronde
All three current council members with seats open will
seek re-election in September.
18 Tribal members will vie for three council openings.
By Brent Merrill
The May General Council meeting was held on Sunday, May 5 at the
Tribal Community Center in Grand Ronde. Here are the highlights:
Tribal Chair Cheryle Kennedy called the meeting to order and Tribal
member Carmen Brown gave the invocation.
The floor was then opened up to membership to make their nominations
for this year's three open positions on Tribal Council. In all, 18 members
were nominated this year.
Tribal member John Clark got things started when he nominated Loren
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S Lo'n Holme.
Val Sheker-Robertson
Tmothy Holmes
Margaret Provost
fa" Hoyd LaBonte
Joseph Brlsbols
Tdd Shandy
Patsy Pullln
Christopher Mercler
Tnomas Leno
Reynold Leno
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Westley West
Mark Mercler
Jne Sellherer
D'ana George
Mary Mode
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member
Pearsall nomi
nated Val Sheker
Robertson, Marvin Kimsey
nominated Tim
Holmes, Dan Pro
vost nominated
Margaret Provost
and Albert Peters
nominated
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Official Members of the Tribe's Election Board were present at the community
meeting to handle the Tribal Council nominations
Chittenden nominated Joe
Brisbois, Richard Fenwick
nominated Todd Shandy,
Kathryn Harrison nomi
nated Patsy Pullin, Marion
Mercier nominated Chris
Mercier and Ida Patterson nomi
nated Tom Leno. Leno then nominated Reyn Leno, Connie Schultz
nominated Mel Schultz, Gene Hudson nominated Jack Giffen, Wilber West
nominated Wesley West and Gordon Linton nominated Mark Mercier. Debby
Larsen nominated June Sell-Sherer, Candy Robertson nominated Diana
George and Nadine McNutt nominated Mary Mode.
Nominations were then closed.
Door Prizes
Bernice Jensen, Brooks Wakeland and Carmen Brown each won $50
and Louise Medeiros won the $100 drawing. In the Royalty drawing,
Kristie Kennicot won a beaded pin, Deneen Aubertin won a night at the
lodge and Louise Medeiros won a DVD player.
The Tribal Council would like to remind Tribal members to participate
in Tribal government and vote in this year's Tribal Council election on
Saturday, September 7.
There will be no General Council meetings during the summer months.
General meetings will resume on Sunday, September 8 at 11 a.m. at the
Community Center in Grand Ronde. B
Tribal Community Membership Meetings Held Throughout April
Information gathered for planning purposes in Tualatin, Eugene and Grand Ronde.
By Kim Rogers
Three Tribal community meetings were held during the month of April
to collect information on the needs of the membership. The first meeting
was in Eugene on Tuesday, April 16, the second was in Tualatin on Thurs
day, April 18 and the third was in Grand Ronde on Tuesday, April 30.
Each meeting started at 6 p.m. with an invocation followed by dinner, a
few presentations and then small group discussions.
Each group discussed improvements to programs, facilities, economic
development and other concerns.
Tribal Council members and assigned staff facilitated the meetings and
collected information.
As Policy & Planning Manager, I gave an overview of progress since
last year and John Mercier, Capital Projects Manager, presented changes
on the list of capital projects the Tribe is either currently involved in or
planning in the future.
The Housing Authority and the Health Authority also made short pre
sentations. Housing Commissioner Monty Parazoo and Housing Authority
Executive Assistant Terri White, Health and Wellness Executive Direc
tor Tom Austin and Administrative Officer Michael Watkins each gave
presentations.
According to the sign-in lists for the meetings, 44 attended the Eugene
meeting at the Doubletree Hotel, 32 attended the Tualatin meeting at
the Sweetbrier Inn and 58 attended the meeting at the Grand Ronde
Community Center. In spite of having more Tribal members in the area,
the Tualatin meeting has had less attendance than the Eugene meeting.
A questionnaire was provided to those attending each meeting and sug
gestions were taken on how these meetings could be improved and atten
dance increased. Suggestions varied but included greater advanced no
tice in addition to the notices placed in the Smoke Signals.
"Keep on coming to Portland area, those of us who do come appreciate
it. I would even like meetings two times per year," said one member at
the Tualatin meeting.
At the end of each meeting, the sheets from the flip charts in each of
the small groups were placed on the walls and the members attending
were given seven dots to place on the suggestions made by any of the
groups that night. Up to four of their dots could be placed on any one
suggestion.
The priorities of the three communities varied but in Tualatin and Grand
Ronde a review of the enrollment amendment received more than twice
as many dots as any other priority. In Eugene the top three priorities
were for a satellite facility, shuttle bus service to take members to Grand
Ronde for services and an Elder Assisted Living Facility. Purchase of
land for investment and for timber also ranked high.
The top three priorities of those attending in Tualatin were for re-evaluating
the enrollment amendment, providing long-term health care for
Elders and spouses and increasing endowments so any member who wants
to go to school has funds to do so or to otherwise provide this same access
to education. Other high priorities included a satellite facility and taking
income caps off home repairs.
The top priority of those attending in Grand Ronde was a review of the
enrollment policies. The next highest priorities were for a Tribal bank,
relocating the pow-wow grounds and creating a fleet maintenance shop
(all with 7 dots each).
A Pendleton blanket was awarded at the end of each of the meetings.
The winners of the blankets (in order) were Donna Morris, Michael
Portwood and Danny Provost.
In addition to the information provided by those attending these meet
ings members were asked to mail in suggestions or concerns regarding
Tribal priorities. A form letter was mailed to the Tribal Council by twenty
four Tribal members, which supported a review of the enrollment amend
ment. It also referred to a need for a members' only Tribal newsletter to
improve communications with members on Tribal business and that other
issues of concern (if any) would be attached on a separate sheet. Very
few attached any other concerns.
A detailed summary of the suggestions received at each of the three
community meetings was provided at the May 5, 2002 General Council
meeting as well as a copy of this form letter. The priorities of those at
tending this last General Council meeting included in order water and
sewer capacity, re-evaluation of the enrollment amendment, a cultural
center, an assisted living facility, more alcohol and drug counseling, rental
and owner housing, juvenile delinquency prevention, expanded cultural
programs, a museum, a Tribal bank, a destination resort at Spirit Moun
tain Casino, satellite facilities and shuttle bus service to Grand Ronde for
members.
If you would like a copy of the summary list of suggestions and concerns
from the 2002 Community Membership Meetings please call Kim Rogers,
Policy & Planning Manager, at 503-879-2250. If you would like to mail
in comments or suggestions you can write to Tribal Council or Kim Rogers
at The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, 9615 Grand Ronde Road,
Grand Ronde, OR 97347.